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Comments
I just checked with the Parts Giru at the store that I just retired from.
Yes, the compressors that fit the 2007-2009 CRV's are on nationwide backorder at this time.
I asked abouit how many of these we had sold or replaced under warranty and the answer was ZERO.
This doesn't help the person with a bad one but this problem certainly isn't widespread it wouldn't seem.
On one hand, I think it's pretty dodgy for Honda to recognize that this system is prone to such an extraordinarily expensive malfunction and not warn customers and/or offer some solution across the board. Then again, I don't have any idea what the rate or frequency of this failure is on the whole, only that there are many, many instances of it documented online. But there are many, many CR-Vs out there, too. I'm very grateful to Honda for the substantial reduction in the net cost of this overwhelming repair bill, but I'm still undecided on how long it makes sense to keep the car, given this significant unknown.
Good luck to you!
I have an 06' cr-v with 119,000 miles. yesterday all is well, I take the wife to the grocery store. shop, climb in and start the motor, WHAM, a loud grinding noise is heard under the vehicle. when I push the A/C button, the noise disappears. It's in the dealer as I blog, getting a prognosis.
Your CRV has 132,000 miles and it needs to have the air conditioning fixed?
Seriously, do you expect it to last forever?
"class action lawsuit" I don't think so!
Our 2003 CRV has 51,000 trouble free miles. If the A/C compressor failed tomorrow I wouldn't be happy and I would probably seek out some "goodwill" compensation.
After 132,000 miles I'm just surprised you are that upset.
I'm not sure what my next step is besides filing a claim with American Honda. I am either going to sell the CR-V or trade it in. I have been looking at Elements. I won't buy it from my local Honda dealer, however. I have also been looking at BMW X3s. I have another BMW and have been quite happy with the car and the service.
Some days I just feel deflated.
A lot of it has to do with the kind of customer you have been. If the Service Manager can pull up extensive service records and show the Factory Rep that you have been a very loyal customer and have had all of your services done at the dealer instead of going to the Quickie Lube, you stand a better chance and rightfully so. I know that if I were the person making the call, those things could sway me.
I hope you didn't tell them that you planned to sell it and never buy another Honda. If you did that they would know they were only throwing those goodwill dollars away.
As a BMW owner I'm surprised you wojuldn't worry about frequency and cost of repairs which are MUCH higher than a Honda. Great cars but as they years and miles pile on they can be real money pits.
You may want to contact American Honda yourself. It couldn't hurt especially if you have been a loyal service customer.
I own a 2001 Accord with well over 200,000 on it and the AC works like a charm, In fact the car runs real well. So Not all Hondas have issues BUT the CR-V has had compressor issues for many years, I followed this thread back and there were complaints about 2001 CR-V's. CALL the National Highway Traffic Safety Admin. and file a complaint let the engineers check into it and see if it needs to be recalled.
Thanks!
:mad:
About Honda and BMW service--I did not get the CR-V serviced at the dealership; I got it serviced at an independent Honda Service place. As for the BMW, it's also an '02, a Z3 with 40,000 miles. I have an independent master BMW/Mercedes mechanic who takes care of it for me.
I really like that little Element, though. I will NOT purchase it from the local dealer, and I will let them know about it. These guys miss business logic: invest a few goodwill bucks in me without stipulation, and I will spend big bucks at your place for a new car. Work it forwards.
In the _old_ days lots of buyers were told they had to bring their car back to the dealer for service and only use their brands of filters and other products OR ELSE the company wouldn't stand behind their product.
I thought that was found illegal under a federal law. Not taking a car to the dealer could not be held against the customer for discriminatory treatment.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I would accept the fact that a compressor could fail ONLY as a component by ITSELF based upon a "meantime between failure" principle. But for a compressor to fail and "destroy" the entire a/c system by contaminating the condenser/coil (integrated) and the rest of the a/c components, it is a DESIGN ISSUE (read DEFECT!). American Honda knows this and should replace all failed a/c system FREE OF CHARGE, recall or no recall!!
If I start by building a website to bring TOGETHER every Honda CR-V owner who has an a/c problem, whether he/she has received "goodwill" from American Honda to help defray the cost of replacement, will you join me by contacting your local media (newspaper, radio/tv stations, community outreach, etc.) to bring their attention to the website so THIS ISSUE will go national and pressure American Honda to do the right thing.
I have emailed NHTSA to let them know that driving without a/c in 100+F heat is a SAFETY issue especially if one has to transport young children (who are highly susceptible to heat) and elderly in areas where public transportation is non-existent. BTW, if the a/c is not working, very likely the "defrosting" system would not either. As such, it would make driving in rainy and cold weather EQUALLY DANGEROUS!
If you support my idea, let me know. I will foot the bill to get the website up and running and make American Honda pay its dues!!
THANKS!!!
By the way, "Balls" can be pushed aside for "intestinal fortitude" or just plain "guts". :-)
It is a KNOWN issue with faulty part/design and has failed as early as 15k mi and everywhere in between these higher mileage owners. I have read numerous posts when it failed conveniently just outside of wty. It is a design flaw and your post was sort of like putting salt in a wound in that it had a sympathy factor of zero.
Whan ANY A/C compressor fails it can contaminate ANY system with metal particles.
It sounds like some shops want to replace everything while other places take a chance that the metal particles didn't go all over.
Cars don't last forever. If a A/C compressor fails at 100,000 plus miles, it's to be expected.
Anyway it is what it is. We finally found a compressor at discountacparts.com and had it installed. I hope it goes more than 48 K. I have no association with the supplier, but I will say they were excellent to work with and the total cost for a compressor and dryer was 435.00 shipped.
Living in AZ, the AC is on a lot. We were returning from Bullhead City when the AC crapped out, very unpleasant 5 hour drive thru the 115 degree desert. I would not be surprised to find out that my premature AC failure is followed by many more failures. Hopefully Honda will start stocking compressors and taking care of the customers.
I will be looking at vehicles with 100K warranties(either included or sold optionally) after reading a lot of these posts.
A lot of the "experts" reccommend against buying extended warranties that cover everything and I can certainly argue both sides.
Still, one big event and it can more than pay for itself. Besides, the peace of mind is worth a lot too.
Again, I asked our head parts guy who looked up the history in the computer and to date, they had sold ZERO compressors for 2007 CRV's and none under warranty. The parts guys stock what sells and AC compressors just don't fail that often. They certainly can as people here will attest.
I was wondering the other day, how did people in hot climates ever survive in the days before car (and house) A/C was available?
I know I couldn't live in Arizona with or without A/C!
Those people were tougher than us. A lot of military bases around here that train our warriors for middle east conditions.
I worked at a private electric utility company that would buy work trucks without AC ( or remove the belt on AC vehicles) to discourage workers from hanging out in their vehicles. Glad that policy was changed in the mid 90's.
I can understand the dealership not stocking a part, it is surprising that the part is not stocked anywhere by Honda. This model is going into it's fourth year, parts should be readily available A six week delay means either there has been a run on them or someone in the corporate inventory area isn't doing their job.
Honda is usually good about this so it could be a supplier problem.
Nope, I'm not that tough. I can't stand the heat and I love it when people say...
" It's only three or four months out of the year" - BULL ! Or...
" It's a dry heat so it's different" - Nope, so is our microwave!
Oh My God! We are confusing COMFORT with SAFETY.
Having AC is not a necessity, it is a luxury. Regardless where you live. How did people live just 10-20 years ago when A/C's were not standard on cars?
Yes, it is uncomfortable driving without A/C, but I guess, to someone who grew up pampered, and never had the pleasure of owning a beater when they were 16, they have no memories with driving with windows down and drinking gatorade.....
I fall into the pre A/C car ownership class quite handily thank you. But today we have more cars on the road, and cars themselves create extra heat in our vicinity. Furthermore we have more pavement lanes and that also creates more heat. And also, years ago we simply didn't commute as far as we do today. Many larger cities have more than quadrupled in distance from one outskirt line to the next! And because of that increase in size, we have more congestion which means more stopping and starting with no air flow through your 'open windows'.
And there have been numerous studies that have proven beyond any doubt that drivers are more alert and less prone to road rage and just simply have more patience and better judgement behind the wheel when vehicles are equipped with a working A/C. That is why most transport company trucks all have A/C now compared to even 20 years ago.
There have also been many tests involving aerodynamic wind drag with windows open vs closed once up to highway speed. In most tests, the car gets better economy with the windows up.
And as for the specific issue of CRV compressors and entire A/C systems, I think that in some cases (this one especially) an acknowledged nationwide recall is in order. This would help address the mass unfairness in pricing for one thing. Some customers (the ones who negotiate better than certain others) pay 1500 bucks while others end up paying 3000! Like, come on..
I do NOT agree that a good-will gesture of a dealership should hinge on how many bucks they have extracted from me in the past for 70 and 90 and even 110 ! dollar oil changes, when I can do my own quite handily for 20 doallrs AND not be in as big a rush to insert the drain plug so quickly, which by basic default, lets the vast majority of worse contaminates and microscopic metal shavings flow out of the engine for a more thorough re and re result. And with notably longer engine longevity for my troubles. That entire scenario notwithstanding, the A/C system they put in these CRV's are so painfully obviously faulty. And it does not take a rocket scientist degree to come to that conclusion.
And finally, just because we managed to keep our meats and dairy on ice underneath sawdust many years ago, does not mean we should blindly resist using a 120 volt refrigerator/freezer today.
The NTSB issues safety related recalls. I don't think they have any authority to issue a recall simply because a part fails, regardless of the cause, unless it directly relates to a safety issue.
Having AC is not a necessity, it is a luxury. Regardless where you live. How did people live just 10-20 years ago when A/C's were not standard on cars?
Yes, it is uncomfortable driving without A/C, but I guess, to someone who grew up pampered, and never had the pleasure of owning a beater when they were 16, they have no memories with driving with windows down and drinking gatorade.....
YES, IT DOES MATTER WHERE ONE LIVES!! I guess you must not have lived, worked or commuted on a daily basis in the south in 100+F temperatures (HEAT INDICES of 105+F or more). Or you have not realized that things have changed in the last 20 years. When you grew up, your mother probably tended and cared for you and your siblings in your home, most likely a/c-ed. Today, most families like ours have to earn 2 incomes to support our children.,,I have 2 toddlers in day care whom I would love to be able to suddenly turn 16 and drive themselves in cars without a/c in the blazing heat. ... and drink themselves silly with gatorade. WHEN IT COMES TO SMALL CHILDREN AND ELDERLY FOLKS, riding in a car without a/c in 100+F heat is NOT A LUXURY OR COMFORT, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. Go check your facts with a medical professional before you put your 2 cents in this forum. THANK YOU!!!
That may be but I think that the NHTSA's definition of safety may not coincide with what the rest of us might regard it to be. They are concerned with safety related to the functioning of the vehicle and not the driver. For example, driving drunk is a safety issue but that is not in the purview of NHTSA while tires that may fall off at highway speeds is a safety matter independent of the driver and, therefore, a concern to NHTSA. IMHO, air conditioning falls into the former category.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Like someone else said, it has nothing to do with safety and THAT is what the NHTSA get's involved in!
Guess I got lucky!
It's not a matter of a car company taking care of a loyal customer vs. a customer they have never seen before. when it comes to making a "goodwill" repair.
But, if a store is pleading your case to have a long out of warranty component replaced for free or at a reduced cost, I'm sure it could very well sway a decision.
We are seeing a dogpile effect as often happens in "problems" forums. They are NOT "painfully obviously faulty" as much as the people that have had troubles are claiming.
I was in my old store today, having the oil changes in our 2003 CRV and once again, I asked several key peoplle about this and, once again, all I got were blank looks. Failures are rare and no more common than on any other Honda.
Now...watch my CRV's compressor fail tomorrow! That would be my luck!
But I have viewed other Honda model forums and the frequency of A/C woes is pretty noticeable here on this CRV forum.
Just like the frequency of automatic tranny troubles seem to be greater in number on the Civic forum.
Believe me, I so hope you are right, but what I find as pretty compelling stats, are the number of failures at mileage figures well under the wty period. And the issue I have with this is those of us who take longer to crank up the miles, all of sudden we (who have just as prone a compressor to failure as the next guy, only he/she drives more) would like some consideration at the same number of miles but has been out of date of wty for many years. Then you get the response..."You want us to wty your part 10 years later?!" Even though your odometer might still be sitting there at 42000 miles lets say. So the time period sounds bad and makes it look like your request is unreasonable, yet if you showed up with the same car, same 42k miles, same compressor issue, just 3 mo out of wty and your chances of goodwill are greater. But let's remember something crucial here in this example, ok? The faulty compressor design, combined with failures at far less than reasonable expected fair use, is still the same compressor! Still a faulty part. Still realize the odds or number of faulty units, being high in number. Sure, some people's units failed at 132000 miles, but others (many more) failed at 45 or 50k miles. This strongly suggests that if the part wasn't an inferior design, then the majority would be failing at 132k miles, not 50k miles. You see my/our point?
Two things have an effect on how long a part lasts. Time and miles. No, I wouldn't expect ANY car company to replace a ten year old AC compressor even if the car had 42,000 miles.
As I said before, sooner or later, every AC compressor will fail. Some may last 300,000 miles and some may last 50,000 miles.
Our 2003 CRV is seven years old with only 51,000 miles. It has been flawless.
If the AC compressor blew tomorrow, yes, I wouldn't be happy and I would call Honda to see if they would foot part of the bill. If the answer was no, I would lick my wounds and get it fixed.
I would not get on a forum and complain about how I was wronged and about how I would never buy another Honda.
But, this is what forums like this are for and sometimes it's a good thing to vent and ask others about their experiences.
I'm just trying to calm people down that own CRV's that they will mre than likely not have a failed compressor. They just don't go bad all that often.
I know misery loves company.
I really like this vehicle and only need it to live for another two years for treks to Vermont as my child is in college there but the AC impacts the defrost. I struggle with the concept of NORM as i have owned many cars -toyotas, hondas, VW and put high mileage on and no other vehicle ever had this issue.
Compressor and condenser I have seen at 435. and evaporator about 220. The labour is a big chunk too though, but many dealers are overcharging the labour rate by often twice the proper amount.
Subes have their own host of problems later on down the road, so there is no free ride I'm sorry to say. And Mazda can still be on another planet with their parts pricing. So that leaves Honda, Toyota and Nissan as the other big 3 Asian builds.
GM is still a trainwreck at times, Chrysler is about done, and Ford has been caught in many less than stellar practices also...so what are ya gonna do.
I never said that A/C did not fail, or that it was not a problem. I simply argued that comfort of an air conditioned vehicle is luxury, not safety. And what do I get in response? It is a waste of energy to respond? Good job!!! Maybe it is a waste of energy running ai conditioning and contributing to the global warming? Ever thought of that? That the added heat, as has been pointed out, is ruining the planet.
No one ever forced anyone to live where they don't want to live. Yes, I hate heat, there is no way I would ever move south, WAAAAYYY too hot. But, yes, I have lived in a major metropolitan area, NYC for many many years. And guess what, drove stick and with out the air conditioner. If one is stuck in traffic, and there is no air flow, there is no reason to ride the bumper of the car infront. Simply leave enough buffer zone and you will be crusing at 5 mph through the thickest of the jams. And guess what, driving stick, you can do a 5 mph crawl without having to clutch, apply brakes, just by simply modulating the throttle.
People are free to choose where they live and what they do. I did not like the weather in NYC. Even NYC is too hot for me, so I moved to where I am comfortable.
As to not being able to drive safely without A/C, I say BUNK!!! I ride from April through October, there is no A/C on a bike!!!
To whoever pointed out that my mother stayed at home, they were right. But, no one is forcing both parents to work these days, either. You just have to make sacrifices. My sister and I grew up in a small apartment, without air conditioning. We had one old black and white TV (in the 1980's and 90's!!!!) and went to public schools. Went to public universities, and paid for our own education with loans and grants.
No one needs a 4,000 ft² house and a nanny to raise 2 children. Once again, not a
neccesity.
But this whole conversation has been off topic. The main point is that A/C is a luxury, not necessity. If it is a necessity, i.e. elderly, sick, weak... they are living in a climate they are not meant to live. Example, there areplenty of people south of the US, where it is even hotter than here, and they have no A/C's and, they do have major metropolitan areas (Mexico City is larger than NYC).
This simple concept of living within your means has been lost on most people, and these are the people who can't differentiate between "needs" and "wants." Good luck going through life like that.
These could be dangerous. Let's say you are using you defroster on a day when the road is really slippery. You AC could lock up and it could cause your CRV to go into a skid. This is a scenario that could really happen and in this case the AC would be a safety issue. It could happen to you living in your simple refrigerated climate. All you would have to do is turn on your defroster unless you don't use that either. :mad:
Please explain to me how an AC unit could lock up and cause a car to go into a skid?
I have been in the automotive industry all of my life and that just might be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!
But, please explain. Maybe I'm missing something?
If the compressor seizes, it will burn and fry the serpentine belt, which powers such incidental things as power steering pumps, water pumps, alternators and other such engine mounted accessories. Now maybe an alternator loss does not create an immediate 'situation', but the loss of power steering sure does. Vehicles with pwr steering, have ratios in the steering box that are geared for feel (when under power assist) not power, so they are extremely tall gearing...meaning that in event of immediate power assist loss, could feel to the unknowing driver, like it was frozen and would not move at all. Surely I don't have to elaborate further describing what could happen in heavy freeway traffic at 70 mph, or going down some mountain road with marginal guard rails if that is when A/C compressor seized?
I could elaborate with the loss of a water pump also etc, but I think/hope? you will get my/our point this time?