2004 Toyota Sienna Latches/Locks

THE REAR HATCH OPENS FINE BUT STARTS CLOSING AUTOMATICALLY (IT IS ELECTRIC) A FEW SECONDS AFTER IT OPENS ALL THE WAY WHEN COLD EVEN WHEN NO BUTTONS NOR THE DOOR ARE TOUCHED. *TR

RELATING TO CURRENT INVESTIGATION OF 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA REAR LIFTGATE STRUT FAILURE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: EA06020). MY WIFE HAS A 2004 SIENNA XLE WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE AND THE STRUTS JUST FAILED, CAUSING THE LIFTGATE TO CLOSE AND REQUIRING HELP FROM A FRIEND STANDING NEARBY TO HELP HER HOLD IT UP TO REMOVE OUR CHILDREN'S STROLLER. I LOOKED AT IT THIS EVENING AND NOTICED GREASE AROUND ONE OF THE CYLINDERS WHERE THE SEAL HAD OBVIOUSLY FAILED. WHILE I WAS LOOKING AT THE STRUTS I TOOK MY HAND OFF OF THE HATCH FOR A SECOND MISTAKENLY THINKING THAT THE POWER ASSEMBLY WOULD HOLD IT UP AND IT IMMEDIATELY CAME DOWN AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD, CAUSING LUCKILY ONLY A HEADACHE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AND FINDING THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION I WANTED TO ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF COMPLAINTANTS AND SUGGESTIONS THAT TOYOTA BE REQUIRED TO FIX THE DEFECT AND REPLACE THE STRUTS. NOTE: I ENTERED 2 IN THE NUMBER OF FAILURES BOX SINCE BOTH STRUTS FAILED AND I ENTERED 1 IN THE PERSONS INJURED BECAUSE IT DID HIT ME IN THE HEAD HARD ENOUGH TO GIVE ME A HEADACHE ,AND I AM A 200 LBS MAN. MY FEAR WAS THAT IF IT WOULD HAVE CLOSED ON ONE OF MY CHILDREN THAT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY. I WILL BE SHOPPING TOMORROW FOR REPLACEMENT STRUTS FROM AN AFTERMARKET DEALER BECAUSE IN MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND PEOPLE ON THEIR 2ND, 3RD, AND EVEN 4TH SETS OF STRUTS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. UNFORTUNATELY, MY SIENNA WAS CONVENIENTLY AT 39,000 MILES, 3,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

OUR VAN HAS POWER SLIDING DOORS. IN THE SUMMER OF 2006, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS OPENING WHEN THE CABLE SNAPPED. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO WAS ABLE TO GET TOYOTA TO SUPPLY THE PART ($1,000) AND CHARGED APPROX. $300 FOR LABOR TO INSTALL NEW MOTOR & CABLE ASSEMBLY EVEN THOUGH THE VAN WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (APPROX. 65,000 MILES). IN THE SUMMER OF 2007, THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS OPENING WHEN THE CABLE ALSO SNAPPED. THE SAME DEALER TOLD US TO CONTACT TOYOTA DIRECTLY, WHICH I DID. THEY HAD US GO BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED. CONTACTED TOYOTA AGAIN BUT WAS TOLD THE SAME INFORMATION THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED AND OUT OF WARRANTY. (APPROX. 90,000 MILES) *JB

NO SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OCCURRED UP TO THE FAILURE BEYOND NORMAL EXPECTED USE. DEFECTIVE WELDS ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR STRAP RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE DOOR STRAP MECHANISM. TOYOTA HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *TR

DOOR CHECK FAILURE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THIS CAUSES LOUD POPPING NOISES WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR. *JB

OUR 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE REAR DOOR DOES NOT STAY UP. IT RISES AUTOMATICALLY, HOLDS FOR A SECOND OR SO AND THEN STARTS CLOSING. IT TAKES A LOT OF FORCE TO STOP. IT HAS BEEN DOING IT FAIRLY CONSISTENTLY LATELY. THE FIRST OMINOUS SIGN WAS IN THE SUMMER WHEN IT WAS NOT OPENING AS HIGH AS IT USED TO. *TR

REAR HATCH SUPPORT CYLINDER FAILED. I PURCHASED A NEW CYLINDER AND REPLACED IT MYSELF. AT A COST OF $150.00 FOR ONE. I STARTED TO NOTICE THE PROBLEM WHEN MY AUTOMATIC REAR HATCH WOULD ONLY RAISE THE HATCH HALF WAY AND THEN RE-CLOSE THE HATCH. 2004 SIENNA XLE LIMITED. 45K *JB UPDATED 10/03/07 *TR

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA AND THE POWER LIFTGATE IS CLOSING UNEXPECTEDLY. MY WIFE'S ARM WAS SQUEEZED THE OTHER DAY BECAUSE OF THIS LIFTGATE CLOSING BY ITSELF WHILE SHE WAS GETTING GROCERIES OUT OF THE CAR. *TR

POWER SLIDING DOORS ARE DANGEROUS. SEVERAL TIMES, WHEN PARKED ON SLIGHT INCLINE, DOOR WILL CLOSE BY ITSELF AND HAS CLOSED ON MYSELF AND FAMILY. THE DOOR IS SUPPOSED TO BE DESIGNED TO POP BACK OPEN WHEN IT FEELS RESISTANCE BUT HAS SQUEEZED ME SEVERAL TIMES. ONCE MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, CLOSED THE DOOR WITH THE BUTTON AND THEN GOT HIS HAND STUCK IN THE DOOR. IT DID NOT OPEN BACK UP, I HAD TO OPEN IT, RESULTING IN A DISLOCATED ELBOW AND A BROKEN WRIST (BOTH BONES). I CONTACTED TOYOTA, THEY SENT ME TO THE DEALER, THE HEAD MECHANIC CHECKED IT ABOUT 100 TIMES AND PUT HIS OWN ARM AND HEAD INTO THE DOOR, WHICH OF COURSE DID NOT LEAD TO ANYTHING. NOT TWO WEEKS LATER THE DOOR CLOSED ON MY BODY, AND SQUEEZED ME VERY HARD BEFORE BOUNCING BACK OPEN. I HAVE CALLED TOYOTA, THEY ARE VERY NICE AND APOLOGETIC. I FEEL THAT BECAUSE HE WASN'T INJURED WORSE OR KILLED THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING. *JB

THE LIFT GATE HAS FALLEN UNEXPECTEDLY ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS. MY WIFE, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW AND MY CHILD HAVE ALL BEEN "HIT" ON SEPARATE OCCASSIONS BY THE GATE DURING THIS MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER HAS ADVISED THAT THE STRUTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE CLOSES UNEXPECTEDLY AND ON ITS OWN. SHE STATED THAT IT CLOSES WITH SUCH FORCE, THAT IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO RE-OPEN. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE HAS CAUSED THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND TO SUSTAIN A STRAINED BACK. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

REAR LIFTGATE ON 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA FAILED. IT WAS IN UP POSITION AND SUDDENLY CAME DOWN AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT UP WHILE I WAS UNDER IT LOADING GROCERIES. THE WEIGHT OF THE DOOR HIT MY SHOULDER FIRST AND KNOCKED ME INTO THE BACK OF THE VAN. I WAS THEN ABLE TO PUSH IT BACK UP AFTER I DROPPED THE GROCERY BAGS. THE DOOR CAME DOWN VERY FAST AND FORCEFUL,LY. I WAS SORE BUT VERY THANKFUL THAT MY 4 YEAR OLD WASN'T UNDER THE LIFT GATE WITH ME.*AK

BROKEN WELDS IN DOOR ON DOOR STOP ON 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. I KNOW OF 35 OTHER VANS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS HIT OR MISS IF THEY WILL FIX THIS UNDER WARRANTY. THIS WILL BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE BRAKES AR EINVOLVED. TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE HAS REFUSED TO TAKE COMPLAINTS ON THE PROBLEM. AK

STRUTS ON REAR LIFTGATE FAILED, INJURING MY BACK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE FAILS TO REMAIN OPEN AT THE APPROPRIATE TIMES. WHEN THE LIFT GATE IS OPENED AUTOMATICALLY, IT RAPIDLY FALLS AND CLOSES. WHEN OPENED MANUALLY, THE LIFT GATE CLOSES AUTOMATICALLY AND WITHOUT HESITATION. HE EMAILED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT HAS NOT YET RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATION (PE06029) IN REGARDS TO THIS FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,000. UPDATED 08/29/07 *TR

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA, WHICH OVERALL I LOVE. IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS, THE TRUNK HATCH HAS STARTED TO NOT HOLD WHEN OPEN & RESIST OPENING AT TIMES. IT USED TO HOLD FOR LONGER, MAKING ME DELAY THE REPAIR. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE, SO THAT NOW IT CLOSES WITHIN MOMENTS WITH A LOT OF FORCE. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO REPAIR IT NOW, AT A COST OF $400, OR RISK SERIOUS INJURY TO MYSELF & 3 YOUNG CHILDREN. MY HUSBAND & I HAVE ALREADY BEEN BONKED ON THE HEAD & BACK REPEATEDLY. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, & THE OBVIOUS RISK TO CAR OWNERS (A MAJORITY OF WHOM HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN I WOULD GUESS AS IT IS A MINIVAN), BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. INSTEAD THEY ARE PROFITING OVER THE DEFECT. I DON'T FAULT THE SERVICE DEALER THAT WE DEAL WITH, AS THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HELPFUL & HONEST. I AM UPSET THAT THE TOYOTA CORP. WON'T ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

THE TWO SLIDING DOORS ON MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA KEEP FREEZING SHUT IN COLD WEATHER. DEALER CLEANED AND LUBRICATED THE DOORS BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP. DEALERS NEXT SUGGESTION IS TO REPLACE THE CABLES IN THE DOOR FOR $700/DOOR BUT CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. MY TWO CHILDREN HAVE TO ENTER THE VAN THROUGH THE BACK HATCH. IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED, THE KIDS WOULD HAVE TO CRAWL OVER THE FRONT SEATS TO EXIT THE VAN SINCE THE SIDE DOORS ARE FROZEN SHUT AND THE BACK HATCH DOESN'T OPEN FROM INSIDE THE VAN. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT OPENED THE VEHICLE'S REAR HATCH AND IT IMMEDIATELY SHUT. WHEN THE HATCH ATTEMPTS TO CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY, THE ELECTRIC MOTOR KICKS IN FOR FIFTEEN SECONDS BEFORE IT CAN BE LIFTED UP AGAIN. THE HATCH MUST BE HELD OPEN BY SOMEONE OR PROPPED OPEN BY A STICK. THIS FAILURE OCCURS IN BOTH WET AND DRY WEATHER. THE ENGINE SIZE AND # OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

2004 TOYOTA SIENNA PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR STOPPED WORKING. IT WOULDN'T CLOSE THE FINAL 18 INCHES. I HAD TO BUNGY STRAP IT AND DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE BRACKETS WERE BENT AND MOTOR WAS NO GOOD. IT WOULD COST $1400 TO FIX IT. I TOLD THEM TO CUT THE CABLE OR JUST FIGURE A WAY TO CLOSE IT. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WERE ABLE TO SHUT THE DOOR. I ASKED IF I COULD USE THE DOOR MANUALLY. SHE SAID SINCE I DIDN'T AUTHORIZE THEM TO FIX IT ($1400) THEY WOULD NOT SAY IT WAS OK TO USE. I WOULD BE USING IT AT MY OWN RISK. THIS STILL COST ME $130. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA WITH FAILURE MILEAGE OF 38,000 AND A CURRENT MILEAGE OF 69,000 MILES. TWO YEARS AGO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT COMPLETELY SHUT, IT WOULD BE HALF LATCHED AND HALF UNLATCHED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIRS. AS OF TODAY THAT DOOR WAS WORKING FINE, THEY REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY. PRESENTLY, THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY WITH THE REMOTE OR BY HAND. WHILE DRIVING THE DOOR WAS CONTINUALLY AJAR. HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND HAS A SCHEDULED A REPAIR APPOINTMENT FOR 04/16/07. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DOOR NEEDED AN ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, HIS CASE NUMBER WAS 200704130436. THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIR.*AK

FAILURE OF THE REAR HATCH SUPPORT MECHANISM ,MAKING THE HATCH EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO RAISE, AND WHEN RELEASED CAUSES IT TO CRASH DOWN WITH GREAT FORCE ON TOP OF A PERSON THAT MAY BE UNDER IT.*AK

THE REAR DOOR ON THE 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN CAMER DOWN BY ITSELF. THE MOTORIZED HATCH WENT UP AND THEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY CAME DOWN. I WAS GETTING ITEMS OUT OF THE BACK WHEN IT HIT THE TOP OF MY HEAD. IT KEPT CLOSING UNTIL I HIT THE REMOTE BUTTON , BUT AS SOON AS IT REACHED THE TOP,IT STARTED TO CLOSE AGAIN. I CONTACTED TOYOTA, AND THEY TOLD ME THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND IT WOULD COST $470.92 TO FIX IT. THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE MAJOR INJURY, ESPECIALLY TO A SMALL CHILD. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. *AK

THE POWER LIFTGATE ON MY 2004 SIENNA CLOSES ON ITS OWN AFTER I OPEN IT. THE LIFTGATE HAS STRUCK ME ON THE HEAD AND SHOULDERS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ABOUT A YEAR AGO TOYOTA REPLACED THE GAS PISTONS BUT THE SITUATION HAS REOCCURED, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. TODAY, IT CLOSED ON ITS OWN THREE TIMES.

HATCH ON MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN COMES DOWN BY ITSELF. IT IS THE LIMITED EDITION VERSION WITH MOTORIZED HATCH RAISING AND LOWERING. IT GOES UP AND THEN COMES DOWN BY ITSELF. I WAS STANDING UNDERNEATH AND IT STRUCK THE TOP OF MY HEAD AND GAVE ME A STIFF/SORE NECK. IT DOES THIS INTERMITTENLY, NOT ALL OF THE TIME. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND TOLD ME MY WARRANTY IS OUT OF DATE AND WOULD NOT REPAIR IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE MAJOR INJURY ESPECIALLY TO A SMALL CHILD AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THIS IS NOT LIKE A FAN BELT OR ALTERNATOR WHERE THE FAILURE CANNOT ACTUALLY INJURY SOMEONE. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS BEEN CORRECTED ON THE NEWER SIENNAS THAT STILL HAVE THE SAME BODY STYLE, SO THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW IT WAS A PROBLEM.

REAR HATCH CLOSES ON PERSON WITHOUT WARNING. REAR HATCH DOES NOT STAY OPEN. *TR