2004 Toyota Sienna STRUCTURE,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE SLIDING DOORS EVER SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. A COUPLE OF YEARS INTO OWNERSHIP THE CABLE ON THE MOTORIZED DOOR (PASSENGER SIDE) BECAME SLIPPED OFF ITS TRACK, MAKING CLOSING THE DOOR IMPOSSIBLE. THE CABLE HAD TO BE SNAPPED, CONVERTING THE DOOR TO A MANUAL DOOR, SO THAT THE CAR COULD BE LOCKED AND SECURED. THE COST OF REPAIR WAS EXCESSIVE (FOR ME), THEREBY MAKING THIS TEMPORARY SOLUTION A PERMANENT ONE. THE GREATER PROBLEM RESIDES IN OPERATION OF BOTH REAR SLIDING DOORS IN COLD WEATHER. WHENEVER IT'S COLD, THE DOORS STICK AND CANNOT BE OPENED. THE SAFETY CONCERNS ARE TWOFOLD. PRIMARILY, I AM CONCERNED THAT MY CHILDREN CANNOT BE EFFICIENTLY REMOVED FROM THE CAR, IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE OTHER DAY, IT WAS SO COLD, I ACTUALLY SNAPPED THE DOOR HANDLE OFF THE VEHICLE, ATTEMPTING TO OPEN IT. INDIRECTLY, I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT INSTRUCTING MY CHILDREN TO ENTER THE CAR, VIA THE FRONT DOORS, AND TO CLIMB OVER THE FRONT SEATS. WITHOUT ADULT PRESENCE, ANY CHILD COULD INADVERTENTLY KICK THE (AUTOMATIC) GEAR SHIFTER INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, THEREBY ENDANGERING AN PERSON WHO MIGHT BE IN FRONT OR IN BACK OF THE VEHICLE. IN AREAS WHERE ONE IS ACCUSTOMED TO START A VEHICLE AND LEAVE IT RUNNING TO WARM UP, ALBEIT IT'S VERY REMOTELY POSSIBLE, THERE COULD BE A TRAGIC OUTCOME. PERSONALLY, I WILL TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT THIS, BUT I CAN SEE OTHERS NOT ANTICIPATING THIS OUTCOME. I HAVE BECOME AWARE OF A NUMBER OF SIENNA OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THESE DOORS, AND I AM GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN DOORS THAT HAVE BEEN FROZEN SHUT. I HAVE TO THINK THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW HERE THAT NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED BY TOYOTA. YET, OTHER SIENNA OWNERS HEAR THE SAME THING THAT I DO, SPECIFICALLY THAT WE NEED TO KEEP THROWING MONEY AT THE PROBLEM TO KEEP THE CARS MAINTAINED AND THAT IT'S NOT TOYOTA'S RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

THE POWER SLIDING DOORS ON THE 2004 SIENNA FAIL EARLY, CAUSING SAFETY AND USABILITY ISSUES. THE POWER DOOR CABLE WEARS OUT EARLY DUE TO FAULTY COATING ON HE CABLE, FAULTY HINGES AND DOOR FREEZING. ONCE THE CABLE SNAPS, THE DOOR CAN SLIDE OPEN UPON ACCELERATION. DISABLING THE POWER FEATURE ALLOWS THE DOOR TO BE USED, BUT FALSELY CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO REGISTER THE DOOR AS CLOSED WHEN IT IS OPEN, ALLOWING THE CAR TO BE PUT IN GEAR AND DRIVEN WITHOUT THE DOOR PROPERLY LATCHED CLOSED. LOOSE PARTS FROM THE SNAPPED CABLE AND TORN CABLE JACKET EASILY LODGE IN THE WORKING MECHANISM, MAKING THE DOOR BEHAVE INCONSISTENTLY - SOMETIMES LATCHING, SOMETIMES NOT. WHEN NOT LATCHED, THE DOOR EASILY SLIDES FORWARD OR BACK IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A HILL, POTENTIALLY CAUSING INJURY. IN ADDITION, THE DOORS FREEZE CLOSED IN MODERATELY COLD (25 F) TEMPERATURES, CAUSING THEM TO OPEN PARTIALLY (A FEW MILLIMETERS). THIS CAUSES EXTRA STRAIN AND WEAR ON THE POWER DOOR CABLES AND CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO REGISTER AN OPEN DOOR. IF THE DOOR IS LEFT IN THIS CONDITION, IT CAN MASK OTHER DOORS ACTUALLY BEING OPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. THE PARTIAL OPENING ALSO CAUSES A MISALIGNMENT OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE DOOR TO CORRECT THE PARTIAL OPENING. THE DOOR REPAIR WAS QUOTED BY MULTIPLE DEALERS AT MORE THAN $3000. A TSB (0085-09) IN EARLY 2009 OFFERED AN ALTERNATE METHOD OF REPAIR, BUT THE COST IS STILL MORE THAN $1700 PER DOOR. DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN UNWILLING TO PROVIDE THE PART TO NON-DEALER MECHANIC'S SHOP. *TR

WE HAVE A 2004 SIENNA CE THAT WE BOUGHT NEW. SINCE OWNING THE CAR (IT HAS 125,000 MILES ON IT) THE SLIDING DOORS HAVE FROZEN SHUT WHENEVER THE WEATHER IS COLD. LIVING IN VERMONT, I THOUGHT THAT THIS ISSUE WAS ISOLATED. HOWEVER, WHEN MY SON TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THE HANDLE SNAPPED OFF BECAUSE THE DOOR WAS FROZEN SHUT ONCE AGAIN, I DECIDED TO CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WERE OTHER COMPLAINTS. YES THERE WERE...MANY. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE HANDLE REPLACED BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE DOOR FREEZING SHUT WAS A TYPICAL COMPLAINT. *TR

DURING NORMAL OPERATIONS OF THIS 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE VAN. RIGHT SIDE POWERED DOOR SEIZED. DOOR FAILED TO OPEN COMPLETELY, AND THEN IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SHUT AND LOCK. I TOOK THE SIENNA TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (HEARTLAND TOYOTA, BREMERTON, WASHINGTON) ON 13JAN10, AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED MOTOR, CONTROL CABLE, AND COMPUTER (ECU). THEY ALSO INFORMED ME IT WOULD COST $3,050 TO REPAIR. I WAS IN SHOCK. I CHECKED ONLINE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A CHRONIC FAILURE WITH THE 'AUTOMATIC' DOORS OF TOYOTA VANS. TOYOTA CORPORATE INSTRUCTED ME TO WORK WITH THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO ARBITRATE REPAIRS SINCE THE DOOR IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, OR RECALL. I URGE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THESE DOORS. THEY SHOULD NOT FAIL AND SEIZE AFTER 5 YEARS OF NORMAL WEAR. *TR UPDATED 03/10/10 *BF UPDATED 10/05/10

THE CABLE ON THE AUTOMATIC DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR OF OUR 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA SNAPPED. THIS RENDERED THE DOOR UNABLE TO CLOSE UNTIL GETTING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

TOYOTA SIENNA ELECTRIC SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT OPEN WITH BUTTON. CAN ONLY BE OPENED BY PULLING HARD ON OUTSIDE HANDLE. DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACING DOOR MOTOR. *TR

TOYOTA SIENNA LE 2004 PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT WORK AS INTENDED. IT CAN ONLY BE OPERATED FROM THE OUTSIDE BY PULLING THE HANDLE AND GETTING THE DOOR STARTED. NONE OF THE REMOTE BUTTONS WILL CAUSE THE DOOR TO OPEN. THE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. *TR

2004 TOYOTA SIENNA SLIDING DOORS MALFUNCTIONING. OVER TIME, THE DOORS APPEAR TO WEAR OUT AND WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THEY CANNOT BE OPENED MANUALLY OR BY USING THE POWER OPERATION FEATURE. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO OPEN IT AND ADJUST IT BUT TOLD US THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN UNLESS WE PAID APPROXIMATELY $1200 PER DOOR TO REPLACE THE WORN PARTS. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE. *TR

2004 TOYOTA SIENNA ELECTRIC SLIDE DOOR PASSENGER SIDE ON MINI VAN. I WENT TO OPEN IT AND WHEN IT CAME TIME TO CLOSE DOOR, THE DOOR WOULD NOT WORK. I WENT TO DEALER SHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY SAID. TOYOTA HAS MANY BULLETINS ON THIS SAME ISSUE BUT NO RECALLS. IT WILL BE $1800.00 TO FIX IT. NEVER EVEN SAID WHAT HAPPENED. I TOLD TOYOTA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY BASICALLY SAID TOUGH I DON'T CARE PAY THE PRICE AND GET IT FIX. WE WILL NOT STAND BEHIND IT. THIS IS OUT OF WARRANTY. AND BERGSTROMS DEALER SHIP CHARGED ME $100.00 TO EVALUATE IT AND TELL ME IT WOULD COST ME $1800.00. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA WHEN THEY CAN FIX DEFECTIVE ITEMS. *TR

THE DOORS ON MY 2004 TOYOTA MINIVAN HAVE BEEN FREEZING EVERY WINTER SEASON SINCE 2006. CANADA TOYOTA HAS MADE THIS A RECALL ITEM, BUT THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT? I FIND THIS TO BE ABSURD - ESPECIALLY WHEN CHILDREN HAVE TO CLIMB UP THROUGH THE FRONT SEATS TO GET OUT OF VEHICLES. THIS COULD BE FATAL IN AN ACCIDENT IF THE DOORS CAN NOT BE OPENED. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY CLAIM TO USE WRENCH GREASE TO LUBE THE DOORS TO HELP AND PREVENT FROM STICKING. I LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND AND THE DOORS HAVE ALREADY STARTING FREEZING SHUT THIS YEAR (OCT 2009). THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING, THIS ISN'T A CHEAP VEHICLE AND IT WAS PURCHASED FOR FAMILY USE. TOYOTA HAS REALLY FAILED THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WITH THEIR MINIVANS. I WOULD HAVE USED THIS AVENUE TO COMPLAIN YEARS AGO - I HAVE BEEN WASTING MY TIME TRYING TO WORK WITH THE TOYOTA COMPANY. PLEASE HELP *TR

WE HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE CABLE ON DRIVER SIDE OF THE SLIDING DOOR HAS RUSTED/ROTTED AND SNAPPED OFF. WE HAVE CALLED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THE DOORS ARE NOT COVERED. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE DOORS ONLY OPEN PART WAY. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ASAP. JUST PICTURE YOUR CHILDREN TRAPPED IN THE VAN DURING AN ACCIDENT- THESE DOORS ARE TOO HEAVY FOR THEM IN MANUAL MODE. THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY TOYOTA VEHICLES, TO THE POINT WHERE THIS NEEDS TO BE AIRED ON NATIONAL TELEVISION FOR TOYOTA TO STEP UP AND STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES. THIS IS ABOUT SAFETY AND OUR CHILDREN - NOT JUST A BONUS FEATURE. HELP US TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE IN THESE FAMILY BUILT VEHICLES! PLEASE!!! *TR

2004 TOYOTA SIENNA SLIDING DOOR CABLE SNAPPED, CAR WAS PARKED ON HILL AND DOOR SLIDE CLOSED ON RIGHT HAND OF DRIVER WHO WAS ENTERING VEHICLE. *TR

THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE MIDDLE (SLIDING) DOORS OF OUR 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA HAVE FROZEN SHUT EACH WINTER FOR 5 YEARS. AFTER MELTING FREE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR CAME SUDDENLY OPEN A FEW TIMES WHILE WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. NOW THE AUTOMATIC OPEN/CLOSE HAS STOPPED WORKING AT ALL. *TR

BROKEN CABLE IN SIDE SLIDING DOORS (AUTOMATIC). WOULD NOT OPEN MANUALLY. CHILDREN STUCK INSIDE HAD TO EXIT THROUGH FRONT DOORS. MANUAL OVERRIDE NOT FUNCTIONING. DEALER WANTS $2,000.00 PER DOOR TO REPAIR. VAN ONLY 4 1/2 YEARS OLD WHEN CABLES BROKE. *TR

THE POWER FUNCTION OF THE AUTOMATIC REAR SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR HAS FAILED. THE CABLE THAT ATTACHES TO THE MOTOR FOR THIS DEVICE SNAPPED AND WAS EXPOSED CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT OF CABLE WAS EXPOSED AND HANGING FROM THE MIDDLE REAR OF DOOR. ADDITIONALLY OTHER PARTS OF THE SYSTEM FAILED/BROKE WHEN THE CABLE BROKE AND BECAME LODGED IN THE SYSTEM CAUSING THE DOOR TO REMAIN OPEN. WHEN SOME OF THESE PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SNAPPED WIRE / DOOR MOTOR BROKE THEY WERE EJECTED INTO THE CAR HITTING THE NEAREST RIGHT SIDE CAR SAFETY SEAT WHERE ONE OF OUR CHILDREN SITS. THE COST OF REPLACING THE DOOR PARTS IS PROHIBITIVE. PER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, COST IS APPROXIMATELY $1700 PER DOOR TO REPLACE THE SNAPPED WIRE. THE DOOR WILL NOT BE REPAIRED AND REMAIN NON-FUNCTIONAL. 2006 REFERENCE TSB EL004-04 2009 REFERENCE TSB-0085-09NHTSA NUMBER:10029190 FOR SIMILAR CASES. *TR

AUTO SLIDING DOOR CABLE RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE, LEAVING DOOR INOPERABLE. *TR

WE ARE PLEASED WITH OUR SIENNA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SLIDING DOORS WHICH FREEZES THE LAST 2 WINTERS. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN UNDER THE AGES OF 3 AND VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUES. WHENEVER THE TEMP IS BELOW FREEZING, THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN UNTIL THE TEMPERATURE RISES. I KNOW THAT I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS ISSUE. SHOULD AN EMERGENCY ARISE, I FEAR THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN - HOWEVER I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS ISSUE. OTHERS HAVE BEEN QUOTED FIXING IT IN THE PRICE OF UPWARDS OF $1000. PLEASE MAKE TOYOTA DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO FIX THEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA WITH ELECTRIC SLIDING SIDE DOORS. THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR LOCKED OPEN TODAY AND WOULD NOT MOVE. MY WIFE WAS TAKING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. IT WAS VERY COLD. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE NEAR $2000 TO REPAIR IT. THEY HAD TO CUT THE DOOR CABLE SO WE COULD OPERATE IT MANUALLY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I OWN TWO TOYOTA'S AND WAS PLANNING TO BUY MORE. THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS ISSUE AS I HAVE READ MANY SIMILAR STORIES. *TR

CABLE SNAPPED ON REAR POWER SLIDING DOORS. IT APPEARS THAT THE OUTER PLASTIC COATING DRIED AND BROKE OFF OF THE CABLE. CABLE IS HANGING OUTSIDE OF THE CAR AS I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD. THE DOOR IS VERY HEAVY AND MY CHILDREN ARE UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR THEMSELVES. *TR

THE POWER SLIDING DOOR ON AN '04 TOYOTA SIENNA WOULD NOT STAY OPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. OTHER TIMES, IT WOULD NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, AFTER THE DOOR WAS OPENED IT BEGAN TO CLOSE BY ITSELF HITTING THE PERSON WHO WAS REACHING INTO THE VEHICLE, WHILE THE DOOR WAS CONTINUING TO TRY TO CLOSE. IT TOOK A LOT OF FORCE TO STOP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING. ON ONE OCCASION THE FORCE OF THE DOOR CLOSING BRUISED MY WIFE'S RIGHT ARM. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. SOMEONE COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED, INCLUDING BEING CRUSHED BETWEEN THE DOOR AND PILLAR. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT VISITS OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD. ON EACH VISIT THE TECHNICIAN REPORTED "NO PROBLEM FOUND" OR "WORKING PER DESIGN AND INTENT AT THIS TIME." ON THE LAST VISIT, AFTER THE TECHNICIAN FOUND NOTHING AGAIN, I WENT OUT WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND WAS ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THE PROBLEM. AFTERWARD THE SHOP FOREMAN FOUND THAT THE REAR HINGE BUSHINGS WERE WORN. AFTER THE BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED, THE DOOR WORKED AS IT SHOULD. TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE ORIGINAL 36 MO. / 36,000 MILE WARRANTY, BUT NOT UNDER THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

DEFECT WITH TOYOTA SIENNA POWER DOOR. THE DOOR MOTOR / TRAIN MECHANISM IS PRONE TO BREAKING LEAVING THE DOOR STUCK IN AN OPEN POSITION. THITS MAKES THE CAR UNUSABLE AND/OR VERY UNSAFE. CLEARLY A MINIVAN IS MEANT TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY 2004 SIENNA TWICE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS. THIS CLAIM IS FOR THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT. *TR

DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT STAY LOCKED AND LATCHED. THE FASTENERS THAT HOLD THE LOCKING MECHANISM PLACE PULLED THROUGH THE DOOR SHEET METAL. DEALER STATES IT CANNOT BE FIXED AND A NEW DOOR WOULD BE NEEDED AT $3500. DOOR CAN OPEN AT ANY TIME. *TR

AUTOMATIC SLIDING PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CABLE BROKE. DOOR WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. OCCUPANTS ARE TRAPPED IN VEHICLE. MUST CLIMB OVER FRONT SEAT OR OUT DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR (WHICH ALSO BROKE) TO EGRESS VEHICLE. *TR

SLIDING SIDE DOORS FREEZE SHUT AND CAN NOT BE OPENED WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING. *TR

PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE FROM ANY BUTTONS. TRIES TO OPEN BUT IS LOCKED OPEN OR CLOSED. WHEN DOOR HANDLE IS PULLED FROM OUTSIDE IT UNLOCKS AND WILL OPEN OR CLOSE MANUALLY. *TR