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Re: Sticking Sliding Doors in the Toyota Sienna
Posted by Charlene Blake on 8/21/07

    On 8/20/07, Tiff wrote:
    > I too am very frustrated with Toyota. I have a 98' Sienna and have
    > broken handles on both my sliding doors and rear hatch door. My
    > doors stick. I can only open the two front doors and one sliding
    > door from the inside. This is truly a safety hazard considering
    > that I have two small kids. I don't feel safe driving my children
    > in this van. The parts are $100 a piece, however, I was quoted
    > $1700 for labor just to repair the handles. I'm considering buying
    > a new van all together. It isn't worth the headache and the
    > hardache that will be caused in the event of an accident and I'm
    > unable to get my kids out. Toyota is truly losing it's sales pitch!

    This is UNBELIEVABLE! Toyota initially told customers that this was
    *their fault*. It said that the owners were SPILLING STICKY DRINKS
    onto the door jam area! Let's not forget that Toyota has been telling
    owners that they don't know how to properly maintain their vehicles for
    years...to escape any liability for the ENGINE OIL SLUDGE widespread
    problem! My understanding is that Toyota had some kind of "secret
    warranty" on the door locks...for the most vocal customers. Check for
    a T.S.B. on that.

    YES! Sticking door locks are a SAFETY-RELATED issue. Documentation is
    essential!

    Here's what I would do right away:

    1) Notify Toyota in writing via CERTIFIED LETTER (ask for return
    response for your records). It doesn't seem to count your case if you
    don't take this very important step! Ask for full repair coverage for
    this KNOWN problem.

    2) Notify the NHTSA via an online vehicle owner report. Go one step
    further then. Formally send this organization a PETITION TO OPEN A
    SAFETY DEFECT INVESTIGATION on the sticking door lock situation.
    Insist that the NHTSA notify you regarding this decision. Remind the
    NHTSA that you are FAR FROM ALONE. Indicate your concern in the event
    of an accident. Remind the NHTSA that these vans are in some cases
    spontaneously erupting in fire on the highway and that sticking door
    locks can be FATAL! Let's not forget that many sludge victims are
    reporting fires in which they narrowly escape under normal door
    operating conditions. Do those victims who didn't make it out of their
    vehicles have a voice now?!?

    3) File online reports of your experience with every consumer
    organization you can find. Start with ConsumerAffairs.com and the
    Center for Auto Safety. Go to the car survey and review sites and post
    there, too. Include RipOffReport.com. Sound the alert for the
    unsuspecting Toyota owners, especially those with small children or
    elderly dependents.

    4) Start a web page or online petition about your experience and invite
    others to come forward to corroborate your story. Toyota is smug that
    Toyota owners won't act collectively. Let's remind Toyota that there
    are more of US than them and we can and will SPEAK UP!

    5) Enlist the help of a consumer reporter in your area. Provide the
    reporter with the information along with pictures, video, etc. that
    will assist him/her. Gather together some similarly-affected Toyota
    owners and let the reporter know that you will act collectively in
    order to get the word out. Ask those similarly-affected Toyota owners
    if they would be willing to speak to the reporter, too. Remember that
    Toyota has BLAMED the owners for YEARS. This is just not right!

    The Sienna has had a STICKING SLIDING DOOR problem for many years. I
    experienced the same thing with the same reaction from Toyota. I had
    the door lock parts replaced when nothing else worked. I did not pay
    for this repair.

    The Sienna has also had an engine oil sludge problem, too, which is
    some cases has led to an engine fire. It doesn't take a rocket
    scientist to figure out how this combination will end! This is a
    FAMILY VAN with major safety-risks in this scenario! Are the Toyota
    owners supposed to gamble with their family's safety?!? Remember, a
    french-fried occupant has no voice!!!

    PLEASE document this condition fully. It is very easy to go on without
    leaving the paper trail (or internet trail). Toyota is hoping you go
    this route. Consider all the others out there and act on behalf of all!

    Charlene Blake
    cblake@erols.com
    charleneblake@cox.net
    Toyota Owners Unite for Resolution: Engine Oil Sludge (and Sticking
    Sliding Doors)

    Toyota Owners Unite for Resolution

     
     

 
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