2011 TOYOTA SIENNA Complaints

MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER GOT HER LEG CAUGHT IN THE BACK PART OF THE SLIDING DOOR OF A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. SHE WAS INSIDE THE CAR. THE DOOR WAS OPENED. HER LEG FELL INTO THE SPACE WHILE THE DOOR WAS OPENING. THE DOOR OPENED AS FAR AS IT COULD AND CONSTRICTED HER LEG. HER LEG WAS SO TIGHTLY CONSTRICTED WE COULD NOT REPOSITION HER BODY TO OPEN THE DOOR. AVERILL PARK FIRE DEPT AND SAND LAKE AMBULANCE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE. SHE WAS TRAPPED(SCREAMING) FOR 20 -25 MINUTES. HER LEG WAS COLD AND TURNING BLUE BEFORE IT WAS REMOVED. WE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL CONCERNED FOR INTERNAL BLEEDING, BROKEN LEG, AND OTHER COMPLICATIONS. SHE IS DOING FINE BUT I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE DOOR. I'VE LOOKED AT OTHER MINIVANS (EVEN THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL BUT DIFFERENT YEAR) AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE GAP IN THE BACK PART OF THE DOOR LIKE THE 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. UPDATED IVOQ 07/27/11 *TR

THE CAR ACCELERATES VERY RAPIDLY IN REVERSE AFTER A COLD START. A MORNING A FEW DAYS AFTER BUYING THE CAR, I STARTED IT UP, SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, AND SLOWLY RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATE BACKWARDS SO RAPIDLY THAT I THOUGHT I MUST INADVERTENTLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. I PULLED MY FOOT AWAY FROM THE PEDALS BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I SHIFTED INTO PARK, BUT BEFORE THERE WAS ANY CHANGE IN SPEED THE CAR CRASHED INTO MY NEIGHBOR'S CAR ACROSS THE STREET, CAUSING OVER $5,000 IN DAMAGE. IF THERE HAD BEEN SOMEONE STANDING ACROSS THE STREET, IT WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN A FATALITY. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SENT OUT A CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE TO EXAMINE THE CAR. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS RAPID ACCELERATION IN REVERSE, AND STATED THAT WAS "NORMAL" OPERATION FOR THE CAR AFTER A COLD START, AND THAT IT WOULD BE EVEN FASTER IN COLD WEATHER (WE LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA). HE STATED THEY HAD INCREASED THE CAR IDLE SPEED AFTER COLD STARTS FOR POLLUTION CONTROL PURPOSES, AND THIS WAS THE RESULT. I CAREFULLY REVIEWED THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND INSIDE OF THE CABIN FOR ANY WARNING ABOUT RAPID ACCELERATION IN REVERSE AFTER A COLD START, AND THERE WAS NONE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CAREFUL DRIVER WHO HAS MAINTAINED A GOOD DRIVER DISCOUNT, AND NOTHING REMOTELY LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE. AT THE VERY LEAST, BECAUSE THE COMPANY IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE THEY SHOULD PROMINENTLY PROVIDE WARNINGS TO NEW CAR BUYERS AND OWNERS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT WILL RESULT IN INJURY AND DEATH IF NOT ADDRESSED PROMPTLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH INTO THE RESIDENTS DRIVEWAY WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED WITH THE RPMS RAPIDLY INCREASING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO THE STONE STRUCTURE OF THE GARAGE. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUFFERED A MINOR INJURY TO THE SHOULDER. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FENDER WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,400.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH IN REVERSE. THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR THE FAILURE, HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,500 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 850.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIANS SUGGESTED THE REAR BRAKES, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE LOCKED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE VEHICLE SHOWED EXTENSIVE WEAR AND OVER HEATING OF THE PARKING BRAKE DUE TO DRIVING WHILE THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT STATED THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING AND THE OVERHEATING ONLY OCCURRED TO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

FAILURE OF DRIVER'S CABIN LAMP OVERRIDE SWITCH TO EXTINGUISH CABIN READING LIGHTS OBSCURED DRIVER'S VISION AT NIGHT DURING HIGH-SPEED MERGE MANEUVER: I WAS ATTEMPTING A HIGH-SPEED HIGHWAY MERGE, AT NIGHT, ENTERING ROUTE 29 FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, WHEN MY THREE-YEAR-OLD SON DISCOVERED THAT HE WAS NOW TALL ENOUGH TO OPERATE HIS OVERHEAD PERSONAL READING LIGHT. MY VISION OF MERGING TRAFFIC TO THE RIGHT WAS SUDDENLY OBSCURED BY THE UNEXPECTED OPERATION OF THE CABIN READING LAMP, AND THE SITUATION WAS COMPOUNDED BY MY INABILITY TO QUICKLY OVERRIDE THE LAMP FROM THE DRIVER'S POSITION, IN THE MANNER AS DIRECTED ON PAGE 526 OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE READING LIGHT ABOVE MY SON'S HEAD STAYED ON. ACCORDING TO THE SIENNA 2011 OWNER'S MANUAL ON PAGE 526, THE DOOR LIGHT BUTTON, ABOVE THE DRIVER'S HEAD, ALSO SERVES AS AN OVERRIDE FOR ALL THE PERSONAL CABIN READING LIGHTS WHEN THE "DOOR" FUNCTION IS DISABLED: PAGE 526: "REAR ON/OFF: REAR PERSONAL/INTERIOR LIGHTS TURN ON [UPON ACTIVATION OF THE ILLUSTRATED INDIVIDUAL READING LAMP BUTTONS AT EACH SEATING POSITION] WHEN THE PERSONAL/INTERIOR MAIN SWITCH IS IN DOOR POSITION." THE DUAL FUNCTIONALITY OF THE DOOR LIGHT BUTTON IS CONFIRMED; ON PAGE 525 OF THE MANUAL, THE OTHER WELL-KNOWN PURPOSE OF THE DOOR BUTTON IS SEPARATELY AND INDEPENDENTLY DESCRIBED TO ACTIVATE AUTOMATIC CABIN ILLUMINATION WHEN ENTERING/EXITING THE VEHICLE: PAGE 525: "DOOR POSITION: THE PERSONAL/INTERIOR LIGHTS AND REAR INTERIOR LIGHT COME ON WHEN A DOOR IS OPENED. THEY TURN OFF WHEN THE DOORS ARE CLOSED." THEREFORE, THE REFERENCE TO THE DOOR BUTTON ON PAGE 526 IS FOR THE SEPARATE OVERRIDE FEATURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. I RECOMMEND TOYOTA RECALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, TO CORRECT THE FUNCTIONING OF THE CABIN LAMP OVERRIDE SWITCH AS THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL SAFETY FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE FOR NIGHTTIME DRIVING WITH PASSENGERS.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR SLIDING DOOR REMAINED STUCK IN AN OPEN POSITION INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE USING THE MANUAL OPERATION OR POWER ASSIST BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT A REMEDY WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN MARCH 2011; HOWEVER, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,200 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE REAR LIFT GATE OPEN; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT PRESSED THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE LIFT GATE AND SHE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE AN ITEM FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND NEARLY SUSTAINED AN INJURY WHEN THE LIFT GATE CONTINUED TO CLOSE. THE CONTACT THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE AN AUTOMATIC OVERRIDE SYSTEM IN PLACE TO STOP THE LIFT GATE FROM CLOSING IF AN OBJECT WAS OBSTRUCTING ITS PATH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A FEATURE TO AUTOMATICALLY STOP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 6,400. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

PURCHASED 2011 SIENNA LE VAN IN OCTOBER 2010. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE POWER SLIDING DOORS INTERMITTENTLY OPEN AN INCH OR LESS & ALARM SOUNDS. YOU CAN'T OPEN OR CLOSE DOOR AT THIS POINT. YOU HAVE TO MAN-HANDLE IT TO CLOSE. EVEN TURNING OFF THE POWER DOOR WITH THE SWITCH DOES NOT HELP. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & THEY SAID TOYOTA CORP. KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT NO IDEA HOW TO REPAIR. I SHOULD JUST CHECK BACK AT NEXT 5000 MILES CHECK. WHAT IF DOOR GETS STUCK OPEN & IT'S RAINING.... ONLY OPTION IS TO SHUT OFF THE POWER DOORS & USE MANUALLY. I BOUGHT THIS MODEL BECAUSE OF THE POWER SLIDING DOORS! *TR

MY NEW 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA LE AUTOMATIC POWER SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE STOPPED WORKING. IT WON'T OPEN OR CLOSE USING REMOTE CONTROL AS WELL AS TOP CONSOLE/PILLAR SWITCHES. IF I TRY TO OPEN USING REMOTE CONTROL OR SWITCHES THEN IT WILL TRY TO OPEN BUT CLOSE IMMEDIATELY AND MAKE BEEPING SOUNDS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER COUPLE OF TIMES BUT THEY SIMPLY SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM. FINALLY, WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA DIRECTLY THEN THE SAME DEALER DIAGNOSED IT FURTHER AND FOUND A FAULT CODE C224 IN THE SYSTEM. TOYOTA REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE PROMPTLY UNTIL WE FILED FOR ARBITRATION TO REPLACE THE CAR OR REFUND VEHICLE PURCHASE PRICE. TOYOTA FINALLY REPLACED POWER SLIDING DOOR MOTORS FOR BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR