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Comments
Unless you have a moonroof, then you could still get out.
Obviously I'm teasing, but I still don't see this as a safety issue.
It definitely is a *major* inconvenience.
If you've been driving, the heat from within the car would likely have the doors unfrozen.
The doors on my Miata freeze every day in the winter, including today. I could tear through the vinyl top so I guess I could still save myself.
My 93 Miata's doors freeze shut all the time. I've had to open the passenger door, then push out the driver's door to get it open.
It has those tiny little art-deco door handles. Cute but no leverage to pull at all.
Same experience.
Shame on Toyota!
having tried every lubricant without success, the only solution was the replacing of the door seals with a re engineered part i believe available on 05 models and later.
the new seals work perfectly, but they must be the upgraded ones that toyota came up with in response to the obvious problem.
there should be a toyota campaign for this issue, but there isn't.
i complained to head office, but received no compensation.
here in ontario, canada, the cost was appro. $150 including labour.
not bad, but still, the problem should never have existed in the first place.
maybe if more people contact head office with similar complaints, toyota will listen, and a campaign will surface.
anyways, now that the new seals have been exposed to temps well below freezing for over 2 months now, i'm happy to report that they are doing the job, no stuck doors anymore!
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm
If you are right and enough people complain, a recall can be forced.
I dunno, though, my Miata's door froze shut again today, it's pretty common IMO.
I know this sounds extreme, but so does hearing that you need a new engine (to the tune of $6,000) when your vehicle only has a little over 100,000 miles on it and two payments left!
And to Toronto Dave, you are not the first to feel insulted by Toyota. Their customer service is definitely slipping!
As far as the door is concerned, I spoke with the service manager yesterday and he said it is a cable that needs to be tightened. The cost will be about $75.00 for labor, no parts are needed. Hope this helps anyone on here that was worried about their door.
On my Miata they freeze up in extreme cold, but it's not as bad if they're clean.
We have an extended warranty - that is up to 77,000 miles. We have 88, 000 miles, so they did not honor it. Finally, they agreed to cover it, but we will have to cover the cost of labor: $900.00.
Tell me, is this right?
Is there anything significant to do about it?
Is it worth the effort? Does this company have a little integrity?
Or did kids hang on it and use it as a skate board ramp?
Cost of labor: $900.00.
Sounds steep - parts are on Toyota- saying its $1200.00
It looks like the cost of the motor, hinge, cable are pretty cheap on-line.
Does any of this sound reasonable?
My local dealer is part of the reason my Toyota is on the market...
We own a Toyota Sienna XLE 2004. Back in November 2008, the driver sliding door cable snapped, making the door jam and unusable in "power" mode. Cable dangling out of its socket, we drove to our dealership to have it serviced. The repair came to over $1800!!!
After researching this issue on the internet, I'm finding that MANY people are experiencing the same problem!! I'm thinking that it doesn't necessarily have to do with mileage but perhaps more with age of vehicle ie: 4-5ish years old.
The PROBLEM:
The cable which drives the sliding door is completely exposed to elements. (you'll find it within the groove located under the rear side windows) This cable is made of some kind of metal (steel? who knows.) then coated with a black plastic/acrylic/rubber casing (such as an electrical wire). With time, the casing begins to dry and be brittle, causing it to crack and fall off the wire, leaving the wires completely vulnerable to getting wet, rust, freeze, etc, also rubbing extensively unprotected against the gears. Within a few months or even weeks, the metal cable wires snap thus getting caught in the mechanism. One thing leads to another and the whole cable snaps, making the door jam altogether.
The FIX:
Per my own experience at the dealership, and subsequently reading and researching many blog sites, the ONLY way to fix this issue is as follows: remove the entire door, remove and CHANGE the entire mechanism. Extremely costly, there's just no way around this. Asked if there was a way to simply change the cable, I was informed that the cable is part of the motor and that it is not a part that can be purchased OR repaired separately.
Any “RECALL” in sight? We can only hope!! But here’s where we need your help.
After speaking with Toyota’s Customer Service Relation (Headquarters), she explained that “recalls” happen when “enough” people call in and bring up issues (complaints) with their vehicles. Local Service Managers can also help petition to HQ on your behalf if they see a problem that may be a repetitive pattern. Service managers can relay this information to a factory representative and such.
What can you do?
First off, call this number: 1(800) 331-4331 (Customer Service Relations they were VERY pleasant and helpful!) and tell them about your experience with the sliding door defect. They will give you a case number and send your issue higher up. Who know how many complaints they need before they consider recalls, but at least we’ll have done our best. WHEN YOU CALL: It can be very helpful to mention other case numbers relating to this issue so far:
#0903125843 (March 2009), #200806060609 (June 2008)... I will add more as time goes and people contact me with theirs.
Second: If you haven’t already fixed your door, DO call your Service Manager in your area to set up an appointment to have the door fixed, AND open the lines for discussion for him to petition on your behalf about this problem which SO many people are having issues with.
Third: If you’ve already had the door fixed, DO NOT throw away your receipts!!! Cust. Serv. Rel. told me that if down the line Toyota comes out with a recall, YOU WILL BE RETROACTIVELY ENTITLED TO A FULL REFUND OF YOUR REPAIRS WITH PROOF OF PAYMENT!!! (aparently that goes for any problems which arise with Toyota vehicles! Good to know!) If by chance you’ve misplaced/lost/thrown out your receipt, I suggest you call your dealership ASAP and ask them to reprint one for you they should be able to as long as you’re still in the system.
BOTTOM LINE:
You are NOT alone! If Toyota can see fit to recall a “clip” which is used to hold carpets, they SHOULD deal with this bigger issue too.
Our voice must be heard, force in numbers people!!!
Thank you so much for your help and attention!
Chris Mitchell (nazalys@attglobal.net)
I am not sure if this is the same problem. The right sliding door works fine on my 2004 Sienna XLE Limited when I pull on the handle but if I use the remote or any of the buttons to open or close that door, it tries to go but seems like a latch isn't releasing. If I pull on the handle first to release it, I can then reverse direction with any of the buttons or the remote. Any ideas how I get the latch to release WITHOUT pulling the handle first?
Thanks in advance.
they want $800 to replace this latch all for the sake of a little plastic bushing.
If you keep cycling the door and the latch dosnt release you will soon break the cable and motor assembly. thats a $2400 bill. Mine mtor/cable assy broke and toyota replaced it but they did not fix the root problem which was the broken bushing in the latch. Its a very poor design.
Where is the "rear latch" and the latch cover you are referring to? If it is what you suggested, how is that repaired?
Is there any more news? I really can't afford this. We are moving to a smaller home so that we don't have to pay as much rent, now this? Sheehs.
Thanks! I will be here looking for answers. :mad:
I know it's a real bugger of a problem... and you won't find a better price to fix it either. *frown* I am VERY irritated with this issue, even though I still love our Sienna. This is just ONE part of it which I think is doomed to break and needs to get some attention by the maker.
Since my letter, we have paid for the repairs.... we wanted it fixed ASAP.
The most important thing I can say to you is, PLEASE call the 1 800 number I mentioned on my first post and PLEASE open a case with them. Also, if you tell them our case numbers (also posted in my letter) they can keep building a bigger case... it's good to link them.
If they decide after many complaints to make it a recall, they will refund... "IF" *sigh* but I guess we'll at least be able to say we tried.
Thanks and good luck to you!
Chris Mitchell
I know the frustration. Once you delatch it with the handle you can push the buttons or the remote and it will reverse direction, it just wont delatch when latched. There obviously is a different system that delatches vs. tells the door to move.
I will let you know if I figure anything else out. Please do the same.
Good luck!
I totally understand your frustration and concerned. Please mention our case numbers when you call Toyota.
Good luck!
We ended up duct taping the door after the dealership managed to close it. I duct taped the inside handle and the outside one. When there is FINALLY recall on these door problems we will take it in and let them fix it. I have also filed a case at the NHTSA.
Good luck!
I went to a Toyota mechanic today and he told me he thinks the cable that goes to the latch is not on or is stretched out. He said I would have to buy a whole new lock assembly that would be over 200 and with labor it would be a 300 fix. I am hoping this is the case. My husband is in Iraq and this is driving me insane. I m wondering if I should go to the dealer and see if it can be fixed under a TSB. It is so frustrating-- we were out and it was working fine to open it and when my son went to close it, Bam! UGH!!! Please keep me updated, my user name is my email at AOL
They sent the car back to me and the door was even more broken than before. It did open once but, as it opened, it sounded like there was a piece of paper stuck in the track of the door. After that, it would not open any more AND there was a broken cable sticking out from under the (third row) window.
Back in it went and today they told me the cable needed to be replaced and it would cost $1100-!!! :surprise: :mad:
I Just got off the phone with Customer Service (1-800-331-4331).
I was pleasantly surprised by how nice they were.
They documented the history, gave me a CASE #(0904127518)
and forwarded the case to the Customer Relations Mgr at the dealer we use.
I just touched base with him (he was not as nice as CS Rep), He said he will review and get back to me.
I'll let you know how the saga unfolds.
My door has not worked for the last year. Thank fully I have 1 manually door.!!!
Bruno
I suggest you open the door, and look at the locks from the rear and front to make sure you have not had a similar issue.
My sienna has 65K, and we've had lots of problems, the door locks, front door was replaced for weld issue, rear door struts, steering column is going and needs to be replaced. I'm not too happy with Toyota and not sure that they are worth the much higher cost. Good Luck.
I called Toyota Canada asking to see if they would help cover some of the costs as a goodwill gesture. A very polite person assigned me a case number and said someone would follow up within a week's time. Sure enough someone did. However, they said "too bad". When I asked them how she would feel about having to pay so much for two broken cables, on what is clearly a design flaw with the door, her response was "In all my years of driving, I have never asked a car company for financial assistance." In other words, she was implying I was a deadbeat begging for money, rather than a dissatisfied client with a legitimate complaint. Clearly if you hire someone like her to ajudicate claims, Toyota Canada will never, ever pay out on any claim, no matter how deserving or warranted.
This was my first Toyota product that I have owned, and it will also be my last. I always thought Toyota had a reputation for quality products and stellar customer service. I guess I was wrong.