Q: I have a 2007 Toyota RAV4. The compressor went out, so the air conditioner no longer functions. I got estimates from two local shops to see how much it would cost to repair, and both said it would be over $3,000! It seems outrageous for a new car to require such expensive repairs to the AC system. Do I have a recourse with Toyota? The car is no longer under warranty, but it only has 51,000 miles on it. A:
Bum luck, and I’m so sorry. I’m afraid you have no recourse. I checked to see if any Technical Service Bulletins (the official notification of an issue) had gone out on the 2007 RAV, and the only one sent was related to the trailer hitch. (Anyone can check this information by going to safercar.gov and typing in the year, make and model of the vehicle to find out if there have been notifications of any issues).
I checked the various chats about RAVS and issues, and the compressor is not one of the things people are complaining about. Not that that would matter in terms of getting it fixed, it’s just that sometimes we like to know whether others are experiencing the same problems we are.
Just so you know, the most common reason for a compressor failure is a leak that allows the fluids to escape, and that generally happens in the hose or at the connection points of hose and pipe. Even though your vehicle is low mileage, it’s nearly six years old, and hoses can most certainly fail in that amount of time, particularly in severe climates.
The price you were quoted seems high to me, even assuming that belt and hoses and other parts and pieces were part of the estimate. You didn’t mention where you live (and regional repair-bill variations are enormous), but I think it would be worth going to another trusted shop or two — ones recommended by friends or acquaintances who have had good experiences at those places — to see if you can save some cash. And make sure the repair place tells you in advance precisely what the price includes so there will be no surprises.
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