2009 Toyota Sienna ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The rear passenger side sliding door cable and motor assembly on the Toyota Sienna failed, causing the door to become completely inoperative (cannot open nor close) and the broken cable nearly cut my wife as it broke under tension and came flying out toward her as she was trying to close the door normally. The cable and motor had been replaced in 2015. The cable and motor on the rear driver side sliding door was also replaced in 2013 and 2017. The problem was confirmed by Woburn Toyota (dealer) and reported to the manufacturer. The manufacturer has confirmed the failure and safety defect, but refuses to provide repairs. No warnings were provided, no recall was issued, and customers were not notified of internal safety bulletin POL12-02 issued by Toyota.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: REGARDING CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM (ZTS): WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT FOR REAR SLIDING DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLIES ON CERTAIN 2004-2010MY SIENNA VEHICLES AND POWER SLIDING DOOR CABLE ASSEMBLY ON CERTAIN 2004-2007MY SIENNA VEHICLES. I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT MY 2009 SIENNA SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION. A FEW YEARS AGO OUR CABLE SNAPPED ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALER AND TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT MY MODEL YEAR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE ABLE ASSEMBLY ISSUE. I WAS QUOTED APPROXIMATELY $2K FOR THIS REPAIR. WELL, WITH THE CRAZINESS OF THE PANDEMIC, I DECIDED TO DO THIS REPAIR MYSELF. I PURCHASED THE ATTACHED PARTS LIST IN THE SCAN MYSELF. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE IMAGES: THERE ARE SCREWS MISSING AROUND THE PULLEY SYSTEM, THE CABLE CRACKED THE HOUSING AND PROCEEDED TO TEAR UP THE SOUND INSULATION. THANKFULLY THE CABLE DID NOT HARM ANY OTHER KEY AREAS OF THE DOOR. THIS BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE 2009 MODEL YEAR IS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING. I AM SURE THERE ARE OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE.
BOTH SLIDING DOOR CABLES HAVE BROKEN UNDER NORMAL USE AND WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BY TOYOTA. THE GENUINE TOYOTA REPLACEMENT CABLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS BROKEN A SECOND TIME, INCLUDING DAMAGING THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY. THE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN OR CLOSE PROPERLY AND TEMPORARILY TRAPPED MY DAUGHTER INSIDE WHO DID NOT KNOW HOW TO OPEN THE DOOR BESIDES USING THE DOOR OPEN BUTTONS AND HANDLE. ONE DAUGHTER WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN THE CABLE SNAPPED AND IT NEARLY CUT HER NECK (IT CAME ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM HER NECK WHEN IT SNAPPED OUT OF THE TRACK). THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AT TOYOTA WHERE THE PLASTIC COATING BREAKS ALLOWING THE CABLE TO RUST. HAVING INOPERATIVE OR IMPROPERLY OPERATING DOORS CREATES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK, INCLUDING VEHICLE ENTRAPMENT AND INABILITY TO ENTER/EGRESS FROM THE NON-TRAFFIC SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. *TR
PASSENGER POWER SLIDING DOOR CABLE BROKE. *TR
LEFT AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR CABLE SNAPPED AFTER THE RIGHT DOOR CABLE SNAPPED TWO MONTHS PRIOR RIGHT AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. TOYOTA FIXED THE FIRST PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX THE OTHER DOOR AND WANTS $2000 TO FIX IT. THE CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND TOYOTA KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUE BUT WILL NOT HELP. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. MY CHILD WAS SEAT BELTED IN WHEN THE CABLE SNAPPED AND IT WHIPPED AROUND AND ALMOST HIT HER IN THE HEAD. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO MAKE IT RIGHT. *JS
POWER DOORS NOT WORKING WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE ON AUTO ALL THE TIME OR ON MANUAL NOW DRIVERS SIDE CABLES HAVE BROKE. *TR
MY 2009 SIENNA VAN SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. *TR
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2009 Toyota Sienna has 7 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.