What 61 owners told NHTSA about the 2024 Toyota Sienna

The power liftgate on my 2024 Toyota Sienna consistently fails to complete a full close-and-latch cycle. When activated, the liftgate begins its closing sequence normally but then aborts the cycle during the final stages of latching. The system emits an audible beeping signal and the liftgate reverses direction, reopening approximately one-quarter of the way. This failure occurs repeatedly when the vehicle is stationary with no external obstruction present. Multiple repeated attempts to close the liftgate using standard operation (key fob, interior switch, and exterior switch) result in the same failure pattern. The system does not complete a secure latch. Eventually, the liftgate can only be fully closed manually with physical force, bypassing the powered closing function entirely. This condition occurs intermittently at times but has become frequent and repeatable enough to prevent reliable use of the power liftgate system. No obstructions are present during operation. The local Toyota dealership service department observed this and indicated a lift gate adjustment is required, noting it is a known issue Toyota Customer Care has indicated they have no documented record of a known defect relating to this condition. However, multiple independent owner reports and dealer-level discussions indicate similar behavior may be occurring in other vehicles of the same model line, suggesting a potential systemic issue that may not yet be formally recognized. This malfunction raises potential safety concerns, including but not limited to: failure of the rear liftgate to fully secure and latch, increased risk of the liftgate remaining partially open or unlatched without clear driver awareness, and reliance on manual force to override an electronic safety system designed for automatic secure closure. I request that this complaint be documented for investigation and review to determine whether a defect trend exists in the power liftgate system of the Toyota Sienna platform.

NHTSA ODI 11746650

Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to formally raise a complaint regarding a serious and ongoing issue with my 2024 Toyota Sienna XLE AWD, purchased in April 2024 in Illinois. From the very first day, the trunk door has not functioned properly — often failing to close, randomly opening, or requiring manual force to shut. Despite repeated service visits across multiple states (IL, SC, NC) and investing considerable time, fuel, and lost income as a contractor, this issue persisted for over 18 months, creating safety concerns and inconvenience for me and my family. Key Issues: Trunk door opens on its own – even while reversing, creating serious safety risks. Malfunctioning power close mechanism, requiring manual closure frequently. Unreliable performance: door would close, then immediately re-open. Visited Toyota service centers at least 6 times across 3 states. Each visit took 2–3 hours, costing me work hours as a contractor. Customer service experience has been poor, especially with manager Patte, who: Failed to schedule proper service appointments. Directed me without coordination. Refused to escalate my request or connect me to her manager. Dismissed my request for compensation by saying, “It’s your issue.” Please help me on this issue. Thanks in advance.

NHTSA ODI 11693267

The driver side power sliding door failed to detect my [XXX] and ended up squishing it and we struggled for over a minute for the door to open. I have a video of the incident as it was captured by our security cameras, but I cannot upload it here. This was no the first time the doors have failed to detect someone. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11692273

Keeps bottoming out suspension is specification is stated at 5.6 inches and I measured 3.3/4 unloaded never get a response on my complaints from my last repair and resolution on what they admitted that suspension was too low and wouldn’t put it in writing only saying that vantage mobility saying that it’s height requirements are as stated by vantage but no mention of ground clearance that I wanted them to verify that it’s specifications are stated at 6.5 inches and i measured 3 3/4 empty then they tell me not to go by specs and I’m a retired from wright Patterson Air Force base in the engineering department with logistics command and I’m like really guys you have to to have a specifications for a engineered system and they can’t even call back after they admit you have to go by specs! And then the authorized repair specialist tells me i had a bad brace on the front tire that was welded wrong and didn’t even mention it on the invoice or reported it to vantage mobility to call me about anything I had concerns about ?

NHTSA ODI 11691531

Trunk will not open or close properly. Made a screeching sound when you open or close initially. Then eventually it stops opening or closing unless you assist.

NHTSA ODI 11672717

The lift gate strut bent when I tried to close the rear door, then when I tried to open the door to see what the issue was, the strut exploded. The parts went flying and almost hit me in the face, I could feel the air on my cheek as it blew past me. The spring and metal parts inside the strut shot all the way across my cul de sac, and the noise it created sounded like a gunshot. My neighbors came out of their houses to see what happened because it was so loud. We have an appointment at the dealer tomorrow to get it looked at. If I was standing any closer the spring would have hit me in the face; my children luckily were in the car already, if it happened a minute earlier it could have hit them. I noticed after the fact that the gaps in the back door are uneven when it’s closed, and I wonder if the door is installed unevenly and that put pressure on one side more than the other causing the strut to break. I can’t take a picture of the broken strut because I am too afraid to open the rear door in case the other one explodes.

NHTSA ODI 11667874