2011 TOYOTA SIENNA Complaints

I BELIEVE THERE POTENTIALLY MAY BE A SERIOUS DESIGN CONCERN WITH THE POWER DOORS. DUE TO HAVING THREE SMALL CHILDREN, I HAVE THE CHILD LOCKS ENGAGED ON THE REAR SLIDING DOORS, WHICH ALSO DISABLES THE REAR DOOR BUTTONS FROM OPENING (BUT NOT FROM CLOSING) THE POWER DOORS. THE BUTTONS IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE THE POWER DOORS ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THE CHILD LOCKS, BUT ARE LOCATED ON THE CENTER ROOF CONSOLE, IN EASY REACH OF A CHILD STANDING IN THE SECOND ROW. TONIGHT, IN MATTER OF SECONDS BETWEEN ME EXITING THE DRIVERS SEAT AND WALKING AROUND THE VEHICLE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR, ONE OF MY SONS PRESSED THE BUTTON TO OPEN THE SLIDING POWER DOOR, WHILE MY DAUGHTER STARTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. MY THIRD CHILD THEN PRESSED A BUTTON AGAIN, CAUSING THE POWER DOOR TO SHUT ON MY DAUGHTER'S NECK. FORTUNATELY, THE SAFETY SYSTEM REVERSED THE DOOR, BUT IT INFLICTED PAIN AND TEARS AND LEFT REDNESS ON MY DAUGHTER'S NECK; THERE IS NO APPARENT LASTING INJURY, BUT I AM CONCERNED THE INJURIES COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SERIOUS. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE PLACEMENT OF FUNCTIONAL ELECTRONIC CONTROLS FOR THE REAR DOORS IN EASY REACH OF CHILDREN IN THE REAR COMPLETELY DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF HAVING CHILD LOCKS ON THE REAR DOORS. ALSO RELATED TO THE REAR DOORS, WE HAVE REPEATEDLY EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM REPORTED BY OTHERS OF THE POWER DOORS JAMMING IN A PARTIALLY OPEN POSITION AND HAVING TO BE SLOWLY PUSHED CLOSED MANUALLY (WITH GREAT RESISTANCE), BEFORE THEY WILL FUNCTION AGAIN NORMALLY IN EITHER POWER OR MANUAL MODE. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN THAT COULD IMPEDE THE ABILITY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. *TT

I HAVE LOVED MY 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA FOR 5-6 MOS. NOW. UPON BACKING UP IN MY FLAT DRIVEWAY AREA ON 10/24/11, AT A SLOW RATE TYPICAL TO BACKING UP IN A DRIVEWAY, I FOUND MY VAN PROPELLING VERY FAST STRAIGHT BACK/IN REVERSE. THIS TOOK THE VEHICLE DOWN OVER A SLIGHT HILL OF OUR YARD INTO A LARGE PINE TREE. THE THICK SPRUCE TREE HAS A HUGE HOLE/OPENING/DAMAGED AREA AND MY ENTIRE BACK OF THE VAN IS VERY DAMAGED, ENTIRE REAR WINDOW BUSTED INTO HUNDREDS OF SMALLER PIECES, ITEMS IN THE CAR PROJECTED ONTO THE GROUND BEHIND US. THE LIFTGATE, REAR WINDOW AND BUMPER ARE VERY CAVED IN AND DAMAGED. I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE THIS AS SECONDS OF TOTAL CONFUSION, SPEED, LACK OF CONTROL, SHOCK. I'M FEELING LIKE THE VAN IS "POSSESSED", AND I WILL NOT DRIVE IT AT ALL AGAIN. I DID NOT WITNESS ANY INDICATORS OF ANY ACCELERATOR ISSUES IN THE 5-6 MOS. I'VE OWNED IT. I WOULD BE LYING IF I SAID I WAS POSITIVE I WAS STILL BACKING UP OR IF I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING TO BRAKE AND SHIFT INTO DRIVE TO PULL FORWARD AND OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. THIS HAPPENED SO QUICKLY FOR DOING SOMETHING AT SUCH A VERY SLOW REVERSE SPEED, THAT THE DETAILS IN THAT SECOND IT ALL CHANGED AND ACCELERATED, I CAN NOT SAY FOR SURE WHAT SPECIFICS WERE BEING DONE AT THAT VERY MOMENT OF DRASTIC CHANGE IN SPEED. I'VE ALWAYS LOVED TOYOTAS. WE'VE HAD A FEW NOW. THIS IS THE LAST ONE I WILL BUY BECAUSE I JUST CAN NOT EXPLAIN WHY OR WHAT OCCURRED TO MAKE IT GO FROM SINGLE DIGITS IN REVERSE TO VERY QUICKLY SPEEDING IN REVERSE. I'M TALKING 12 YARDS OF SPACE WHERE IT WENT FROM NORMAL, SLOW BACKING UP TO INCREDIBLY FAST, THEN IMPACT. I CAN'T SAY IF THE CAR EVEN STALLED WHEN IT STOPPED. I CAN'T RECALL IF I SHUT IF OFF. I WAS FAR MORE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING OUT AND CHECKING ON MY 4 YEAR OLD WHO WAS LUCKILY UNHARMED IN HER 5 POINT HARNESS HIGH BACK CAR SEAT. I KNOW IT SOUNDS ODD-IT WAS MORE ODD THAN ANYONE CAN IMAGINE! *TT

THE POWER SLIDING DOORS ON BOTH SIDES STOPPED WORKING. MUST OPEN AND CLOSE THE SLIDING DOORS MANUALLY. NONE OF THE OPEN BUTTONS ON THE CAR OR REMOTE RESPONDS TO OPENING THE SLIDING DOORS. JUST A BEEP IS HEARD WHEN THE KEY IS PRESSED. *TR

ELECTRICAL FAILURE THE CLOCK LOSES TIME WHEN YOU TURN OFF ENGINE THEN WHEN YOU START ENGINE IT WILL GIVE YOU WARNING TO CHECK VSC , SRS AIRBAG IS OFF , RADIO IS OFF TOO. THE AUTIMATIC LOCK IS NOT FUNCTIONING WE HAVE TO LOCK DOORS MANUALLY. THIS IS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE HAVE A BRAND NEW CAR!!! *TR

DRIVER SIDE POWER DOOR IS NOT OPENING ON ITS OWN. WITH VERY FEW MILES THE DOOR REFUSED TO OPEN AND CLOSE ON ITS OWN POWER. AS TIME PROGRESSED THE DOOR IS NOW NOT FUNCTIONAL IN POWER MODE. THE VAN CURRENTLY HAS 20000 MILES. DEALER BLAMED CUSTOMER FOR PROBLEM AS THE CAR WAS "TOO DUSTY". DEALER IS GOING TO ATTEMPT TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY BUT WARNED CUSTOMER IF THE VAN IS CONTINUALLY DRIVEN ON GRAVEL ROADS THAT THE CUSTOMER WILL NEED TO WASH THE CAR AFTER EVERY DUSTY TRIP TO ENSURE THE DOORS DO NOT FAIL AGAIN. THE PASSENGER POWER DOOR IS NOW STARTING TO FAIL. IT WAS NEVER DISCLOSED TO CUSTOMER THAT CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN ON GRAVEL OR DUSTY ROADS. THE CUSTOMER MUST DRIVE ON GRAVEL ROADS DAILY SO THE VAN IS NOW ALL BUT USELESS FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE. ADDITIONALLY THE LACK OF THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR TO OPEN IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR REAR SEAT PASSENGERS. IF THE PASSENGER DOOR WERE TO BECOME DAMAGED IN AN ACCIDENT THE REAR OCCUPANTS WOULD BE UNABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE. *KB

PURCHASED OUR NEW 2011 SIENNA XLE AWD IN JULY 2010, FROM KOONS TOYOTA IN WESTMINSTER, MD. IN EARLY SEPTEMBER 2011, MY WIFE COMPLAINED OF A BAD ODOR IN THE VAN. ON 09/10/11 I COMBED THROUGH THE VAN, THINKING THAT ONE OF OUR CHILDREN HAD SPILLED OR DROPPED SOMETHING THAT WAS CAUSING THE SMELL. INSTEAD, I FOUND THAT THE FLOOR OF THE VAN, UNDER THE CARPETS, WAS SOAKED THROUGHOUT. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER, AND THEY PICKED UP THE VAN ON 09/12/2011. THE FOLLOWING DAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER'S SERVICE ADVISOR, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WORSE HAD BEEN IMMEDIATELY APPARENT: WATER WAS ACTUALLY POOLING UNDER THE CARPETS. HE ALSO SAID THEIR MECHANICS HAD SPEND ALL DAY ON THE PROBLEM AND HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE HOW THE WATER HAD SEEPED INTO THE CAR, AND THAT THE NEXT STEP WAS FOR A TOYOTA REGIONAL SPECIALIST TO LOOK AT THE VAN, THAT WEEK. A FEW DAYS LATER, THAT HAPPENED, BUT THAT TECHNICIAN, TOO, WAS UNABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AS A RESULT, THE DEALER ESSENTIALLY SAID IT WAS MY PROBLEM. I THEN CALLED TOYOTA USA HQ AND, TOO, MY INSURANCE COMPANY (USAA); WITH THE FORMER, I INITIATED A CASE/COMPLAINT, WITH THE LATTER, A COMPREHENSIVE CLAIM. ON SEPTEMBER 22, I SENT TOYOTA HQ A CERTIFIED LETTER WHICH, 1) REQUESTED THAT THE COMPANY REPLACE OR BUY BACK OUR VAN, AND 2) GAVE NOTICE THAT I WAS FILING A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT WITH THE MARYLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CONSUMER PROTECTION AFFAIRS OFFICE. IN THE MEANTIME, MY COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE COVERED THE WATER REMEDIATION EFFORT OF CARPET AND MATERIALS REPLACEMENT, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT THE SOURCE OF THE WATER INTRUSION WAS NEVER DIAGNOSED. ON 10/07/2011, I RECEIVED NOTICE FROM THE DEALER THAT THE "REPAIRS" (I.E., CARPETS, SOUND-DEADENER REPLACED, CAR "OXINATED" (SP?), AND DETAILED), BUT THAT THE SMELL WAS STILL THERE. AFTER ONE MONTH NO ANSWER TO WHY A NEW $40K VAN IS SOAKED INSIDE. *TR

I WAS OUT IN THE FRONT PORCH NEAR MY GARAGE AROUND 7:30PM AND MY SIENNA WAS PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE. SUDDENLY A LOUD NOISE LIKE AN EXPLOSION OF SORT OCCURRED THAT SCARED ME PRETTY BAD THAT PROMPTED ME TO LOOK INSIDE THE GARAGE AND I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE TWO LARGE HOLES SIMULTANEOUSLY ON EITHER SIDE (LEFT AND RIGHT) OF THE REAR WINDSHIELD AND THE GLASS WAS SLOWLY CAVING OUT AND THEN SHATTERED COMPLETELY IN (NOT SPIDER-WEB LIKE) SLOWLY FALLING AWAY INTO THE TRUNK. AFTER COMING BACK TO MY SENSES FROM THE INITIAL SHOCK, I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO SEE IF THEY HAD HEARD OF SUCH FREAK INCIDENTS TO WHICH THEY SAID 'YES'. THEY DID MENTION TO GO TO THE DEALER AND SINCE IT IS STILL BRAND NEW (LESS THAN 9 MONTHS OLD), THE GLASS WILL BE REPLACED UNDER MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. I WENT TO[XXX] IN ARLINGTON, TX FROM WHOM I HAD PURCHASED THE VAN ALONG WITH THEIR DEALER WARRANTY ON TOP OF THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY AND AFTER THEIR SERVICE MANAGER LOOKED AT THE NON-EXISTENT WINDSHIELD WITH SOME OF THE GLASS STILL HANGING ON TO THE EDGES, HE SAID HE CANNOT MAKE A JUDGMENT AS TO WHETHER IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT OR VANDALISM SINCE THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW AS THE GLASS IS NOT IN THE WINDSHIELD ANYMORE (??!!!). I TOLD THEM THAT IF THE GLASS SHATTERS, IT WILL NOT BE INTACT AND YET THEY WOULD NOT BUY MY ARGUMENT. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THEY SAID UNLESS THE DEALER MAKES THE JUDGMENT, THEY CANNOT PROCEED WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD. I SINCERELY URGE THE NHTSA TO INQUIRE THIS INCIDENT SINCE IF IT HAD OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS RISK OF DEATH OR INJURY CAUSED DUE TO THE SUDDEN SHOCK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

VEHICLE WAS IN PARK ON A FLAT STREET. I WANTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD, SO I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE, AND BEGAN SHIFTING THE (AUTOMATIC) SHIFTER TO DRIVE. THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER NEVER MADE IT TO THE DRIVE POSITION. AS I MOVED THE LEVER, THE CAR SHOT BACKWARDS, STRIKING A VEHICLE BEHIND ME WITH TREMENDOUS FORCE. I HAVE HAD THE SAME MODEL CAR FOR OVER 7 YEARS AND NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN. I CANNOT FIGURE OUT HOW OR WHY THE CAR ACCELERATED (FORCEFULLY) IN REVERSE AS I WAS SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. *TT

I HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND COMING FROM THE ROOF OF MY 2011 SIENNA JUST RIGHT AFTER I GOT ONTO A HIGHWAY AND WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH. THE SURROUNDING WAS CLEAR WHEN IT HAPPENED. I CALLED THE POLICE WHO FOUND OUT THAT THE SUNROOF GLASS BULGED UP AND SHATTERED. THE POLICE COULDN'T FIND ANY SIGNS OF ROCKS HITTING THE SUNROOF AND BASED ON THE GLASS BREAKAGE PATTERN SUSPECTED THAT THE CAR'S INTERIOR CABIN PRESSURE MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE SUNROOF GLASS TO EXPLODE AND BREAK. HOWEVER, THE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS ONLY AROUND 65'F, SO IT COULDN'T BE DUE TO HEAT. THE POLICE SUSPECTED THE SUNROOF GLASS COULD BE A DEFECTIVE PART AND ASKED ME TO FOLLOW UP WITH A TOYOTA DEALER. *TR

ON SEPT 14, 2011 WHILE MY SON WAS IN THE SECOND ROW BUCKET SEAT ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE HIS SEAT BELT FAILED. THE FEMALE END OF THE SEAT BELT WHICH IS ANCHORED TO THE FLOOR, SEPARATED FROM THE FLOOR WHILE STILL BUCKLED. *KB