2008 Toyota Sienna: key fob or push-button start problems

Filed Feb 1, 2019 · Body · VA

When I open the lift gate from the console or key fob and the outside temperature is about 32 degrees or less the lift gate goes up then comes right back down. If I repeat the opening process several times it finally stays up. I have been hit several time by the lift gate when I thought it was open, it takes a lot of strength to stop it enough to get out of the way. What would it do to a child? This happens when the vehicle is stopped and in park or if the engine is not running at all. In my garage, parking lots, etc, wherever the vehicle is parked. This started happening about 2011 and continues getting worse each year.

Filed Jul 13, 2017 · Body · AZ

Vehicle was parked and turned off parked in parking lot. Opened side door with automatic key fob and the door opened halfway then started making a weird noise. It would not close or open manually no matter what I did. I had to drive myself and 5 kids across town with the door open, car beeping because door was open. My husband finally got the door to close after I got home but there was a severed cable that now hangs under the rear window. The door will not open manually or automatically now. So I can't use the door at all. If you even try to touch or open the door then the system thinks the door is open and beeps the whole time you are driving and you can't lock the door. I'm worried it will open while driving. From research it appears to be an all too common issue with toyota vans and should be a recall or covered for the life of the vehicle in my opinion. The auto opening door was the only reason we purchased a van and not a SUV.

Filed Apr 2, 2015 · Body, Electrical · 108,500 miles · NC

Passenger side power slide door does not work by pressing the button on the central console, on the side of door or the key fob. The slide doors do work by pulling the handles from the outsides. I was told this was the override procedure. This is a big concern with this being a family vehicle.

Filed Sep 22, 2011 · Electrical · 57,000 miles · NY

I arrived at work and used the interior push button to open the power door on the driver side of my van after exiting the van my key fob would not activate the close of the door. It was dark and I closed the door manually. After leaving work I attempted to activate and open the same door with my key fob. The door would not open and I could not open it manually. After closer examination (it was now daylight) the power door cable was hanging down from the furthest rear window. It had snapped. The door would not open manually (it wouldn't budge) and if I attempted using the fob or interior push buttons you could hear the component that activates the cable humming but the door had no movement. The failure of the door to open as a safety issue.

Filed Sep 21, 2011 · Body · 38,512 miles · AZ

My 2008 toyota sienna has an automatic lift gate. You push a button on the overhead console or on the key fob and it opens the rear lift gate, push again and it closes and latches automatically. However, the mechanism(s) that holds it open has failed. Similar to failure on the 2004-2006 sienna that forced a toyota recall. If you open it automatically it starts closing immediately after you open it without warning, no alerts. If you open it manually it will not stay open and the weight is unsupported meaning it will crush anything in its way.