Owners of 2009 Siennas report widespread failures of the power sliding door cable assembly. The cable rusts, corrodes, or snaps during normal opening and closing, often with a loud noise and the cable whipping out with enough force to strike people nearby. Once broken, the door either locks fully shut or opens only 8–12 inches and won't move further, trapping occupants or preventing emergency exit. Owners note that Toyota issued a no-cost warranty enhancement program for 2004–2007 models to replace these identical cables, but refuses to cover 2008–2010 models despite the part number and design being unchanged—dealers quote $1300–$1600 per door.
A second major issue involves the automatic rear liftgate. Gas struts that support the gate's weight fail prematurely, causing the gate to drop suddenly or close on its own without warning. In cold weather especially, the gate will open fully then immediately power-close, trapping people underneath and requiring significant force to hold it open. Owners report the same defect triggered a recall for 2004–2006 models but not 2009s.
The automatic sliding doors also fail to stop or reverse when they strike a child, continuing to close with force unless forcibly pushed open. Owners describe the behavior as fundamentally different from safe door design. Dashboard material becomes permanently sticky and greasy in sunlight, creating windshield glare that impairs vision, and cracks develop at airbag areas.
Failure modes owners describe
Power sliding door cable snapping/breaking
Steel cable that operates the power mechanism for automatic sliding doors rusts, corrodes, or fractures, causing it to snap. When it breaks, the cable often whips out of its housing with force, potentially striking people nearby. The door then becomes stuck (either fully or partially closed) and cannot be opened, even manually, because the snapped cable jams inside the motor assembly or the door cannot be mechanically released without the cable intact.
When: Occurs across all mileages and model years, including early (40k miles) and higher mileage vehicles (130k+ miles). Failures reported year-round but corrosion issues appear worse in cold climates where road salt is used.
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding or cracking sound before cable snaps; Frayed or rusted cable visible on exterior of vehicle; Cable whips out with force when it snaps; Door stuck in closed position or partially open (8-12 inches maximum); Door cannot be opened manually because snapped cable jams in motor; Door will not respond to power operation; Cable exposed/hanging outside vehicle after failure
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota dealers typically quote $1300–$1600 per door for full cable assembly replacement. Some owners report costs as high as $2000–$3000 per door in multi-door failures. Owners have been quoted $165 to simply cut the cable below the door to allow manual opening as a temporary measure, but this does not restore automatic function. Owners report the repair has been covered under Toyota's warranty enhancement program (ZTS/CSP) for 2004–2007 model years but NOT for 2008–2010 despite identical part numbers and design.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota issued a warranty enhancement program (Customer Support Program/ZTS) covering power sliding door cable replacement for 2004–2007 model years at no charge. This same program does not cover 2008, 2009, or 2010 model years despite multiple owners and dealers confirming the cable assembly part number is identical (e.g., 69641-08030) and the design is unchanged. Toyota representatives have stated they will not extend coverage to 2009 models. Dealers refuse to cover second and third failures on the same vehicle or second-door failures for owners out of warranty.
Power sliding door locking mechanism failure / spontaneous door opening while driving
The latch or lock mechanism that keeps the sliding door closed fails, allowing the door to pop open or swing open while the vehicle is in motion at various speeds. The door mechanism is rusted or corroded, preventing the door striker from staying properly engaged. Once open, the door will not automatically re-latch and the safety system does not prevent it from opening again.
When: Failures occur while driving at highway speeds (65 mph) and at low speeds. One case noted the issue on railroad tracks. Rust and corrosion issues appear temperature-dependent.
Symptoms owners cite: Door opens spontaneously while driving; Door pops open even after manual closure; Door will not stay latched when closed; Rust or corrosion visible on latch mechanism; Security system disarmed when door opens, battery drains; Owner has to manually tie door shut to keep it closed
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have replaced door latches. However, owners report the problem recurs after repair. One owner reports paying to have the door manually tied shut as a workaround.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Limited; dealers have performed latch replacement during warranty period, but problem recurs. Manufacturer contact information suggests no broad coverage or recall exists for this issue on 2009 models.
Power rear hatch/liftgate fails to stay open or closes prematurely
The power rear liftgate (trunk) either fails to open with sufficient power assistance, opens and then closes automatically without user command, or drops suddenly after reaching the fully open position. This is typically caused by defective or worn-out gas struts (also called hatch stays or gas springs) that can no longer support the weight of the liftgate. The liftgate may fall 10 inches or more after reaching the top position, and then the power motor engages to close it fully. Manual operation without the struts provides no assistance and requires continuous holding.
When: Failures are more frequent in cold weather (32°F or below). Some cases occur within normal warranty period; others occur years into ownership. One case caused injury when the hatch struck the user's face.
Symptoms owners cite: Hatch opens but closes immediately without warning or user command; Hatch will not stay open unless manually held; Hatch drops several inches after reaching fully open position; Hatch closes with force; requires strong manual effort to stop it; Power close feature engages without user pressing the control button; Problem worsens in cold weather; may resolve in warm weather; Loud bang or popping sound when strut releases gas; Hatch may trap or strike people standing underneath
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota dealers have replaced gas struts and hatch stay kits at a cost of approximately $327 for the strut/stay kit plus labor. One owner reports the repair was covered under warranty. However, owners report the problem recurs after repair, particularly when weather turns cold again.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota issued Special Service Campaign (SSC) 80C in 2008 covering the same defect for 2004–2006 model years, with the repair defined as replacing the struts and brackets. The 2009 model has not been included in any recall or special service campaign despite owners reporting the identical problem. Toyota representatives have told owners there is no SSC for the 2009 model.
Power sliding door closes on occupants / inadequate reverse/safety response
The automatic sliding door closes with force and does not reverse or open automatically when it encounters a person, hand, head, or body part in its path. Unlike elevator doors, which reverse immediately, the Sienna doors continue to close unless forcibly pushed open with significant strength. The safety sensor appears to have insufficient sensitivity or the mechanical resistance is too high.
When: Incidents reported with children ages 2–13 years old. Multiple incidents in the same vehicle over time.
Symptoms owners cite: Door closes with force on child's head, hand, or body; Door pinches or entraps hand or limb; Door does not reverse or 'bounce' back when it hits an obstacle; Door requires forcible manual push to re-open after striking a person; Door continues closing even after striking child; Injuries include head trauma, bruising, hand dents, immobility of thumb, and lacerations
Repairs/costs cited: One owner requested that the resistance/sensitivity be lowered when the door was serviced; the dealer did not comply. No repair procedures documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in narratives. One owner reports calling Toyota corporate after an injury; no resolution stated.
Sliding door roller hinge failure / window shattering
The roller hinge assembly on the sliding door becomes misaligned, binds, or fails, causing the door to stick partially open. When force is applied to open or close the stuck door, the roller hinge fails and comes partway out of its track. This mechanical failure causes the quarter-panel window (the rear side window between the door and trunk) to shatter spontaneously due to stress on the window frame, even though nothing visibly struck it. The window breakage may occur with broken glass landing on occupants inside the vehicle.
When: Incidents occurred on at least two separate occasions with the same vehicle (2015 and 2016/2017). One incident occurred during school drop-off with a handicapped passenger inside.
Symptoms owners cite: Sliding door becomes stuck and difficult to open; Roller hinge binding sensation; Roller hinge visibly comes out of track; Quarter-panel window shatters without visible impact; Broken glass lands on occupants or vehicle seats; Door cannot be opened or closed after hinge failure
Repairs/costs cited: Repairs estimated at $1100–$3000 depending on extent of damage (cable and motor replacement; window replacement). One repair was covered under insurance with $300 deductible; subsequent damage was not covered by insurance.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented.
Dashboard material defect / excessive tackiness and cracking
The dashboard material becomes permanently greasy, sticky, and tacky in the sun, making it impossible to clean. The dashboard also develops cracks, particularly at the driver and passenger side airbag areas. The sunlight causes the sticky material to produce a glare and reflections on the windshield that obstruct the driver's vision.
When: Reported as early as 10,000 miles and continuing through 26,000+ miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard surface becomes greasy and sticky; Material does not come clean with standard cleaning methods; Dust and debris stick to the sticky dashboard surface; Dashboard cracks develop, especially near airbag areas; Airbags visible through cracks in dashboard; Sun reflection off sticky dashboard creates glare on windshield; Glare impairs driver vision
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented. Owners report the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by dealerships.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified by at least one owner but no repair or replacement was offered.
Spare tire and running board detachment
The spare tire bracket/harness fails and the spare tire becomes detached from the vehicle while driving at highway speed. The passenger side running board is also missing from the same vehicle, suggesting systemic fastening or attachment issues.
When: Occurred while vehicle was traveling at 65 mph on highway.
Symptoms owners cite: Spare tire becomes completely detached from vehicle; Passenger side running board missing; Vehicle ran over detached tire immediately after failure
Repairs/costs cited: No repair costs documented. Owner filed damage report with Toyota due to known federal recall for spare tire harness.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner mentions filing complaint citing 'known defect (federal recall notice)' regarding spare tire harness. No further details provided.
Synthesized from 84 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.