NHTSA Complaint #11678446 — 2017 HONDA CIVIC

I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback and the dangerous issue related to its air conditioning (A/C) system — a problem affecting many Civic owners nationwide. I initially brought my vehicle to Honda City Chicago for a Honda “campaign” repair (a term they use instead of calling it a recall) in 2023 and again this year, related to the A/C system. I was told the issue would be resolved. However, after agreeing to an optional transmission oil change they recommended, I was later told the A/C still wasn’t fixed — and that I now needed to pay $400 for a diagnostic. That diagnostic revealed the actual problem: a locked A/C compressor. (Which they knew they just wanted the money) This defect is not just an inconvenience — it’s a serious safety hazard. When the A/C is turned on, the locked compressor causes the engine to shake violently and stall completely. This happened to me at a red light; the car shut off, became unresponsive, and I was stuck blocking traffic. If this had occurred while driving at higher speeds, the consequences could have been catastrophic. Many Civic owners have reported similar compressor failures leading to engine stalls and unsafe driving conditions. Honda is aware of this issue but continues to treat it as isolated rather than a systemic defect. I urge the NHTSA to open a formal investigation into this widespread and dangerous issue involving locked A/C compressors in 2016–2020 Honda Civics. A safety recall is warranted before more drivers are put at risk or harmed due to this known defect.