NHTSA Investigation EA06020

UNEXPECTED CLOSING OF POWER LIFTGATE

ON MAY 30, 2008, TOYOTA INITIATED A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE LIFTGATE STRUTS IN APPROXIMATELY 196,000 MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 TOYOTA SIENNA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER LIFTGATES (RECALL 08V-244).THE RECALL WILL PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR VEHICLE OWNERS TO OBTAIN NEW STRUTS THAT ARE MORE ROBUST.BASED ON THESE ACTIONS, THE AGENCY HAS DECIDED TO CLOSE THE INVESTIGATION.WHILE TOYOTA HAS NOT MADE A DECISION THAT THE RECALLED VEHICLES CONTAIN A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT, IN VIEW OF THE RECALL, FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY'S RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ANY FINDING BY NHTSA.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.