2004 Toyota Sienna Latches/Locks

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SLIDING DOOR MALFUNCTIONED AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE TO OPEN AND THE HANDLE BROKE AFTER TRYING TO PULL THE DOOR OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

THE PASSENGER POWER SLIDING DOOR BEGAN MAKING A TERRIBLE NOISE. WHEN WE LOOKED INTO THE MATTER, WE SAW THAT THE MECHANISM THAT CONTROLS THIS IS A CABLE THAT IS EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS. THE CABLE HAD RUSTED AND SNAPPED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY POOR DESIGN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE BUTTON TO ACTIVATE THE SLIDING DOOR, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE DOOR COULD ONLY BE OPENED MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,085 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,055. UPDATED 07/06/12 *BF UPDATED 07/17/12

THE CABLE WHICH DRIVES THE SLIDING DOOR IS COMPLETELY EXPOSED TO ELEMENTS. (YOU'LL FIND IT WITHIN THE GROOVE LOCATED UNDER THE REAR SIDE WINDOWS) THIS CABLE IS MADE OF SOME KIND OF METAL (STEEL? WHO KNOWS.) THEN COATED WITH A BLACK PLASTIC/ACRYLIC/RUBBER CASING (SUCH AS AN ELECTRICAL WIRE). WITH TIME, THE CASING BEGINS TO DRY AND BE BRITTLE, CAUSING IT TO CRACK AND FALL OFF THE WIRE, LEAVING THE WIRES COMPLETELY VULNERABLE TO GETTING WET, RUST, FREEZE, ETC, ALSO RUBBING EXTENSIVELY UNPROTECTED AGAINST THE GEARS. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OR EVEN WEEKS, THE METAL CABLE WIRES SNAP THUS GETTING CAUGHT IN THE MECHANISM. ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER AND THE WHOLE CABLE SNAPS, MAKING THE DOOR JAM ALTOGETHER. *TT

THE CABLE ON THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR FRAYED AND BROKE, PREVENTING THE DOOR FROM SECURELY CLOSING. FOR THAT DAY, THE DOOR WOULD SLIDE OPEN OR SHUT DEPENDING ON HOW I DROVE AND THE ANGLE OF THE TERRAIN. THEN LATER IN THE DAY, THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE AT ALL. I WAS ABLE TO SLIDE IT SHUT ABOUT HALFWAY AND THEN IT WOULD GET STUCK. I FIGURED OUT THAT THE BROKEN CABLE WAS GETTING TANGLED IN THE DOOR, PREVENTING IT FROM CLOSING SO I HAD TO CUT THE CABLE TO CLOSE THE DOOR. A LOOSE DOOR LIKE THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT IS HEAVY AND WOULD SOMETIMES SLIDE BACK ON THE KIDS. THIS DOOR IS A VERY HEAVY DOOR AND CAN EASILY HURT SOMEONE. THE COST TO REPAIR IS PROHIBITIVE SO WE HAVE HAD TO SWITCH THE DOOR TO BE USED MANUALLY, BUT SOMETIMES IT STILL DOES NOT LOCK IN PLACE IN THE OPEN POSITION. *TT

MY COMPLAINT BEGAN AT 110,000 MILES. I BEGAN CALLING TOYOTA IN 2008 WHEN MY PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC DOOR CAUGHT MY DAUGHTERS ARM AND THE SAFETY FEATURE DID NOT REOPEN THE DOOR. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER, I DROPPED MY DAUGHTER OFF TO SCHOOL THE PRINCIPAL WAS COMING TOWARD THE DOOR AND THE CABLE SNAPPED! I HAVE CALLED EVERY TOYOTA COMPANY I CAN ONLY TO BE TOLD IT WOULD COST $3,000 AND "ITS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" REALLY? THE CABLE WAS RUSTED BECAUSE THE CABLE IS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR WOULD NOT SHUT AT ALL, AND COULD NOT BE PUT INTO MANUAL BECAUSE OF THE CABLE. I HAVE TAKEN TO ANOTHERMECHANIC AS TOYOTA HAS NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE, WHEN SOMEONE DIES, THEY WILL FIX IT. I HAVE 6 COMPLAINTS ON FILE AND NOONE WILL HELP ME UNLESS I PAY $3,000 TO FIX A CABLE THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CAR WAS BARELY 4 YEARS OLD. I GOT IT SHUT, AND WITH NO JOB AND BUDGET RESTRAINTS, IT IS NOT FIXED YET. TODAY-5/10/11 THE PASSENGER MANUAL DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM BROKE AND NOW THIS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. I HAVE CALLED 15 PEOPLE FROM TOYOTA, AND ALL THEY CAN TELL ME IS SORRY. IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF THE VEHICLE. MY CHILDREN ARE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE, HAVE TO CLIMB OVER THE SEATS- THIS IS A DEFECT. I HAVE GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND THOUSANDS HAVE THIS ISSUE.I CONTACTED ANOTHER MAN FROM TOYOTA AND HE DIRECTED ME TO YOUR SITE. I WAS TOLD" NO ONE HAD DIED FROM IT, SO ITS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE." I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A TOYOTA AGAIN! SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED BECAUSE THE DOORS WON'T STAY LOCKED, OR SHUT AND IF THE LOCK BREAKS, THE KIDS ARE TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR. I AM NOT GOING TO STOP, I WILL CALL MY STATE REPS, CONGRESSMEN, NEWS ATTORNEY GENERAL UNTIL SOMEONE REALIZES THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE. INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND YOU WILL SEE HOW MANY THIS IS HAPPENING TOO. PLEASE BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST.

POWER SLIDING DOOR LOCKS AND WONT OPEN. ITS A SIMPLE POWER DOOR LOCK, WHEN MALFUNCTION, NO ONE CAN OPEN THE DOOR, AND ITS SERIOUS RISK HAZARD. TOYOTA DEALER CHARGES $700 TO REPAIR A DOOR BECAUSE THEY SAY THE WARRANTY OVER AFTER 30K MILES. *TT

THE POWER STRUTS ON THE REAR HATCH OF MY SIENNA WERE RECALLED AND REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT HOLDING, AND WERE FALLING DOWN ON PEOPLE. MY HATCH RECENTLY FELL ON ME, EVEN WITH THE NEW PART. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, I WAS PUTTING THINGS IN MY TRUNK. THE HATCH SLAMMED DOWN, HITTING ME ON MY HEAD. THIS HAS CAUSED HEAD, NECK AND BACK INJURIES. I AM NOW IN MONTH 2 OF PHYSICAL THERAPY AND REHABILITATION. THE NEW STRUTS ARE NOT THAT OLD AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED, AS THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS COLD. A REPLACEMENT PART FOR A RECALL SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM, NOT CONTINUE IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN UNTIL EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS USED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN THE BUTTON ON THE KEY FOB WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

WE HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA CE. SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE, ANY TIME THE TEMPERATURE IS 32 DEGREES OR LOWER, THE SLIDING DOORS DO NOT OPEN. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE TO GET MY KIDS IN AND OUT OF THE CAR VIA THE BACK TAILGATE. IF THERE WERE AN EMERGENCY AND WE NEEDED TO EXTRICATE OUR CHILDREN OR PASSENGERS QUICKLY, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO SO. *LN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT REMAIN CLOSED AND THE LATCH WOULD NOT CATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE BY THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AFTER THE THIRD FAILURE WHO OFFERED TO COVER THE COST OF THE PART AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE LABOR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR A THIRD REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000.

2004 TOYOTA SIENNA RIGHT SLIDING DOOR HINGE FAILURE AND DOOR POP OPENED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSE AT ALL. DOOR WILL CLOSE BUT WILL OPEN IMMEDIATELY. DOOR WILL STAY COMPLETELY OPEN AFTER TRYING TO CLOSE MANY TIMES. FINALLY MANUAL DOOR SWITCH HAD TO BE ACTIVATED TO CLOSE DOOR. *TR

THE WIRE APPARATUS THAT FUNCTIONS OUR BOTH OF OUR AUTOMATIC SIDE DOORS ON OUR 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA HAS SNAPPED. BOTH DOORS NOW DO NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY AND CAUSE THE ONE OF THE DOORS TO REQUIRE A LOT OF FORCE TO SHUT. MY ONLINE RESEARCH HAS ENLIGHTENED ME THAT THIS IS IN PREVALENT ISSUE ON THE 2004 SIENNA MINIVAN. PLEASE HELP! *TR

POWER DOOR CABLE SNAPPED DURING OPERATION. *TR

AUTOMATIC DOOR STOPPED WORKING. *TR

2004 CERTIFIED USED TOYOTA SIENNA HAS A DRIVER'S DOOR CHECK ISSUE IN WHICH EITHER THE WELD BREAKS OR IN MORE SEVERE SITUATIONS, THE WELD ACTUALLY PULLS OFF THE DOOR REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE DOOR TO FIX IT. THE SOLUTION WAS TO ISSUE A SERVICE BULLETIN EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 5 YRS, 100,000 MI. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED THE DAY AFTER THE 5 YRS WAS UP AND IS WELL WITHIN THE 100,000 MI. WHEN ADDRESSED A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE AS THE SOUND BECAME NOTICEABLE ENOUGH TO TAKE IT IN FOR CHECKING OUT, THE WELDED BRACKET WAS TEARING A HOLE IN THE BODY OF THE CAR NOT JUST A BROKEN WELD. THE DEALER REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF IT ONLY AGREEING TO PAY 1/2 THE REPLACEMENT COST OF $1800. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DANGER BECAUSE IF IT FAILS COMPLETELY, THIS DOOR CAN BOTH COME OFF THE FRAME AS WELL AS SWING UNCONTROLLED AND SLAM BODY PARTS IN THE DOOR. *TR

AT 66,000 MILES, MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR BEGAN MAKING A POPPING SOUND. IT IS BROADLY KNOWN BY TOYOTA THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN CONSTRUCTION AND WHILE THERE IS NOT A RECALL, THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM TO 6 YEARS OR 1000,000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM MANIFESTED ITSELF ONE WEEK AFTER THE CAR'S 6 YEAR PURCHASE DATE. TOYOTA CORPORATION REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DOOR. I WENT TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND FOUND ONE THAT SAID THAT TOYOTA AGREED THAT THE DOOR WOULD BE REPLACED ( WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED DOOR ) AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY HALF OF THE PRICE: $1,700.00 . ISUBSEQUENTLY CANVASSED BODY SHOPS AND MECHANICS IN THE LOCATION OF THE DEALER IN QUESTION AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY KNEW OF MANY VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THEY KNEW THAT DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA WERE FIXING THE PROBLEM WITHOUT CHARGE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHOSE WARRANTIES HAD EXPIRED. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF RENEGOTIATION WITH THE DEALER REGARDING THE REPAIR. IN ANY CASE, THIS IS MY LAST TOYOTA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE WITH THE REAR DRIVER WINDOW OPENED. THE REAR SLIDING DOOR WAS ENGAGED BUT WOULD NOT LATCH IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE DOOR BEGAN TO INVOLUNTARILY CLOSE AND WOULD NOT REMAIN IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR WHEN THE REAR DRIVER WINDOW WAS OPENED. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHETHER ON AN INCLINE OR A FLAT SURFACE. THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,400.

2004 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE 2WD - POWER DOORS DO NOT OPEN OR SHUT (FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VAN) USING EITHER THE AUTOMATIC BUTTON OR DOOR HANDLES. THEY ALSO DO NOT OPEN OR SHUT (FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VAN) EVEN WHEN THE POWER BUTTON IS OFF AND THE DOORS ARE SUPPOSE TO WORK ON MANUAL. THEREFORE, THE PASSENGERS SITTING IN THE BACK CAN NOT GET OUT OF THE VAN. SOMEONE HAS TO LET THEM OUT FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VAN. *TR

2004 SIENNA DRIVER'S DOOR BEGAN TO CREAK AND THEN HAD DIFFICULTY OPENING AND CLOSING. INSPECTION SHOWED THE WELD BROKE. IT WAS NOT REPORTED UNTIL TWO WEEKS AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS OUT, AND THE TOYOTA EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER IT. THEY QUOTED 2,000 TO 2,500 TO FIX IT. THEY SAID THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING, BUT ONLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN YOU HEAR THE CRACKING SOUND, TAKE IT IN RIGHT AWAY. *TR

PASSENGER SLIDING (MANUAL DOOR, NOT ELECTRIC VERSION) DOOR WILL NOT UNLATCH WHEN TRYING TO OPEN. OPENS ABOUT 1/2 INCH, BUT DOES NOT MOVE ANY FARTHER (THIS IS NOT A FREEZE/ICE ISSUE, IT IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME IN WARM WEATHER). LATCH APPEARS NOT TO BE UNLATCHING. IF I PULL REALLY HARD, GRABBING ON THE SLIDING DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE WHILE THE FRONT PASSENGERS DOOR IS OPEN(SO I CAN GRAB THE SLIDING DOOR WITH 2 HANDS), I CAN GET THE DOOR TO FINALLY OPEN. NO WAY TO DO IT WITHOUT DOING THAT. USED TO BE OCCASIONAL, BUT HAPPENING ALL THE TIME NOW. DRIVING WITH DOOR PARTIALLY OPEN IS A SAFETY CONDITION. NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR IN AN EMERGENCY IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HAVING KIDS GET IN ON THE ROAD SIDE OF THE STREET IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

CAR PARKED ON HILL WHILE OPENING THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CABLE SNAPPED AND DOOR SLID CLOSED ON HAND. DOOR CABLE IS A SMALL THIN CABLE THE DOOR MOTOR PULLS ON IN BOTH DIRECTIONS TO OPEN AND CLOSE. CABLE RUSTED THROUGH THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE OR WAY TO INSPECT CABLE. CABLE RUSTED AND BROKE WITHIN DOOR. CABLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL OR SOME NONE CORROSIVE MATERIAL. THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS ONLINE. A SMALL CHILD WOULD BE IN DANGER DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THIS DOOR. *TR

PURCHASED TOYOTA SIENNA LE 2004 (NEW) IN MAY 2004. ALSO PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY "BUMPER TO BUMPER" 60 MONTHS/100,000 MILES COVERAGE PLAN - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY THE DEALERSHIP. JAN.2008 (APPROX.82,000 MILES) THE LEFT, MANUAL PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. DEALERSHIP GAVE REPAIR ESTIMATE $1231 FOR NEW LATCHES, ETC. TOLD "NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY." DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR DUE TO "EXCESSIVE MILEAGE." NOW, THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. WE HAVE TO ENTER/EXIT OUT OF BACK HATCH OR THROUGH FRONT DOORS. THIS DEFECT IS COMPLAINED ABOUT ALL OVER THE INTERNET. TOYOTA MUST DO SOMETHING!!! THESE ARE NOT ISOLATED INCIDENTS!! THERE IS A CONTINUING PATTERN OF THOUSANDS OF SIENNA OWNERS WITH THE SAME DEFECTS. TOYOTA MUST BE MADE TO COMPENSATE/REPAIR THESE DEFECTS!! THEY ARE SHOWING BILLIONS IN QUARTERLY PROFITS...THEN LET THEM FIX THIS! WHAT IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE, ETC. AND THIS DEFECT PREVENTS A SAFE EVACUATION FROM THESE VEHICLES? MUST PEOPLE DIE IN ORDER FOR TOYOTA TO PROVIDE SAFETY & QUALITY CARE THEY ADVERTISE? PLEASE INVESTIGATE! *TR

DEFECTIVE SLIDING DOOR AND CABLE ON 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA: RECENTLY, A CABLE THAT ALLOWS THE SIDE DOOR(S) OF THE VEHICLE TO OPEN AND CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY, SNAPPED IN HALF. THIS VERY WELL COULD HAVE SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE A PERSON WAS STANDING NEAR THE VEHICLE, CREATING A SERIOUS INJURY. WITH THE CABLE NOW BROKEN IN HALF, THE DOOR(S) NOW WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY WHEN EITHER THE VEHICLE REMOTE OR THE SIDE DOOR CONTROL(S) IN THE VEHICLE ARE DEPRESSED. THIS NOW CREATES A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. THE SIDE DOOR(S) ARE ALSO PRONE TO FREEZING SHUT IN THE WINTER. UNTIL ADEQUATE THAWING IS COMPLETED, DOOR(S) WILL REMAIN FROZEN SHUT, ALLOWING FOR LIMITED ACCESS IN AND OUT OF VEHICLE. UPON NOTICING THESE PROBLEMS, I TOOK TO THE INTERNET TO FIND A RESOLUTION AND FOUND THAT IS MORE THAT JUST A RARE OCCURRENCE, BUT A LEGITIMATE PROBLEM. IF YOU COULD PLEASE VISIT HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0EB3FD YOU WILL FIND RECENT BLOGGING OF THESE ISSUES. A TSB NUMBER OF, 0085-09, WAS ALSO NOTED ON THE BLOG INDICATING THIS PROBLEM. ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN GIVE TO HELP RESOLVE THESE MATTERS WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED. *JB

THE RIGHT AUTOMATIC REAR PASSENGER DOOR IN MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA MALFUNCTIONED SUDDENLY, RENDERING IT TOTALLY INOPERABLE. IT WOULD NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY. THEN IT WOULD NOT OPEN. THE DEALER GOT IT CLOSED AND SAID IT WOULD BE $2,000 TO REPAIR AND THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSURE ME THAT IT'S CURRENT CLOSED STATE IS SAFE. THE HAZARD IS THAT THE ONLY DOOR FOR PASSENGERS TO EXIT NOW IS THE SAME SIDE AS THE GAS INTAKE, SO IF THERE IS EVER A FIRE, ALL PASSENGERS WILL HAVE TO CLIMB OVER AND OUT THE FRONT DOORS. THE DEFECTIVE DOOR (IT APPEARS TO BE METAL FATIGUE -- ON A 5 YEAR OLD CAR!) IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN AT ALL. I HAVE READ ONLINE OF MANY, MANY INSTANCES SUCH AS THIS. IN SOME CASES, BOTH REAR PASSENGER DOORS HAVE FAILED WITH THE PASSENGER OCCUPANTS TRAPPED INSIDE. *JB