2004 TOYOTA SIENNA Complaints

MY WIFE WAS SHOPPING WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND DOG AND COULDN'T GET THE DRIVERS SIDE AUTO SLIDING DOOR TO SHUT. I ARRIVED AND NOTICED THE CABLE SHEATHING WAS FRAYED APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES IN FROM THE PULLEY SYSTEM. THE DOOR WOULD AUTO SLIDE UNTIL THIS FRAYED PART HIT THE PULLEY, SEIZE AND RETURN OPEN. I MANUALLY TRIED PULLING THE DOOR SHUT THINKING I COULD GET THE FRAYED PART THROUGH THE PULLEY, BUT I GUESS THE TOLERANCES WERE TOO TIGHT AND IT WOULDN'T ALLOW CLOSURE. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO CUT THE CABLE SO I CUT THE TENSIONER CABLE PORTION BEHIND THE DOOR TO ALLOW IT TO CLOSE. AFTER DROPPING OFF AT THE TOYOTA, THEY DEMANDED A $1000 UPFRONT FEE FROM MY WIFE FOR A NEW MOTOR. I AM TRYING TO GET THEM TO CANCEL THE MOTOR PURCHASE SINCE THE MOTOR STILL WORKS, BUT HAVEN'T GOTTEN THROUGH YET. THE LOCKING MECHANISM STILL WORKS (AFTER I CUT THE CABLE AND WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE DOOR). WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, NHTSA NEEDS TO BRING THIS UP TO TOYOTA AND MAKE A RECALL. *TR

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT HAS A TENDENCY TO JAM WHENEVER PUT ON IN A CERTAIN WAY. I HAVE FOUND A WAY TO ALMOST CONSISTENTLY REPEAT IT AND HAVE FOUND THAT IT TENDS TO HAPPEN WITH PASSENGERS OF GREATER GIRTH OR STATURE. DEFINITELY MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN WHEN THE PASSENGER PULLS THE SEATBELT OUT FORWARD TOWARDS THE DASHBOARD TO PUT IT ON. WHAT HAPPENS IS THE BELT FOLDS OVER DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE PIVOT AREA AND GETS JAMMED IN THE GAP RESULTING IN AN INOPERATIVE SEATBELT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES THAT THE SEATBELT TENSION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NOW NOTICEABLY LOWER THAN THE DRIVER'S SIDE. ALSO REPRODUCIBLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BUT HAPPENS LESS FREQUENTLY MOSTLY DUE TO A CONSISTENT DRIVER. DEFINITELY A HAZARD IF IT CAN'T BE UNJAMMED AS THE SEATBELT CANNOT BE FASTENED OR USED PROPERLY. THERE IS ALSO A HIGH CHANCE OF CAUSING THE BELT TO TWIST INSIDE THE PILLAR WHEN TRYING TO UNJAMMING IT THEREBY DECREASING ITS STRENGTH. HAVE NOT FOUND A WAY TO CONSISTENTLY UNJAM IT EASILY AND USUALLY JUST REQUIRES LOTS OF MANIPULATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD POP WHEN BEING OPENED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE WELDING WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AND SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000. UPDATED 06/17/13 *BF

I WAS DRIVING 10 MPH TOWARDS THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT WHEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. I ALMOST HIT A TREE SINCE THE CAR WENT OVER THE CURB. I HAD TO STOP THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON MY WAY HOME THAT NIGHT. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED TOYOTA THE FOLLOWING DAY (1-800-331-4331) AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAD NEVER BEEN NO RECORD OF ANY COMPLAINT WITH A SIMILAR ISSUE ON THE 2004 SIENNAS. BUT TONIGHT , I AM SO SURPRISED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. *TR

THE FRONT SEAT BELTS--ESPECIALLY THE PASSENGERS SEAT BELT, OFTEN BECOME STUCK WHEN EXTENDED BECAUSE OF TWISTING AND FOLDING UP UPON ITSELF. SOMETIMES THE SEAT BELT CANNOT RETRACT AT ALL; MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, BECAUSE OF THE TWISTING, THE SEAT BELT BECOMES JAMMED IN THE FULLY EXTENDED POSITION. THE RESULT IS THAT THE IT THE OCCUPANT ISN'T (ADEQUATELY) RESTRAINED. THIS HAPPENS 5 - 8 TIMES PER WEEK. ALSO A PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE BELT IS NOT RETRACTED, IT FREQUENTLY GETS SLAMMED IN THE DOOR WHEN THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. OVER TIME, THE INTEGRITY OF THE BELT WILL SUFFER FROM THIS. I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE BELT WILL TWIST. IF A PASSENGER LEANS FORWARD AND THEN BACK,THAT IS ENOUGH FOR THE BELT TO TWIST UPON RETRACTION. NOW I HAVE AN IMPROPERLY RESTRAINED PASSENGER AT RISK FOR INJURY IN A MOVING VEHICLE. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT FOR A FATALITY BEFORE ACTING ON THIS. WE REQUIRE OCCUPANTS TO WEAR BELTS FOR A REASON. IT IS THE LAW. IF TOYOTA'S BELTS ARE FAILING, WE LOSE THE BENEFIT OF THE SEAT BELT AND ARE UNPROTECTED. PLEASE SEE OTHER WEBSITES THAT LIST THIS PROBLEM, THE VIN NUMBERS OF THESE CARS ARE SIMILAR. HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/TOYOTA/SIENNA/SEAT-BELT-PROBLEMS.PHP AND ALSO HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2004/TOYOTA/SIENNA/SEAT+BELT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 8/26/13 *CN

DURING OPENING AND CLOSING THE FRONT DOOR ON DRIVER SIDE, IT MAKES A LOUD POPPING NOISE. *TR

UPON PRESSING THE OPEN BUTTON ON THE REMOTE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING REAR DOOR, IT MAKES NOISE BUT DOES NOT OPEN. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION WE REALIZED THE CABLE HAD FRAYED AND THE DOOR GOT JAMMED HALF WAY OPEN. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD TO ASK FOR AN EXCEPTION BUT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COMPLETELY BROKEN THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT! THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE ONLY EXIT FOR REAR PASSENGERS IS NOW THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR UNTIL IT BREAKS AS WELL. RESEARCH SUGGESTS WE ARE JUST BARLEY OVER AND ONLY MONTHS BEYOND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICE FOR THIS DEFECT @ 120K OR 9YRS, LEAVING US TO ABSORB THE ENTIRE 1500-1800$ COST ASSOCIATED WITH REPAIR. *TR

UPON TRYING TO OPEN THE MANUAL, REAR SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, IT ONLY OPEN A FEW INCHES. ALMOST FELT LIKE IT WAS HITTING SOMETHING, PREVENTING IT FROM FULLY OPENING. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL, REPUTABLE MECHANIC, WHO TRIED TO "FEEL" IF ANYTHING WAS STUCK IN THE TRACK. DID NOT SEE OR FEEL ANYTHING IN THE TRACK. AFTER READING SEVERAL TOYOTA BLOGS, INCLUDING THIS SITE, IT SEEMS THAT A SAFETY FEATURE HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THERE IS A SAFETY FEATURE WHICH PREVENTS THE DOOR FROM OPENING COMPLETELY WHEN THE FUEL DOOR IS OPEN. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE ENTIRE DOOR WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN OFF, ACCESSING IT BY REMOVING THE CENTER SEATS AND GOING IN FROM THE OPPOSITE SLIDING DOOR. A COSTLY JOB. THIS IS APPARENTLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I HAVE TWO 9 YEAR OLD BOYS, AND IF WE WERE INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT, ONE OF THEM WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT FROM HIS SIDE...THIS POSES A GREAT DANGER TO MY CHILD. THIS NEEDS FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA.GOV AND A RECALL ISSUED BY TOYOTA! *TR