2001 Toyota Sienna structure problems

“THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SLIDING DOOR HAS SEVERAL TIMES NOW REFUSED TO LATCH, AND WHEN IN EMERGENCY SITUATION I HAVE LOCKED IT AND FORCED IT TO SHUT THEN IT WILL NOT UNLOCK AND IT HAS TO BE TAKEN APART TO BE OPENED AND THE WHOLE LATCH AND LOCK MECHANISM REWORKED BY THE MECHANIC, AND IN THE MEANTIME THE DOOR IS UNABLE TO BE OPENED WHICH IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE WHEN I HAVE CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE AND BACK ROWS OF THE VAN. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN THE PAST 3 YEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED, SO IT IS DEFINITELY AN ACTUAL PROBLEM WITH THE HARDWARE OF THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM ITSELF AND NOT SIMPLY A GLITCH THAT OCCURRED ONCE OR SOMETHING.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HOOD WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND UNLATCHED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”

“THE STEEL CABLE FOR THE POWER SLIDING DOOR SNAPPED WHILE DOOR WAS BEING OPENED ELECTRONICALLY. THE RIGHT SIDE SLIDING DOOR WAS UNABLE TO OPEN WIDER THAN A FOOT SINCE THE CABLE SNAPPED WHILE IN OPERATION. PASSENGERS, INCLUDING CHILDREN, HAD TO EXIT THE PARKED VEHICLE THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE DOOR REMAINED INOPERABLE UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO CUT THE REMAINING LENGTH OF STEEL CABLE HANGING FROM THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROADWAY WITH WIRE CUTTERS. THE DOOR NOW IS A MANUAL SLIDING DOOR UNTIL THE ENTIRE MOTOR AND STEEL CABLE SYSTEM CAN BE REPLACED. *TR”

“THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOORS FAILED TO OPEN DUE TO BREAKAGE OF THE CABLE. I AM UNCERTAIN OF WHETHER THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS WERE ENGAGED, HOWEVER, THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN WIDER THAN APPROX. 6". REAR PASSENGERS HAD TO CRAWL OUT OF THE VAN VIA THE DRIVER'S OR FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. I AM ELATED THAT THE FAILURE OF THE DOORS DID NOT OCCUR DURING A HAZARDOUS CONDITION, SINCE THIS WOULD HAVE PLACED THE REAR OCCUPANTS IN EXTREME DANGER. IF TOYOTA AND NHTSA WAS AWARE THAT THERE IS A FAILURE IN THE CABLES AND THE MANUAL RELEASE OF THE REAR DOORS, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY ALERT AND/OR RECALL OF THE VEHICLES FOR REPAIR OF THE VANS. THE FAILURE OF THE DOORS IS NOT SIMPLY A MATTER OF COSMETIC ISSUES, IT IS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS AND LIFE THREATENING. AT A MINIMUM, THE DOORS SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED FOR MANUAL OPENING AND CLOSING, IF THE CABLES SHOULD BREAK. THE BREAKING OF THE CABLE, ALONG WITH THE INABILITY TO OPEN THE DOOR IS A DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP, SINCE THE DOOR DID NOT OPEN TO ALLOW THE PASSENGERS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. I AM REQUESTING, ALONG WITH ALL OF THE OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE REGISTERED COMPLAINTS, THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. AT A MINIMUM, THE…”

“I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE IN 2001. THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR HAS GIVEN US PROBLEM SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. WE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME POWER DOOR ISSUE AT LEAST 11 TIMES. THEY NOW WANT TO CHARGE ME. THE NTSB SHOULD FORCE A RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE AND NOW IT WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL EITHER BY REMOTE OR MANUALLY. *KB”

“I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE IN 2001. THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR HAS GIVEN US PROBLEMS SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. WE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME POWER DOOR ISSUE AT LEAST 11 TIMES. THEY NOW WANT TO CHARGE ME. THE NTSB SHOULD FORCE A RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE AND NOW IT WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL EITHER BY REMOTE OR MANUALLY. WE PURCHASED THE DUAL POWER SLIDERS AS A CONVENIENCE AND NOW WE HAVE INCONVENIENCE. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THE DOOR PROPERLY FOR YEARS, WE HAVE NEVER HAD THE BENEFIT OF THE POWER SLIDING DOORS THAT WE PAID FOR. I WOULD REQUEST THAT THE GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATE THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE VARIOUS BLOGS FOR THE SAME ISSUE DESCRIBED HERE. WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER TEN YEARS WITHOUT A RESOLUTION PROVIDED BY TOYOTA. THE DOORS STILL DO NOT FUNCTION. TOYOTA DOES NOT CARE. *KB”