NHTSA Complaint #744718 — 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA

THE POWER SLIDING DOOR SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS WITH SMALL CHILDREN. THE DOOR TAKES INCREDIBLE RESISTENCE BEFORE THE REVERSING SYSTEM WILL KICK IN AND STOP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING. THE SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE DESIGNED MAINLY TO PROTECT THE DOOR MOTORS FROM DAMAGE, NOT TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM INJURY. INFACT, THE OWNER'S MANUAL SPECIFICALLY SAYS TO TURN THE POWER DOOR SYSTEM OFF WHEN SMALL CHILDREN ARE PRESENT, YET THIS VEHICLE AND THESE FEATURES ARE MARKETED TO FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN. ALSO THE CHILD LOCK-PROTECTION SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE POWER DOOR SYSTEM IS TURNED ON. THE RESISTANCE REQUIRED TO STOP THE POWER DOOR IS VERY SUBSTANTIAL. ANY BODY PART, EVEN AN ARM OR LEG OF AN ADULT THAT GOT CAUGHT IN THE DOOR COULD SUFFER SERIOUS INJURY. THE DOORS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND CLOSE WHEN THE POWER SYSTEM IS TURNED OFF. THE DEALER AND SALES PERSON KNEW I HAD TWO SMALL CHILDREN. THEY SHOWED ME HOW WONDERFUL THE POWER DOOR SYSTEM WAS WHEN YOU HAD YOUR HANDS FULL CARRYING A CHILD. THEY TOLD ME IT HAD A SAFETY SYSTEM SO THAT PEOPLE WOULDN'T GET HURT IF THEY WERE IN THE PATH OF THE CLOSING DOOR. UNFORTUNATELY, I DID NOT GET TO FULLY TEST THE POWER DOORS AND READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL IN DETAIL WITHIN THE FIRST 3 DAYS AFTER ACCEPTING DELIVERY. WHEN I TRIED TO GET THEM TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE AFTER TWO WEEKS AND LESS THAN 1000 MILES, EVEN AT A PRICE LESS THAN MY PURCHASE PRICE, THEY REFUSED TO EVEN CONSIDER IT. THESE DOORS ARE DANGEROUS. THE POWER DOORS OF OTHER MINIVAN MANUFACTURERS REQUIRE VERY LITTLE RESISTANCE TO INVOKE THE PROTECTION SYSTEM, AND SEVERAL INCLUDE OTHER SAFETY FEATURES LIKE OPTICAL EYES. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REDESIGN AND THEN RECALL/REPLACE THIS POWER DOOR SYSTEM.*AK