This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Passenger side automatic sliding door failed to open when using remote as well as when it was manually attempted to open. Good thing we have one manual sliding door...though this door is automatically locked when gas tank door is open. Updated 08-29-11 updated 3/08/2012
We had used the automatic overhead button to open the rear driver's sliding door. After our children got in the car, we tried to use the button again to close the door, however the door stopped midway because the cable came off it's track. We were not able to close the door while the cable was off the track, so we had to cut the cable and remove it in order to shut the door. We can only use the door manually now, however, it is extremely difficult to open and close, especially on the slightest incline. This is a safety issue for whoever is sitting in the rear seats, typically my children, for if there is an accident, it would be extremely difficult for them to get out. Apparently this has been an ongoing problem for years with the Toyota Sienna's and Toyota will not fix the problem.
Item 1-- this is an AWD model with run flats and no space for a spare tire. The low pressure warning for the tires is revolution based, and therefore doesn't activate due to the stiff wall run flat tires. I have had numerous occasions where the tires were very low with no warning, and two occasions where the tires had zero air and were ruined with no warning, and the first indication was a roar and sudden very bumpy ride. These 2 events happened at city speeds, but I fear this event at interstate speeds. The later models were equipped with pressure sensing devices (not revolution sensing). The vehicle has only 38K miles, perfect condition, and I just renewed my extended warranty for 6 more years, so would like a recall retrofit to pressure sensing for safety and peace of mind. I had thought Toyota would develop a fix, but to no avail. I have this documented on Toyota service invoices and the factory rep has reported there is nothing Toyota can do. Item 2--- when pulling out from behind a vehicle to pass and flooring the accelerator, there is a full second of hesitation before the down shifting/acceleration begins. This has caused two near misses. This is documented with Toyota, but all I've been told is that it is caused by "drive-by-wire" (?), which I assume is an electrical signal as opposed to a mechanical throttle cable, but again, Toyota says there is nothing they can do.
What I asked Toyota to do is repair my driver side door due to a known defect. Late model Toyota Sienna minivans have manufacturing defects that Toyota is not willing to address. Toyota Siennas are prone to door popping when opening and closing due to broken door welds. I am told after the fact there was a Toyota technical service bulletin that was issued to the Toyota dealership that was not brought to my attention. This bulletin extended out the repair of this defect by five years to 2009. When the problem surfaced on my Sienna in February, 2011, I was told the Toyota district management would not fix this defect because it was past the extended warranty period of 2009. Toyota management refuses to correct this known defect. My escalation has been documented in Toyota reference number 1103311750 to the Toyota
On the automatic sliding door on the passenger side, there are two cables that assist with the motor mechanism. One of the cables is exposed to the outside and got corroded. This cable snapped and prevented the door from opening. The internal cable then slid off its track and fell between the sliding door and the body of the vehicle, further jamming the door and scratching the paint. The biggest concern is that in the event of an accident, this faulty mechanism can prevent the occupants from escaping the vehicle if there is a dangerous situation. The sliding door cable design and the backup mechanism is flawed and dangerous.
- Methuen, MA, USA
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I own a 2004 Toyota Sienna with sliding door problems. The cable has frayed so badly on the driver side the door is inoperable and has been so for several years. The cable on the passenger side door is also frayed and I fear will become inoperable soon. Car was out of warranty and Toyota wants $1400 to fix the door.
In January of 2010 the cable for the spare tire carrier froze up and would not operate. As a result, I purchased and replaced the spare tire carrier in January of 2010. I received the recall for the spare tire carrier (NHTSA 10V160000) notice from Toyota in August of 2010. I submitted my part receipt and information for reimbursement, but was denied.
In 2008, we had work done on the liftgate of our Sienna to repair the liftgate struts and mounting brackets. The liftgate was not lifting entirely or it would lift and then unexpectedly begin to lower again. This repair was done under a recall from Toyota at a Toyota dealership. At christmas time this year, I was picking up my sister-in-law in the busy arrivals line at O'hare. I opened the back liftgate from inside so she could quickly put her suitcase in the back. As she put in her suitcase, the door began to shut on her. Fortunately, she was not hurt. Since then, the liftgate has not been opening fully. It opens just to the eye level of my husband and myself, so we risk bumping into it with our eyes each time we put something in the back of the van. We have to exert quite a bit of force on it to get it to lift all the way up. I called Toyota customer service in California just after the new year to see if they would repair this problem again, but they said no--the repair was beyond its warranty. I explained that this was a significant safety issue, an accident waiting to happen, but they were unmoved. The repair will cost close to $500. Because this is a safety issue, and not just one of convenience, my husband and I feel we will have to pay to have the repair done. However, since this issue was one that warranted a recall before, we thought you would like to know about it, especially since Toyota has been made aware of it and has elected not to address it voluntarily.
I own a 2004 Toyota Sienna and for the past 2 months I have been having problems with the steering. I took my car to the mechanic and was told they could not find anything wrong with it. Within the past week I feel the steering is getting much worse. I feels as if I have 4 flat tires. The car will be very hard to turn and wheel needs to be turned back into position when done turning. I am afraid this will cause an accident. Please investigate this and see if there are any other complaints for this problem.
Accelerator pedal pushed to the floor to rapidly pass a truck. When accelerator was released, it did not return to idle position but stayed at floor. Floor mat did not interfere with movement of accelerator. Required several kicks with foot to release accelerator pedal. Dealership claims incident might have been caused by dirt in throttle body.
2004 Toyota Sienna. The passenger side automatic sliding door will not open automatically or from within. Children sitting in the back that could not open from the inside and had to crawl out over car seats to the other doors. Myself included when I shut the door to clean the interior. The passenger side seat belt (second row cabin chair) won't retract and was checked and found that the seat belt was not twisted to cause the malfunction, but with the device itself.
Both rear sliding doors refuse to open, intermittently and randomly. This issue happens when weather is somewhat cold and wet for the manual sliding door. For the "automatic" door, it happens continuously. We've had the motor replaced in the automatic door and it fixed the problem for 2 years...but now it has happened again. Kids have had to get into and out of the car via the back hatch. Major safety concern.
While I was trying to open my 2004 Toyota Sienna passenger powered sliding door the cord ripped. It is too costly for us to repair this item and I can not use the door with children as it is to hard to open for a minor.
We own a Toyota Sienna xle 2004. Back in November 2008, the driver sliding door cable snapped, making the door jam and unusable in "power" mode. Cable dangling out of its socket, we drove to our dealership to have it serviced. The repair came to over $1800!!! after researching this issue on the internet, I'm finding that many people are experiencing the same problem!! I'm thinking that it doesn't necessarily have to do with mileage but perhaps more with age of vehicle ie: 4-5ish years old. The cable, which drives the sliding door, is completely exposed to elements. (you'll find it within the groove located under the rear side windows) this cable is made of some kind of metal (steel? who knows.) then coated with a black plastic/acrylic/rubber casing (such as an electrical wire). With time, the casing begins to dry and be brittle, causing it to crack and fall off the wire, leaving the wires completely vulnerable to getting wet, rust, freeze, etc, also rubbing extensively unprotected against the gears. Within a few months or even weeks, the metal cable wires snap thus getting caught in the mechanism. One thing leads to another and the whole cable snaps, making the door jam altogether. Per my own experience at the dealership, and subsequently reading and researching many blog sites, the only way to fix this issue is as follows: Remove the entire door, remove and change the entire mechanism. Extremely costly, there's just no way around this. Asked if there was a way to simply change the cable, I was informed that the cable is part of the motor and that it is not a part that can be purchased or repaired separately. Now, we are faced with the problem of the second side which has snapped just a few day ago (only 3 months after the last one). We don't feel we should have to pay another 1800$ to have this fixed. We feel there are enough complaints about this that Toyota should issue a fix.
I bought a 2004 Toyota Sienna ce in ottawa, Ontario, Canada, from a dealer, new, off the lot in August 2004. By the first winter, both back sliding doors would freeze shut, especially the passenger side, and would not open until the vehicle got really hot inside. The dealer had no solution, offered no solution. In addition, by the second year we had three radiators installed, and had both front doors repaired for rusting under a general recall. Also, the rear fan has been going on and off, even with the switch in the "off" position. We have taken this issue to the dealer many times, but they do not have an answer, nor a strategy to figure out why it does this. Finally, this vehicle has rattled inside from day one and is unpleasant to drive. I find the Toyota dealers not interested in you once you buy the car, but after three years to the day the called me wanting to know if I'd buy a new one. I will not buy another Toyota.
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The dashboard on the vehicle is cracked. The cracks originated from the air vents near both front doors to the windshield. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the cracks, but they were willing to pay for half of the charges. The contact believes that the cracks were due to a manufacturer defect based on the amount of complaints that were found in other Sienna's. the failure mileage was 32,000 and current mileage was 42,000. Updated 10/16/08. Updated 10/17/08.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Youngsville, NC, USA