NHTSA Complaint #10268269 — 2003 HONDA CR-V

I HAVE A 2003 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED COOLING. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID THE COMPRESSOR BLEW UP AND MOST LIKELY CONTAMINATED THE ENTIRE AC SYSTEM. HE REFERRED ME TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS AND ASSISTANCE. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS. THE ENTIRE AC SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL MECHANIC AND DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH HONDA CR-VS OF THE AGE OF MY VEHICLE. THEY EVEN HAVE A NAME FOR IT WHICH THEY PUT ON THE TICKET - "BLACK DEATH". THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF I WERE GOING SLOW ENOUGH THE ENGINE COULD HAVE STOPPED WHEN THE COMPRESSOR BROKE APART. IF I WERE ON SNOW I COULD HAVE SKIDDED THE TIRES OR THE BELT COULD HAVE BROKEN OR MAYBE SLIPPED. THE SERPENTINE BELT IS VERY STRONG SO THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THIS VERY WELL COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. IN MY CASE, NONE OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES HAPPENED BUT I FELT THIS WAS A SITUATION THAT MUST BE REPORTED SINCE IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE CARS. *TR