NHTSA Complaint #11325092 — 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA

LIFTGATE FAILURE DATE 5-8-2020 MILEAGE 51,300 MILES MY 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA LIMITED, WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2006. THE VAN IS METICULOUSLY CARED FOR WITH ALL SERVICE DONE ON TIME AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WHEN NOT IN USE, IT'S PARKED IN A CLIMATE-CONTROLLED GARAGE. ON OR ABOUT 2008, RECALL 80C WAS DONE AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE LIFTGATE MALFUNCTIONED ON 5-8-2020. THE LIFTGATE FELL ABOUT TEN INCHES AFTER IT REACHED THE FULLY OPEN POSITION, AT WHICH POINT THE POWER MOTOR ENGAGED AND POWERED THE LIFTGATE TO THE FULLY CLOSED POSITION. THE DOOR CAME DOWN ON MY HEAD AND BRUISED MY SHOULDER. IF THE DOOR SWITCH IS TURNED OFF, THE DOOR WILL SLAM DOWN HARD, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO ANYONE IN ITS PATH. I'M A FAIRLY STRONG 83-YEAR-OLD. IF THIS HAPPENED WHEN MY WIFE OR ONE OF MY GREAT GRANDCHILDREN WERE UNDER THE MALFUNCTIONING HATCH, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THE MALFUNCTIONING HATCH WAS DEMONSTRATED TO A TOYOTA SERVICE REP. THE TOYOTA REP. SAID, WHEREAS THE RECALL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE, TOYOTA WILL CHARGE FOR A SECOND REPAIR. THE COST OF REPAIRS WOULD BE MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, MORE THAN SEVENTY SIMILAR LIFT-GATE PROBLEMS WERE FOUND THAT SIENNA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. OBVIOUSLY, TOYOTA HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO SATISFACTORY, LASTING REPAIRS. TOYOTA'S FAILURE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ONCE AND FOR ALL AT NO COST TO THE SIENNA OWNER. A LIST OF SIMILAR ISSUES BEING REPORTED FOLLOWS: NOTE: COMMENTS RELATING TO PERSONAL INJURY HIGHLIGHTED IN RED. NOTE: THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE REPORTS. NOTE: DUE TO CHARACTER LIMITATION, UNABLE TO PROVIDE LIST OF SIMILAR ISSUES FOUND. CAN PROVIDE LIST IF YOU REQUEST. *TR