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Honda CR-V AC Compressor Problems

2155 messages,  Last post on May 13, 2013 at 5:50 AM

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What is this discussion about? Honda CR-V, Heating / Cooling, SUV

Messages Page 111 of 216

#1096 of 2155 a/c problems crv by devoist

May 14, 2009 (7:20 pm)

posted here the other day same as every one else here a/c went out, contacted local dealer no help. contacted american honda doing me big favor of $1,000.00 off of $2,800.00 price from local dealer. that leaves me with $1,800.00 still to come up with, honda rep contacted local dealer and this is the final price they come up with this really stinks they know they have major issue with compressors yet i think this has been going on for some time now and i agree with earlier posts i believe they are just cutting losses and anyone now is in for not much help. i own 3 hondas a 93 accord 264,000miles, 03 crv 75,238miles, and just bought a new 2008 accord, yet local dealer is not willing to help any more than this on their end. i am not dumb i know parts alone are not going to cost $1,800.00, very angry at local dealer and from what i can understand that has a lot to do with it. probably will try to see what i can find to do at local a/c shop or trade and probably not for a honda.

#1097 of 2155 A/C issues by wjtinatl

May 14, 2009 (8:01 pm)

One of my employees had 2 issues with A/C on his 2003 CR-V. Honda was no help and $2500 repairs were the norm in both cases. Otherwise a very reliable car but really soured his opinion of Honda, ended up buying a Sentra to replace his Civic. Not to pour salt in the wound, but my 3 domestics of same vintage (98 Camaro, 02 Excursion, 03 Focus) have had zero A/C (or other) issues but really hard today to draw quality conclusions by brand or place of manufacture.

#1098 of 2155 Re: 2002 CRV with 2nd compressor issues [berri] by steve_ HOST

May 15, 2009 (9:09 am)

Replying to: berri (May 14, 2009 5:30 pm)
Warranty claims and accrual rates for Honda were 1.2% for both metrics in 2007/08. The accrual rate went down from 2.1% back in '03. (link
 
That's a bit lower than the usual Detroit numbers, which hover closer to 2%. Ford is at 1.7% for 2008 for example. Warranty Week
 
Naturally, one bad component will be offset by all the components that don't cause problems, keeping the overall numbers in an acceptable range. Since it costs companies a lot of money to service warranty claims, one would hope and expect to see AC compressor failures to lessen as Honda addresses the issue in newer models.

#1099 of 2155 Re: 2002 CRV with 2nd compressor issues [derkommissar73] by blueiedgod

May 15, 2009 (9:57 am)

Replying to: derkommissar73 (May 14, 2009 12:15 pm)
Derkommissar73,
 
The 2% failure rate is what Honda's internal memorandum listed, that I just happen to have read. I can not reveal the memo itself, nor the source. I am sorry.
 
The 2% failure rate is inline with the number of posts on here. Average consumer, happy with the vehicle, unless a car nut, will not go on websites posting about such benign vehicle as CR-V, especially if it is equipped with automatic transmission (woman, 30-50 years old). You only hear posts from people who have failures.
 
Take the sales numbers for CR-V's sold in the USA for model years 2002-2004 and draw your own conclusions.
 
Just like you said, my conclusions about A/C use are personal. People were having children in St. Louis in the summer before A/C was invented, and I am sure, they will continue having children in the summer in St. Louis regardless of functioning A/C. Heck, some segments of the population don't have air conditioning and seem to do fine with having multiple children not only in St. Louis, but all over the country and the world.
 
I don't think location of the compressor in the engine compartment is any different than any other manufaturer. And most likely has not bearing on its service life.

#1100 of 2155 2003 Honda CRV Compressor Lock-up by reydv

May 16, 2009 (5:54 am)

I bought a used 2003 Honda CRV with 54,000 miles on it about a year and a half ago. My AC compressor locked up last Dec at 64,000 miles. A local mechanic quoted me $1,800.00 for the repair. I came upon this forum and contacted American Honda last January. They told me that they will not be able to help me pay for the cost of repair because my truck was out of warranty. I decided to wait until this month because of the winter to have my AC fixed. I called American Honda again and was surprised that to learn from them that they want me to take the truck to a Honda dealership in my area to have my AC diagnosed. That required another $120 diagnostic fee. grrr... The Honda dealership told me the same thing. My compressor has locked up and I need to replace the WHOLE AC SYSTEM. They quoted a whopping $4,150, $2750 for parts and the rest for labor. I could buy a used toyota camry with that money! American Honda (AH) offered to shoulder 50% of the cost. I was really wondering why they declined to help me the first time I called them. I told them that the repair is still expensive, having to shell out $ 2075 in addition to the $240 that I already spent for the diagnostic test. I asked if could get the money and go to another mechanic. AH asked what benefit they would get from it. I told AH that I could settle for $1,000 and that they would save $1,075 from the deal. AH declined. I think that the dealership inflated the quote that they gave me.
 
I went to another local mechanic and they quoted me $1,200 for the repair and offered a 2-year warranty on parts and labor compared to the one-year warranty from the Honda dealership. I am scheduled this Wed to have the repair at my local mechanic.
 
I would like to thank the people who posted their not-so-good experience with Honda CRV. I just wish that I had come upon this forum before I bought my truck.
 
To those who have been declined by AH, try calling them again. They might help you the second time they hear from you. Or maybe try going to a local mechanic for a better deal.

#1101 of 2155 Re: 2002 CRV with 2nd compressor issues [blueiedgod] by jpettibone

May 16, 2009 (11:16 am)

Replying to: blueiedgod (May 15, 2009 9:57 am)
I'm sure the CRV thanks you for defending it from such an onslaught of negativity, and I thank you for your condescending attitude. I'm not sure of what your stake in this argument is, unless you're a dealer or Honda employee.
 
I don't believe that Honda should get a pass on this simply because the faulty part is not related to the safety or basic operation of the vehicle. I believe most owners of any car bought in the last 10 years expects to get more than 50,000 to 80,000 miles out of an A/C system, with the exception of basic freon issues. I did not expect to rent an AC system for 5 years that cost far less new than as a replacement.
 
There are three kinds of CRV owners out there at this point for the purposes of determining the likelihood of AC failure...
 
A) Those who have never had an issue with the AC
B) Those who have had an issue and reported it here
C) Those who have had an issue and did not report it here
 
You are correct that I cannot determine the base rate of failure without knowing the number of cases in which a failure does not occur (A). However, it is also incorrect to assume the the remainder of CRV owners who have not posted ( A + C) here have not experienced this issue. I expect that this issue is underreported (B) exactly because it is not a safety or basic operation issue. Many people probably get the $3000+ repair bill and sell the car or don't fix it.
 
So, although we don't know A, we also don't know C. Your demographic based argument for A also applies to C. Sure, A is likely to be a larger group than C, but it's not as large as you implied.
 
Look- I don't buy 2%, and I'm a far more rational person than you give me credit for. I don't buy 50+% either. It's somewhere in between (Probably closer to 2% than 50%), it's an unfortunate mistake by Honda, and it's a major customer service issue for those who have experienced it.

#1102 of 2155 Re: 2002 CRV with 2nd compressor issues [jpettibone] by blueiedgod

May 18, 2009 (10:14 am)

Replying to: jpettibone (May 16, 2009 11:16 am)
I don't work for Honda, although I wish I did. There are a few changes I would make. Marketing would have to go to engineering school and get at least an associate degree in any sort of engineering.
 
Other changes would include putting manual transmissions in vehicles, which are available in other countries, but not in Honda's biggest market.
 
Honda is a great engineering and development company. They developed the best engines, and now robots in the world. In order to finance those R&D ventures, they have to put those engines into something. So, they developed motorcycles, cars, SUV's and airplanes to put those engines into.
 
Vehicle sales is just a side business. They don't make the compressors, they have someone make it for them, Denso.
 
As to the A/C failures, yes, they happen. It is unfortunate, but legally, Honda's liability ends when the warranty ends. Anythiing else is just icing on the cake. No other manufacturer in the world would even consider talking to people about covering out of warranty repair, even 1 mile out side of warranty.
 
Honda, on the other hand, does offer some relief to these people. It should be commended on that, and not complained that Joneses got more than the Smiths.
 
From Honda's point of view, these are the factors that go into detemining who gets what.
 
Someone who bought his or her Honda because they read on some forum or someone told them it was "da bomb" is not going to be a loyal customer, whether Honda pays for the complete repair or not. They have already made up their mind, and will be soured by this experience.
 
A loyal Honda fan, on the other hand, with proven track of Honda product ownership, will stand by the company, no matter what the outcome is. Loyal Honda buyer keeps coming back to the products not because someone said it was good, or bad, but because these products fit this particular individual's tastes and desires, and no other company has the line of products that fulfill that need.
 
I am the second kind of customer, I currently own: 1983 Honda Magna, 1988 Honda Prelude Si 4WS, 2005 Honda CR-V, 2004 Honda Lawmower, 2006 Honda Generator, 2008 Honda powerwasher. I have made pillgrimage to Honda headquarters in Aoyama, and have "talked" to Azimo.
 
Other vehicles I have owned were: 1985 Civic DX hatcback, 1987 Accord LXi, 1999 Civic EX, 2001 CR-V SE, and 2002 Civic Si. Some I end up keeping because I believe they are "one of a kind," some I sell when I am done. I still regret selling the 2002 Si, and in the process of getting one in decent shape that has not been raced.
 
Honda makes the products that fit me, have the features I want, and does not have the features I don't want. I belong to a Honda enthusiast club and attend meetings, gatherins, and events with other club members. Honda would be foolish to lose customers like these.
 
Most of the members are multiple Honda owners. Starting with Honda dirtbikes as children and over the years graduating through Honda product line to Acura NSX, or if they did well for themselves, to Honda Jets.
 
So, no I am not condencending, and I am sorry if I came across this way. I am just one of the millions of Honda nuts who take pride in owning the most well engineered machines in the world.
 
Good luck.

#1103 of 2155 Re: 2002 CRV with 2nd compressor issues [blueiedgod] by steve_ HOST

May 18, 2009 (2:11 pm)

Replying to: blueiedgod (May 18, 2009 10:14 am)
Maybe Honda should scale back on the robots and get into the compressor business.
 
Whatever process Honda had for QC for the Denso compressors doesn't seemed to have worked out all that well and it has hurt their reputation. Not many people ask who the supplier was when a major component appears to fail repeatedly.
 
I'm a bit leery of Alps power door switches after a issue repeatedly arose with them on my Nissan minivan. It makes you wonder if the supplier is incompetent or if the manufacturer's beancounters weakened the specs to save money on the components.
 
What's odd to me is that you don't see similar issues with other Honda vehicles like you do for the CR-V. A few Accord owners have had failed AC compressors, but what is it about the CR-V that's frying them?

#1104 of 2155 Re: 2002 CRV with 2nd compressor issues [steve_] by blueiedgod

May 19, 2009 (10:28 am)

Replying to: steve_ (May 18, 2009 2:11 pm)
Maybe Honda should scale back on the robots and get into the compressor business.
 
Then people will complain that their cars are too cold and they can't feel their appendages after driving for half hour.
 
What's odd to me is that you don't see similar issues with other Honda vehicles like you do for the CR-V. A few Accord owners have had failed AC compressors, but what is it about the CR-V that's frying them?
 
2002-2004 Civic Si, 2001-2004 Acura RSX owners have reported failed compressors. what is interesting is that Element and Accord use similar compressors, but are built in the USA, and have not had any reports of failed compressors.

#1105 of 2155 Honda refused help, Finally by jpettibone

May 22, 2009 (9:51 am)

I can't say I was surprised, but Honda finally closed our case today and decided that there was nothing they could do for us. If you get to 80,000 + miles, Honda feels that you've gotten fair value out of the A/C system and would like you to invest $3800 for the next 5 years of use. We owned two new hondas (both EX models) and did all our service for both of them at the dealer. I may not bleed Honda, but we should have been valuable customers. I am also very upset that this case took almost a full month to decide. I guess I can't say I'll never buy another Honda, but I also was not willing to bite the bullet on this car from brand loyalty alone. Avoiding this kind of situation was one of my main reasons for buying a Honda in the first place, so why stick with the brand? And I don't want anyone telling me that at least they listened. Listening that ends in nothing is still nothing, especially when it takes a month to deliver that nothing.
 
Good luck to the rest of you, but it looks like Honda is going to be of decreasing help to you from here on out.
 
BTW, we really like our new Highlander.

Messages Page 111 of 216

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