Alternator/generator/regulator problems of the 2004 Toyota Sienna

Two problems related to alternator/generator/regulator have been reported for the 2004 Toyota Sienna. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2004 Toyota Sienna based on all problems reported for the 2004 Sienna.

1 Alternator/generator/regulator problem

Failure Date: 01/03/2010

Toyota (2004 Sienna) seat heater burned a hole through the leather on drivers seat. Toyota (judy faul) interviewed me/my case and submitted to terrence chu (regulatory affairs). He wrote me a letter 3 months later and said Toyota was not at fault because I had a towel (8"x8" baby burp cloth) adjacent to my leg (left outer thigh) and the owners manual states "not to use an insulating object" with the seat heater operating. He never contacted me for clarification on the incident. I have been denied access to anyone at Toyota. The dealer (peoria, IL) said they will repair for $1337, but will not support me to repair the damage the faulty heater created. I can see their logic if sitting on a stack of towles, but not a rag, of which the consistency is less than the ski pants worn (with the heater operating) or my wife sweater dresses in the same manner. Personal friends (torry olsen) had the same year van and the same problem. Toyota repaired theirs as it was under warranty. The heater element is still hooked up (and dangerous) and Toyota will not service unless we pay.

2 Alternator/generator/regulator problem

Failure Date: 06/19/2008

My 2004 Toyota Sienna xle limited's alternator belt got cut and the vehicle immediately stopped on the road and had to be taken to a Toyota dealer. The dealer says my vehicle had a "catastrophic ac failure" which caused the belt to break and says it will cost $2400 in parts and $1600 in labor. He then contacted Toyota and said that Toyota will pay for the parts. This problem seems to happen a lot on this model, I searched on the internet and could find a lot of people with the same issues and Toyota has still not done any recall on the ac unit. Since this seems to a total design flaw, I would like Toyota to pick up the full tab for this repair. Any help in this regard will be appreciated.




Safety Ratings of Sienna Cars
Fuel Economy of Sienna Vehicles
Sienna Service Bulletins
Sienna Safety Recalls
Sienna Defect Investigations