The defect
TOYOTA IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN INVOLVING 196,222 MY 2004-2006 TOYOTA SIENNA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER REAR LIFTGATE STRUTS. THE GAS STRUTS USED TO HELP LIFT AND SUPPORT THE REAR POWER LIFTGATE COULD WEAR OUT SOONER THAN EXPECTED. AS THE GAS STRUTS DETERIORATE, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE LIFTGATE WILL BEGIN TO DEGRADE AND THE POWER REAR LIFTGATE WILL OPERATE MORE SLOWLY THAN WHEN THE GAS STRUTS WERE NEW.
The risk
IF NOT REPAIRED, THE GAS STRUTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE LIFTGATE WHEN IT IS OPEN EVENTUALLY, THE GAS STRUTS COULD DETERIORATE TO THE POINT THAT THE LIFTGATE WILL FALL ABOUT TEN INCHES AFTER IT REACHES THE FULLY OPEN POSITION, AT WHICH POINT THE POWER MOTOR WILL ENGAGE AND POWER THE LIFTGATE TO THE FULLY CLOSED POSITION. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INJURY TO A PERSON WHO IS STRUCK BY THE LIFTGATE WHEN IT FALLS OR WHEN IT IS CLOSING.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GAS STRUTS WITH NEWLY DESIGNED GAS STRUTS THAT HAVE A LONGER SERVICE LIFE. THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2008, AND WILL BE MAILED IN THREE PHASES ENDING IN LATE DECEMBER 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Toyota Sienna | 2004, 2005, 2006 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Sienna | 2004 | 2,062 | 10 |
| Toyota Sienna | 2005 | 1,130 | 12 |
| Toyota Sienna | 2006 | 1,017 | 11 |
Other structure recalls in 2008
25 of the 683 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2008 concerned the structure; TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. filed 95 campaigns in all.
| 08V686000 19 Dec 2008 | TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES AMERICA LTD |
| 08V664000 16 Dec 2008 | FOREST RIVER, INC. |
| 08V659000 15 Dec 2008 | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY |
| 08V609000 24 Nov 2008 | AMERICAN LAFRANCE LLC |
| 08V604000 24 Nov 2008 | REINKE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC. |
| 08V451000 5 Sept 2008 | SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, LLC |
| 08V448000 3 Sept 2008 | PREVOST CARS, INC. |
| 08V447000 3 Sept 2008 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2008