NHTSA Complaint #11472348 — 2019 TOYOTA SIENNA

The power sliding door on the driver’s side of the vehicle is malfunctioning. When the door is opened with the electric opening function, it detects resistance and starts to close. While closing, the door closes with great force and no longer attempts to detect closing resistance. Me, my wife, and my infant daughter have been crushed/trapped by the door. My daughter had her arm trapped in the door. My wife had her back crushed. The Toyota dealer in Tucson, AZ (Precision Toyota) said the electrical cables inside the door are binding, causing the resistance when opening. We have not modified or otherwise touched the electrical door opening cables during our three years of ownership and therefore believe this is an engineering design flaw, or manufacturing defect. My concern is that there may be several other doors with this defect which could eventually lead to great harm on a young child, in the form of a crushing injury.