2003 HONDA CR-V Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, and the engine fan was inoperable causing the engine to overheat. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who replaced the thermostat, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

ON MY 2003 HONDA AT AROUND 66,000 MILES THE AIR CONDITIONING QUIT WORKING. ALTHOUGH I HARDLY USE A/C SINCE I ONLY HAVE A SHORT DRIVE TO WORK. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO A HONDA DEALER. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE A/C BLEW UP AND WAS CONTAMINATED THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM. I HAD TO REPLACE EVERYTHING INCLUDING LINES. ALTHOUGH THEY CLAIM THIS HAPPENS, IM CONCERNED SINCE THE A/C WAS RARELY USED. CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE A/C. IVE OWNED OTHER VEHICLES WITH ONLY HAVING TO DO REGULAR MAINTENACE ON THE A/C WITH NO PROBLEMS. THIS REPAIR COSTED 2,611.70. I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRENTY WHICH DID NOT HELP MUCH EITHER. I HAVE BEEN TOLD OR READ OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C IN HONDAS. *TR

HEATER CORE LEAKING INTO PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIPPING ON PASSENGER'S FOOT. PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED BUT POTENTIAL FOR BURN. *TR

ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AUGUST 28TH, MY 2003 HONDA CRV HAD AN ENGINE FIRE. THE ONLY WARNING, WAS A RUBBING SOUND WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED BUT NO DASH LAMPS PRIOR TO SEEING THE SMOKE AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET MY FAMILY OUT OF THE CRV AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. UPON REPAIRING THE CAR AT THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER, THEY IDENTIFIED THE AC COMPRESSOR AS THE LIKELY ROOT CAUSE OF THE FIRE BASED ON MELTED CLUTCH DRIVE WIRES WHICH APPEAR TO BE THE IGNITION SOURCE FOR THE OVERHEATED DRIVE BELT. SINCE THE 2 YR OLD AC COMPRESSOR WAS A FOUR SEASONS - EVERCO 58881 REPLACEMENT A/C COMPRESSOR FROM AUTO ZONE, HONDA WAS NOT INTERESTED IN ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATION BUT THEY DID ALLOW ME TO KEEP THE DAMAGED AC COMPRESSOR AND DRIVE BELT. I SPOKE WITH EVERCO CUSTOMER SERVICE HOWEVER THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT DEAL...

A/C COMPRESSOR IMPLODED AND DAMAGED THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AS A REPLACEMENT COST OF $3400.00. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLANT LEAKED WHICH CAUSED THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR TO FAIL. THE STEERING COLUMN OVERHEATED. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH OR WITHOUT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED SUDDENLY AT TIMES. THE OXYGEN SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BUT THE EXACT CAUSES OF THESE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.

WHILE DRIVING THE 2003 CRV, I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE MARBLES GOING THROUGH THE AC VENTS, THEN SAW A PUFF OF SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE AC QUIT BLOWING COLD AIR. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE CRV, HE SAID CONTACT AMERICAN HONDA SINCE YOU ARE A LOYAL CUSTOMER AND THE PROBABLY WOULD COVER IT UNDER A GOOD WILL GESTURE. NO SUCH LUCK, THE PERSON WE SPOKE TO SAID THAT THEY WOULD GIVE US NOTHING, SINCE THIS IS NOT A HONDA ISSUE. I REQUESTED TO SPEAK TO SOME ONE HIGHER UP AND THE GENTLEMAN , STATED HE MAKES THE DECISIONSO IT DOES NOT HAVE TO GO ANY FURTHER THAN HIM, I ASKED HOW CAN YOU BE THE ONLY PERSON WHO DECIDES THIS, I THEN ASKED TO SPEAK TO HIS SUPERVISOR AND HE STATED HE WOULD NOT TALK TO ME ANY FURTHER...

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA CR-V EX WITH 62K MILES ON IT. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 3K ADDITIONAL MILES THE AIR CONDITIONER JUST STOPPED WORKING. WE WERE DRIVING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON AND THEN NEXT THING YOU KNOW IT JUST STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR. I TOOK IN TO BE DIAGNOSED AND WAS TOLD THE AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL REPAIR COST IS ABOUT $1200. I HAVEN'T HAD IT REPAIRED YET BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA CASH. LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH HONDA. *TR

THE AC COMPRESSOR ON MY 2003 HONDA CR-V, 60917 MILES, DESTROYED ITSELF INTERNALLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO CUT OFF. I HAD DIFFICULTY PULLING THE CAR OFF THE ROAD SINCE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. LOCAL HONDA DEALER SAID THE COMPRESSOR CAME APART SENDING METAL SHAVINGS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM. THIS WILL REQUIRE A COMPLETE A/C SYSTEM REPLACEMENT, COST $3300. AFTER CHECKING ON THE INTERNET, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE CR-V. *TR

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...

2003 HONDA CR-V AIR CONDITIONER/COMPRESSOR BLEW UP AT APPROX 97,600 MILES. MECHANIC SAID BECAUSE OF DEBRIS, FILINGS, ETC., COST FOR REPAIR IS $3800. *TR

MY 2003 CRV WAS MAKING A STRANGE FAINT SQUEALING SOUND. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING, AND WAS RUNNING FUNNY. I TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO MY MECHANIC. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE UNIT, AT AN OVERALL COST OF 1,200.00 A WEEK LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY FRIEND WITH HER CRV AND AS I BEGAN TO SEARCH ON LINE, IT HAS HAPPENED TO 100'S OF OTHERS WITH THE '03 AND '04 CRV'S. I AM ANGRY THAT HONDA HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL AFTER COVERING THE COST FOR MOST OF THESE PERSONS. CLEARLY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE AIR COMPRESSOR. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM HONDA. *TR

MY WIFE'S 2003 CR-V HAS HAD 3 COMPRESSORS EXPLODE. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 17,000 MILES, THE SECOND WAS AT 41,000 MILES, AND THE THIRD WAS 3 WEEKS AGO AT AROUND 65,000. THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES BY HONDA AT NO COST (ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND THE SECOND TIME AS A 'GOODWILL' GESTURE). THOUGH THEY DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE OF A HISTORY OF AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS WITH CR-VS, THEY HAVE AGREED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM THIS THIRD TIME FOR ONLY THE COST OF LABOR ($699). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CRV. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-30 MPH, THE COMPRESSOR SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO HER DESTINATION. THE DEALER STATED THAT DUE TO A LACK OF LUBRICATION, THE COMPRESSOR SEIZED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. SHE WAS FIRST INFORMED THAT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED FAILURE WITH VEHICLES FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY WITH SPECIFIC VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS. HER VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE DEALER IS WILLING TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN RELEASING PRESSURE OFF THE BRAKE WITHOUT APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY LUNGED FORWARD. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,500.

FAX E-MAIL FROM (MT) RE DEFECTIVE COMPUTER IN THEIR 2003 HONDA CRV, CAUSES THE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. *TS A COMPUTER READ OUT INDICATED THAT AL FOUR CYLINDERS WERE MISFIRING. *JB

2003 HONDA CR-V 44,200 MILES: BAD BEARING OR PUMP NOISE STARTING COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, STOPPED AND CHECKED (NOISE VARIED WITH ENGINE SPEED). NARROWED NOISE TO AREA AROUND AC COMPRESSOR/ALTERNATOR/BELT TENSIONER. OPERATED VEHICLE LESS THAN 30 MINUTES FROM FIRST APPEARANCE OF NOISE, THEN THERE WAS A THUD,AND A CLUNK LOOKED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW A SOMETHING ROLLING DOWN THE STREET. NOISE WENT AWAY, AND AC STOPPED COOLING. WENT BACK TO SEE WHAT HAD FALLEN OFF, AND FOUND PART OF THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. NO APPARENT DAMAGE, VEHICLE OPERATES MINUS AC. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WAS TOLD THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS A FOUR OR FIVE TIMES RECENTLY, AND THAT HE WOULD CONTACT HONDA, TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. WAS LATER TOLD THAT HONDA WOULD COVER THE REPAIRS.*JB

'RECALL CAMPAIGN' CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL FOR SRS CABLE REEL AND CR-V SHIFT CABLE UPDATE. *BF THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING IN THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE MANY OCCASIONS IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE NO OIL. THE VEHICLE WOULD BURN OIL EVERY 500 MILES OR LESS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A NEW ENGINE OR A NEW VEHICLE DUE TO HER FEAR THAT OIL MAY DRIP AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. *SC *JB

VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL EXCESSIVELY OUT OF THE ENGINE, ESPECIALLY AFTER OIL CHANGES. TAKEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE CAUSE IS STILL UNDETERMINED.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAS SPOKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES IN REFERENCE TO THE OIL LEAKING ON DRIVEWAY SEVERAL DAYS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE REMAINS WET WITH OIL. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE IS DIFFICULTY GAINING ACCESS TO THE OIL FILTER AND REMOVING IT WITHOUT SPILLING THE OIL. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TC

THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK OIL WAS BURNIG EVERY 500 MILES. *SC *JB

CONCERNED WITH RECENT REPORTS OF FIRES ASSOCIATED WITH 2003 VEHICLE8N`SUGEST NHTSA REOPEN INVESTIGATION POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW OF VEHICLE. *BF CONSUMERS RESPONDED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES IN REFERENCE TO FIRES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN VEHICLES LIKE THE VEHICLE THEY OWN. THEY FOUND 80 CRV'S NATIONWIDE SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING FILL UP WITH SMOKE LEAVING JUST MOMENTS FOR PASSENGERS TO ESCAPE BEFORE THE CARS WERE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES AND DESTROYED. *TC

COMPLAINT CONCERNING OIL LEAKED ALL OVER DRIVEWAY AFTER OIL CHANGE. WORRIED ABOUT FIRES CAUSED BY OIL FILTER PROBLEM. * BF WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE THE CONSUMER NOTICED A U SHAPED METAL MEMBER LOCATED DIRECTLY BELOW THE OIL FILTER. WHEN THE OIL FILTER WAS REMOVED THE OIL SPLASHES OVER THIS MEMBER AS WELL AS OTHER STRUCTURAL MEMBERS. *TC

VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL WHENEVER IT IS PARKED. HOWEVER, THE OIL LEAK GETS WORSE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.*AK......VEHICLE WAS SMOKING AND LEAKING OIL FROM OIL FILTER. DEALING DID NOT IDENTIFY CAUSE, BUT TOLD CONSUMER TO LOOK FOR OIL LEAKS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE OIL WAS CHANGED ON YESTERDAY. THE CONSUMER WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ENGINE BEGAN TO PRODUCE THICK BLACK SMOKE. DEALER STATED THE OIL PLUG WAS MISSING, AND ALL THE OIL LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE. *AK

ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE STARTED BUCKING. *MR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD CONTINUALLY COME ON, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BUCK, SMOKE THEN SHUT OFF, OIL WAS IN THE FILTER AND THE GASKET BLEW OUT, THE VTEC SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED ALONG WITH FAULTY SOLENOID VALVES, AND THE OIL LEVEL WAS EXCESSIVELY LOW. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND AFTER THE VERY FIRST OIL CHANGE CONSUMER FELT THE VEHICLE TREMBLED VIOLENTLY. VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, AND THE CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. ALSO, CONSUMER SAW THAT OIL WAS DRIPPING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE HAD BEEN A REPORT ON TELEVISION CONCERNING THE OIL FILTER. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE WAS THAT THE MECHANIC NEGLECTED TO RETURN THE OIL PAN PLUG.*AK

SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST OIL CHANGE WAS PERFORMED, SMOKE STARTING COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING HOME. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE OIL FILTER WAS INSTALLED WITH THE EXCITING O-RINGS, THUS CREATING AN OIL LEAK. THE OIL DRIPPED ON THE EXHAUST. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE. TO AVOID THIS FROM RECURRING WHEN AN THE OIL FILTER AND THE O-RINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

AFTER AN OIL CHANGE ON MY 2003 HONDA CR-V, THE OIL LEAKED OUT FROM THE FILTER LOCATIION ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND SATURATED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR WITH OIL PROMPTING A COMPLETE CHANGE ON THE COMPUTER AND O2 SENSORS AND OTHER COMPONENTS. *AK

I BROUGHT MY 2003 HONDA CR-V EX MODEL IN TO MAINE MALL HONDA IN SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE FOR ROUTINE 10,000 MILE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, WHICH INCLUDES CHANGING THE OIL, ROTATING TIRES AND INSPECTING FLUID LEVELS. WITHIN 5 MILES OF LEAVING THE DEALERS LOCATION, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AND THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I FIRST NOTICED SMOLE BY LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR APPROXIAMTELY 2 MILES AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERS LOCATION. THINKING IT WAS JUST SOME SPILLED OIL, I KEPT ON DRIVING UNTIL I NOTICED THE LOW OIL LIGHT COME ON THE DASHBOARD. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND SMELLED OIL. AT THAT POINT I OPENED THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND SAW FLAMES IN THE ENGINE. THE MAINE STATE POLICE ARRIVED WITHIN 5 MINUTES AND DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS TOO FAR PROGREESED TO SAVE THE CAR. THE SOUTH PORTLAND AND SCARBOROUGH MAINE FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED WITHIN 10...