2014 Toyota Sienna Body & Structure Problems

The passenger-side power sliding door system failed to stop or reverse when it encountered physical interference with the vehicle’s open fuel door. The door continued opening under power despite clear obstruction by a fixed exterior body component. The affected components, including the sliding door mechanism and damaged fuel door latch, remain available for inspection upon request. A powered sliding door continuing to operate against an obstruction creates a foreseeable risk of injury to occupants or bystanders, as well as vehicle damage. If a person’s hand, arm, or clothing had been in the same position as the fuel door, injury could have occurred. The incident occurred during normal vehicle use and demonstrates inadequate safeguards against obstruction. The issue has been formally reproduced or confirmed by an independent service center which noted that the incident occurred as described during normal operation of the power sliding door, and no abnormal conditions were present at the time. No warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms appeared prior to the incident. The power sliding door operated normally and without indication of malfunction until it failed to stop when encountering the open fuel door. Fueling the vehicle with the fuel door open is routine and expected vehicle use. The absence of any interlock, sensor logic, or safeguard preventing a powered sliding door from operating against an open body panel represents a design deficiency rather than a maintenance or wear issue. This condition may affect other vehicles equipped with similar power sliding door systems and warrants evaluation.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, there was an audible alarm coming from the vehicle, alerting the contact that the door was ajar. The passenger’s side slide door opened independently while the vehicle was in motion. The vehicle was modified to accommodate a ramp for the contact's two wheel-bound children. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and closed the sliding door. The contact's husband tied the door to prevent it from opening independently again. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was inspected. The contact was informed that two latches had corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V858000 (STRUCTURE). However, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,500.

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THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR DOES NOT OPEN PROPERLY ALL THE TIME, IT JAMS PARTIALLY OPEN. THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND NOT MOVING.

MY SON WAS GETTING INTO THE VAN VIA THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR. HIS BACKPACK BUMPED THE SENSOR, AND THE DOOR OPENED AND FROZE HALFWAY OPEN. I DISENGAGED THE AUTOMATIC OPENING, BUT THE DOOR HAD DIFFICULTY CLOSING. I NOTICED THAT THE CABLE TO THE SLIDING DOOR HAD SNAPPED. I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO CLOSE THE DOOR, BUT NOW THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the contact heard abnormal sounds coming from the vehicle. The passenger’s side slide door became inoperable. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to call the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

ON 12/20/19 IN MY 2014 TOYOTA SIENNA THE SLIDING DOOR NEXT TO MY 3 YEAR OLD OPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS IN THE MIDST OF ACCELERATING AFTER A LIGHT TURNED GREEN WHEN THE CAR STARTED NOTIFYING ME THAT A DOOR WAS AJAR AND THE PASSENGER-SIDE SLIDING DOOR STARTED OPENING. THE DOOR OPENED FULLY AND REMAINED OPEN AS I WAS AT SPEED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. NOTE THAT ALL DOORS WERE CLOSED AND LATCHED BEFORE I PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, AND THIS ONLY OCCURRED AFTER A FEW MILES OF DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE LATCH ASSEMBLY IN BOTH SLIDING DOORS. THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT FAILED OR IF THE REPLACED LATCHES WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM, SO I CALLED TOYOTA CORP. I LEARNED THAT TOYOTA ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WHEN I ASKED IF THEY COULD ASSURE ME THAT THE SLIDING DOORS WOULDN'T OPEN WHILE DRIVING AGAIN, THEY COULDN'T. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T CONFIRM THAT THE LATCHES WERE THE PROBLEM, AND WHILE THE REPLACEMENT LATCH HAS A DIFFERENT MODEL NUMBER THAN THE ORIGINAL, THEY DON'T KNOW IF IT IS IN FACT A DIFFERENT PART AND IF SO, HOW. THE ONLY ASSURANCE THAT TOYOTA COULD GIVE ME IS THAT 'OF THE PEOPLE IN YOUR REGION THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO, IT HASN'T HAPPENED A SECOND TIME THAT WE KNOW OF'. THE MORE QUESTIONS I ASKED, THE CLEARER IT BECAME THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ISSUE IS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FROM THE '16 RECALL THAT INVOLVED SLIDING DOORS OPENING WHILE DRIVING (ALL ASSOCIATED RECALLS HAD BEEN PERFORMED BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT). WE HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THIS TO NHSA AS WE HAD ASSUMED THAT TOYOTA REPORTED THIS INCIDENT AS PART OF OUR CASE WITH THEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SLIDING DOOR FAILED TO FUNCTION WHEN USING THE POWER BUTTON. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY OPEN AND CLOSE THE SLIDING DOOR FROM THE EXTERIOR HANDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V858000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO A FRACTURED CABLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DOOR WAS EXTREMELY HEAVY AND COULD ONLY BE OPENED AND CLOSED MANUALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER (NORTH HILLS TOYOTA, 711 BROWNS LN, PITTSBURGH, PA) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

THE FUEL DOOR HINGE HAS BROKEN LOOSE DUE TO THE SLIDING DOOR SAFETY BUTTON (MECHANISM) THAT IS EXERTING TO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE INSIDE OF THE FUEL DOOR. THE UPPER LEFT PORTION OF THE FUEL DOOR. THIS PLUNGER EXERTS SO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE FUEL DOOR THAT IT WARPS/FLEXES THE GAS DOOR AWAY FROM THE BODY. IT TAKES AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF FORCE TO PUSH THIS SAFETY BUTTON (PLUNGER) IN. THIS PLUNGER CLEARLY WAS NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY. NOW, THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDER DOOR WILL NOT OPERATE DUE TO THE PLUNGER/MECHANISM NOT BEING FULLY DEPRESSED IN. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN IF SOMEONE NEEDED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY.

MY CAR HAS BOTH SIDES POWER SLINGING DOOR IS UNABLE TO BE OPENED AND CLOSED WHEN COMMANDED.

FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS MY SPOUSE NOTICED A MUSTY SMELL INSIDE THE VAN AND THEN NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE CABIN CARPET WAS SOAKING WET. ON 09/14/18, I TOOK THE VAN TO TEAM TOYOTA IN GLEN MILLS, PA AND HAD THE AC LINES DRAINED. THE CARPET WAS STILL GETTING WET AFTER HAVING THIS SERVICE DONE. ON 10/09/18, I TOOK OUR VAN BACK TO TEAM TOYOTA TO HAVE A COMPANY CALLED THE "WATER DOCTOR" TO DIAGNOSE THE WATER LEAK PROBLEM. TEAM TOYOTA ADVISED THAT THE "WATER DOCTOR" DISCOVERED THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM BELOW THE FRONT WINDSHIELD COWL. THE "WATER DOCTOR" APPLIED A SEALANT TO THE EFFECTED AREA. TEAM TOYOTA REPLACED THE PADDING AND DEODORIZED THE CABIN AREA. MY BILL TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED WAS $551.20.

MY CAR HAS (BOTH SIDES) POWER SLIDING DOOR IS UNABLE TO BE OPENED AND CLOSE WHEN COMMANDED.

THE TAIL GATE DOOR FUNCTION FAILED IN A SERIES OF PROBLEMS OVER ABOUT ONE WEEK'S TIME. FIRST, IT SUDDENLY STARTED CRASHING DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE LOADING. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THEN IT WILL NOT OPEN/CLOSE WITH THE REMOTE WITHOUT A LOT OF CRASHING NOISE AND SHAKING/VIBRATING THE WHOLE VAN. THEN IT WILL NOT STAY OPEN AT ALL, EVEN FOR A MOMENT. THE ONLY WAY TO DEAL WITH THE TAIL GATE DOOR NOW IS TO MANUALLY OPEN, MANUALLY LIFT, AND MANUALLY HOLD IT UP AT ALL TIMES. IT IS DANGEROUS TO OPERATE AT THIS POINT.

RECENTLY, AT APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES, THE UPPER HINGE OF THE FUEL FILLER DOOR (THE DOOR COVERING THE GAS TANK ACCESS) FAILED. THIS APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY PRESSURE EXERTED ON THE DOOR BY THE SAFETY SWITCH GOVERNING THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, DOCUMENTED HERE: HTTP://WWW.SIENNACHAT.COM/FORUM/67-PROBLEMS-MAINTENANCE-REPAIR-GEN-3/19274-FUEL-FILLER-DOOR-HINGE-BROKE-ANYONE-ELSE-HAVE-HAPPEN.HTML#. I BROUGHT MY VAN TO MY LOCAL DEALER REPAIR FACILITY, NOVATO TOYOTA, AT APPROXIMATELY 81,000 MILES AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COST TO REPAIR WOULD BE AROUND $380. I WAS TOLD THAT NEITHER TOYOTA NOR THE COMPANY PROVIDING MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD COVER IT. IN ADDITION TO BEING CAUSED BY A MECHANICAL DESIGN DEFECT THAT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN FORESEEN, IT CAUSES A SAFETY ISSUE, AS IT WILL PREVENT OPENING OF THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WHEN THE SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. PHOTO ATTACHED IS NOT MY VEHICLE, BUT A PHOTO FOUND ONLINE OF THE SAME ISSUE.

BOTH SLIDING DOORS DO NOT CLOSE. HAVE TO PUSH HARD ON THE DOORS TO CLOSE. PROBLEM STARTED WITH BOTH DOORS AT THE SAME TIME, AND AFTER THE FACTORY RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED SIX MONTHS AGO. DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $862 TO FIX BOTH DOORS. TAIL GATE DOOR COMES CRASHING DOWN. SERIOUS INJURY HAZARD WHEN CHILDREN ARE CLOSE TO THE DOOR. DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $490 TO FIX TAIL GATE DOOR. PROBLEM WITH TAIL DOOR STARTED THREE WEEKS AFTER SLIDING DOOR PROBLEM STARTED. FIELD COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA. DOOR OPERATION IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY. OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS ARE WITH THE VEHICLE STATIONARY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MANUALLY OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR, THE DOOR WOULD SOMETIMES REMAIN CLOSED OR BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

FUEL DOOR HINGE BROKE BECAUSE THE FUEL DOOR PIN HAS SO MUCH TENSION THAT IT BROKE THE HINGE. THIS CAUSED A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE IF IT IS NOT CLOSED ALL THEY WAY OR PUSHED CLOSED ENOUGH FOR THE SENSOR TO ALLOW THE SLIDING DOOR TO OPEN. THIS EVENT WAS REPORTED PAST THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY, (AT 40 MONTHS, BUT LESS THAN THE MILEAGE WARRANTY), BUT HAD BEGUN BEFORE THE WARRANTY HAD ENDED. CURRENT OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT IF THERE ARE INSTANCES BEGINNING OF THE DOOR NOT BEING ABLE TO BE OPENED, SHOULD CHECK THE HINGE AND PIN TENSION AND HAVE IT FIXED WHILE IT COULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SHOULD BE AN ITEM COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE PARKED AND EXITING THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY GETTING AN ESTIMATE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THERE ARE OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS ISSUE ON DIFFERENT SIENNA AND TOYOTA FORUMS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V858000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.