2006 Toyota Sienna Sliding Door Cost Over $1,800 To Fix, Savvy Mechanic Has a Workaround

Minivans are ideal for families, people with particular mobility needs, businesses, older people, pet owners, and even some businesses. They are versatile and, dare we say it, even more useful than SUVs that come with a higher center of gravity and challenging ingress and egress.

But despite targeting so many segments of the population that may be in need of some wheels, this type of vehicle is not all that popular. That's good news for people looking to score a deal on the secondary market. These things can be quite cheap!

However, be advised that a repair bill might sometimes be inexplicably high. Another mechanic-turned-YouTuber, who is known for being a Toyota and Lexus aficionado with a knack for taking on all sorts of challenges, recently fixed a Sienna's sliding door and explained why it could get costly.

The minivan presented with a rear passenger-side power sliding door that wasn't latching correctly. He pointed out that while this type of door is useful (just imagine how many dings you can avoid in tight parking lots!), the mechanism that makes it all work is a tad bit complicated.

To fix it, he had to remove the plastic panel, get the glass out, the window run channel, disassemble the entire control panel, and remove the defective latch.

Besides all that work, the mechanic argues that repairing the latch is not something that anyone should do. Once it breaks, it will not function properly any longer. He believes that buying a new one is the way to go.

Sadly, there are virtually no trustworthy aftermarket options available. Buying a new one costs $800 with tax included. Then, you need to replace the snapped cable. That part comes with the motor and costs $1,000. As you may already know, those two sums do not include the technician's hourly rate. So, it can very well go above $2,000 when all is said and done.

Fortunately, a service kit that doesn't include the motor is available for 2004-2010 Toyota Siennas (with power sliding doors). It costs $457, but you have to know the part number. The Car Care Nut shared them with his audience. They are:

• 69631-08031 for the passenger side;
• 69641-08031 for the driver's side.

The mechanic takes the motor from the broken mechanism and puts it into the new assembly. It's a delicate process that requires attention and care. Everything must be done right so the new pricey part won't fail before it's even had a shot to be tested with the power sliding door.

The technician pointed out before putting the new latch into the door that Toyota figured out this whole thing was too expensive, and it redesigned the mechanism on the next-gen Sienna. You might want to keep that in mind.

All in all, the parts cost $1,257. Adding labor and tax results in an estimated bill of around $1,500. Keep in mind that this person represents an independent shop. Dealership technicians usually charge $210 per hour for labor nowadays.

If you're more of a do-it-yourself kind of person, the video below shows what you must do to fix the power sliding door at home. Just make sure you have the necessary tools.