DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM: 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA SLIDING DOOR ON DRIVER'S SIDE WON'T CLOSE. EVENTS LEADING UP TO PROBLEM: DROVE VEHICLE ABOUT 25 MILES FROM HOME, OPENED SLIDING DOOR FOR CHILD TO EXIT VEHICLE, DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE AFTER THAT. FRONT LATCH CAN BE SECURED WITH GREAT FORCE, HOWEVER THE REAR LATCH WILL NOT ENGAGE. DOOR REMAINS OPEN AND IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY RISK AS THE FRONT LATCH SECURITY/RELIABILITY IS INSUFFICIENT. SLIDING DOOR COULD OPEN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. LIGHTS IN VAN STAY ON, PRESENTING ANOTHER RISK AT NIGHT BECAUSE VISION IS INHIBITED GREATLY BY INTERIOR LIGHTING. HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITHOUT DOOR FULLY CLOSED AT NIGHT. THIS LACK OF VISIBILITY NEARLY RESULTED IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE MECHANISM THAT GRABS THE METAL LOOP THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE REAR DOOR FRAME. THE C SHAPED LATCH IS COVERED WITH A PLASTIC COATING WHICH WHEN WORN OR DAMAGED ALLOWS MOISTURE IN AND THE METAL CLAMP SWELLS UP AND BINDS THE LATCH. NO AMOUNT OF LUBRICATION WILL HELP. TOYOTA MADE A BIG MISTAKE BY PLASTIC COATING A METAL THAT WOULD RUST AND SWELL UP THE OUTER COATING FROM THE INSIDE MAKING THE LATCH NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. THERE MAY BE OTHER DESIGN FLAWS CONTRIBUTING TO THE MALFUNCTION OF THIS CRITICAL MECHANISM. *TR
2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I TOOK A RIGHT TURN FROM JUPITAR RD. TO PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH FREEWAY - APPROXIMATELY 400 METERS BEFORE ENTERING THE TOLLWAY. THE TRAC OFF AND ENGINE FAULT LIGHT SWITCHED ON AND THE VAN COULDN'T GO BEYOND A MAXIMUM SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 20 OR 30 MPH. I WAS SHOCKED AND STUNNED AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS JUST HAPPENING AND HOW TO GET THE VAN TO A SIDE PATH AMID PASSING VEHICLES AT 60 TO 70 MPH BECAUSE THAT ROAD LEAD TO TOLL WAY ENTRANCE. FINALLY, AFTER LONG WAIT WITH A SHAKY HEART, I COULD MOVE THE VAN TO RIGHT LANE @ < 30 MPH AND STOPPED NEAR A RIGHT TURN. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED TYRE PRESSURE . IT WAS NORMAL. RESTARTED VEHICLE AND DID A TEST DRIVE ON NORMAL ROAD - EVERY THING SEEMED NORMAL. MY VEHICLE HAD AN ERROR CODE AND I FOUND AN EXACTLY SAME COMPLAINT IN INTERNET DATED BACK TO 2008. DEMANDED AN EXPLANATION FROM ASKTOYOTA AND THEY WERE DISMISSIVE ABOUT THE INTERNET REFERENCE AND ADVISED ME TO CONTACT DEALER. MY VAN IS WITH THEM SINCE LAST 4 DAYS AND STILL DON'T HAVE A STATUS. WHY THIS IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH ? 1. UNINTENDED SLOW DOWN TO MAXIMUM SPEED OF < 30 AND RANDOM OCCURRENCE OF THIS INCIDENT. IMAGINE, I AM JUST ENTERING THE TOLLWAY AT A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 30 OR I AM IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A HIGHWAY AT SPEED OF 30MPH THIS IS SUDDEN DEATH CASE AND I DON'T THINK TOYOTA WILL ADMIT THIS UNLESS YOU GET INVOLVED. WHY THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW ? AT NO TIME - MACHINE SHOULD OVERRIDE MECHANICAL GAS PEDAL. *TR
