1999 Toyota Sienna

THIS WAS NOT AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE BUT A DESIGN FAILURE. ON A HOT JULY EVENING I CHOSE TO REMAIN IN THE CAR WHILE MY HUSBAND WENT IN A STORE. HE ABSENTMINDEDLY TOOK THE KEYS AND HIT THE AUTOMATIC LOCK BUTTON ON THE KEYFOB. I THEN TRIED TO OPEN A DOOR FROM INSIDE. THIS TRIGGERED THE ALARM AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, TRAPPING ME INSIDE. THERE WAS NO WAY TO OPEN A WINDOW OR A DOOR. I GOT HOTTER AND BEGAN TO FEEL SUFFOCATED. FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF A PASSERBY WHO COULD HEAR ME THROUGH THE WINDOW, AND WHO GOT MY HUSBAND. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION, NOT TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE CAR FROM THE INSIDE. IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES (MY HUSBAND GONE LONGER, NO HELP NEARBY) IT COULD LEAD TO A SUFFOCATION OR HEAT-STROKE DEATH.

POWER SLIDING DOOR NOT LATCHING PROPERLY; WARNING LITE ON; ECU SHORT CIRCUITED; CANNOT VERIFY IF RIGHT SLIDING DOOR IS CLOSED SHUT; EXACT PROBLEM ON SAME VEHICLE TAKEN FROM CARSON TOYOTA IN FEBRUARY; OTHER VEHICLE'S VIN NR IS [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NEXT TO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR THERE IS A "POWER DOOR" SWITCH. THIS SWITCH CONTINUES TO OPERATE EVEN IF THE CHILD LOCK IS ON FOR THAT DOOR. MY SON COULD EASILY OPEN THE POWER DOOR EVEN IF THE CHILD LOCK IS ON TO MY SURPRISE. TOYOTA SAYS TO TO TURN OFF POWER DOOR FUNCTION OFF USING THE SWITCH ON THE FRONT DASH BOARD. THE PROBLEM IS ONE HAS TO REMEMBER TO TURN IT OFF EVERY TIME ONE ENTERS THE VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT FEASIBLE AND THE CHILD WILL HIT THE PWR DOOR SWITCH NEAR THE DOOR AND FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN TO ME WITH THREE CHILDREN. I CAN PERMANENTLY TURN OFF THE POWER DOOR OPTION BUT THE PROBLEM IS ,IN THAT CASE THE POWER DOOR BECOMES VERY HARD TO OPERATE MANUALLY AS IT REQUIRES LOT OF EXTRA FORCE TO OPEN OR CLOSE.

THE POWER SLIDING DOOR IS DANGEROUS TO SMALL CHILDREN. IT REQUIRES TO MUCH PRESSURE TO STOP IF SOMETHING IS IN ITS WAY WHILE CLOSING. I HAVE TO DISABLE THE POWER DOOR WHICH LEAVES THE DOOR VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO USE NOW. ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS TO PUT A LIGHT SENSOR THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THE DOOR TO CLOSE AT ALL IF SOMETHING IS IN THE WAY OF THE DOOR (LIKE GARAGE DOORS) . THE POWER DOOR WILL STOP AND GO BACK IF IT HITS SOMETHING FIRST. BUT A 30 POUND CHILD CANNOT TAKE THAT KIND OF PRESSURE ON HIS NECK! I KNOW THESE ARE RELATIVELY NEW TRUCKS ON THE MARKET, AND I HOPE THAT NO SMALL CHILD WILL BE INJURED.*AK