NHTSA Complaint #10328823 — 2006 HONDA CIVIC

THE AIR CONDITIONER ON MY 2006 HONDA CIVIC FAILED. SINCE I HAVE A 10-YR EXTENDED WARRANTY, I HAD MY HONDA DEALER DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM (COST $75). THEY TOLD ME THAT THE AC CONDENSER WAS DAMAGED DUE TO A ROCK/PEBBLE IMPACTING THE CONDENSER AND THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE PROBLEM. I HAD THEM REPLACE THE CONDENSER (COST: $782). IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DEFECT FOR THIS HONDA AND OTHERS GOING BACK TO 2003. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO PROTECTION IN THE FRONT GRILLE THAT WOULD PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. THE DESIGN OF THIS HONDA WELCOMES DEBRIS TO COME THROUGH THE GRILLE! A SIMPLE $5.00 SCREEN ATTACHED TO THE GRILLE WOULD HAVE SAVED ME $856. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. I NOW HAVE TO LOOK FOR MY OWN CUSTOM GRILLE TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. IT'S NOT IF, IT'S WHEN. *TR