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Question on TSB: Toyota Sienna Door Welds Causing Clicking

109 messages,  Last post on May 15, 2013 at 5:17 PM

You are in the Toyota Sienna Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Van

Messages Page 7 of 12

#55 of 109 Class Action Suit? by snw219

Dec 21, 2011 (5:11 pm)

Replying to: katonmaui (Nov 09, 2011 3:57 pm)
Has anyone started a class action suit, yet?
 
It seems there are two major issues:
 
Driver door weld popping
 
Sliding doors quit working
 
Please, I am ready for a class action, because I have been battling with Toyota USA about this issue and they said the would pay for half, as long as it was determined that it was not our fault. That would make us pay almost $1,000 just for our half alone - not good enough in my estimation if it's a known factory defect!

#56 of 109 Re: Class Action Suit? [snw219] by dimar65

Dec 21, 2011 (9:00 pm)

Replying to: snw219 (Dec 21, 2011 5:11 pm)
I'm in. They know it is a defect that is why they did the TBA and extended the warranty to 100 k miles, or 5 years. Conveniently just under the years this problem seems to show it's ugly face. You think it just needs Wd 40, but no, the problem is huge! Look at how many are affected. How can this be our fault? You would think they would step up and realize that they did a horrible job on the weld and take care of those of us who are affected. No one should have to buy a new door, on a six year old car. We have bought a lot of Toyota cars in our family. I even got my Mother, brother, sister and daughter to buy Toyotas. NEVER AGAIN! I talked to Toyota Care, They could care less!

#57 of 109 new door?? by dimar65

Dec 21, 2011 (9:03 pm)

Oh, and another thing, who knows whether the new door after we shell out 2k is going to have the same problem?

#58 of 109 Re: 2004 Sienna Door Weld Issue [katonmaui] by dimar65

Dec 21, 2011 (10:13 pm)

Replying to: katonmaui (Nov 09, 2011 3:57 pm)
Where did you find the information about it being dangerous? I'd like to know more about my crappy door.

#59 of 109 Re: Class Action Suit? [snw219] by dimar65

Dec 21, 2011 (10:27 pm)

Replying to: snw219 (Dec 21, 2011 5:11 pm)
article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that reveals the automaker will voluntarily fix the front doors on 600,000 units of its Sienna minivan (current model shown above) built between 2004 and 2006. Apparently there may be an issue with the door check mounting panel on both of the minivan's front doors. The door check mounting panel is the piece that keeps the door open, and if the part fails the door can swing freely and unexpectedly shut – obviously a concern for parents with kids. Toyota has traced the problem back to bad spot welds performed at the automaker's Princeton, Indiana factory.
 
Toyota will be sending out letters on Nov. 2nd to owners of said Siennas explaining the problem and offering to fix it. To do so, Toyota will offer what it calls a "warranty enhancement" to these vehicles, covering the cost of these door repairs on Siennas up to five years old with 100,000 miles or less. Though a bad spot weld on the door check mounting panel would normally be covered by the Sienna's standard warranty, that only lasts 3 years or 36,000 miles. Toyota has also said that it will reimburse owners who have already had the doors repaired on their own, in some cases at the cost of thousands of dollars.
 
Curiously, Toyota is not calling this a recall. Of course, what automaker wants to refer to a problem with one of its vehicles as a recall if it doesn't have to? As long as Toyota takes care of the Sienna door problem to the satisfaction of its customers, they can call it a Happy Happy, Joy Joy Service Encouragement Bulletin.
HEY, why didn't I get that letter?????

#60 of 109 Re: Driver door failed hinge!! Class action??? [avprincess] by snw219

Dec 23, 2011 (11:06 am)

Replying to: avprincess (Aug 16, 2011 12:01 pm)
It seems that a lot of us could write what everyone else has written, especially about how poorly and unwilling Toyota USA & the dealerships are at taking responsibility for this. I have contacted the Oregon State Attorney Generals office and they have written back that they are looking into this and have contacted Toyota (not sure if it's the dealership or the main corporation in Torrance, CA or both). We live in CA but are close to the Medford, Oregon dealership. I spoke with the service manager and was treated very rudely, even though I was near tears of frustration (yes, I'm female, my dad passed two years ago and I'm helping my mom with this issue). I ended up calmly saying to the service manager, "I can't believe you're arguing with me about this." Hung up and wrote to the Oregon State General Attorney's office right after.
 
The State Attorney's office wrote back the next day that they're looking into this and to that they are seeing if other people are experiencing the same issue so that they can see if there is cause to take further action. They also stated that they are contacting the company. I sent them links to the forum discussions, youtube videos and hope that they see this is a big issue. I've heard that there are over 3,000 complaints regarding this issue.
 
Toyota USA has agreed to pay half and the service manager thought they were 'generous.' What's generous with leaving us with over $1,000? Generous would be replacing our van with a new van of equal model number - XLE Limited. Can't believe we invested this much money for a poorly made car. Doing the right thing by fully covering the costs, providing a rental car, paying for our hotel expense (we live 75 miles away) would only be doing the right thing - paying only half is actually stealing from our livliehood, when it's a known factory defect issue.
 

#61 of 109 Re: Class Action Suit? [dimar65] by snw219

Dec 23, 2011 (10:56 am)

Replying to: dimar65 (Dec 21, 2011 10:27 pm)
Thanks for posting this. The curious thing is that they know it began with the 2004 models, which would make the five year warranty null and void, as in my case. We have approx 75,000 miles on our van, well under the 100,000 mile mark. This warranty should be 5 years OR 100,000 miles (and not whichever comes first).
 
Yes, they are attempting to make it seem like they are being 'generous' as in our case by paying half. What's generous with leaving us with over $1000 for our half when it's something that was not our fault and beyond our control?
 
Class Action Suit anyone???

#62 of 109 Re: Driver door failed hinge!! Class action??? [snw219] by buknoy

Dec 23, 2011 (11:07 am)

Replying to: snw219 (Dec 23, 2011 11:06 am)
Please let me know if there is a class action on this matter because I have the same problem too. Thank you and goodluck to us!

#63 of 109 Re: Class Action Suit? [snw219] by dimar65

Dec 23, 2011 (9:40 pm)

Replying to: snw219 (Dec 23, 2011 10:56 am)
I just took my car to the local body shop today. He said in the last year, they have fixed at least 50 of these. I don't live in a huge town. That is pathetic. My estimate was just under 2k as my door is definitely not repairable. This just stinks! Had I got a notice in the first place, I would have known to get it in right away. At first you just think your hinge needs to be oiled. Who could ever imagine that you would be needing to replace your whole door because of Toyota's shoddy welds. Getting madder...................

#64 of 109 Re: Class Action Suit? [snw219] by poored

Dec 29, 2011 (3:21 pm)

Replying to: snw219 (Dec 21, 2011 5:11 pm)
 The driver side door on my 2006 Sienna just broke. I will be seeing the dealership tomorrow. I know I am outside the time period. I'm really curious what the Richmond, VA dealership can do?

Messages Page 7 of 12

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