2003 Toyota Sienna Latches & Locks Problems

Your driver's side automatic sliding door won't open—either by pressing the button or pulling it manually. This is particularly concerning if you need to quickly exit the vehicle in an emergency, especially with a passenger who has mobility challenges. The issue likely involves the door's latch mechanism or electric actuator, which may need inspection or replacement to restore full operation.

Your sliding rear doors aren't latching properly, and they sometimes won't open or close when you need them to. The dealer refused to help with repairs. This issue started around 100,000 miles and is still occurring at 150,000 miles. Fixing this will likely involve inspecting and adjusting the door latch mechanism, tracks, or rollers on the sliding doors.

I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM OPENING OR CLOSING THE TRUNK DOOR OF MY 2003 SIENNA VAN. SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASE MY SIENNA IN 2007, I DID NOTICE THE TRUNK HANDLE, WHICH IS COVERED FROM ALL ELEMENTS, WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. TO SEE THE CORROSION YOU MUST GET ON YOUR KNEE AND LOOK UP PAST THE LICENSE PLATE OR OPEN THE TRUNK DOOR AND LOOK UP INTO THIS SAME GROOVE.. I INFORMED THE TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER ABOUT THE CORROSION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANT AND WAS TOLD THAT WAS NOT A PROBLEM THAT WAS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. AFTER A TRIP TO THE GROCERY STORE ON LABOR DAY, THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN. I HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE REAR SEAT TO UNLOAD THE VAN. WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE COST OF THE REPAIR. HOW CAN THAT PART BE TOTALLY CORRODED THE WAY IT IS COVER? *TR

2003 SIENA, SLIDING DOORS DON'T WORK AT ALL. *DT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA CE. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOORS. HE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

CAR: TOYOTA SIENNA CE, 2003 RE: LATCHES, LOCKS, LINKAGE YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS IN YOUR DATA BASE REGARDING LATCHES, LOCKS, LINKAGE. ON WHICH I ALSO HAVE A COMPLAINT. I HAVE A STICKY (INSIDE) DOOR RELEASE BUTTON PROBLEM. WHEN IT IS DEPRESSED, TO OPEN THE DOOR, THE BUTTON WILL NOT RETURN TO ITS NORMAL POSITION RESULTING IN NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED (LATCHES WILL NOT ENGAGE TO HOLD THE DOOR SHUT). I ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM IN 2005 (OTHER SLIDING DOOR), WHICH WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY (INVOICE #310955, 06DEC05). DRIVING WITH THE DOOR UN-LATCHED IS DANGEROUS AND IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THE MANY COMPLAINTS FILED UNDER THIS HEADING (BUT UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF STICKY BUTTON WAS THE REAL PROBLEM), IN YOUR DATA BASE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TOYOTA FIX THIS ITEM IF IT IS A PROBLEM. DEALER ESTIMATED COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IS $170 (INVOICE #425596, 12NOV08). THEY INDICATED THAT THE ENTIRE DOOR HANDLE AND SUB-ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ALL IT NEEDS IS A NEW SPRING OF SOME SORT, BUT I MUST AGREE THAT I HAVE NO TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE OF PROBLEM OR HOW IT WORKS. THE HANDLE (NON-MOVING PART, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE) LOOKS GOOD AND IS NOT DAMAGED OR DIRTY IN ANY WAY (VISUAL INSPECTION). *TR

THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLED BROKE ON THE BACK SIDE SLIDING DOOR. IT WAS REPAIRED BUT NOW TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE YOU HAVE USE BRUTE STRENGTH. IT WILL NOT OPEN EASILY AND THE SHOP IS STATING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER SLIDING DOOR OPENS WITH EASE EVEN BY A 10 YR OLD. I SAW ON MANY BLOGS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MOST PLACES (SCHOOL) AND CAMPS AND ANY PLACE ELSE YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE YOUR KIDS, THEY WILL HAVE TO GET OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT IS NOT SAFE FOR THEM TO HAVE TO GO INTO TRAFFIC TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. THEN WHAT IF THE SAME THING HAPPENS TO THE OTHER DOOR. WILL THE CHILDREN BE FORCED TO CLIMB THROUGH THE FRONT TO GET OUT, WHAT IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AND THE FRONT DOORS ARE INACCESSIBLE, HOW WILL THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK GET OUT. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S HOOD BLEW OPEN AND DAMAGED THE WINDSHIELD AND ROOF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HOOD LATCH FAILED. HE FELT THAT THE LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS SCHEDULED TO EVALUATE THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

POWER LOCKS - BEGINNING IN 2006, THE DRIVER SIDE/REAR POWER LOCK IN MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY SE BEGAN TO FAIL. THE FAILURE BEGINS WITH INTERMITTENT FUNCTIONING OF THE LOCKS - THE DOORS WILL LOCK/UNLOCK UNPREDICTABLY. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS - CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND THE RISK OF THEFT FROM A CAR THAT FAILED TO LOCK. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE PART WAS COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. (I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD). *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SLIDING SIDE DOORS OF THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP CLOSING IF THERE WAS AN OCCUPANT IN THE WAY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SLIDING DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WOULD BE CHARGED FOR ANY WORK DONE TO THE VEHICLE. SO THUS FAR THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEALER TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.*AK

THE SLIDING DOOR ON MY SIENNA SYMPHONY JUST QUIT WORKING. THE DOOR WAS OPENED AUTOMATICALLY AND JUST QUIT CLOSING USING THE SAME 'AUTO OPEN/CLOSE BOTTOM'. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THE AUTO SYSTEM SINCE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS SINCE THEN THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED MANUALLY FROM INSIDE AND ONE HAS TO GET OUT TO OPEN FROM OUTSIDE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY AND THE LEAVING THE VAN BECOMES LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE BUTTON USED TO OPEN THE SLIDING DOORS JAMMED. THE OCCUPANTS IN THE BACK SEAT WERE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 7/25/2006 - THE CONSUMER LUBRIACTED THE BUTTON AND NOW THE DOOR WORKS. *NM

UPON DEPRESSING THE BUTTON FOR BOTH SLIDING DOORS CONSUMER HAS TO PUT BODY AGAINST IT TO MAKE IT DISENGAGE. CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CLOSING THE DOOR. THE EXTERNAL HANDLER WILL NOT RELEASE THE LOCK TO OPEN THE DOOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD THE DOORS GREASED. BUT, IT DID NOT HELP THE PROBLEM. *AK

SLIDING DOORS ON THE 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN MAY LOCK AND PROVE UNABLE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, TRAPPING OCCUPANTS.*AK

NUMEROUS TIMES, THE BUTTON ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN THE "IN" POSITION. IT WILL NOT COME BACK OUT, AND CAUSES THE DOOR NOT TO LATCH. THE DOOR LITERALLY DOES NOT CLOSE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE I DRIVE MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE OFTEN. *LA

THE DOOR LATCH BUTTONS ON THE SLIDING DOORS(WHERE MY CHILDREN SIT) HAVE GOTTEN STUCK. I THINK THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO HEAT (DAYS WHERE THE CAR SITS IN THE SUN WITH TEMPS OF 95+). WHEN THE BUTTON IS STUCK THE DOOR EITHER ( MAY NOT LATCH OR MAY NOT OPEN). IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO MY CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THIS KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED DOOR LATCH FAILURE, I HOLD TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE. *ON 30AUG03 OUR FAMILY WAS GOING TO OUR POOL (IT WAS A HOT DAY). WE ALL GOT IN THE VAN. MY DAUGHTER CLOSED THE SIDING DOOR. UH-OH THE BUTTON IS STUCK , THE DOOR WONT CLOSE AND LATCH. OUR TRIP IN THIS VAN IS OVER. I STAYED WITH THE VAN, CALLED OUR TOYOTA DEALER AND SCHEDULED A TIME TO REPAIR THE DOOR. TOYOTA COULD NOT RECREATE THE STICKING BUTTON AND WILL NOT FIX OR REPLACE. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THE BUTTON STUCK.