- #212 of 325
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Re: Toyota Sienna Sliding Door Problems [socal13]
by bvmurphy
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Feb 26, 2009 (10:58 am)
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Replying to: socal13 (Sep 29, 2008 2:00 pm)
Starting about a month ago (right when it turned 100k miles) the driver's side power door started getting stuck closed and would not open. It made a clicking sound like it was trying to open but it was like it wouldn't unlock (even though the orange part of the level still moved inside to indicate it was unlocked). At first locking and unlocking the door a few times would solve the problem and then it would open fine. The problem has become increasingly frequent and now the door won't open at all. Once the door was open it always worked fine and I'm no expert but the cable looked okay to me. I took it to the dealer and they couldn't get it to open and said that everyone with this model has this problem and quoted me $1600+ dollars to fix it - and that's if the door will open again. They also showed me how the replacement motor is a re-engineered part which is further indicative of the defectiveness of the original. I called the 800.331.4331customer service and they just kept saying it has a hundred thousand miles and tough luck. They said I'd have to meet with the District Manager who'd made this decision and that there was no possible way to ever escalate this matter above that individual. I don't buy that. They also refused to give me this individual's contact information. This is wholly unacceptable. I currently own 3 toyotas, the '04 Sienna being the oldest, and have owned a total of 7 of their vehicles. I purposely did not buy a Chrysler because I didn't want to have to deal with this. I have many more cars to purchase in my lifetime and they won't be Toyota's if this is how they're going to treat their customers. I think the time has come for a class action law suit - I don't know how that works, just that I'd like to be a part of it. In the mean time I'll lodge my complaint with the DOT. It seems as though they have no incentive to address this issue as the $3,000 it sounds like everyone is having to spend on their defectice doors is a mighty lucrative income source for them.
Shame on Toyota!
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- #213 of 325
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04 sienna sliding door freezes shut.
by craighere
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Mar 03, 2009 (4:31 pm)
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for those who have had the incredible inconvenience of having their sliding doors frozen shut upon attempting entry, i have a solution.
having tried every lubricant without success, the only solution was the replacing of the door seals with a re engineered part i believe available on 05 models and later.
the new seals work perfectly, but they must be the upgraded ones that toyota came up with in response to the obvious problem.
there should be a toyota campaign for this issue, but there isn't.
i complained to head office, but received no compensation.
here in ontario, canada, the cost was appro. $150 including labour.
not bad, but still, the problem should never have existed in the first place.
maybe if more people contact head office with similar complaints, toyota will listen, and a campaign will surface.
anyways, now that the new seals have been exposed to temps well below freezing for over 2 months now, i'm happy to report that they are doing the job, no stuck doors anymore!
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- #214 of 325
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ODI
by ateixeira
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Mar 04, 2009 (8:01 am)
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Here is a link to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm
If you are right and enough people complain, a recall can be forced.
I dunno, though, my Miata's door froze shut again today, it's pretty common IMO.
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- #215 of 325
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Re: Cable Problem on Sienna Sliding Door [brucehaywood]
by toronto_dave
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Mar 04, 2009 (10:25 am)
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Replying to: brucehaywood (Feb 03, 2009 12:13 pm)
I just had my second cable snap on our '04 Sienna. When I called Toyota Canada, they said that if it had happened within 5 years and 150,000 kilometers, they would help out with the repair. When the first cable snapped, I was 3 months beyond the 5th anniversary. Nevertheless, Toyota refused to offer any assistance. Not only that, the customer service agent was very rude. When I asked her how she would feel having to pay over $4,000 (or 10% of the purchase price of the vehicle) to fix to sliding doors -- her response was that in all the years of driving she has never called a car company asking for financial assistance. In other words, I was a low life for even asking. I found the comment very insulting, especially after she had just acknowledge to me that Toyota was fixing the problem if the vehicle was less than 5 years old because of known problems. THIS IS THE FIRST AND LAST TOYOTA I WILL EVER OWN!! 
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- #216 of 325
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Re: Reviews of Sienna, Odyssee, Grand Caravan [ateixeira]
by mommy2four
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Mar 08, 2009 (4:38 pm)
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Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 29, 2008 10:48 am)
It would be a safety issue if the car was on fire and you had a lot of children in it, like I usually do. Yes, there are reported cases where a Toyota engine has caught on fire! These engines have what Toyota is calling "oil gel". The Sienna's affected are from 1997 to 2002 models. I own a 2000 Sienna and the passenger side sliding door gets stuck all of the time. When I used to pick up the kids after school they would stand outside the door trying to get in, thinking the door was locked. Now I need a new engine and I am just thankful that my engine has not caught on fire, YET!!!
I know this sounds extreme, but so does hearing that you need a new engine (to the tune of $6,000) when your vehicle only has a little over 100,000 miles on it and two payments left!
And to Toronto Dave, you are not the first to feel insulted by Toyota. Their customer service is definitely slipping!
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- #217 of 325
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Re: Reviews of Sienna, Odyssee, Grand Caravan [mommy2four]
by ateixeira
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Mar 10, 2009 (6:40 am)
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Replying to: mommy2four (Mar 08, 2009 4:38 pm)
I know all about the sludge issue with those 3.0l engines ... they extended coverage to 100k miles for owners who can prove they changed the oil at least once a year - are you within those limits?
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- #218 of 325
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Re: Reviews of Sienna, Odyssee, Grand Caravan [ateixeira]
by mommy2four
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Mar 10, 2009 (7:20 am)
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Replying to: ateixeira (Mar 10, 2009 6:40 am)
The coverage is "8 years plus 120 days/unlimited mileage" and they are saying I am out of the warranty period by 100 days. I brought the car to a Toyota dealership multiple times to have the check engine light diagnosed and they said it was just a gas cap issue. Said it happens all the time and there was nothing to worry about. Now the engine smokes on start up and I need a new short block to the tune of $6,000! I've owned 5 Toyotas in my lifetime but I will NEVER buy a Toyota again! Mistakes happen but not backing them up, and blaming the customer for neglect (they won't even take a look at my oil change receipts!) is just plain wrong! This is not over yet, I will keep fighting as long as it takes. The dealer had the nerve to offer to take the car in on trade and when I asked how much would I get for the car since it had so much work that needed to be done he said don't worry, it only smokes mainly when you first crank it in the morning and the engine light can be turned off! Can you believe the nerve of some people?
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- #219 of 325
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Re: Reviews of Sienna, Odyssee, Grand Caravan [mommy2four]
by ateixeira
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Mar 10, 2009 (7:22 am)
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Replying to: mommy2four (Mar 10, 2009 7:20 am)
You have a strong case but the question is do you have the energy to fight it? 
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- #220 of 325
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Re: Reviews of Sienna, Odyssee, Grand Caravan [ateixeira]
by mommy2four
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Mar 10, 2009 (7:55 am)
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Replying to: ateixeira (Mar 10, 2009 7:22 am)
Yes, I do have a STRONG case, and yes, it is tiring but I can and will handle it. I believe that Toyota thinks most people will just give up but I am not like most people. I know I took care of my Sienna and it is now the principal of the matter. We are a hard working, middle class family that purchased a Toyota because we believed in the products reliability and longevity. I was not that bothered by the sliding door sticking from time to time but when you are given the run around for so long about an engine light and then find out it is going to cost as much to fix your car as the car is worth, then there is a problem. No one should have to fight this hard for something like this. Your vehicle is most likely the second biggest purchase you will make in life. Toyota needs to do what is right.
As far as the door is concerned, I spoke with the service manager yesterday and he said it is a cable that needs to be tightened. The cost will be about $75.00 for labor, no parts are needed. Hope this helps anyone on here that was worried about their door.
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- #221 of 325
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Re: Reviews of Sienna, Odyssee, Grand Caravan [mommy2four]
by ateixeira
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Mar 10, 2009 (12:04 pm)
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Replying to: mommy2four (Mar 10, 2009 7:55 am)
Ask them to clean the rubber seals as well.
On my Miata they freeze up in extreme cold, but it's not as bad if they're clean.
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