Toyota extends Sienna warranties even further
Toyota knows that it's got a problem with the Sienna minivan's doors. The Japanese automaker issued a "warranty enhancement" for the Sienna's front doors back in October to deal with complaints that they wouldn't stay open. They're now covered under warranty for five years or 100,000 miles. Apparently some rear liftgates have a similar problem of not staying open or being difficult to open in the first place. While a rear liftgate closign on your head is not life threatening, Toyota says it's aware of 14 minor injuries among 34 total complaints.
As such, the Japanese automaker has announced another new warranty enhancement that will cover the rear liftgate on 585,000 Siennas from 2004-2006 for a total of six years or unlimited miles. It will also reimburse any owners who have already paid to have the the liftgate repaired.
Business Week quotes Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong saying that the part in question isn't defective but is "susceptible to degradation." Fair enough, and considering the company is aware of only 35 cases so far, we're impressed it's gone so far to ensure owners who could potentially be affected in the coming years are covered.
UPDATE: Post changed for clarity on difference between first warranty enhancement for the front doors and the new one for the rear liftgate.
[Source: Business Week]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Shawn 10:24AM (1/23/2008)
I love how Toyota spins these things... Let's clarify: They are extending the warrenty so they can call it a warrenty service. This way they can avoid another headline that says, "Toyota recalls again."
They are masters of PR and marketing. I don't know who is running those departments, but they are the best in any industry. They certainly have the auto media bending over backwards.
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Gardiner Westbound 10:58AM (1/23/2008)
Is it unreasonable to expect doors to work properly for a vehicle's lifetime? Toyota apparently thinks so.
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psarhjinian 11:31AM (1/23/2008)
I've done two strut replacements and one door alignment on my 9-3. The door alignment was a legit defect; the strut replacement is par for course for any hatchback-type vehicle--including minivans and SUVs, and especially something like the NG900/9-3 which has what feels like two hundred pounds of glass over the trunk. A smaller hatchback (Fit, Versa, Civic Si) might manage for longer.
Sedan owners would probably never see this, so I can see why people would thhink this is abnormal. I agree that it's a little suprising to see this on a 2006 model, but 2004 would be entirely reasonable, especially with a rear door as heavy as a minivan's.
Matt Keller 1:57PM (1/23/2008)
Psar, it also doesn't help that the NG900 had a HUGE hatch, and it was designed in the early 90's. New cars shouldn't have this problem.
John P. 11:30AM (1/23/2008)
on another note, that is the most bland looking thing I've ever seen. It's got zero personality.
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psarhjinian 11:36AM (1/23/2008)
It's a minivan., they all look like that. Perhaps you were expecting a Ferrari?
Bob-omb 1:04PM (1/23/2008)
As opposed to the breakthrough styling of the Town & Country, the streamlined wonder of the Sedona...
Matt Keller 2:01PM (1/23/2008)
It's even pretty bad for a minivan I must say. Atleast the GC looks different. I think it even looks good.
calebe 11:43AM (1/23/2008)
GM use to use struts on the hoods of its cars. Some of those hoods were huge. Toyota owners are just going to have to learn a lesson from rednecks, get a two by four and prop that sucker up
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John Cressy 12:42PM (1/23/2008)
Take that Consumer Reports!
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Bob-omb 1:02PM (1/23/2008)
This is a problem 35 people have had. Consumer Reports only reports what the 100,000 car owners told them. The Sienna is still the most reliable minivan in the country. Can *you* think of one that's better? Come on, say something like the Caravan and make me laugh!
Ken 2:32PM (1/23/2008)
We've owned two Siennas, a 2004 and now a 2006, and have had a different problem with our two vans ... interior front door panels that come loose and get stuck in the door frame so you cannot open the door. Our dealer has given us nothing but grief about it, so we've placed a small amount of tape on the bottom to hold it together.
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Matt Nelson 4:14PM (1/23/2008)
As an owner of a 92k mile 2004 Sienna. I have had the driver door issue repaired. What happens is that the door hinge only has a weak weld that stresses overtime and fails. This is a definite design problem. It is not that the door doesn't stay open, it is that the door hinge may fail and break off.
The dealer has been very good with the repair work and I have no complaints.
The only other problem I have had during the 92k miles is that the left sliding door auto lock broke. I am still very happy with the vehicle and plan to keep it to at least 120-150k miles.
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JN 3:54PM (1/23/2008)
Let's see here ... I had a '94 Grand Caravan that I drove until last year. Yes, I had to replace a transmission -- at 144,000 miles. But NEVER -- and I mean NEVER -- did I EVER have any problem with the doors or liftgate. When I sold the van with 214K on the odometer because I needed a truck, the doors still opened and closed like they did when the van was new.
My wife presently drives a 2002 GC Sport, and at 97K, it's still good and solid. We've NEVER had ANY problem with it, and it runs like new. Gee, go figure that one.
I had considered making my next van a Sienna, because they're practically built in my back yard. Somehow, I don't think I'll be doing that now.
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whofan 4:26PM (1/23/2008)
I`m on my second Chrysler minivan and both have been the best vehicles I`ve owned.
I say if you want a great versatile vehicle that does all things well the Chrysler minvan is still the vehicle to beat.
We tried to go to a suv or cross over but the minivan still wins.
Its now perceived as not cool, people are so silly.
psarhjinian 9:21PM (1/23/2008)
Having had door and liftgate trouble as well as transmission problems, I'll take door/liftgate seven days a week.
It was thirty bucks Canadian for two struts and about $150 for the door. The transmission is, well, more. Much more.
whofan 4:29PM (1/23/2008)
Now if the doors were falling off of one of the big 3 vans how hostile would the posts be?
It`s ok to have problems with a Toyota.
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caddy dave 7:42PM (1/23/2008)
Toyota's don't have problems, they have tsb's and courtesy adjustments.
psarhjinian 9:21PM (1/23/2008)
Wait, wait, let me whip out my smallest violin that plays only for domestic fans..
pat 5:15PM (1/23/2008)
My sister law had the rear liftgate come down on her head. It knocked her out cold and she my brother took her to the hospital to get her checked out, she ended up only with a big bruise. She now refuses to use the liftgate at all. she just throws stuff in the sliding doors, which by the way have stopped staying in the open position and so they end up sliding themselves shut on hills. Their dealership took care of the liftgate very nicely but has been giving them nothing but problems about the slidding doors (they won't fix it because it isn't broken, but my brother actually replicated it for them). They have filled a complaint with Toyota about the issue.
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