NHTSA Complaint #10228876 — 2005 HONDA ACCORD

THE AIR CONDITIONING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE SERVICE CENTER THEY INFORMED ME A ROCK HAD BROKEN THE CONDENSER. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE I DISCOVERED IT WAS RELATIVELY COMMON IN 2003-PRESENT ACCORDS, IN FACT SOME OWNERS REPORTED THIS HAPPENING MULTIPLE TIMES. I ALSO FOUND SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS THAT SAID HONDA REPLACED THE PART AT NO COST. WHEN I INFORMED MY SERVICE CENTER (CRISWELL HONDA OF GERMANTOWN, MARYLAND) OF WHAT I HAD FOUND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. IN FACT IT IS GOING TO COST ME OVER $700 DUE TO THE LABOR REQUIRED IN GETTING TO THE PART (REMOVING THE FRONT BUMPER). EVEN ONCE I GET THE CONDENSER REPLACED THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY POOR DESIGN, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING PROTECTING THE CONDENSER FROM ANY TYPE OF ROAD DEBRIS. *TR