1999 Toyota Sienna

BOTH THE SLIDING DOORS HAD BEEN RATTLING SINCE I BOUGHT THE VAN. THE DEALER SAID THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLES WITH COMPLETE ASSEMBLY, WHICH I DO NOT PLAN TO SPEND MY MONEY FOR. I BELIEVE IT IS MFR'S RESPONSIBILTY TO FIX THEM. ALSO I HAD REPLACED THE REAR DOOR LATCH THAT IS APPARENTLY MADE OF VERY CHEAP PLASTIC AND HAD BROKE OFF. ALL THE FRONT DASH VENTS FIRST CRACKED AND BROKE OFF WITHIN THE SECOND YEAR, NONE OF WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

ELECTRIC SLIDING SIDE DOOR FAILS TO CONSISTANTLY CLOSE CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT WON'T LOCK AND HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR DRIVER TO DRIVE WHILE THE DOOR IS OPEN AS IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANUALLY CLOSE THE ELECTRONIC SIDE DOOR. DEFECT REPORTED TO DEALER 3 OCCASIONS UNDER 36K WARRENTY AND WERE UNABLE TO MAKE PERMANENT REPAIR. 9.10.02 SERVICE VISIT REPLACED DOOR LATCH ($300) AND RETIMED DOOR. INTERMITTANT DOOR FAILURE REDUCED AFTER SERVICE VISIT BUT NOT ELIMINATED. DEALER ADMITS MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THIS DOOR AND THAT THE DOOR REQUIRES SERVICING (TIMING)THAT IS NOT LISTED ON MANUFACTURERS OWNERS MANUAL. NEIGHBOR ALSO HAS SAME MODEL VAN WITH EXACT SAME FAILURE EXPERIENCES. MR

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR POWER SLIDING DOOR HAS INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS. 3 DIFFERENT SYMPTONS EXIST FOR THE FAILING DOOR: 1) POWER DOOR IS CLOSED USING ONE OF THE THREE REMOTE BUTTONS; THE POWER DOOR OPEN LIGHT STAYS ON; THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS NOT ON; POWER DOOR ALARM BUZZES WHEN PUT IN GEAR. 2) POWER DOOR IS CLOSED USING ONE THE REMOTE BUTTONS; THE POWER DOOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENS AGAIN. 3) THE POWER DOOR IS CLOSED USING THE REMOTE BUTTONS; THE POWER DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE AT ALL. THE POWER MOTOR TRIES TO CLOSE, BUT WON'T. WHEN YOU MANUALLY TRY TO HELP IT ALONG, IT JUST OPENS UP AGAIN. IN ALL 3 SITUATIONS, THE DOOR WILL SUDDENLY WORK FINE FOR A WEEK OR TWO AND THEN BEGIN HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE FIRST 2 TIMES THE DOOR FAILED, WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER JUST TO BE TOLD "NO PROBLEM BE FOUND". SO, WE WAITED FOR THE POWER DOOR TO FAIL COMPLETELY. WHEN IT DID, WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE 3RD TIME (9/00). THE MOTOR AND COMPUTER WERE REPLACED. A MONTH LATER (10/00), THE FIRST AND SECOND SYMPTOM BEGAN APPEARING. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS AN ADJUSTMENT. A MONTH LATER (11/00), THE SAME PROBLEMS OCCURRED; THE DEALER MADE ANOTHER ADJUSTMENT. A MONTH LATER (12/00), THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED; THE DEALER MADE ANOTHER ADJUSTMENT. A MONTH LATER (1/01), THE SAME PROBLEMS OCCURRED. THIS TIME THE DEALER SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY LOW VOLTAGE AND GAVE US A NEW BATTERY. IT CONTINUED TO FAIL. THIS TIME, WE WAITED UNTIL IT GOT SO BAD THE POWER DOOR WOULDN'T CLOSE AT ALL. 3 MONTHS LATER (4/01), THE 3RD OF THE SYMPTOMS OCCURS. THE DEALER PUT ANOTHER NEW MOTOR AND COMPUTER IN THE DOOR. ONLY THIS TIME THEY ALSO TOLD US THAT WE COULD NOT MANUALLY OPERATE THE DOOR UNLESS THE POWER DOOR WAS TURNED OFF. IF WE DID, IT WOULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR AND COMPUTER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SLIDING DOOR HAS HAD AN INTERMITTENT "STICKING" PROBLEM. THE STICKING PROBLEM GOT TO THE POINT WHERE A 200 POUND MAN COULD BARELY OPEN IT. ON THE FIRST 2 OCCASIONS, WE BROUGHT IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE THAT STATED "NO PROBLEM FOUND". THE LAST 2 TIMES, THE TOYOTA DEALER AGREED IT WAS A PROBLEM, BUT BLAMED IN ON SPILLED JUICE OR COLA (WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE). THE DEALER CLEANED THE DOORS THOROUGHLY BOTH TIMES, JUST TO HAVE THE PROBLEM COME UP AGAIN. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT A LITTLE SPILLED JUICE OR COKE COULD CAUSE SUCH A SUCTION THAT A DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF A CHILD GOT IN THE CAR AND COULD NOT GET OUT BECAUSE THE DOOR WAS STUCK CLOSED. THIS IS NOT THE SAME PROBLEM REPORTED BY OTHERS REGARDING THE BUTTON STAYING PUSHED IN. THIS PROBLEM WHEN YOU TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR, THERE IS SUCH A SUCTION THAT IT CANNOT EASILY BE OPENED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ED,CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED RACK GUIDE SUB ASSEMBLY PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. ALSO, BOTH SLIDING DOOR POWER LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED WAS UNABLE TO OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, WHICH IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, THOSE SLIDING DOORS COULD NOT BE USED. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE LOCKS. BUT, SODA SPILLED INTO RUBBER OF DOOR AND CAUSED THEM TO STICK. THEY SHOULD USE BOTTLES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK