On numerous occasions since purchasing this vehicle (and most recently, today), the sliding door handle/latch/lock has failed. Usually, the failure is such that the door cannot be opened from the inside or outside. Sometimes, the door can only be opened from the inside and sometimes the door can only be opened from the outside. On at least one occasion, an inoperable door spontaneously opened itself when nobody was near it. The dealership has looked at this problem numerous times, to no avail, and significant pieces of the mechanism have been replaced at the cost of several hundred dollars, but the problem persists. A different, but possibly related, problem is that the front passenger door lock (the electronic lock) has also failed repeatedly over the life of the car.

- Redmond, WA, USA

Driver's side door handle, both sliding door handles, and rear hatch handle have broke or are still broken. Driver's handle and one side door handle have been super glued to make operational.

- Acworth, GA, USA

The exterior handle of the front driver's door was broken while I was opening the door. The exterior handle consists of a metal holder and a thin plastic plate. The plastic plate broke in more than two places.

- Damascus, MD, USA

Sienna van back door latch failure to open. Latch components include a piece of plastic that can apparently break rendering the back door latch unusable. Occupants of vehicle would not be able to use the back to escape in case of an accident or allow emergency crews access. Considering a door handle (latch) to be a critical component for safety reasons, I was surprised to find this part made out of plastic. In calling Toyota service I was told that its not uncommon for this piece of plastic to break on the vehicles after ~7 years. This is when they expect the failures to occur and the service personal indicated they had just repaired one last week too. At a cost of over $300 to repair this piece of plastic and allow the trunk to open and close again, I personally consider this a safety defect. The trunk latch is not used on a daily basis as the doors are but is an integral part of the vehicle access and failure to design and use parts that can stand up for the life of the vehicle is a safety hazard. The failure came with no prior indication. Went to open trunk and piece of plastic under latch handle broke rendering it useless. I don't know if there are any other failures related to the passenger or driver doors with the latches or if they are made of the same material. Something for NHTSA to review.

- Parkland, FL, USA

I have a 1998 Toyota Sienna. The passenger-side siding door handle broke off in my hand! this is our family car and we take good care of it. The handles have not been jerked or otherwise roughly treated. Now, until we can get this defect repaired, the door cannot be opened from the outside. I am upset because this appears to be common problem with this model.

- Amarillo, TX, USA

Rear sliding doors on both sides of van at times cannot be unlocked and/or opened from inside or outside. Sometimes cannot close and latch the sliding door. This all happens when the inside push button door release becomes stuck in the depressed position in the door handle. Occurred first on passenger side in cold weather (Jan 2000). Dealer followed mfg's tsb to help reduce problem. But now (July 2005, hot weather) driver's side sliding door has same problem.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

Since our purchase of our 1998 Toyota Sienna van we have experienced sparatic problems with both slider doors of the van. I have taken it to several Toyota dealerships where they tell me that the rubber stripping has to remain clean. I followed their suggestion and to this day it is still happening. This poses a problem when both doors will not open and everyone has to climb through the front doors.

- Huntingtown, MD, USA

Sliding doors stick and/or jam. Right side door handle has fallen off causing no entry/exit capabilities from right side of vehicle. Left door still jams/stick causing exiting from drivers door or back hatch.

- Valrico, FL, USA

Sliding door handles stick and them sometimes prohibit opening the doors all together. Door handle on right side actually came off in my hand after hundreds of times of sticking, now door can't be opened at all causing a safety hazard.

- Valrico, FL, USA

Some of the door handles on my 1998 Toyota Sienna have fallen off, and I have concerns that in a traffic accident rescue personnel would have a difficult time getting me or my children out.

- St. Petersburg, FL, USA

Passenger sliding door handle/button (interior) jam 6 out of 10 times, making it impossible for passengers to exit car. I have reported this to dealer several times, only to be told it's a billable repair, despite there being a known problem with this vehicle/handle. Many occasions my kids have had to climb out through the front seats or tailgate, making this a legitimate safety hazard. 1998 Toyota Sienna le vid4T3gf13cwu068998.

- Flushing, NY, USA

Side sliding doors of Toyota Sienna mini-van do not unlock / lock or release for open. Door button is stuck in a pushed-in position and will not release on either side door. This prevents passenger from opening door. Passenger is locked in and cannot exit the van. Passenger must exit the van by climbing into the front seat and out the front door of the van. The button on the slide door eventually unsticks and pops out, allowing the door to open.

- Bethlehem, PA, USA

The rear passenger sliding door lock sticks, causing door not to open. Vehicle has been taken to the dealer for repairs four times. This has also happened on the rear driver side sliding door. Most recent incident was on 7/30/2003.

- Seattle, WA, USA

Consumer states that sliding door latch failed. Door will not latch when closed. Consumer has to tie door to hold it closed.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

Power locking system behaves randomly. Doors lock and unlock while driving with key in ignition and while parked without key in ignition. Dealer has been unable to repair.

- Millfield, OH, USA

The latch holding the side sliding door failed, dealer replaced it. The replacement part has also failed, allowing the door to slide closed on a hand, body, or child.

- Vandalia, OH, USA

The latch designed to hold the side sliding door in an open position failed, so that the door would not stay open, allowing it to slide shut on a hand, body etc. The part was replaced by the dealer, but the replacement part also failed(see second complaint)

- Vandalia, OH, USA

Right sliding door has had multiple failures over a four year period. Right sliding door latch failed, the door would not remain open causing a safety hazard for passengers attempting to get in or out. Cable for door failed, resulting in door being unable to be opened at all from inside or outside. Inside door push button would not work intermitently, door could not be opened. Exterior door handle would not work intermittently, unable to open door. Interior door lock assembly would migrate into door handle, unable to unlock door except with button on drivers door. Exterior door handle broke into two pieces. All problems have been corrected so far, although some were out of warranty and were paid for out of pocket. Am waiting for response from toyato motor Corp regarding reimbursement for repairs to defective door.

- Covina, CA, USA

Locking mechanism and the door handles on sliding doors on both sides of vehicle fail to operate properly. Consumer has difficulty opening both side doors, and latch fails to catch properly, allowing doors to open during operation of vehicle. Dealership has examined vehicle numerous times, and failed to effectively remedy the problem. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

- Pine Grove, CA, USA

I previously contacted you about the right door, I am currently under legal advice for the amputation to my daughters finger. While going through legal process left door failed, started out where every now and then it wouldnt stay open then it wont stay open all the time, then the door knob broke off now the door is locked completly shut and we cant open it. Under our attorneys advice were told to not get it fixed while going through the lawsuit, tried to get attorney to let us get if fixed several times, he says we can not even get a replacement, the doors arent the only defects on this mini van, we have problems with the van swaying to one side while driving, tires getting bad to fast, emergency lights coming on for no apparent reasons, windshield whipers not working, seats not staying in correctly, seatbelts sticking, car shaking etc, etc.....please help us we need it.

- Sacramento, CA, USA