1999 Toyota Sienna Interior & seats Problems

REAR DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN HAND. POWER SLIDING DOOR MOTOR FAILED. POWER SLIDING DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN HAND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329847

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

150,000 mi

DRIVER-SIDE SLIDING DOOR AND THE REAR DOOR ON 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE BOTH WENT OUT OF CONTROL AT THE SAME TIME. BOTH DOORS ARE LOCKED AND DO NOT RESPOND TO REPEATED EFFORTS TO OPEN THEM, BY KEY OR MANUALLY. THE LOCK HANDLE ON THE REAR DOOR IS PERMANENTLY DEPRESSED, I.E., NO LONGER PRESSABLE, NO LONGER ACTING LIKE A MOVABLE PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10323688

Incident

Apr 3, 2010

Mileage

91,000 mi

REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE LEAVING DOOR UNABLE TO BE OPENED. POWER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT WORK LEAVING DOOR DIFFICULT TO OPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245335

Incident

May 1, 2008

Mileage

125,000 mi

THE REAR HATCH HANDLE JUST SNAPPED IN MY HAND AS I TRIED TO OPEN THE HATCH. DEALER INITIALLY ESTIMATED REPAIR COSTS AT $350-$600 BECAUSE THEY HAD TO "BREAK INTO THE CAR." ACTUAL REPAIR COST WAS $250 FOR A POORLY DESIGNED PART. MECHANIC TOLD ME THE DESIGN AND PLACEMENT OF THE HATCH HANDLE IS SUBJECT TO CONSTANT EXHAUST FUMES FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR, WEAKENING THE PLASTIC HANDLE. NO INSIDE HATCH RELEASE IS AVAILABLE MAKING THIS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT THE SIDE DOORS ARE DAMAGED IN AN ACCIDENT. POOR ENGINEERING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10193313

Incident

Jun 11, 2007

POWER DOOR LOCKS HAVE STARTED TO FAIL ON MY 1999 SIENNA LE. THE DRIVER'S DOOR SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEMATIC PART OF THE SYSTEM. THE OTHER DOORS SEEM TO WANT TO RESPOND BUT DRIVER DOOR MAKES A 'CLICK, CLICK, CLICK' SOUND AND DOESN'T RESPOND. KEY USUALLY WORKS TO LOCK AND UNLOCK BUT NOT CONSISTENTLY. DANGEROUS SINCE PEOPLE COULD BE TRAPPED IN VEHICLE DURING AN ACCIDENT, ETC AND OTHER POSSIBLY DANGEROUS SCENARIOS COULD OCCUR. REPORTING THIS SINCE IT MOST LIKELY HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AND WANTED IT ON RECORD. DRIVER AND OTHERS COULD BE TRAPPED INSIDE WHICH IS DANGEROUS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10161849

Incident

Jul 6, 2006

Mileage

55,000 mi

LATCH ON VAN'S BACK HATCH DOOR BROKE DURING OPENING, CAUSING INABILITY TO OPEN BACK HATCH DOOR. NO EXCESSIVE PRESSURE WAS USED DURING OPENING, ONLY THE NORMAL GRIPPING MOTION TO OPEN THE LATCH. WHEN BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP WE PURCHASED VAN FROM, WE WERE QUOTED $350, AS THEY NEEDED TO "TAKE THE WHOLE DOOR APART." WE TOOK THE VAN TO TWO OTHER PLACES FOR AN ESTIMATE, BOTH WHICH THOUGHT THIS WAS A RECALL ISSUE (THOUGH ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE). FINALLY WE BROUGHT THE VAN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO ORDERED THE $45 TOYOTA PART, AND HE WAS ABLE TO PLACE IT IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES WITHOUT TAKING THE DOOR APART. *NM

NHTSA ID

10161452

Incident

Jun 10, 2006

Mileage

92,000 mi

WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE TAILGATE/TRUNK ON MY VAN THE PLASTIC PIECE THAT I WOULD USE TO OPEN THE TRUNK SNAPPED AND BROKE. NOW I CAN NOT OPEN THE LATCH, CHANGE THE LIGHTS THAT ARE A SAFETY CONCERN. THIS PART WAS VERY FLIMSY AND PLASTIC IN NATURE AND WE DID NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY THAN WE USUALLY WOULD DO BUT NOW WE CAN NOT USE THE TRUNK AT ALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10154266

Incident

Mar 20, 2006

ON BACK DOOR OF MINIVAN, THE OUTSIDE HANDLE BROKE WHEN WE SQUEEZED IT TO OPEN. THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. WHY IS THERE NO RELEASE FROM THE INSIDE? THE QUOTE TO FIX IS $275-300. ALSO, ON THE REAR SLIDING DOOR (DRIVER SIDE, NOT AN AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR), THE PUSH-BUTTON LATCH "STICKS" SO THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSING; WE HAVE TO PRY THE PUSH-BUTTON OUT WITH A KEY OR SCREW DRIVER SO THE DOOR WILL LATCH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10142935

Incident

Nov 1, 2005

Mileage

75,000 mi

THIS COMPLIANT IS REGARDING TWO SPECIFIC SAFETY ISSUES WITH A 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA VEHICLE. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE REAR HATCH HANDLE HAS BROKEN. (3 HANDLES SO FAR) THERE IS NO RELEASE MECHANISM FROM THE INSIDE, SO THERE IS NO WAY TO GET OUT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF FIRE OR ACCIDENT DISABLING THE SIDE DOORS. THE PART IN QUESTION IS POORLY DESIGNED AND IS MADE OF PLASTIC. THE PLASTIC HANDLE IS UNDER SPRING TENSION AND ACCUATES A METAL PART TO RELEASE THE DOOR LATCH. THE PLASTIC IS TOO WEAK TO PUSH AGAINST THE METAL PART IN NORMAL USE. THE HANDLE SHOULD ALSO BE MADE OF METAL TO CURE THIS DEFECT. THE LATEST AND SECOND SAFETY DEFECT INVOLVES THE REAR REMOVABLE POD SEATS. THE SEAT TODAY WILL NOT LOCK IN THE NORMAL SEATED POSITION. AN OCCUPANT CAN PULL THE SEAT UP AND OUT OF THE TRACK IF THEY LEAN FORWARD ENOUGH. I WOULD ASSUME IN AN ACCIDENT THE ENTIRE SEAT WOULD FLY FORWARD AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10136146

Incident

Sep 11, 2005

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW TOYOTA SIENNA CE IN APRIL, 1999. FROM THE DAY 1, THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR IS SO TIGHT THAT MY TEENAGE KID COULDN'T OPEN. IT IS NOT SAFE IN THIS WAY. IT FINALLY BROKE. I CALLED TOYOTA USA AND TOYOTA CANADA (TOYOTA USA SAID THIS VEHICLE IS IN TOYOTA CANADA'S DATABASE, BUT I BOUGHT IT AT CHICAGO'S TOYOTA DEALER). BOTH TOYOTA CUSTOMER SUPPORT REFUSED TO CHECK AND REPAIR IT! I BELIEVE IT IS DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10078408

Incident

Apr 22, 2004

Mileage

41,000 mi

BATTERY WENT DEAD SUDDENLY. AFTERWARDS THE DOME FUSE WOULD BLOW INTERMITTENTLY. THIS KNOCKS OUT ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE DOOR LOCK CONTROL WILL NOT WORK UNLESS THE IGNITION IS ON. IT APPEARS THAT THE $250 INTEGRATION RELAY WAS SHORTED BY THE BATTERY FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10056251

Incident

Oct 16, 2003

SLIDING DOOR STICKS. CLEANED AND LUBRICATED DOOR SEALS AND CONTACT SURFACES. DOOR DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE LOOSE OR OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. I AM AFRAID THE DOOR HANDLE IS GOING TO BREAK OFF BECAUSE IT TAKES SO MUCH FORCE TO OPEN THE DOOR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10056250

Incident

Oct 17, 2003

1999 SIENNA PASSANGER SIDE DOOR. WHEN OPEN, IF ACTIVATED BY REMOTE OR INSIDE THE VEHICAL THE DOOR WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSE EVEN IF AN OBJECT IS IN THE PATH OF THE CLOSING DOOR. IT DOES NOT STOP AND WAIT OR WARN YOU IF SOMEONE/SOMETHING IS GOING TO BE CAUGHT IN THE DOOR. WHICH HAS HAPPEND TO MY HUSBAND AND MY SELF.YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEOME ELSE REVERSE THE DOOR TO LET YOU OUT OF IT CRUSHING YOU.THIS IS NOT SAFE. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN GETTING IN /OUT IOF THIS VAN ALL DAY. THE REMOTE CAN BE ACCIDENTIALLY ACTIVATED BY HOLDING IT IN YOUR HAND OR PLACING ITON THE SEAT/FLOOR OF THE VAN. THIS IS WHAT HAPPEND TO US. THE REMOTE IS HYPERSCENTIVE MY PANIC BUTTON GOES OFF ALL OF TEH TIME JUST WHEN HOLDING THE REMOTE. MY HUSABND AND I RECIEVED LARGE SKIN AND MUSSLE BRUSING AND A FEW MOUMENTS OF PANIC.I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SOMEONE WAS NOT AROUND TO DEACTIVATE THE DOOR? *AK

NHTSA ID

10051484

Incident

Dec 13, 2003

THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER DOOR HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR SOME TIME BUT USUALLY WORKED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. AT A CAR MILEAGE OF 77,000 THE DOOR OPENED AND WOULD NOT CLOSE. IT WAS CLOSED WITH GREAT FORCE BUT LOST CONTROL AND AUDIBLE WARNING SIGNALS.THIS CREATED A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH CHILDREN IN THE REAR SEATS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10030860

Incident

Jun 20, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC MY 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE VAN WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR BY A HONDA CIVIC. ALL OCCUPANTS OF THE VAN WERE WEARING LAP AND SHOULDER SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED BACKWARDS CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FORCE FROM THE HONDA STRIKING THE VAN WAS SUFFICIENT TO DRIVE IT FORWARD INTO THE CHEVROLET PICKUP STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE VAN. BEING UNABLE TO SEE OVER THE DASHBOARD OR HANG UNTO THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY TO TRY AND AVOID THE PARKED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE VAN. MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS SEATED IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WAS THROWN ABOUT IN THE BACK OF THE VAN AS HER SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN POSITION, WHEN THE VAN STRUCK THE PICKUP THAT WAS STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE VAN. MY DAUGHTER AND I EXPERIENCED MUSCLE SPASMS FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT. FURTHER AS MY DAUGHTER WAS EXPERIENCING SEVERE NECK PAIN FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, SHE WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL FOR EVALUATION. TS

NHTSA ID

10000513

Incident

Dec 21, 2002

HI, I WAS OPENING THE TRUNK TO MY MINI VAN. IT IS A HORIZONTAL LATCH AND REQUIRES A SQUEEZE TO BE OPENED. UPON SQUEEZING, SOMETHING THAT FELT LIKE BRITTLE PLASTIC, SNAPPED AND BROKE. NOW THE DOOR CAN'T BE OPENED. THE QUOTE TO FIX IT IS $257. I DID NOT USE ANY MONUMENTAL FORCE TO OPEN THE DOOR, JUST A SMALL SQUEEZE. IT SEEMED TO BE A CHEAP PART THAT SNAPPED. I WONDER IF THIS HAPPENS OFFICE. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID SHE THOUGHT THEY HAD REPAIRED ONE OTHER DOOR WITH THIS PROBLEM. OPEN THE DOOR.

NHTSA ID

763538

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

PUSH BUTTON ON BOTH SIDE SLIDING DOORS STICKS IN, PREVENTING LATCHING OF DOORS. HAVE TO JIMMY OUT THE PUSH BUTTON BEFORE THE DOOR WILL LATCH. LUBRICATION HELPS TEMPORARILY, BUT THE PROBLEM WORSENS DURING HOT DAYS. SERVICE DEPT. AT DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE LATCH ASSEMBLY. REPLACING IT, BUT NO GUARANTEE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

747994

Incident

May 1, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY BOTH MANUAL SLIDING DOORS ARE UNABLE TO OPEN FROM INSIDE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST. STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURES RECALL. *AK MANUFACTURER REPLACED LOCKS, THEY PAID FOR LOCKS AND CONSUMER PAID FOR LABOR. *SLC

NHTSA ID

890734

Incident

Jun 15, 2001

SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE, CAUSING DOOR TO SHUT, WHICH COULD BECOME DANGEROUS WHEN PASSENGERS ARE ENTERING OR EXITING VEHICLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER. *AK

NHTSA ID

888720

REAR TAILGATE DOOR UNABLE TO OPEN FROM OUTSIDE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID

886148

Incident

Apr 15, 2001

REAR DOOR LATCHES DO NOT CATCH, PREVENTING DOORS FROM FULLY CLOSING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE LATCHING MECHANISM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

870370

SLIDING DOOR STICKS TIGHTLY. DIFFICULT TO OPEN BOTH FROM OUTSIDE AND INSIDE. DEALERSHIP SAYS SPILLED JUICES BUT NOT. DOOR LATCHES REPLACED RELUCTANTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN! PLEASE HELP. *AK

NHTSA ID

726823