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Toyota Sienna Power Rear Hatch

77 messages,  Last post on Jan 18, 2013 at 6:12 AM

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Messages Page 7 of 9

#56 of 77 2005 ~ hatch not working at all by agape1231

May 15, 2010 (8:36 pm)

My 2005 Sienna does not have the power lift option, but the struts have completely gone out. Did receive a recall notice from Toyota a long while back, but disregarded it because it did not apply to me at the time. Well, now it does apply to me. Took my van into local dealership and was informed that recall does not apply to my van - service manager stated that my van has upgraded struts. I do not see how that is possible... I have a base model (with exception of tv). Quoted me price of $900 to have it repaired. Tried to call Toyota HQ, but kept being transferred to financh department (after a minimum of 6 calls). UGH! I am soooo disappointed in the lack of customer service. I have to manually open the hatch and hold it open to use it.

#57 of 77 Re: 2005 ~ hatch not working at all [agape1231] by hondaoddity

May 15, 2010 (9:09 pm)

Replying to: agape1231 (May 15, 2010 8:36 pm)
Go to the www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm website and file a complaint about your vehicle.
 
If you have an extended warranty, it should be covered. If you don't you might be stuck. In my mind, parts like this should fail only after many, many years of service, and $900 to replace the struts is a total rip off. Find out what the parts cost at the service counter at your Toyota dealership, then visit another dealership and see what their parts cost. At most, with a novice mechanic, it should take no longer than an hour of billable time to replace the struts.
 
Filing the report with nhtsa is the first step. Just because the campaign was only for the power hatch does not mean the struts in your vehicle can't have the same defect. This would be a latent defect, BTW, and ultimately should be covered free of charge. Because Toyota had the problem with power hatch cars, they should anticipate the problem with all vehicles using the same pressure cartridge.
 
Good luck.

#58 of 77 Re: 2005 ~ hatch not working at all [hondaoddity] by eddieras

May 16, 2010 (4:32 am)

Replying to: hondaoddity (May 15, 2010 9:09 pm)
not sure if this will help our not - google 'toyota' TSB and struts - or hatch,etc. you may be able to find the original recall notice - TSB = Toyota Service Bulletin. Perhaps this will give you some ammunition. Also, i wonder if there's a way to get your own bulletin again? perhaps in an online account if you're registered at toyota.com?
you can also go to different toyota dealers - if there are more in your area.
good luck!

#59 of 77 Re: 2005 ~ hatch not working at all [agape1231] by cjsmom

May 16, 2010 (11:40 am)

Replying to: agape1231 (May 15, 2010 8:36 pm)
You don't have a power hatchback; but the door doesn't hold open by itself? That is odd; but I do believe the recall was for power hatchbacks. If they sent you the recall, I would think it would include manual struts.
Try another dealer?

#60 of 77 Re: Sienna 2007 XLE AWD [pg2002] by champion555

Jun 13, 2010 (12:18 am)

Replying to: pg2002 (Oct 21, 2007 10:46 pm)
I have the same problem with you. I have 07 Sienna XLE.I'm in Seattle too. My power rear door can not close by using the remote and the switch on overhead console. I have to close it manually.I read many complains about the rear power back door. Anyway,I will have my rear door fix next week.

#61 of 77 Rear Hatch Does Not Come Down by deipert

Jun 16, 2010 (12:56 pm)

I have a 2004 Sienna that is still under the extended warranty. The power rear hatch does not always down automatically. It starts to come down half way and then it goes back up again as if something is interfering with the door. The struts were replaced as part of the recall. The problem shows up more after the van is sitting outside in the sun. A Goodyear technician determined that the motors were weak and needed to be replaced. The Toyota Extended Warranty would not authorize Goodyear to fix this and said I had to go to Toyota. I went to Toyota and they were able to duplicate the problem after I had to show them the problem by going into the shop myself as they requested. After two days I got the car back with a note that Toyota could not diagnose the problem. They want me to come back when the condition worsens. They didn't want to commit themselves to saying the motors were weak as determined by Goodyear.
 
The warranty is good for another year but it seems to be a delay for getting an expensive repair done. What could this problem be? Should I go to another Toyota dealer? Anyone else have a problem like this?

#62 of 77 Re: Rear Hatch Does Not Come Down [deipert] by ateixeira

Jun 16, 2010 (2:00 pm)

Replying to: deipert (Jun 16, 2010 12:56 pm)
They seem to be stalling.
 
I would at least save the documentation that says you reported the problem while still under warranty.

#63 of 77 Re: Rear Hatch Does Not Come Down [deipert] by hondaoddity

Jun 16, 2010 (2:10 pm)

Replying to: deipert (Jun 16, 2010 12:56 pm)
I've had the problem since I had the struts replaced under the "campaign". Only a problem on really hot days. Not a problem the majority of the year here in NJ. I would rather have this problem than have the hatch drop on my head like it did before they were replaced.
 
I suspect the new struts have an "extra" oomph to keep them from failing as soon as the earlier ones. When the weather gets hot, the cartridges get hot and the fluid inside expands causing them to put out more force than normal. Whether the motor is too weak, or the new cartridges are too strong is a matter of semantics because depending on how you look at it, both statements are true.
 
Best thing you can do is contact the NHTSA site and file a complaint. The more inquiries they get, the more likely Toyota will fix it under a recall. This is what happened with the struts in the first place.
 
Good luck.

#64 of 77 Re: Rear Hatch Does Not Come Down [hondaoddity] by deipert

Jun 19, 2010 (11:22 am)

Replying to: hondaoddity (Jun 16, 2010 2:10 pm)
Thanks.
 
I have documentation that I reported the hatch problem.
 
I am going to try another dealer.
 
I will certainly complain to NHTSA and the Toyota zone people.
 
I live in Florida and by mid day the hatch not closing properly is very consistant. When they pull the van into an air conditioned shop the problem goes away but when they see the problem outside they tell me they have to take it inside to diagnose the problem and then they can not do so.
 
Will report back on this later. Thanks for the replies.

#65 of 77 Re: 2005 ~ hatch not working at all [agape1231] by filnterrausa

Jun 23, 2010 (12:51 pm)

Replying to: agape1231 (May 15, 2010 8:36 pm)
I have a 2006 Sienna that also does not have the automatic hatch, and the strut supports recently decided to fail, falling on my wife's head and making her dizzy and disoriented for a good 10 minutes.
 
I remember receiving the recall notice or safety advisory (or something similar) two years ago and unfortunately cannot find it now...I also ignored it because we weren't experiencing a problem.
 
I called the Toyota recall number and they did confirm there was a recall on the hatch rear strut supports but said it didn't apply to my VIN and wouldn't give me any additional info about the recall. They recommended calling a dealer to see if it was still under warranty. My nearest dealer said the part was no longer covered because my extended warranty applies to power train only. Another service station will fix it for $350 parts/labor, Toyota wanted just over $400.
 
Go to the NHTSA website and look up action number EA06020, related to the investigation they did on the automatic hatches. They closed the investigation because Toyota did the recall. I will be filing a complaint with the NHTSA...it is ridiculous that the recall only affected the auto-hatches, as it is the same part that is going out on the Sienna's without the auto-hatch.

Messages Page 7 of 9

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