I was pumping gas when my child pressed the "open door" button for the automatic sliding door on the driver's side. The safety switch that should engage to stop the door from opening, did not engage and the door opened right over the gas door and the fuel pump handle. The gas door got bent up and scratched, the cap tether broke, and the fuel pump handle scratched and dented the panel next to the fuel door, spilling gas down the side of the van.
When I brought my car in to the Toyota dealership the next week (in response to the 2 recalls on it) I showed them the damage and told them the safety mechanism did not work. After some discussion, they said they could fix the safety switch "for free even though the car was no longer under warrenty" but they could not repair the damage to the van. TAFETY SWITCH WAS CORRODED AND STUCK! The gentleman assigned to the van said it was the owner's responsibility to ensure the van was in good working order. Excuse me, but how was I to know if a safety mechanism was in good working order without an emergency occuring that would warrant it's need? I asked to speak to the manager. He also said there was nothing he could do for me. The damage to my car was my problem.
I called Toyota Customer Care and said I was calling for two reasons. I wanted other consumers to be told of the potenial safety hazard and I wanted them to take responibility for the repair of the damage caused by the malfunction. The associate I spoke with asked me to get an estimate from an authorized Toyota repair shop and fax it to him. I did and after not hearing from him, I called him and found out they didn't like the estimate. I agreed to obtain another estimate from another authorized repair shop. The shop faxed in the estimate. I waited. No return call. I called 3 days in a row. My answer? I needed to pay for the repairs myself and (3 days of car rental while it's in the shop) then send them documented receipts. After review, Toyota Customer Care, out of their "good will", would be willing to reimburse me about $780. This is less than 1/3 of the cost of repairing it. The associate also suggested if I wasn't happy with this resolution, I could claim it under my auto insurance. They said it was "take it or leave it - case closed".
So, I am going to be driving around a damaged van and telling everyone about this potential safety hazard and Toyota's irresponsible handling of my complaint. THIS IS A REAL AND POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD TO ALL SIENNA VAN OWNERS WITH THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR! The customer care associate told me that since my car's warranty was 3 years or 35,000 miles and I was beyond that mileage, TOYOTA WAS NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE - SAFETY ISSUE OR NOT. I pointed out that the recall on the spare tire cable was the same issue - corrosion from weather conditions ( I live in MN) and I didn't think they were telling consumers it wasn't Toyota's problem. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO BE INJURED FOR THERE TO BE ANY ATTENTION PAID TO THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD? Isn't there some risk of fire or explosion when you are mixing impact and fuel? I know we were lucky to only have damage to our car.
I am furious about lack of response I received on my complaint and Toyota's unwillingness to alert other consumers or to take any responsiblity for the functioning of this safety mechanism. AM I WRONG TO ASSUME THERE WAS A REASON THEY DESIGNED THIS SAFETY MECHANISM INTO THE VAN? SOMEONE AT TOYOTA THOUGHT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT FEATURE WHEN THEY BUILT MY VAN.
PLEASE GET THE WORD OUT TO ALL 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA OWNERS.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I was pumping gas when my child pressed the "open door" button for the automatic sliding door on the driver's side. The safety switch that should engage to stop the door from opening, did not engage and the door opened right over the gas door and the fuel pump handle. The gas door got bent up and scratched, the cap tether broke, and the fuel pump handle scratched and dented the panel next to the fuel door, spilling gas down the side of the van.
When I brought my car in to the Toyota dealership the next week (in response to the 2 recalls on it) I showed them the damage and told them the safety mechanism did not work. After some discussion, they said they could fix the safety switch "for free even though the car was no longer under warrenty" but they could not repair the damage to the van. TAFETY SWITCH WAS CORRODED AND STUCK! The gentleman assigned to the van said it was the owner's responsibility to ensure the van was in good working order. Excuse me, but how was I to know if a safety mechanism was in good working order without an emergency occuring that would warrant it's need? I asked to speak to the manager. He also said there was nothing he could do for me. The damage to my car was my problem.
I called Toyota Customer Care and said I was calling for two reasons. I wanted other consumers to be told of the potenial safety hazard and I wanted them to take responibility for the repair of the damage caused by the malfunction. The associate I spoke with asked me to get an estimate from an authorized Toyota repair shop and fax it to him. I did and after not hearing from him, I called him and found out they didn't like the estimate. I agreed to obtain another estimate from another authorized repair shop. The shop faxed in the estimate. I waited. No return call. I called 3 days in a row. My answer? I needed to pay for the repairs myself and (3 days of car rental while it's in the shop) then send them documented receipts. After review, Toyota Customer Care, out of their "good will", would be willing to reimburse me about $780. This is less than 1/3 of the cost of repairing it. The associate also suggested if I wasn't happy with this resolution, I could claim it under my auto insurance. They said it was "take it or leave it - case closed".
So, I am going to be driving around a damaged van and telling everyone about this potential safety hazard and Toyota's irresponsible handling of my complaint. THIS IS A REAL AND POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD TO ALL SIENNA VAN OWNERS WITH THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR! The customer care associate told me that since my car's warranty was 3 years or 35,000 miles and I was beyond that mileage, TOYOTA WAS NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE - SAFETY ISSUE OR NOT. I pointed out that the recall on the spare tire cable was the same issue - corrosion from weather conditions ( I live in MN) and I didn't think they were telling consumers it wasn't Toyota's problem. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO BE INJURED FOR THERE TO BE ANY ATTENTION PAID TO THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD? Isn't there some risk of fire or explosion when you are mixing impact and fuel? I know we were lucky to only have damage to our car.
I am furious about lack of response I received on my complaint and Toyota's unwillingness to alert other consumers or to take any responsiblity for the functioning of this safety mechanism. AM I WRONG TO ASSUME THERE WAS A REASON THEY DESIGNED THIS SAFETY MECHANISM INTO THE VAN? SOMEONE AT TOYOTA THOUGHT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT FEATURE WHEN THEY BUILT MY VAN.
PLEASE GET THE WORD OUT TO ALL 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA OWNERS.
- Jo W., St. Paul, MN, US