NHTSA Complaint #10233853 — 1999 HONDA CR-V

WE PURCHASED A 1998 HONDA CIVIC IN MARCH 1998. WHILE IT WAS IN THE WARRANTY PERIOD, THE AC UNIT WENT OUT WHICH WAS COVERED. MY HUSBAND BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT SOMETHING CAUSED A METAL PART IN THE COMPRESSOR TO BREAK, CAUSING METAL FRAGMENTS TO CONTAMINATE THE AC SYSTEM. THE CAR WAS ABOUT 2-3 YEARS OLD AND THE TIME AND THE DEALER REPAIRED IT AT NO COST TO US. WE HAVE SINCE SOLD THIS VEHICLE. IN JULY OF 1999 WE PURCHASED A HONDA CR-V (EX) WHICH WE STILL OWN. WE ALSO PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ($75K COVERAGE) ON THIS VEHICLE. IN AUGUST OF 2003 (WITHIN 200 MILES OF WHEN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED) AT 77K MILES, THE A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO COVERAGE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I TOOK IT TO SEVERAL A/C REPAIR SHOPS AND MOST OF THEM QUOTED $1200-$1400. WE HAD THE AC REPAIRED BY A REPUTABLE AC REPAIR SHOP AT THE COST OF $1200. WE HAVE KEPT UP ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE AND INTENDED ON KEEPING IT FOR ANOTHER 2 YEARS OR SO. HOWEVER, LAST WEEK, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE COMPRESSOR MADE A TERRIBLE CLUNKING NOISE, AND SOMETHING APPEARED TO BREAK OFF. WE BROUGHT IT IN AND SURE ENOUGH, THE COMPRESSOR HAD GONE OUT AGAIN. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THIS TIME, THAT IT APPEARS THAT SOMETHING (ROAD DEBRIS) CAUSES THIS PROBLEM AND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. WE ARE BEING QUOTED ANOTHER $1400-$1500 TO FIX THE A/C. WE HAVE DECIDED NOT TO BUY ANOTHER HONDA DUE TO THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD. MY HUSBAND HAD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE (THIS TIME A TOYOTA) BECAUSE HE DRIVES 30 MILES ONE WAY AND THEN HAS TO DRIVE AROUND TO CUSTOMERS. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I BELIEVE THAT HONDA HAS BEEN AWARE FOR MANY YEARS ABOUT A DEFECT IN THE AC SYSTEMS OR A DEFECT IN THE WAY THE AC SYSTEMS AND HAVE ACTED IN BAD FAITH BY NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR