Both the power sliding door and the manual sliding doors do not open. The first incident was that it was difficult to open the manual door and eventually it could no longer be opened. The power door, one day, would not close with the power. We closed it manually and it kept reopening. We turned off the power to the door and finally got the door closed. It no longer opens either with power or manually. After researching this problem online, it appears that there are numerous toyota siennas that have the same problem with the sliding doors. Also from researching, toyota has not done anything about this problem other than to charge high prices to fix the doors and to tell people that it is very rare for these doors to stop opening. I feel this is a safety issue as if there was an accident, no one in the back could easily get out of the vehicle.
2004 Toyota Sienna body complaints
Page 11 of 33: complaints 281 to 310 of 962, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. The contact stated that the dashboard was fractured near the air bag and the contact was concerned that the failure would result in the air bag not deploying in the event of a crash. The dealer advised the contact to replace the entire dashboard. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. No repairs were performed. The current mileage was 90,400 and the failure mileage was 80,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. The contact stated that while parked, he noticed that the dashboard was cracked along where the front passenger side air bag was located. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for a diagnostic test and the technician stated that the dashboard would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was concerned that the crack on the dashboard may have a negative affect on the deployment of the air bag if involved in a crash. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000. Updated 02/13/12
The cable in the power sliding door (passenger side) has caught. The door is stuck partway open. I cannot open it further nor close it. This is a common problem as evidenced by many other claims. Of course, to operate with the door partially open would be very dangerous. Here are two url's that include similar issues: http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/sienna/103978-2004-sienna-power-sliding-door-cable/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/toyota-sienna-faulty-power-sliding-doors/233250320033754?sk=wall.
The passenger power sliding door has failed to operate due to a frayed cable. The door will not open even in manual mode with the cable in place. I snipped the cable to free the door, and it will open but will not lock in the open position (useful when opening the door at a slight decline). When closing the door manually, it makes a loud "thunk" as the door edge and frame of the car make contact. It appears as though the door has shifted on its hinges preventing a perfect alignment with the locking mechanism.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. The contact stated that the automatic rear lift gate would not stay open when using the automatic system or when opened manually. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the rear door stay kit was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 110,000 and the current mileage was 123,000.
The left power sliding door on my sienna failed. While out on errand with a friend's child, I could not shut the power sliding door. Had to drive to my home with the child strapped into their carseat in the back and the door open. Took it to dealership and they said the motor failed and it would cost $1900+ to fix the power or $300 to turn in into manual door. Husband looked on internet, found instructions to take door apart and fixed himself as this was a very, very common problem. Sure enough, the problem was not the motor, you can hear it run to this day, and it was the cable used to slide the door - there was stripped plastic shielding bunched up on the cable which kept the door from running on the cable. This is very dangerous as the door did not respond to the power button and would trap a child in it. Second issue is the weld on the driver's side door making popping sounds. My husband looked and the weld was coming off and the metal underneath the weld had actually torn!! He took the welded piece off so that the door would be operational. Once again, the door can close unexpectedly on a small child without warning without door being replaced. Third issue is the sonar which comes and goes without warning. I try to leave my sonar on all the time, but in process of backing up, will realize the sonar has turned itself off. It comes and goes-sometimes will just beep on and off and on and off while driving down the street without anyone else around the car. Fourth issue is when the car is cold, the back hatch door will rise and then immediately come down forcefully on your head (it runs with a motor). All of these issues are listed all over the internet as problems with this car and everyone is told by toyota that is you don't have a current warranty, they will not fix it for free. These are design flaws and safety issues!!!!
I would like to file a complaint about toyota failing to take full responsibility for a manufacturing defect in the front doors of their sienna minivan. Like thousands of other toyota sienna owners, the welds on my door have failed and now the door must be completely replaced at a cost of more than $2000. Toyota covered this failure for just 5 years and did not notify owners during the coverage period that they should have this manufacturing defect repaired. I have complained to toyota, but they have refused to cover the cost of this defect. There was nothing I could do in the repair and maintenance of my vehicle that would have prevented these welds from failing. The fault lies with toyota manufacturing practices at the time my van was built and the cost should lie with them as well.
My 2004 toyota sienna xle driver door weld is broken. The passenger door window only opens half way and sometimes the door does not open all the way because of the broken weld. At first it was only a popping sound coming from the weld and then the piece broke. Now the door gets jammed occasionally.
The spot welds for the "check strap" on the driver's side, front door of my sienna have failed. Toyota headquarters advised me that they recognize that there is a problem and they have expanded their warranty to 5 years/100,000 miles to cover it. Unfortunately, my 2004 sienna is beyond the limits of the expanded warranty. I do not understand why this is not a "safety recall" issue covering every impacted toyota sienna. Clearly this problem has serious safety implications. Without this "check strap" in place, the door can unexpectedly swing shut on a person causing serious injury, particularly if it slams into a child. Also, there are additional safety issues associated with a car door that can swing open freely. How can the federal safety agency possibly allow toyota to get away with correcting this safety issue on some but not all of the defective sienna models involved?
The passenger side power sliding door became stuck in the open position and would not close. The manual override does not work; it simply would not close. Using a great deal of force, we finally got it closed after arriving home, but now we cannot open it.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. The contact stated that the dashboard was fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not repaired. The contact stated that the dealer could not confirm that in the event of a crash, the air bags would operate as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. While parked, the contact noticed a crack on the passenger side dashboard where the front air bag was located. The contact stated that pieces of the dashboard were detaching from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the technicians stated to the contact that the dashboard would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.
Both of the sliding doors on my 2004 toyota sienna have stopped working. First, the cable snapped on the passenger side, then the driver side got locked in an open position. After much struggle, each time we were able to close the broken door in order to safely drive to the dealership to get it fixed. Both times, we were told we needed to replace the door for $2000. The dealer told us that they are seeing alot of people with the same issues. Seems like toyota should be providing a manual solution or a recall if it's really as widespread as the dealer indicated - essentially, the van is unsafe to drive with doors stuck in an open position.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. The contact stated that the dashboard was defective. The dashboard was cracked near the air bag area and the contact was concerned that the failure could cause a disruption in air bag deployment in the event of a crash. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 114,000.
Dashboard has sustained multiple significant cracks. Not involved in any accident, nor was dashboard cut in any way. Dash material is still soft. Many similar complaints noted online. Very concerned about function of airbags should accident occur. Toyota has been unresponsive to complaints.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. The contact noticed there was a crack in the dashboard that extended to the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic. The technician stated the dashboard would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 26,000.
Cracks along the entire dashboard and airbag areas of the front dash. Concern about proper airbag deployment or failure and lack of structural integrity of the dash along with steering control during a vehicle crash. Dash failure and debris from dash may affect the steering control if dash debris is lodged against steering area. Noticed dash cracks at about 60k miles and the cracks continue to grow with each use of vehicle. Currently vehicle has 79k miles. Dealer/manufacturer did not want to fix or replace the dash citing out of warranty issue. However, this issue is on all 04 and up toyota sienna's and possibly more vehicles with this type of dashboard material.
Passenger side automatic sliding door requires manual force to assist electric motor during opening and closing. Door appears out of vertical alignment and impacts car frame during opening procedure. Exposed metal occurs where door has rubbed paint off of frame.
Both sliding doors worked only intermittently. Then driver's side door got stuck open and we had to drive with the alarm blaring. Could not get the door open or shut. Approx 3 days later, the passenger sliding door got stuck shut and when I tried to open it I heard a loud sound. The cable snapped and the door is stuck shut. Our kids had to get in and out of the van by going in the front door and climbing around to the back. If there is a reason to need to get out of the van quickly they will not be able to do so. This is an ongoing issue w/ siennas and is a big problem that needs to be addressed.
The motor in the power sliding door burnt out. The pulley cable got caught and overheated the motor. Now the door is stuck in the open position the pulley cable is taught and it will not close.
Automatic sliding door left and right are not operational. Only works manually.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. The contact stated that there was a crack in the dashboard. The dealer was contacted and advised that that they would replace the dashboard at the contact's expense. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 78,000 and the current mileage was 102,000.
The driver's side door check strap is failing. My understanding is that it has to do with the failure of welds where the strap connects to the door. There have been other complaints I have seen on line of similar failures. Some as early as 35,000 miles into the van's life. The repair for this defect is expensive and requires the re-welding of the strap to the internal portion of the door.
The dash has developed several long cracks and the material is deteriorating, the vehicle has been kept garaged. I am concerned about the air bags or other dash components being effected. ## VIN passed ## toyota sienna le 2004 ##.
The cable for the motorized sliding door rusted and snapped. I've been told this is a common problem but toyota has not recalled the problem.
The sliding doors will not open when outside temperature is below freezing. If you need to enter and exit the vehicle you must crawl through the front seat. The automatic door will sometimes open without being manually activated. The air in the rear will automatically come on and shut off after a few seconds without being manually activated.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. While parked, the contact noticed that the rear driver side sliding door would not open manually. The contact inspected the sliding door cable and noticed that it was corroded. The rear passenger side sliding door was also corroded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the technician stated that the door panel and the sliding door cable would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 151,000. Updated 10/10/12 *cn the consumer stated the rear door was repaired with recall but it would still fail. It was difficult to close the door. Updated 10/15/2012
1. Since last year, the left side of sliding door will close by itself. 2. The right side of sliding door will not able to close unless pull from outside.
In my 2004 toyota sienna xle limited awd, the upper dashboard(by the windshield & front airbags is cracking. I am highly concerned that these cracks will interfere with proper deployment of the front airbags in an accident situation. Also the upper dashboard may break apart in an accident situation and become airborne causing further injury to vehicle passengers. I have contacted toyota and was told it was only covered for 36,000 miles or 3 years despite the fact it can pose a safety issue. In researching the internet, I found other 2004-2007 toyota & lexus owners are having the same issue with the cracked dashboard. Here is a link to one such discussion: http://www.automotiveforums.com/t959673-discuss2004_sienna_cracked_dashboard.html.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2004 Toyota Sienna?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history