Toyota Sienna minivans probed for Liftgate hazard

[Media!]

Toyota Sienna minivans probed


August 7, 2006

The government has opened an investigation of 2004-2005 Toyota Sienna minivans after receiving complaints that the liftgate had failed, causing the hatchback door to close on motorists.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a notice dated Aug. 2 that it has received eight complaints and four reports of injuries involving the liftgate unexpectedly closing on a persons head or body.

The investigation involves 393,313 Sienna minivans from the 2004-05 model years.
In March 2004, Toyota issued a technical service bulletin to owners of the 2004 Sienna saying that the liftgate struts had been redesigned to help prevent seal damage and gas leakage.

Toyota spokeswoman Ming-Jou Chen said Monday that the automaker was cooperating in the investigation but it was too early to know if the problems were linked to the issues that led to the service bulletin.

Some investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lead to vehicle recalls.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...EWS99/60807011

[megeebee]

Just today I watched a morning news caster say with a huge smile on her face that "2 Toyotas have earned the highest crash test ratings in their class! " There was no mention of this investigation .



That's life on the West Coast.

[GM_Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Media!

In March 2004, Toyota issued a technical service bulletin to owners of the 2004 Sienna saying that the liftgate struts had been redesigned to help prevent seal damage and gas leakage.

Is there a deeper meaning for why they included this in the article? Are they suspicious that Toyota wanted to replace the struts because they knew they would fail but designed a reason that sounded not as bad? Or is it purely just for observational purposes?

I know someone who has a Sienna that would be affected by this recall. They are also very loyal Camry buyers.

[cadillacpimpin]

Originally Posted by GM_Fanatic

Is there a deeper meaning for why they included this in the article? Are they suspicious that Toyota wanted to replace the struts because they knew they would fail but designed a reason that sounded not as bad? Or is it purely just for observational purposes?

I know someone who has a Sienna that would be affected by this recall. They are also very loyal Camry buyers.

yeah, whos that?

[cadillacpimpin]

Originally Posted by GM_Fanatic

Is there a deeper meaning for why they included this in the article? Are they suspicious that Toyota wanted to replace the struts because they knew they would fail but designed a reason that sounded not as bad? Or is it purely just for observational purposes?

I know someone who has a Sienna that would be affected by this recall. They are also very loyal Camry buyers.

yeah, whos that?
i think i remember someone here on GMI having that combination of vehicles.

i think they were just puting relevant information in there, however i also think that maybe it was to have the reader make thier own conclusions about it.

[vsd]

i wonder where toyota sourced those struts from, i bet toyota isn't the only company that supplier supplied the parts to.

[goblue1999]

Originally Posted by vsd

i wonder where toyota sourced those struts from, i bet toyota isn't the only company that supplier supplied the parts to.

Just ask the Japanese executives, they'd blame an American supplier of struts......or stupid american consumers who get donut glaze and french fry grease on the strut seals.

[jbernie]

Having had the pleasure of my mother closing a hatch back on my head when i was younger... damn! that hurts ..and hurts HARD!

So hopefully not too many more problems happen..recall or not!

[mikesright]

So, does this mean Toyota passes GM in recalls this year?

[FStephenMasek]

Forget the liftgate struts, my 2005 Sienna was made with a steering column which slanted to one side (the left side of the steering wheel was closer to the front than the right side). The severe upper back and neck pain which resulted caused me to sell it after 4,500 miles at a $8,500 loss. I thought it was me falling apart, until I read on another discussion forum (perhaps Edmunds) a posting from another owner with the same problem. I promptly went to my garage and checked it. I stopped driving it and sold it a few days later. I thought about giving Toyota a second chance when I was considering the new RAV4, but first I read of more and more problems, then read of an owner with similar back and neck paint. I advised hime to check his steering column, and he found it to be slanted. I promptly dropped the RAV4 from my list.

[13secGTP]

Originally Posted by FStephenMasek

Forget the liftgate struts, my 2005 Sienna was made with a steering column which slanted to one side (the left side of the steering wheel was closer to the front than the right side). The severe upper back and neck pain which resulted caused me to sell it after 4,500 miles at a $8,500 loss. I thought it was me falling apart, until I read on another discussion forum (perhaps Edmunds) a posting from another owner with the same problem. I promptly went to my garage and checked it. I stopped driving it and sold it a few days later. I thought about giving Toyota a second chance when I was considering the new RAV4, but first I read of more and more problems, then read of an owner with similar back and neck paint. I advised hime to check his steering column, and he found it to be slanted. I promptly dropped the RAV4 from my list.

So what did you get?

[GM_Fanatic]

Originally Posted by 13secGTP

So what did you get?

I'm curious as well. Thats interesting to hear about the steering column. I will have to mention that to the family I know that owns one.

Some one was asking, and the family I know with the Sienna and Camry is no one who is on this forum. I imagine that is a pretty common combination of vehicles though.

[Cassie]

I just don't understand why the media isnt all over Toyota's recalls right now.....

[zaxxis]

Originally Posted by Cassie

I just don't understand why the media isnt all over Toyota's recalls right now.....

Have you been under a rock the last 10+ years? It's because Toyota isn't a domestic car maker silly!

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by Cassie

I just don't understand why the media isnt all over Toyota's recalls right now.....

For the past 10-20 years the media and automotive print journalism has been in a love affair with Toyota and it is hard to turn your back on your mistress - when she was so good to you in the past. Eventually enough people will get burned and decide to shop an American (hopefully GM) product. I just hope that GM keeps their quality up so that they have the right product to interest any deffecters.