NHTSA Complaint #11231539 — 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY

THE VAN'S AC SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE AIR CONDITIONING WILL BLOW COLD AIR ON THEN PASSENGER SIDE AND WARM AIR IN THE DRIVER SIDE AND REAR. THIS IS THE SECOND ODYSSEY THAT HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. ON MAY 7, 2019, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO A NON-HONDA SHOP FOR AN AC PERFORMANCE CHECK AND PAID FOR AN EVACUATION AND RECHARGE. AT THE SAME TIME A DYE WAS PLACED TO IDENTIFY ANY LEAKAGE SHOULD IT OCCUR AGAIN. THE AC WORKED FINE FOR TWO MONTHS. ON JULY 9, 2019, THE UNIT STARTED BLOWING HOT AIR AGAIN. WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP, THE DYE SHOWED UP ON THE AC CONDENSER. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT WE REPLACE IT. A SEARCH ON THE ISSUE SEEMS THAT SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN DEFECT. HONDA NEEDS TO FIX THIS DESIGN FLAW FOR ITS CUSTOMERS BY EITHER SHIELD THE CONDENSER OR MOVE IT TO A LOCATION LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO ROAD DEBRIS IMPACT. THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR EXPOSING THIS VITAL PART. WHEN LIVING IN GEORGIA IN TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT, THIS CAN QUICKLY BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE.