Toyota fixing 600,000 Sienna doors, but it's not a recall mind you
The hits just keep coming for Toyota Motor Co. After a pair of new problems with its all-important Tundra pickup were brought to light this week, a reader sent us a link to this article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that reveals the automaker will voluntarily fix the front doors on 600,000 units of its Sienna minivan (current model shown above) built between 2004 and 2006. Apparently there may be an issue with the door check mounting panel on both of the minivan's front doors. The door check mounting panel is the piece that keeps the door open, and if the part fails the door can swing freely and unexpectedly shut – obviously a concern for parents with kids. Toyota has traced the problem back to bad spot welds performed at the automaker's Princeton, Indiana factory.
Toyota will be sending out letters on Nov. 2nd to owners of said Siennas explaining the problem and offering to fix it. To do so, Toyota will offer what it calls a "warranty enhancement" to these vehicles, covering the cost of these door repairs on Siennas up to five years old with 100,000 miles or less. Though a bad spot weld on the door check mounting panel would normally be covered by the Sienna's standard warranty, that only lasts 3 years or 36,000 miles. Toyota has also said that it will reimburse owners who have already had the doors repaired on their own, in some cases at the cost of thousands of dollars.
Curiously, Toyota is not calling this a recall. Of course, what automaker wants to refer to a problem with one of its vehicles as a recall if it doesn't have to? As long as Toyota takes care of the Sienna door problem to the satisfaction of its customers, they can call it a Happy Happy, Joy Joy Service Encouragement Bulletin.
Thanks for the tip, DarkKnight67!
[Source: JSOnline.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
ace 12:37AM (4/27/2009)
Researched this article due to issues with the front door hinges as noted. I've got the extended warranty, but I've had 3 other recalls on my 2005 Sienna Limited AWD, not to mention the infamous run-flat tire issue (which I fixed by buying regular tires and a continental tire fix-it kit) and front breaks wearing out in 25K miles. My first and last Toyota. I own a Mercedes and a Porsche, both of which are known for quirky electronics, yet have not had one recall or one issue with either car. Where is this so called brilliant Toyota quality????
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Hank 5:07PM (10/24/2007)
that's nice and all, but will Toyota also offer a quality selection of rubber nipples???
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Allen 8:22PM (10/24/2007)
because they suck too?
fireblade 7:50PM (10/24/2007)
duhh, another bias blog by the authour.
Its not a recall because the government has not
made it binding.
Matt 8:24PM (10/24/2007)
But... Toyota, and other non-Domestics, mean quality!
Domestics have horrible quality, and another made by Japanese companies is God! Right?!
/endsarcasm
Robert (Toyota Salesman) 5:17PM (10/24/2007)
What does force a manufacturer to call something a "recall"?
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AZMike 7:54PM (10/24/2007)
Robert,
if NHTSA gets enough complaints, they have the power to start a recall.
it's just ducky that Toyota puts a 100,000 mile limit on what they will repair without cost. I assume those folks that have over 100K just don't matter.
if NHTSA starts a recall, it will include ALL Siennas that have this defect, regardless of mileage.
the one standard Japanese manufacturer method of stonewalling owners is to tell them "we have received few/no complaints about this". this makes the owner think this is an unusual condition, and the manufacturer will not cover it. I can only imagine how salted roads will accelerate this condtion.
on a humorous sidenote, I just stopped and looked at a 1990 Dodge Caravan on the way home today. it was totally beat, with 396,000 miles. they were asking a whopping $300 for it. interestingly, it still ran great, and the doors stayed open by themselves!!
AZMike
MoonRover 5:19PM (10/24/2007)
And the hits just keep on coming, Toyota aquired their sterling reputation for quality by having inhouse recalls, and avoiding public scrunity. Looks like they are still trying to pull the wool over the publics eyes, only this time it's cheap domestic cotten. It's time to pull back the curtain and expose the pretenders for what they are, "makers of ordinary vehicles with suspect quality and less than spectacular styling", in other words "run of the mill". Say ba-bye Toyota, say ba-bye.
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konchita 5:21PM (10/24/2007)
Can I get all the nasty comments out of the way at one time:
1- HaHa! Toyota makes a crappy car.
2- That is what you get when you build cars with American workers.
3- Toyota: most recalls in CY2006
4- My Chevy/Ford/Toyota/Renault has 1,000,000 miles without even an oil change.
5- See? You can't be the biggest without quality problems.
6- Somehow this is the UAW's fault.
Did I miss any?
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The Other Bob 6:31AM (10/25/2007)
That pretty much covers it. I think you forgot to throw in a few racist "Jap" comments.
KCurtis 5:25PM (10/24/2007)
Nope, think you got all of 'em. lol
Russell 5:28PM (10/24/2007)
And your point is...?
konchita 5:36PM (10/24/2007)
Russell:
Sorry. Did one of those steal your thunder?
Russell 5:44PM (10/24/2007)
No, but it looks like you took a roll of Toyota advocate.
R 6:10PM (10/24/2007)
Russell:
Since we're all asking about obvious points here, what's yours?
RobZ4 6:36PM (10/24/2007)
Nice list :)
Tagg 8:51PM (10/24/2007)
Would yo be so quick to make a list when trouble befalls a domestic?
Atomicbri 5:21PM (10/24/2007)
Oh the woes of being at the top... Face it folks, it is inevitable when you mass produce soooo many things, you will have issues. It's now that Toyota is feeling the cracks and pressures of mass production with the huge sales it has.... you have to build em faster, with 24 hour manufacturing and all, you will get some bad vehicles. Bad parts suppliers making faulty parts that scar your name. I just hate how people down other brands and their issues, yet when the mighty Toyota has issues, they act like it is no big deal.... well it is the same as other brands... face it.... mass production equals you will have problems, period.
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Atomicbri 5:22PM (10/24/2007)
Thank the auto makers for warranties!! LOL!
waiownsyou 5:21PM (10/24/2007)
Kudos on Toyota for fixing it. Responsibility is what matters. And people shouldn't complain that Toyota is suffering from all these quality issues. When you're fairly close to #1 in the world, production must increase exponentially and there are bound to be errors caused by minor things.
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