2004 Toyota Sienna complaints

I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA, PURCHASED NEW, FROM THE PALMER'S AIRPORT TOYOTA IN MOBILE, AL. IN LATE 05, THE BACK HATCH LIFT STRUTS STARTED FAILING. FIRST IT OPENED SLUGGISHLY, AND PROCEEDED TO SHUT SPONTANEOUSLY. THESE FOLLOWING ARE THE 5 INCIDENTS OCCURRING BETWEEN DEC. 05 - JAN. 07: HATCH CAME DOWN ON HUSBAND'S HEAD; HATCH COMPLETELY CLOSED ON MY 9 YEAR OLD SON'S HAND; HATCH STRUCK ME IN THE BACK OF HEAD AND NECK; CAME DOWN ON MY FATHER'S HEAD; AND STRUCK MY BROTHER ACROSS BROW. MY HUSBAND HAS NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM. HUSBAND FILED REPORT WITH TOYOTA US HQ. HOWEVER, WE DON'T FEEL TOYOTA HAS TAKEN THIS SERIOUSLY. WE FOLLOWED UP W/TOYOTA ON GETTING THE PARTS REPLACED AS THEY HAVE DECIDED THIS ISN'T "IMPORTANT" ENOUGH TO ISSUE A RECALL. (WE RESEARCHED MANY SIMILAR CASES ON THE INTERNET). WE WERE TOLD THESE PARTS WERE SO "NEW" NO ONE WOULD HAVE THEM BUT TOYOTA. THE COST WILL BE $400+ FOR PARTS. AS A FAMILY WITH AN AUTISTIC CHILD, WE ARE FORCED TO TAKE MONEY DESIGNATED FOR HIS NECESSARY MEDICAL BILLS TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY! THE LIFTS FAILURE HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR ANYONE TO OPEN. THE DOOR IS UNPREDICTABLE, SO AS A PRECAUTION, I HAVE TO GET MY AUTISTIC SON TO STAND IN THE OPENING WHILE I LOAD MY GROCERIES! I HAVE TO DO IT QUICKLY, BECAUSE THE DOOR IS SO HEAVY HIS ARMS GET TIRED. IF HE IS NOT WITH ME THAN I HAVE TO USE A 5 FT. WOODEN POLE, THAT I CARRY WITH ME FOR THIS ISSUE, TO PROP OPEN THE DOOR. SOON, I WILL HAVE TO LOAD MY PACKAGES TH

2004 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN POWER LIFT GATE CLOSES IN AN UNCOMMANDED MANNER. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH SEVERAL TIMES WITH MYSELF AND MY WIFE WHILE LOADING ITEMS IN THE REAR OF THE VAN. I FEAR THAT IT IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE IF MY WIFE OR CHILD WOULD HAPPEN TO BE UNDER THERE AND NOT MOVE OUT OF THE WAY FAST ENOUGH. *NM

I BOUGHT 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN IN DEC. 2005 AS A USED VEHICLE WITH 28,000 MILE AND MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY STILL IN EFFECT. RIGHT FROM DAY ONE WE NOTICED THAT NAVIGATION SYSTEM THAT COSTS NEARLY $2,000 DIDN'T WORK AS EXPECTED. IT TENDS GO OFF COURSE BY SEVERAL AND SOMETIMES BY AS MUCH 30-40 MILE OFF COURSE. WE TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERS AT LEAST 5 TIMES. EVERY TIME WHEN WE BRING THE CAR TO DEALER THEIR FIRST RESPONSE IS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, BUT WITH FURTHER PRODDING THEY HAVE PUT NEW SOFTWARE AND CHANGED GPS RECEIVER (ANTENNA), BUT THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM , EVEN THOUGH BETTER THAN BEFORE, STILL GETS OFF COURSE BY MILES. MY WIFE WHO DRIVES THE CAR MOST OFF THE TIME IS AFRAID TO GET LOST IN SOME BAD SECTION OF CITY OF PHOENIX, AZ. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET PROPER REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE SYSTEM AS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE A LONG TIME AGO. WE HAVE HAD THE WITH ALEXANDER'S TOYOTA ONCE FOR ALMOST ONE MONTH AND IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. *JB

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

LIFTGATE CLOSES UNEXPECTED WITHOUT ANY INPUT AFTER BEING OPENED. IT HAS CLOSED ON MY WIFE'S HEAD, MY 4 YR OLD, THE BAGGER AT THE GROCERY STORE, AND MYSELF. MY 4 YR OLD HAD A BRUISE ON HER HEAD. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS. IT WAS JUST ONCE IN A WHILE AT FIRST, BUT NOW IT WON'T STAY OPEN AT ALL WITHOUT BEING SUPPORTED BY HAND. I'VE GONE TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE "STAYS" AT A COST TO ME OF SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. NO REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE YET. *JB

2004 TOYOTA SIENNA LIFT-GATE STRUTS ON THE REAR HATCH FAILED. BOTH STRUTS LEAKED, THEN COMPLETELY FAILED CAUSING THE LIFT GATE TO FALL. LIFT GATE NO LONGER STAYS OPEN, BUT COMPLETELY DROPS. *JB

VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. VEHICLE 'SURGES' AT TIMES WHEN BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. SIMILAR TO OTHER COMPLAINTS NOTED IN THIS SECTION, MY SIENNA HAS A ROUGH TRANSMISSION, TIRES OCCASIONALLY SPIN OUT WITH NORMAL ACCELERATION FROM A PARKING LOT, TOLL BOOTH, ETC. REPEATED TRIPS TO DEALERSHIP BRING NO SATISFACTION: RESPONSE FROM DEALER IS THAT VEHICLE IS OPERATING WITHIN STANDARDS. *NM

THE LIFTGATE ON MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA CLOSES UNINTENTIONALLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS PROBLEM STARTED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. IT HAS TRAPPED ME SEVERAL TIMES NOW. I HAVE TO USE THE KEY (IN MY HAND OR POCKET) TO GET IT TO REOPEN. IT CLOSES SILENTLY SO THAT YOU DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS HAPPENING UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. IT POSES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MY WIFE AND KIDS (9 AND 12) IF THEY WERE TO BE TRAPPED. I NOW AM CONSCIOUS OF THIS FAILURE AND WATCH FOR THE DOOR CLOSING AND SIMPLY QUICKLY MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. *NM

1. NOTHING 2. HATCH WOULD NOT STAY UP/ FELL DOWN ON PERSON TRYING TO PUT STUFF IN HATCH 3. DEALERSHIP IS ORDERING PART. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER SEATBELT BUCKLE DID NOT STAY LATCHED. THE RELEASE BUTTON ON THE SEATBELT WAS DEPRESSED A COUPLE TIMES, AND THEN THE BUCKLE LATCHED. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE SEATBELT NO LONGER STAYED LATCHED AT ALL. THERE WAS AN AUDIBLE CLICK WHEN THE BUCKLE WAS FORCEFULLY LATCHED INTO PLACE. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS DIFFICULTIES RELEASING THE BUCKLE AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT. THE BUCKLE WAS FREE OF DIRT AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS. THERE WERE NO PICTURES OF REPAIR INVOICES AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE COMPONENT WAS NOT UNDER ANY RECALL.

I THINK MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA LE HAS A PROBLEM, I CAN NOT CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE. IT'S EITHER TOO TOO HOT OR TOO TOO COLD. IT DOES IT BY ITSELF. IN THE MORNING WHEN I START THE CAR I USUALLY SET THE TEMPERATURE FOR BOTH FRONT AND REAR ALL THE WAY TO HOT POSITION. AFTER 15 OR 20 MINUTES WHEN I START DRIVING THE HOT AIR STARTS COMING FOR FRONT AND IN THE BACK IT STAY TOO COLD. THEN AFTER I REACH MY DISTANCE AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE THEN AFTER A COUPLE OF HOUR START THE VAN HEADING HOME ( TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER STILL IN THE HOT POSITION) IT STARTS TO BLOW HOT AIR BY ITSELF. EVEN IF I TRIED TO PUT THE TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER IN THE COLD POSITION IT STAY THERE BLOWING HOT AIR UNTIL I PARK THE CAR AND SHUT DOWN THE CAR AND LEAVE IT FOR A WHILE. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND HE TOLD ME EVERYTHING LOOKS OKAY AND THERE IS NO PROBLEM. HE DID NOT EVEN TEST ANYTHING) HE JUST TOLD ME WATCH IT AND COME BACK AGAIN. I CHECK ON LINE THERE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THANKS. *NM

INTERMITTENTLY THE BACK LIFT DOOR ON OUR 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE MINIVAN CLOSES UNEXPECTEDLY. SO FAR, NO ONE HAD BEEN INJURED BY THE CLOSING DOOR, BUT WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF VERY CLOSE CALLS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN ONLY THE DOOR HAS BEEN RAISED USING THE REMOTE CONTROL AND MOST OFTEN ON COOL WET DAYS.. *NM

TOYOTA SIENNA 2004 WITH POWER LIFT GATE. OPENED THE LIFT GATE ON THE VAN WE JUST PURCHASED AND THE LIFT GATE STARTED TO COME BACK DOWN HITTING MY WIFE IN THE HEAD WHILE SHE WAS TRYING TO LOAD SOMETHING INTO THE VAN. *NM

THE POWER LIFT GATE HAS TWICE REVERSED OPERATION FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. THE SECOND TIME, MY WIFE WAS ABOUT TO WALK UNDER IT AND ENDED UP HITTING HER HEAD RATHER HARD ON IT. THE VAN IS ALMOST 3 YEARS OLD. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER, WHO INITIALLY SUSPECTED THE CAUSE TO BE SOME SENSORS WITHIN THE LIFTGATE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OR AT VARIOUS HIGH SPEEDS ON NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS, THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING ENGAGED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO UPON EXAMINATION DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR FAILED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN # 10011806 REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER REPAIRS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE LIFTGATE WAS OPENED BUT THE DOOR MALFUNCTIONED AND CLOSED HITTING THE CONTACT ON THE HEAD AND THE BACK OF THE SHOULDER. THE IMPACT OF THE LIFTGATE KNOCKED THE CONTACT HALFWAY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED WHO PROVIDED A CLAIM #.

MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA RUN FLAT TIRES, MADE BY DUNLOP HAVE WORN OUT AT 24,000 MILES. *JB

WHILE LOADING GROCERIES, I OPENED THE LIFTGATE ON OUR 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA AND IT SLAMMED SHUT. APPARENTLY THE LIFTGATE STRUTS HAVE GONE BAD. *NM

REAR POWER HATCH CAME DOWN ON MY BACK 2 TIMES ABOUT AN 1 HOUR APART. ABOUT A MONTH AGO THEY REPLACED THE REAR STRUTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THE HATCH CAME DOWN ON A CAR WASH ATTENDANT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFT GATE MALFUNCTIONED ON A WORSENING BASIS AND ALMOST CLOSED ON THE CONTACT'S HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE REAR SUPPORT DEVICE OF THE LIFTGATE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERS FOR FURTHER REPAIRS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH ON A DRY STRAIGHT ROAD, THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT AND ALARM CAME ON. THE LIGHT WENT OFF, AND THE SAME THING OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THE DEALERSHIP PUT THE VEHICLE ON THE COMPUTER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.

THE OWNERS MANUAL OF MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA INDICATES THAT THERE IS A SAFETY FEATURE THAT TURNS OFF THE LIGHTS AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, IF THE DOOR IS LEFT OPEN. HOWEVER, IT DOESN'T WORK CORRECTLY, AND MY BATTERY HAS BEEN DRAINED NUMEROUS TIMES. *JB

THE POWER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT STAY OPEN WHEN ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE - THE DOOR OPENS FULLY THEN CLOSES IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX IT THREE TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. *NM

1. OPENED REAR DOOR ON 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. 2. THE HYDRAULIC STRUTS FAILED AND DOOR FELL ON MY HEAD. NO SEVERE INJURY. 3. AT THIS POINT, I'M LOOKING TO REPLACE THE STRUTS BUT THE COST IS ABOUT $450. *NM

RUN FLAT TIRES ON MY 2004 SIENNA AWD SHOW EXCESSIVE, UNEVEN WEAR ON OUTER TREADS AS COMPARED TO INNER TREADS ON FRONT TIRES. TOYOTA HAS A CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM TO REPLACE RUN FLAT TIRES WITH UNEVEN WEAR ON AWD MODELS BUT THE PROGRAM IS TOO RESTRICTIVE. MY VEHICLE SHOWED THIS WEAR AFTER 20000 MILES BUT TOYOTA SAYS I HAVE NOT MAINTAINED THE TIRES PROPERLY. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH SO FEW MILES ON A VEHICLE'S TIRES BEFORE AND I HAVE OWNED A LOT OF NEW CARS. *NM

THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR ON MY 2004 SIENNA HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. AT TIMES, WE CAN'T OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE AND OTHER TIMES, WE CAN. ALSO, WE RECENTLY CLOSED THE DOOR WITH THE AUTOMATIC BUTTON AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE CABLE BROKE SO THAT WE NOW HAVE TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR MANUALLY. ALSO, WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE IF WE ARE GOING FROM A STOP POSITION OR A SLOW MOVING (LESS THAN 10 KM/H) POSITION. THE VAN SEEMS TO SLOW DOWN BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I'M LOOKING AT HAVING TO PAY FOR THIS ON MY OWN. I AM DISSATISFIED WITH TOYOTA, I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR ONLY 2 YEARS AND I HAVE HAD THREE RECALLS ALREADY. THIS IS MY 2ND TOYOTA PRODUCT AND MY LAST. *NM

REAR HATCH STRUTS FAILED ON 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA, CAUSING REAR HATCH TO SLAM SHUT. *NM

STRUTS ON TAILGATE FAILED TO KEEP DOOR OPEN. *JB

THE LIFTGATE "SLIPPED", FAILED AND CAME DOWN ON THE OWNER. BECAUSE IT WAS SET FOR AUTO CLOSURE, IT CAME DOWN WITH A MECHANICAL FORCE BEHIND IT. I HAD TO DISABLE THE AUTO CLOSURE BECAUSE OF THIS AND THEN IT JUST CAME CRASHING DOWN BY GRAVITY. IT WOULD START TO SLIP SLOWLY SO YOU DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS HAPPENING, THEN PAST A CERTAIN POINT, JUST CAME FLYING DOWN. *JB

MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAD HER HAND CAUGHT AND HELD IN THE TRAILING EDGE (REAR EDGE) OF THE POWER SLIDING DOOR ON OUR 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA LX WE REVERSED THE DOOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT SHE WAS HELD FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS WITH THE DOOR TOTALLY CLOSED OVER HER MID PALM. THIS LED TO A CUT OVER THE PALM, BUT SHE IS NOW USING THE HAND NORMALLY. I DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANY LONG TERM DAMAGE. I AM A HAND SURGEON BY PROFESSION AND AM CONCERNED THAT THE DOOR HAS NO SENSORS FOR REVERSAL WHEN CLOSING AGAINST RESISTANCE, OTHER THAN SOME SENSORS ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE DOOR IN THE MOLDING. IN MY OPINION, SERIOUS INJURY COULD OCCUR TO ANY LIMB THAT GETS CAUGHT IN THE TRAILING EDGE SINCE THERE IS NOTHING TO SENSE OR PREVENT THE DOOR CLOSING ON A LIMB. I WOULD HOPE SOME SORT OF SENSOR COULD BE PLACED AT THE MOTOR LEVEL SIMILAR TO THE ANTI PINCH MECHANISM OF POWER WINDOWS. I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO TOYOTA AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS LESS THAN ENCOURAGING OR HELPFUL. THE DOOR IS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY AND THIS IS JUST HOW THE DESIGN WORKS. THE DESIGN NEEDS HELP IMO. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN ACCELERATION WAS ATTEMPTED. THE ENGINE WARNING SIGNAL ILLUMINATED. THE PROBLEM HAD REOCCURED FREQUENTLY AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE DEFECT IN NINE TIMES THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT DECIDED TO OBTAIN A SECOND OPINION FROM AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO OBSERVED THE COIL IGNITION ASSISTANCE BURNED OUT AND THE FIFTH CYLINDER WAS MISFIRING. THE SECOND OPINION WAS RATIFIED BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE DEALERSHIP DELAYED THE REQUIRED REPAIRS UNTIL THE VEHICLE REMAINING WARRANTY WERE EXHAUSTED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOW READY TO MAKE THE REPAIRS.

THE LIFT GATE OF THE BACK OF MY TOYOTA SIENNA 2004 FELL PREMATURELY WHILE I WAS LOADING IN THE REAR TRUNK. *NM

A NAIL PUNCTURED THE PASSENGER FRONT RUN-FLAT TIRE ON OUR 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA AWD. TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE. TIRE THEN UNKNOWINGLY DRIVEN ROUGHLY 100 MILES AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO UNEVEN WEAR. VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO COVER ANY DAMAGES, IN FACT, NO SUPPORT FROM TOYOTA WHATSOEVER. TIRES LASTED APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES BEFORE ALL FOUR HAD TO BE REPLACED. AGAIN, NO DEALER SUPPORT. PURCHASED IN OCT 04 FROM REINHARDT MOTORS (MONTGOMERY, AL), WITH CONTINUED LACK OF SUPPORT FROM RICH HENDRICK TOYOTA (FAYETTEVILLE, NC). *NM

I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE HATCH DOOR ON MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA CLOSING WITHOUT WARNING AND CONTINUING TO CLOSE WHEN IT CAME IN CONTACT WITH MY BACK. I WROTE TO MY DEALER (SLOANE TOYOTA IN GLENSIDE, PA) ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN MARCH 2005 (I HAVE COPIED THE TEXT OF THAT MESSAGE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS COMPLAINT), AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER (PERUZZI TOYOTA IN HATFIELD) AND THEY "FIXED" IT, BY REPLACING A SWITCH, I BELIEVE. I ASKED IF THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT AND THEY TOLD ME NO. I RECENTLY SAW AN ARTICLE IN THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER THAT IDENTIFIED THIS AS AN ISSUE THAT HAS INJURED SOME PEOPLE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A THREAT TO CAUSE SERIOUS, POTENTIALLY, FATAL INJURY. TEXT OF MESSAGE FROM MARCH 2005: TO SLOANE TOYOTA SENT VIA E-MAIL ON MARCH 22, 2005 I BOUGHT A 2004 SIENNA FROM MICHAEL LISS AT SLOANE IN MAY 2004. I RECENTLY HAD A PROBLEM OCCUR WITH THE REAR HATCH DOOR CLOSING WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED AND WITHOUT AUDIBLE WARNING. IT CAME DOWN ON MY BACK AND COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED ME. IT DID NOT GO BACK UP WHEN IT CAME IN CONTACT WITH MY BODY, BUT RATHER CONTINUED TO SHUT. WE HAVE SCHEDULED SERVICE WITH LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, BUT I WANTED TO NOTIFY TOYOTA OF THIS ISSUE. I COULD NOT FIND A WAY TO SUBMIT AN E-MAIL NOTE TO TOYOTA CORP., SO I'M SENDING ONE TO YOU. IS THIS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE 2004 SIENNA? HAS THEIR BEEN A RECALL NOTICE ISSUED? THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE PERMANENT INJURY (OR DEATH TO A YOUNG CHILD). *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HYDRAULICS THAT HELD THE HATCH OPEN FAILED AND CAUSED THE HATCH TO FALL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC ASSEMBLY.*AK UPDATED 1/25/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR LOCKED AND WOULD NOT OPEN. THERE WERE SIX WAYS TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE SLIDING DOORS AND NONE OF THEM WORKED. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER THE DOOR WOULD OPEN. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DOOR CLOSED ON ITS OWN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET THE CHILDREN INTO THEIR CHILD SAFETY SEATS. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING WAS TO PUSH ON IT MANUALLY. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

DRIVER DOOR HINGE IS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT IN THE FIRST MODEL YEAR 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. OUR DEALER SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THE ONLY REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE DOOR AT OUR EXPENSE (~$1,000). WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS DEFECT WILL CONTINUE TO GET WORSE AND CAUSE THE DOOR TO EITHER NOT OPEN OR TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE IN AN ACCIDENT. WE FEEL THAT THIS KNOW DEFECT COULD BE REPAIRED AT TOYOTA'S EXPENSE AND NOT THE CUSTOMER'S EXPENSE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE AND IT IS UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT SUCH A COSTLY REPAIR AS A "OWNER MAINTENANCE". WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND HOW WE CAN ENCOURAGE TOYOTA TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WITH THE ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL DID NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A 2-3 SECOND DELAY IN ACCELERATION. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DOES ACTIVATE, IT SEEMS TO SEARCH FOR A GEAR AND WHEN A GEAR S FOUND IT IS USUALLY A LOW GEAR WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LURCH INTO TRAFFIC. UPDATED 10/04/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BUTTON ON THE KEY TO OPEN THE HATCH WAS DEPRESSED AND THE HATCH WENT UP, THEN IMMEDIATELY WENT DOWN AND WOULD NOT STAY OPEN. TO ENSURE THE HATCH WOULD STAY OPEN, THE CONTACT HAD TO HOLD IT UP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE SHOCKS WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE SHOCKS WERE REPLACED.

REAR LIFT GATE OF 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN UPON REACHING FULL OPEN POSITION USING THE AUTOMATIC OPENER WILL REVERSE ITSELF AND CLOSE. THIS EVENT OCCURS WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 50 DEG F. THE LATEST EVENT WAS 8/29/06 THIS EVENT HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM IN THE SHOP. THERE HAVE BEEN NO INJURIES INVOLVED, BUT THE LIFTGATE HAS HIT ME ON THE BACK OF THE HEAD SEVERAL TIMES. *NM

THE RIGHT REAR AUTOMATIC DOOR CLOSURE MECHANISM EXPLODED SENDING PLASTIC SHRAPNEL FORWARDS HITTING MY WIFE IN THE FACE. SHE WAS SITTING SIDEWAYS WITH HER FEET OUT OF THE VAN SHE REACHED BACKWARDS AND PRESSED THE CLOSE BUTTON LOCATED ON THE PILLAR. THERE WAS A BIG NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A ROCK HITTING THE VAN. WE LOOKED FOR DAMAGE TO VAN THEN DISCOVERED THE BROKEN CABLE DANGLING AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. LUCKILY MY WIFE HAD SUNGLASSES ON. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE LIFT GATE WAS OPENED AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE KEYLESS REMOTE, IT FELL DOWNWARD WITHOUT WARNING. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE HYDRAULIC LIFT GATE ARM SUPPORT DEVICE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM LATER RETURNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

LIFTGATE DOESN'T OPEN FULLY. *NM

I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA AND THE LIFTGATE STRUTS HAVE FAILED. NO INJURIES AS OF 8/27/06. *JB

REAR HATCH UNEXPECTEDLY FELL ONTO HEAD. *JB

PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR MECHANISM SOMETIMES CLOSES BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT STARTS TO CLOSE AND THEN OPENS ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR BEGAN DOING THE SAME THING RECENTLY. I USUALLY HAVE TO THROW MY BODY WEIGHT INTO THE DOOR TO ACTUALLY CLOSE IT. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AUTOMATIC. *JB

DRIVER SEAT BELT WILL, AT TIMES, NOT RETRACT DUE TO CLOTH BECOMING JAMMED. *JB

THE LIFTGATE ON MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN, WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH A AUTOMATIC OPENING AND CLOSING FEATURE, WILL SOMETIMES START TO CLOSE WHEN IT IS IN THE OPEN POSITION. ALTHOUGH I REPORTED IT AS ONE INCIDENT DATE PER YOUR FORM BELOW, THE PROBLEM REALLY OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY THROUGHOUT THE WINTER SEASON. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO ALWAYS OCCUR ONLY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING. BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE HIT OUR HEAD ON NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN WE ARE UNPACKING THE CAR FROM THE REAR AND THE LIFTGATE STARTS TO CLOSE WITHOUT ANY PROMPTING FROM US. I REPORTED THE CAR TO THE DEALER ONCE AND THEY TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS. ONCE AGAIN, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE TRIGGERED BY THE COLD WEATHER. TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE LOOSES AND EYE OR POTENTIALLY GETS KILLED BY WALKING FULL SPEED INTO THE CLOSING LIFTGATE. *JB

2004 SIENNA HATCH FAILING (LIFT-GATE STRUTS). *NM

2004 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN TAILGATE DROPS, HYDRAULIC NOT FUNCTION FELL ON MY HEAD IT IS PERMANENTLY MALFUNCTIONING. *JB