NHTSA Complaint #718137 — 1996 TOYOTA SIENNA

THE ELECTRIC SLIDING DOOR ON THIS MINIVAN IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS FOR TWO REASONS. THE FIRST IS THAT IT TAKES A GREAT DEAL OF RESISTANCE BEFORE THE DOOR WILL REVERSE WHEN IT ENCOUNTERS AN OBJECT. THAT OBJECT, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HAS BEEN A CHILD GETTING IN OR OUT OF THE CAR. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL BRUISES, BUT THE REAL CONCERN IS THAT A SMALLER CHILD WOULD BE CRUSHED, OR THE NECK OR LIMB OF A LARGER CHILD WOULD BE EASILY BROKEN. I AM AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN AND CAN ATTEST TO THIS FACT. THE SECOND DANGER POINT IS THAT THE DOOR OPERATES FROM A KEYCHAIN REMOTE. IF THE REMOTE IS BUMPED, DROPPED, OR LIGHTLY PRESSED (AS WHEN IN A POCKET), THE DOOR WILL EITHER OPEN OR CLOSE. THIS OFTEN OCCURS WHEN CHILDREN OR OTHER PASSENGERS ARE IN THE DOORWAY, AND HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN SEVERAL CRUSH INJURIES. THIS IS A DEADLY COMBINATION OF DESIGN FLAWS (I.E. A HAIR-TRIGGER ON A GUILLOTINE) THAT MOST ASSUREDLY WILL CAUSE A DISASTER. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE TOYOTA DEALER AND WITH THEIR NATIONAL OFFICE, AND THEY BOTH TOLD ME THAT "THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANOTHER COMPLAINT SO I MUST BE WORRYING ABOUT NOTHING." THE DEALER, HOWEVER, WAS SURPRISED WHEN I DEMONSTRATED HOW MUCH FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO REVERSE THE DOOR. THIS PROBLEM MUST BE INVESTIGATED. IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE DEACTIVATED THIS DANGEROUS HAZARD. *AK