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.
The power door got stuck in the open position thus locking the transmission and making it impossible to move the vehicle. Luckily this happened when parked in a residential neighborhood and not along an interstate or busy city road.
The rear hatch rubber door handle melted due to heat during the summer. During cold weather, the rear hatch cannot be opened due to the melting door handle. I have taken the vehicle to the dealer where the dealer advised that the door handle needed to be replaced at a pretty high cost. The vehicle was not repaired. I have read numerous complaints online regarding the melting door handle.
Passenger door the electronics just stopped working. I've been told I can use this manual right now but eventually will seize up by the dealership. Very costly part. Researching on line there are many owners of this van with the same issue. No voluntary recall on this part. I find this a safety hazard as you do not know when the door may cease to open. In the event of an accident on opposite side of van and door will not open and the passenger side no longer works, people in the back of the van will be trapped. Not sure why Toyota has not had a recall on this part.
We purchased the van used in 2009 with 12000 miles on it and made our purchase decision based on the reputation for quality and safety that Toyota had at the time. In July 2009 the SRS warning light began to illuminate. According to the dealer the air bag wiring harness and system was known to have issues. Luckily the dealer convinced Toyota usa to cover the repair. In November 2011 the light again came on and did its blinking thing. Currently we have a little over 48000 miles on the van and the dealer said that because we are past warranty that it won't be covered. A private mechanic tested the system and determined the airbags are not functioning and that Toyota has published a bulletin acknowledging the issue but refuses to repair this safety concern. When the light is blinking or on, the airbags will not deploy, putting everyone inside at risk. A van with 48000 miles should not have to have the airbags replaced twice. Looking at online forums there seems to be hundreds if not thousands of other Sienna owners experiencing the same problems and yet Toyota still refuses to recall the product or offer a reasonable repair. I am afraid that it will take a traffic collision resulting in a death or multiple deaths to push Toyota to fix this systemic problem. A second concern which seems to be problematic with our van as well as others is the welds within the driver door breaking. The vehicle has not been in an accident nor any other major incident to cause them to break. According to the private mechanic, it is a manufacturing issue and that the weld should be one of the strongest parts of the vehicle and shouldn't break.
- Bothell, WA, USA
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When we tried to close the rear passenger side power sliding rear door this afternoon, in the supermarket parking lot (we had our 2 young children with us), it began to close, then opened, and then we couldn't close the door, either by using the automatic/power options or by closing the door manually. After 15 minutes or so, we finally did manage to get it closed by rocking the door back-and-forth, but we cannot -- and will not -- use the door at all now, as we are afraid that we won't be able to close it again. Prior to today, we had no problems with the door, and we take very good care of our car. We bought the minivan for the specific purpose of transporting us and our young children. Now we are very concerned about the safety of driving the car, especially with our kids in it. After reading the many other almost exact problems/complaints, we're hoping that Toyota issues a recall -- having a door that doesn't open or close, is a clear and serious safety issue, and it seems to be an extremely common problem.
While parked I went to open my passenger side automatic back door, and it wouldn't open more than about 18". this happened while a 4 hour drive from home. We left the car like this for a couple months. Then in about February the door stopped closing fully. I called Toyota and the local dealer, and they won't pay for it. $1100 estimate for a safety hazard.
In October of 2011 the passenger side power sliding door closed itself wedging me between it and the frame of the van. The door didn't stop and try to open back up, it just stopped. After this the door wouldn't open or close on its own. It had to be "muscled" in to either the fully open or closed position. I had to do this myself as my wife was not strong enough to muscle it open or close. After this incident I contacted my local Toyota dealer and was told the repairs could be in excess of $1500, we just stopped using that door. On February 24 2012 I was informed by my wife who was with one of our children that she was stranded in a parking lot because the drivers side door, the good door, was stuck halfway open and wouldn't open or close. I contacted my Toyota dealer to see what could be done so that my wife could get home but everything they told me didn't work. There is no override button or for the electric motor to completely disengage or freewheel. There is a button to disengage the electric motor so that the door can be closed but it didn't help. I had to meet her where she was and close the door which took 15 min or so to do. My daughter was still out of the vehicle when the door decided to close and wedge itself. Luckily she wasn't entering the van as it was opening. I heard about this site upon researching the problem and found there is a facebook page for this with hundreds of people with the same issue.
Automatic power sliding door on the passenger side recently stopped working correctly. The door motor tries to open the door but often stops after only moving an inch or so. Once you get it to open (either manually or with the power open option when it randomly works) door will not close when buttons are pushed. The door again will move 2 inches maximum and then stop. If you are able to manually close the door (which is very hard to do) it does not always latch completely closed. This is a major safety issue. If I can not open the door at school to drop off my child, what is going to happen in an emergency when I need to get my child out? I have found hundreds of similar complaints on multiple web forums, Toyota needs to replace the defective part that they quoted me almost $900 to fix.
The sliding door on my mini-van only opens half-way and then closes without warning. I'm grateful my 5 year old didn't climb in while opening because she would have been hurt very badly with it closing on her. I was leaning in to get my purse and it nearly hit my head but I was able to get out in time. I've heard this is currently happening with a lot of Sienna's after about 4 years, so I wanted to make sure I got a complaint in so Toyota can see it's not just a one-off. Very dangerous!!
The automatic door stopped functioning. We are trying to close and open it manually but it still functions automatically just at the end of the closure. We fear that one day it will just refuse to close, or may spring open while we are driving and have children in the back seats. This should be covered but Toyota says it is not. It is a hazard!!
The automatic rear passenger door began to grind while opening. As we went to close the door with the automatic feature it stopped working. The door was jammed slightly open. We could not open or close the door even when putting it into manual mode. Upon inspection my husband saw that the cable that is below the rear window was sheared. He was able to cut this cable and free the door from being jammed. It was a very long painful process as we were away from home and only had access to a very small dull knife. This is a major safety issue. We have a minivan because we have several small children. Small children often dart in front of automatic doors without realizing they are closing. If this door had gotten jammed with one of our small children caught in it they would have been in great danger possibly loosing a limb or heaven forbid their head were caught because they tripped getting out of the van. I implore you to mandate a recall on this van immediately for the safety of all the hundreds of thousands of small children that enter and exit these vans every single day!
My eight year old daughter got her four fingers on the right hand crushed by the sliding passenger automatic door when it was closing. The door did not open like it should. She does not feel the tip of her fingers. Help!
Power sliding door was jammed in the open position. Because it happened on Sunday we needed to drive home with this door fully opened. This situation would have been even worst if our children were with us.
Passenger side automatic door failure. The door was stuck half open and could not be closed while away from home. Safety issue of traveling with children and could not Transport them in the car.
Power sliding door was stuck halfway open, and would not open more nor close. Looking inside the door machinery I could see the metal cable was frayed and material was stuck in the works, preventing the door from moving in either direction. I was able to force the door closed because we needed to Transport children home. But now the door cannot open, and is unsafe. From searching online, now I see that this is a problem that thousands of Sienna customers have encountered.
I bought a 2006 Toyota Sienna le AWD for my special needs daughter.the sliding door snapped a cable and wouldn't open.,so I had to crawl in from other side to get her out, that was not a easy task B/C she is immobile and could not help me with getting her out of special carseat and brace..I think this should be Toyota's job to replace or at least help with replacing, if not I will never purchase or recommend this van to anyone..I had her special seat on that side just for that reason and I will file a claim with this..
The passenger powered sliding door seized for a moment, opened, then closed then opened, then closed 3/4 of the way. It was then stuck in that position.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Champaign, IL, USA