NHTSA complaint: 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA — STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
THE LIFTGATE STRUTS WERE REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL IN OCTOBER 2008. REAR LIFTGATE STRUTS DO NOT WORK NOW. THE LIFTGATE WILL NOT STAY OPEN. WE HAVE TO HOLD IT OPEN WHILE ANOTHER PERSON RETRIEVES ITEMS FROM THE REAR CARGO AREA. THE STRUTS BEGAN FAILING INTERMITTENTLY IN THE WINTER OF 2010. I COMPLAINED TO MY DEALERSHIP, BUT THE LIFTGATE WORKED FOR THEM, SO THEY WOULD GREASE THEM. IN THE WINTER OF 2011, LIFTGATE STRUTS QUIT WORKING. THE STRUTS DON'T WORK IN HOT AND COLD CLIMATES. I'VE SHOWN THIS TO MY DEALERSHIP AGAIN THIS YEAR AND THEY REFERRED ME TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE. CUSTOMER CARE ISSUED A CASE NUMBER AND SAID THEY CAN'T HELP ME, BUT MY DEALERSHIP WOULD CONTACT ME. I NEVER WAS CONTACTED AND HAD TO CONTACT THEM MYSELF. THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE FOR FREE, BUT QUOTED ME AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT. I HAVEN'T REPLACED THE STRUTS YET. I HAVE 3 YOUNG CHILDREN WHICH COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY THE LIFTGATE FALLING. IT HAS ALREADY BUMPED MY HUSBAND AND I IN THE HEAD. *JB
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation