2008 Toyota Sienna locks complaints

Filed Oct 11, 2009 · Locks · 16,000 miles · PA

I own a 2008 toyota sienna with 17000 miles on it. Recently while loading up the family to go out, the left passenger automatic sliding door was unable to be closed. I promptly took the vehicle to the dealer, who fixed the problem, saying one of the mechanisms in the door unit needed lubrication. The problem went away until last evening, when the same problem occurred while out to dinner. Even when the power door was disengaged, the door still would not close. Fortunately, there were two adults (along with 3 kids 8 and under) so one of us could hold the door shut while the other drove. I checked on the internet briefly and it seems as though many other sienna owners have had similar issues. This could be a serious safety issue if it were somehow to manifest itself while driving.

Filed Jul 9, 2009 · Body, Locks · 19,390 miles · NY

My husband was driving in florida in our rented toyota sienna minivan, and five family members were in the car, on a highway. Suddenly the engine hood came unhooked and flew up, hitting the front windshield. The glass shattered and we were showered with glass, but the bigger problem was that the view out the front was almost totally obstructed. We managed to see through a small crevice underneath the hood, which was now upright and covering almost all the windshield. We were able to pull off the highway without further incident. Please note I am not the owner of this automobile, but rather my husband yonathan epelbaum had rented it from national car company. The car has been returned to national, and the incident was reported to the police at the time of the incident. We were very lucky to have escaped serious injury. The incident happened during daylight, which helped, as at least the daylight helped with visibility through the very small opening under the hood, from which we were able to steer and change lanes safely while exiting the highway. Injuries were fortunately very minor so I am recording as "no injuries" but there was an issue with glass. Considering we might have been killed, we feel very fortunate my husband managed to steer us out of it without hitting anything or being hit. Other cars around us were going very fast so the situation was exceedingly dangerous.

Filed Mar 26, 2008 · Electrical, Locks · 500 miles · CA

We have an '08 8 passenger toyota sienna le. My son likes to play with the lights... We kept warning him if they got left on the battery would die. It finally happened. Had to go in through the front door using the key - stuck the key in the ignition and turned it and yup, sure enough - dead. Totally dead. There is no way to unlock the sliding doors. There is no way to open the sliding doors (from inside or out). There is no way to open the trunk (which can't be opened from the inside anyway - another concern) I had gone out to the van because I needed something from the trunk. I am 8 months pregnant with twins - there was no way I could climb back. My son had to. I couldn't even get into the middle row b/c there is a baby bucket in the center. If you were in a front end collision such that the battery was destroyed - the only way out of the van would be out the driver's or passenger's side doors. Maybe this is only true if the doors are locked at the time of the accident... But the van locks itself once in drive unless you have this feature turned off at the dealer. No one can get out the back or sides - no one could get in to help you. If the adults in the front were ok it might be very hard o get to anyone in the back if there is a car seat in the middle of the middle row - and then, getting back out would be hard. I totaled a car in college - it is possible for an accident to wipe out battery power. This has me pretty alarmed. It's not something you think of when you buy a car. No one thinks "will I be trapped if the battery goes?" but in this van, I think you would be, and it could be very dangerous. There should be an over ride where if battery power is lost everything automatically unlocks - and there should be a way to open the trunk from the inside! I am freaked out to think of getting in an accident and no one being able to get in to help out my kid(s). This is a huge safety concern!