2008 Toyota Power Sliding Door question

[inkedupmomma]

Hey guys, I have a weird situation.

Tonight I was driving my new (used, bought in may of this year) 2008 Toyota Sienna.

While driving, my 6 year old son thought it would be a good idea to unlock and then proceed to pull the sliding door handle. Much to both our surprise the door opened, while I was DRIVING. Lights went off, and alarm was beeping.

I slowed down, parked and closed the door, and relocked.


My question is, is this normal? I have owned mini vans for years now and NEVER had this happen. While the car is in motion the doors are NOT supposed to open at all.

Even with this van, I tried opening the door when stopped one day, but because it wasn't in park, the door wouldn't open. Once I put the van in park, it slid right open!

Toyota is trying to tell me that unless I have child safety locks on, that happens. I told them NO WAY!

Can anyone help back me up on this? I'm scouring the web, and am going to check user manual, but I can't find a darn thing!

and please, before you comment, no flaming me. I realize what my son did was wrong. He's six, hes curious, hes six. I have no clue what was going through his mind, but I can tell you it scared the living heck out of both of us to the point of tears. So please save the nasty comments for a mom who really is negligent.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[auger]

We have an 08 Lmt Sienna and I don't think we can even unlock the sliders if the car is not in park.
I will try to remember to check for sure tomorrow, but I know the family gets ticked when they go to get out and I haven't put the van in park.

 

[inkedupmomma]

We have an 08 Lmt Sienna and I don't think we can even unlock the sliders if the car is not in park.
I will try to remember to check for sure tomorrow, but I know the family gets ticked when they go to get out and I haven't put the van in park.

THANK YOU! That is exactly what I told the guy! He was beyond condescending and I'm so ticked. Like I am tying to get something for free! We even paid for the extra warranty/coverage.

At least it scared my son straight! But could you imagine if it was a smaller child??? JEEESH

 

[StephMK]

I have an 06 Sienna and agree, the kids can't get in or out if I'm not in park. I'll check tomorrow (in the driveway, don't worry!) and see what happens. I do not think it should be functional while in drive and that sounds really scary!

 

[inkedupmomma]

it was! and again, have NO CLUE what was going through his head to make him to what he did...

 

[HeatherC]

Is the car still under warranty? If it is, I would suggest fighting to get them to fix it immediately.

We had a 2008 Sienna...loved it. But it hit 37,000 miles and the airbag light came on. They told us the whole car had to be re wired to the tune of $4800. And it HAD to be done because you can't pass inspection otherwise.

Then the door broke...wouldn't close and opened unexpectedly. Same thing happened to my neighbor....both of her doors opened while on the highway. They charged her over $1600 a door.

We fought them, but they said it was out of warranty and nothing they would do. We even took it to the corporate offices.

So...we traded it in right away and now have a Nissan Quest which so far has been great.

Apparently, in doing research we found that the doors and airbag are known problems on Toyota. They have sent numbeous Technical Service Bulletins to their dealers about it, but won't stand by their product and fix I guess a TSB is when they know about a specific problem and give the dealers a heads up about it and how to fix it. BUT...they won't do a recall on it.

If you are still under warranty, I would DEMAND they fix it and even have them inspect the airbag system.

Goood luck to you.

 

[shoney]

No, that should not happen! How scary!!!!

I've had a windstar and now have a quest. The car must be in park for the doors to open.

My boys are older so I dont use the child safety feature in the quest, but in the windstar if it was on, they couldn't open the doors at all. I would have to press the button from the front to open them, even in park.

Good Luck to you....dealing with car dealers is never fun!!!

 

[Sheaboys]

We have a Hyundai Entourage 2007. It had power doors on both sides. You can not open the doors unless it is in park. You can however, put it in drive and close the doors.

 

[nadiakim]

I have an 06 Sienna and agree, the kids can't get in or out if I'm not in park. I'll check tomorrow (in the driveway, don't worry!) and see what happens. I do not think it should be functional while in drive and that sounds really scary!

Same, had an 06 sienna and doors couldnt even be unlocked when driving. Sounds like something is faulty.

 

[scrapquitler]

Hey guys, I have a weird situation.

Tonight I was driving my new (used, bought in may of this year) 2008 Toyota Sienna.

While driving, my 6 year old son thought it would be a good idea to unlock and then proceed to pull the sliding door handle. Much to both our surprise the door opened, while I was DRIVING. Lights went off, and alarm was beeping.

I slowed down, parked and closed the door, and relocked.


My question is, is this normal? I have owned mini vans for years now and NEVER had this happen. While the car is in motion the doors are NOT supposed to open at all.

Even with this van, I tried opening the door when stopped one day, but because it wasn't in park, the door wouldn't open. Once I put the van in park, it slid right open!

Toyota is trying to tell me that unless I have child safety locks on, that happens. I told them NO WAY!

Can anyone help back me up on this? I'm scouring the web, and am going to check user manual, but I can't find a darn thing!

and please, before you comment, no flaming me. I realize what my son did was wrong. He's six, hes curious, hes six. I have no clue what was going through his mind, but I can tell you it scared the living heck out of both of us to the point of tears. So please save the nasty comments for a mom who really is negligent.

Thanks in advance for any help!

As far as I know, any door when unlocked and opened will indeed open, unless child lock is in place.

 

[pklein09]

We received a letter from Toyota about "Certain 2004 to 2010 Model Year Sienna Rear Sliding Door Latch Assemblies Warranty Enhancement Notice." Here's an exerpt:

To: All Toyota Dealer Principals, Service Managers, Parts Managers

Subject: Customer Support Program (CSP) – ZTS

• Certain 2004 to 2010 Model Year Sienna Vehicles Extension of Warranty Coverage for Rear Sliding Door Latch Assembly

• Certain 2004 to 2007 Model Year Sienna Vehicles Extension of Warranty Coverage for Power Sliding Door Cable Assembly

In our continuing efforts to assure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota is announcing a Customer Support Program (CSP) to extend the warranty coverage on the rear sliding door latch assemblies on certain 2004 to 2010 Model Year Sienna Vehicles. This warranty extension will also provide coverage for the Power Sliding Door Cable Assembly on Certain 2004 to 2007 Model Year Sienna Vehicles equipped with a power sliding door.

Background

Toyota has received reports of customer concerns regarding rear sliding doors that gradually become difficult to open or close in certain 2004 to 2010 model year Sienna vehicles.

Although the Rear Sliding Door Latch and Power Sliding Door Cable Assembly* are covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty** for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers ownership experience. To assure our customers’ satisfaction with that ownership experience, we are offering an extension of the warranty coverage for the covered vehicle’s Rear Sliding Door Latch Assemblies and Power Sliding Door Cable Assemblies*.

*Note: Warranty Extension Coverage for the Power Sliding Door Cable Assembly only applies to Certain 2004 to Certain 2007 Model Year Sienna Vehicles equipped with a power sliding door.

**Please see the Owner’s Warranty Information Booklet for details.​

I would call a Toyota Dealership and see what they have to say.

 

[Stacy9402]

I have a 2008 Toyota Sienna Limited. I know when someone has tried to open my sliding doors before I have put the car in park. They would have to unlock it first and it would open but not easily and I do not believe a child of 6 years old would be able to do it. We always just put the car in park and push the button after whoever is trying to open the door that its not easy and you think something is wrong.

So no it is not normal for the door to open if not in park.

 

[MichiganKris]

The dealer is right, if you UNLOCK the door it will open when the car is in drive. What most of you are talking about is the automatic door lock/unlock feature that locks the doors when you put the car in gear and unlocks them when you put it back in park. This can be manually over-ridden by unlocking the door by hand, which is what it seems happened in this case, then cars have the alarm telling you a door is open.

 

[mks18412]

My Sienna has to be in park before the sliding doors open.

 

[Minnesota!]

The dealer is right, if you UNLOCK the door it will open when the car is in drive. What most of you are talking about is the automatic door lock/unlock feature that locks the doors when you put the car in gear and unlocks them when you put it back in park. This can be manually over-ridden by unlocking the door by hand, which is what it seems happened in this case, then cars have the alarm telling you a door is open.

Yep!

We have a 2004 and I know that you can open a door while driving if it is manually unlocked. Been there!

 

[inkedupmomma]

WOW, thank you all so much! Had a very busy day today! I'm still freaked out by the whole event! Luckily we have an extended warranty when we bought it, so they are going to look at it Monday, but total PITA having to go there and all that! I really appreciate all your input!