Has anyone else had this problem? The AC has been blowing humid air. It only happened a few times but stopped. Today the AC started blowing hot air.

Suggestions?

We have been dealing with this same exact issue. Our van has 72K miles on it but was in otherwise perfect "health" when the A/C started to act up. Occasionally the air would feel humid, then it would begin to work perfectly again. This went on for several days. Then one day...it stayed humid and it hasn't worked properly since. That was 2 months ago. It has been repaired 3 times, each repair lasting only days. Today my brother took it into another dealership and spoke candidly with one of the mechanics (an old friend from high school). Apparently, they have Sienna's coming in daily with no A/C. There were 3 in line ahead of ours today. The mechanic said that Toyota has not issued a Technical Service Bulletin or a recall (which tells me they don't have a CLUE how to fix it). I'm not mechanically savvy enough to explain the ins and outs of the problem. What I can tell you is that I've done enough research and read enough complaints to know that Toyota should have addressed this issue by now. I'm disgusted by the whole experience and would be hard pressed to buy another Toyota. I'll be interested to hear how yours plays out. Keep me posted & good luck!

I'm having the same exact problem. I noticed when the AC button is pressed that he AC compressor is not coming on.

Hi, I have the same problems with NO A/C, just hot air on my 2004 Sienna @ 66K miles. I had replaced the clutch coil by a mechanic friend ($285) and it worked for 3K miles. Now, another mechanic (reliable one) said there was a T.S.B. published on this issue. Apparently, Toyota knew the there was a "probability" of A/C failure. It appears as a clutch coil problem, as no charge is getting to the compressor, but in fact, the compressor is way overcharged. To fix it requires a new A/C compressor, new clutch, another $400 part plus filters, & labor. Our estimate, JUST TODAY, was $2000. The guy suggested taking it to a good dealership, raise a big fuss, and maybe they'd give me a deal on another Toyota w/ this as a trade-in.
My plan right now (still quite upset about it all), is dig in and find that Bulletin and take it to the dealership we bought it from. I think if there are enough of us with the same problem, we'd get some help from Toyota!
If anyone has a better plan, please let me know!

We are having the same issue with our 2004 Toyota Sienna. We bought the vehicle last fall and the air worked great. Then about 4 months ago, when we pushed the a/c button the air didn't get cold. When we pushed the button again, the air got cold. Then about 1 month ago, the air quit getting cold at all.

We are now working on compressor #3 in under five years! The first time, we had a screeching noise upon cold starting the car. The dealership dinked around, couldn't figure out what was wrong, then replaced the power steering. One day the car just basically blew up on the road, froze up, scared the heck out of me. Upon taking it in, discovered that the compressor had blown. It was past warranty, but because they had taken so long, they replaced it. Now, no cold air, and they refuse to honor a three year warranty on the second compressor because they replaced it for free. Now they're telling us we might have to have the whole system replaced - $3400!!!!!!!!!!!! The area service guy won't give us a break, and the Toyota Consumer Experience phone people won't override him. I have now found literally dozens of people on the 'net who have the same problem and it's time to get this recognized as a defect!!!!!!

My AC just seized up and my mechanic informs me that the compressor is full of shredded metal. A problem was noted by Toyota on July 12, 2005 and a recommendation for preventive repairs was made to dealers (but not owners). The bulletin's number was "AC003-05".

There appears to be a serious manufacturing defect in the AC system and I'm told that the fix is to take everything apart (including ductwork) and replace condenser, compressor, and a lot of other stuff....a 13- hour job costing more than $3000. I called Toyota USA and they do not acknowledge a problem. How can we find out how widespread the problem is? Clearly a problem was noted or they wouldn't have sent a service bulletin and recommended a fix.

I have the exact same problem. I have had a squeeling noise ever since I owned the vechile and now they are telling me my ac compressor is seizing up @ about 65K. I have tried to deal with toyota about this problem but they are no willing to do anything about it but maybe give me a small disount., but there small discount doesn't make that much a dent in the cost fact and my warrenty does not work out here where I live. So buyer beware of extended warrenty.

I think toyota should have a recall on all 04 sienna but people are telling me they won't since it is not a danger factor that could kill so the problem goes on.... I guess they will just wait till someone out there gets kill before anything will be done. How selfish of them. There seems to be so much complaints about the same problem but they don't acknowledge the problem to be a problem. I would love to join a bunch or angry sienna owner and go down to toyota to complain about this problem to be fixed.

Well that is me venting out my anger.... Good luck to all with your problems.

I am now on my second failed compressor! The first failed under warranty ~25k miles. The dealer bill came to $1900. (lucky for me I didn't have to pay it!)
Three years later, the compressor has failed again, the quote from a local mechanic is $2800.
This is ridiculous. I bought a Toyota for its reliability and quality. Boy was I wrong!!!!

I have the same problem. I have a 2004 Sienna XLE in Atlanta Georgia. The AC siezed up last 2007. Problem diagnosed as metal everywhere , compressor, condenser, clutch all replaces. Lines cleaned. I got it repaired at a 5 star toyota dealer. I understood what the problem was but NOT why. The bill came at $2600.
Toyota agreed to extend warranty assist and it cost me $800 out of pocket.
After the repair, I asked the mechaninc if I should sell the van because it seemed like the problem would reoccur. His suggestion was, this is Toyota, these things last. I took his advise and hung on to it.

Now an year and half later ( the warranty on parts runs out in a year) the van started having the same problem whizzing sound , steering locking up etc. I took in and the same mechaninc who had worked on it a year ago ruled out any AC issue and also ruled out any connection between AC and steering. He had all the answers for how they were NOT related. Now a month later all I have left is hot air in my face. I took it in to the same dealer, same mechanic and I got an estimate of $4200 to do the same thing over as last time. Why the difference in price ? Beacause the consumer is asking for the replacement versus the Toyota assisting the consumer. Hence the price difference of $1600.

Not one person at the Toyota dealer can explain WHY this occurs so those of you who are getting ready to shell out those megabucks please reconsider. No one can even gurantee that if you spend $4200 today you will not see them in a year or so.

I do not know what I will do because I need the AC. But I am more than convinced that this is a "Defect" and being covered up by Toyota and its ignorant dealers by replacing everything. They just hope that this replacement will fix your problem while they know deep in their hearts that you will be coming back in year or so.

Truly disgusted with TOYOTA and its Dealers.

I have the same problem with my 2004 Sienna LE. Turned AC on while I was on freeway. Heard squeaking noise. Pulled over and found the belt was broken. Toyota dealer found there was air compressor internal failure, which caused the crutch to be seized with the pulley, which broke the belt. Total bill to fix it is over $1400 (replace air compressor, crutch, and belt).

Only 40K miles and less than 4 year old, but beyond 36K and 3-years. The dealer was helpful in finding out what was wrong. But the Toyota customer experience was a waste of time. They told me the car was built to last for 36K and 3 years and they met their obligations. Had I known that, I would never buy them.

I strongly believe this is a Defect and should be recalled.

Used to be an owner of many Toyotas. Now on my way to sell them all.

My 2005 Sienna CE (only 51K km) just had A/C failure - no cold air; and 3-yr warranty expired 10 month ago. Initial diag indicated compressor failure - expensive repair. Filed complaint with Toyota Canada and still waiting for their response after 15 bz days, though I was promised to get a response in 7-10 bz days. Very disappointed and ****!

Sounds like serious quality problem with Sienna A/C and Toyota should come up to the plate and take care of the consumers and its own reputation!

So current and potential Sienna owners: be aware and watch out!

Add another to the list - 2004 Sienna, 66,000k - Symptom: AC stopped working while on vacation. A day later it began working again. That lasted about 5 minutes, and has been intemittent ever since. It can be on/off for as little as 30 seconds and as long as maybe 45 minutes to an hour. I've been dealing with it for the last month and procrastinating taking it to the dealer until I can find out more. Have had no luck finding out whether Toyota's doing anything for people on this.

These stories of spending 1k-4k scare the heck out of me...especially the ones who laid down that kind of coin only to have it happen again a couple years later. I guess I'll be making my way to a dealer here in the next few days. If I get news like others on this forum have received, it will be the very last of my money that goes to Toyota. And to think that when I bought this thing new I was reluctant to go w/ a Toyota over a Honda...should've stuck with my good intuition.