1998 Toyota Sienna Body & structure Problems

IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA HAS CREATED ARTIFICIAL OBSTACLES TO PREVENT MY OBTAINMENT OF AN ELIGIBLE REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL (SAFETY RECALL A9E - TIRE CARRIER CABLE) REPAIRS. IN RESPONSE TO THE RECALL NOTICE I HAD THE CABLE INSPECTED THEN CONTACTED TOYOTA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECALL LETTER BUT I WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT. ON OCTOBER 2, 2013 I WROTE TO TOYOTA FOLLOWING THE INSPECTION AND ATTACHED THE ORIGINAL WORK ORDER FROM A TOYOTA DEALER FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF PART NUMBER "51900-08010" AS REQUIRED. I RECEIVED AN OCTOBER 17TH RESPONSE SAYING I NEEDED TO PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THREE QUESTIONS:REASON THE VEHICLE BROUGHT INTO THE REPAIR FACILITY; THE REPAIR FACILITY DIAGNOSES, AND THE REPAIR PERFORMED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE CONCERN. AFTER SEVERAL TELEPHONE CALLS TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AGAIN HAVING THE CURRENT CABLE REINSPECTED, OBTAINING AND FORWARDING COPIES OF THE REPAIR ORDER, PROOF OF PAYMENT, AND OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR WORK PERFORMED BY A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP USING AN IDENTICAL PART NUMBER FOR REIMBURSEMENT ELIGIBILITY, I WAS DIRECTED TO CONTACT THE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP AND OBTAIN WRITTEN INFORMATION ON THE CAUSE OF THE BREAKAGE THAT OCCURRED NEARLY TEN YEARS EARLIER AND THAT I NEEDED TO CONTACT HIM BECAUSE HE WAS NOT RESPONDING TO THE CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICE. I SENT A LETTER, DATED JANUARY 20, 2014, TO HIM BUT NEVER EVEN RECEIVED AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. ALTHOUGH I'VE DONE EVERYTHING REQUIRED, SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONCE, HAD REPAIRS COMPLETED USING THE PROPER PART NUMBER, AS SHOWN ON THE REPAIR WORKSHEET ISSUED BY A TOYOTA DEALER, I'VE BEEN DENIED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO TOYOTA'S OWN DEALERSHIP REPAIR MANAGER'S LACK OF COOPERATION. IF THE REPAIRS WERE NOT DUE TO THE CABLE BREAKAGE AND IF THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS NOT NEEDED, WHY DID THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DO THE REPAIR AND CHARGE ME FOR IT? COPIES - LETTERS AND RECEIPTS WILL BE PROVIDED, IF NEEDED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10621714

Incident

Jul 21, 2004

Mileage

74,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V160000(STRUCTURE) AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE DEALER INDICATED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.

NHTSA ID

10588148

Incident

May 7, 2012

THE PUSH-BUTTON ON THE INSIDE OF THE SLIDING SIDE-DOORS FAILS TO RELEASE. IN THE CASE THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED, THIS PREVENTS TO DOOR FROM CLOSING. IF THE DOOR IS LOCKED, THE BUTTON DOES NOT RELEASE, KEEPING THE DOOR FROM BEING UNLOCKED AND THUS THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365069

Incident

May 1, 2010

Mileage

114,000 mi

THE PUSH-BUTTON ON THE INSIDE OF THE SLIDING SIDE-DOORS FAILS TO RELEASE. IN THE CASE THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED, THIS PREVENTS TO DOOR FROM CLOSING. IF THE DOOR IS LOCKED, THE BUTTON DOES NOT RELEASE, KEEPING THE DOOR FROM BEING UNLOCKED AND THUS THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. THIS CAN BE REMEDIED BY SLIDING A FLAT BLADE UNDER THE BUTTON TO RELEASE IT. THIS AFFECTS THE 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10349422

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BROKE, IN ADDITION TO BOTH OUTDOOR HANDLES FOR THE SLIDING DOORS (TOTAL OF THREE TIMES), AND THE HANDLE FOR THE TRUNK BROKE. FIRST ONE (EXTERIOR SLIDING DOOR) BROKE FOUR YEARS AGO. THEY CONTINUE TO SNAP TO THIS DAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238730

Incident

Jan 15, 2004

SLIDING DOOR HANDLE ON EXTERIOR HAS BROKEN OFF. BROKEN OFF WHEN PULLING HANDLE TO OPEN DOOR. NO HISTORY OF ACCIDENT. PART WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234134

Incident

Jul 1, 2008

Mileage

102,000 mi

DOOR HANDLES ON ALL DOORS HAVE BROKEN OFF. IN CASE OF ACCIDENT, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO ENTER THE VEHICLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. REAR SLIDING DOORS ALSO STICK AND AGAIN DO NOT ALLOW ENTRY OR EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT USE OF A LOT OF STRENGTH WHICH IS DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN IN BACK OF VAN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231985

Incident

Jan 8, 2008

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE SLIDING DOORS LOCKS FREEZE UP AND CANNOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE AND PRESENT A DANGER IF YOU ARE IN AN ACCIDENT AND CANNOT OPEN THE LOCKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228060

Incident

May 1, 2007

Mileage

100,000 mi

CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO OPEN ALL FOUR DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE. ALL THE HANDLES ARE BROKEN. CONSUMER HAS TO GO THROUGH THE REAR HATCHBACK WINDOW TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

10111036

Incident

Feb 5, 2004

1998 TOYOTA SIENNA SLIDING DOOR ON LEFT AND RIGHT GET STUCK AND WILL NOT OPEN. IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OR FIRE MY GRANDCHILDREN WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT. REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF IN MY HAND WHICH WOULD CREATE THE SAME HAZARD OF NOT BEING ABLE TO EXIT. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, AND THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE TRIED. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIIS VERY PROBLEM FROM SIENNA OWNERS. THIS WILL DEFINITELY COST SOMEONE'S LIFE.

NHTSA ID

10086568

Incident

Aug 8, 2004

Mileage

1,500 mi

SLIDING DOORS - BOTH WERE STICKING AND DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THEN PASSENGER SIDE DOOR COULD ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE AND NOW IT CAN'T BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. POWER WINDOW - DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW WON'T WORK AT ALL

NHTSA ID

10071339

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

Mileage

103,000 mi

INTERMITTENTLY SLIDING DOOR WILL STICK EITHER IN THE OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION. WHEN THIS OCCURS EXCESSIVE FORCE HAS TO BE APPLIED TO THE DOOR HANDLES, WHICH RESULS IN HANDLE FALLING APART. THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM IS UNDETERMINED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10034345

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING PASSENGER'S SLIDING DOOR WILL COME OPEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10022721

Incident

Jun 9, 2003

WE HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA. FOR SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS OPENING THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS BECAUSE OF FAULTY SPRINGS ON THE DOOR BUTTONS. NOW THE VEHICLE SPEWS OUT BLUE SMOKE WHEN STARTING UP OR ACCELERATING. THE OIL IS ALSO SLUDGEY. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AFTER HEARING THAT THE BLUE SMOKE PROBLEM IS A RECALL ISSUE, BUT THE DEALER WANTS PROOF OF ALL OIL CHANGES, EVEN THOUGH I CHANGE THE OIL AND FILTER MYSELF. A FRIEND AROUND THE CORNER HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE FAULTY DOORS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10016649

Incident

Apr 28, 2003

BOTH SLIDING DOOR HANDLES BROKE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE WHEN DOORS WERE OPENED, THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM BUT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM. *TS *NLM

NHTSA ID

8023252

Incident

Oct 24, 2002

Mileage

68,000 mi

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH BOTH SLIDING DOORS ON MY MINIVAN. I HAD RATTLES FIXED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS AND RECENTLY TOOK THE VAN IN BECAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WITHOUT PUTTING THE WEIGHT OF MY BODY BEHIND IT. THE DEALER SHRUGGED IT OFF BY SAYING THERE WAS A COKE SPILLED IN THE DOOR. THE DEALER CLEANED "THE COKE" AND THE DOOR IS STILL STICKING SHUT. NOW THE TAILHATCH HANDLE HAS BROKEN OFF AND I CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE TAILGATE. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION. THE VAN FEELS LIKE THE FRONT WHEELS ARE PULLING TO ONE SIDE. I HAVE HAD IT ALIGNED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THE OTHER DAY IT FELT LIKE THE FRONT WHEEL WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE BRAKES WORKED ON (AT MY EXPENSE) BECAUSE THE DEALER SAID I LEFT THE PARKING BRAKE ON ALL THE TIME. I NO LONGER LEAVE THE PARKING BRAKE ON AND THE BRAKES ARE BEGINNING TO SQEEK AND SQUEAL AGAIN. MR

NHTSA ID

767883

Incident

Sep 25, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

764079

Incident

Mar 5, 2002

POWER SLIDING DOOR ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE JAMMING, CAN'T OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, EVEN WHEN TRYING MANUALLY IT WILL NOT OPEN. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

8009809

THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT OPEN UNLESS SOMEONE KICKS THE BOTTOM OR IT IS OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE LOCKING MECHANISM IS OFF ALSO. TOOK TO DEALER. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED AS OF YET. NLM

NHTSA ID

8007807

ON 18 SEPARATE OCASSIONS OUR SIENNA MINIVAN'S AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS TOGGLES LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES. AT ONE POINT OUR 5 YR OLD AND 2 YR OLD WERE LOCKED IN THE VAN. I HAD GOTTEN OUT OF THE DRIVER SIDE, SHUT MY DOOR AND BEFORE I COULD OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR, THE LOCKS LOCKED ME OUT. I HAD TO CALL MY WIFE TO BRING HER KEYS SO WE COULD UNLOCK THE VAN. OF COURSE MY CHILDREN WERE FRIGHTENED AND THANK GOODNESS THE AC WAS RUNNING AS THIS WAS DURING A HOT SUMMER DAY. THE LOCKS CONTINUE "FREAKING OUT" BUT WE NO LONGER SHUT THE DOOR IF WE HAVE TO GET OUT WITH THE VAN RUNNING. I'VE CONTACTED OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND ALL THEY SAID IS I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ALL PARTS, LABOR AND TROUBLESHOOTING TO FIND AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. AND OF COURSE MY 7 YEAR, 100K MILE EXPENSIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS. BEING THAT THIS HAS TURNED INTO A SAFETY HAZARD, MY QUESTION IS; SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY UPWARDS OF $300 FOR THE DEALER TO REPAIR A SAFETY HAZARD WHICH I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR? I AM VERY MUCH RELIEVED THAT CBS NEWS AIRED A STORY ABOUT THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN IN THIS MATTER. SINCERELY, [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

751887

Incident

Apr 15, 2001

CONSUMER STATED THE SLIDING DOOR BUTTON GETS JAMMED INSIDE, AS A RESULT THE DOOR CANNOT BE LOCKED, OR THE DOOR BECOMES LOCKED WHEN BUTTON GETS STUCK, AND THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT SLIDING DOOR WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE.*AK. *JB

NHTSA ID

892544

WHEN BOTH SLIDING DOOR ARE UNLOCKED AND CONSUMER PUSHES BUTTON IN TO OPEN DOOR, BUTTON GETS JAMMED AND DOORS DO NOT UNLOCK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER DID SOME CABLE ADJUSTMENT. BUT REMEDY DID NOT WORK.*AK DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX PROBLEM 3 TIMES. *SLC

NHTSA ID

881732

Incident

Nov 1, 1999

THE INNER SLIDING DOOR RELEASE BUTTON STUCK IN THE DEPRESSED POSITION, THE DOOR HAS BEEN REPAIRED BUT NOW IT RATTLES AND SQUEEKS. NLM

NHTSA ID

785180

Incident

Jul 1, 2000

I HAVE SEEN MOUSE INSIDE MY VAN. I THINK THERE IS SOME OPEN SPACE FROM WHERE A MOUSE CAN GET INTO THE VAN.*AK

NHTSA ID

735048

I AM GETTING RAT INSIDE MY CAR FROM SOME OPEN SPACE COMMUNICATING FROM OUTSIDE.IT COULD BE FATAL WHEN YOU FIND MICE INSIDE YOUR CAR WHILE DRIVING AS YOU MAY GET PANIC.I THINK THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT SHOULD BE FIX BY MANUFACTURER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE ANY FATALITY.

NHTSA ID

734697