Toyota Recalls Sienna Minivans for Defective Sliding Doors

Toyota is recalling about 744,000 Sienna minivans from the 2011 to 2016 model years to fix a problem that can affect its sliding doors. According to a report in The Car Connection, the problem appears to be electrical in nature. The automaker explains that if the sliding door is prevented from opening, the fuse for the sliding door motor can trip. If that happens when the door is unlatched, the door may be able to slide open when the vehicle is in motion posing a safety hazard for passengers.

Toyota has not yet finalized the fix for this problem, but it expects to do so by mid-January 2017. That’s when vehicle owners can expect to get the recall notices in the mail. This notice will explain the problem and list the necessary steps to fix the issue. If you believe you own one of these vehicles and have further questions, you could visit toyota.com/recall or visit safercar.gov to determine if your minivan is part of the recall.

The Danger of Bad Car Doors

Vehicle doors may seem like a relatively insignificant part of a vehicle. However, they play a crucial role in protecting the driver and passengers of the vehicle. In this particular case, it appears that the sliding doors were affected by an electrical problem. Sometimes, defective door latches or doors that open when the vehicle is in motion can result in severe injuries that are permanent, long-term or even deadly. When doors open unexpectedly when the vehicle is in motion, passengers could get thrown from the vehicle, resulting in serious injuries such as broken bones, internal bleeding, brain trauma and spinal injuries.

Auto Product Liability Issues

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective auto, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries, damages and losses. In order to do so, victims must file a product liability claim and prove that they were injured as a result of the design flaws or manufacturing errors that made the product defective. Product manufacturers can also be held accountable for failing to warn consumers about the dangers their product pose and for not providing sufficient directions for safe use.

Injured victims can claim damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation and pain and suffering. A resourceful auto defect law firm will be able to help injured victims and their families seek and obtain maximum compensation for their significant losses.