I have never had a problem with my AC

At 65K miles my air conditionig compressor started to make a horrible noise. Turns out that the AC compressor needs to be replaced.  It has now seized at 67K miles.  Toyota has no sympathy.  I have read about there being an internal Toyota issued service bulletin that basically acknowledges a design defect and recomends adding an inline filter screen (to filter  out all the remaining metal after the compressor chews itself to bits)when replacing the compressor. COMPRESSORS ARE SEALED COMPONENTS. THEY CANNOT BE MAINTENANCED, AND THE SHOULD NEVER SELF DESTRUCT IN UNDER 100k MILES!  Toyota does not want to help me.  Even worse.  There are no after market parts.  The compressor is $700.00 and only available from the dealer and that does not include the clutch which is an additional $250.  The drier is molded to the condenser.  They have to be replaced as well.  That is another $350.00, only available from the dealer, and does not even begin to cover labor.  If I repair it (remember the old one has torn itself to pieces and I actually saw what was left of one at an AC repair shop the other day) it will not stay working for long as there is absolutely no way to guarantee that ALL the little metal particles will be flushed out and the new one will be destroyed by the first little metal particle that gets in.  Not to mention that I have been told that the whole system is poorly desinged from the start and wont last any longer, another 65K miles, if replaced.

 

I have spoken with the manager at my local Toyota dealer, a guy named Cliff at Toyota of Tampa Bay and he outright told me that even though I had bought my last two Toyotas from his dealership, I was not a loyal service customer and therefore Toyota would not help me with this matter.  The car is out of Warranty by 35K miles.  This was again reiterated by a customer service manager for the Toll Free Toyota complaint line.

 

This should not have happened!  The van is now basically worthless for trade in value.  Its not worth fixing.  It has other issues as well, such as leaky front struts that need replacing before the first set of tires even wore down. 

 

This vehicle is a Lemmon!  Toyota's attitude is horrible.  I have spoken with 4 mechanics locally who have seen this same problem a total of 11 times in the past few months in my local area alone. 

 

My email address is lengold@tampabay.rr.com.

If there is anyone out there in the same situation or that can help, please contact me.

Sir

I just sent you an email.  I owned till last week a 2004 Sienna CE.  Simply said, the van really looked nice and solid.  However, most components fail on it.  Air conditioning is just one of many major problems.  The Sienna has no end to visiting the dealership.  And the parts are very expensive.  Dont expect your radiator to last,  but do expect the rear bumpers to fly off the vehicule as the wind gets caught in them.  The bumpers are not screwed in, just clipped.  With snow and ice coming in from the rear wheel, the clipps are forced outwards, and the bumpers catch the wind, and break at the 90 degree angle.  The alternators are too weak for the heavy electrical load, and the shaft breaks in half.  The ignition won't turn if the steering whell is jammed in a given position.  The fuel tanks leak.  The list goes on and on.  I really thought i could keep my Sienna for 400,000 KM and 10 years, but not.  At 131,000 KM and 39 months, i had to let it go.  Funny how i still got $12k for the car at the GM dealer.  Someone will purchase this Sienna for probably close to $15k Canadian, and just like me, they think they are buying a great van.  I really liked my Sienna, but my Visa said NO, it has to go.  Enough is enough.  If you have lots of money, than keep the Sienna.  They are fun to drive, and can turn on a dime, otherwise, sell it.

Best

Stany