Air conditioning condenser issue is real

I have taken mine to the dealership 10 times since March 2018 and they have replaced 3-4 lines (not sure which ones and I don't have the paperwork handy) and probably every O ring in the system. I was pretty hopeful after one of the lines because I brought it back two weeks later just to check and the pressure was exactly the same as what they filled it to. It went out again after that and they replaced another line (the one going to the top of the compressor). It failed again and I took it in last Monday and they decided they would replace the condenser, but it's on back order so fingers crossed a new one comes in, it's still pretty hot where I'm at now (Georgia, USA).

Thankfully I opted to get a Honda Care warranty before the factory one ran out.

My AC just gave up cooling the car (2018 Si) yesterday. Appt this Friday for B1 and AC service. Ugh.

racer said:

My AC just gave up cooling the car (2018 Si) yesterday. Appt this Friday for B1 and AC service. Ugh.

Click to expand...

Shit. I thought the issue was mainly '16s & '17s...WTF Honda.

I just bought a 2019 SI not even 2 months ago... has anyone had an issue with their 2019? I haven't seen anything in this thread so far... and nothing listed on www.carcomplaints.com that someone suggested earlier. I hope they fixed this issue....

Billy4202 said:

Shit. I thought the issue was mainly '16s & '17s...WTF Honda.

Click to expand...

Not sure why you would think that...

warsaws said:

Not sure why you would think that...

Click to expand...

They're using a new part (A03) for repairs. A decent company wouldn't just let their product fail at such a high rate for years just to run a nameplate into the ground.

Billy4202 said:

They're using a new part (A03) for repairs. A decent company wouldn't just let their product fail at such a high rate for years just to run a nameplate into the ground.

Click to expand...

I hope the new condenser is a permanent fix, my car was around 110 picking my son up from school today. The passenger side was still blowing kind of cool (80s), but my side was closer to 100 coming out.

Billy4202 said:

They're using a new part (A03) for repairs. A decent company wouldn't just let their product fail at such a high rate for years just to run a nameplate into the ground.

Click to expand...

That didn’t start until mid 2019.

racer said:

My AC just gave up cooling the car (2018 Si) yesterday. Appt this Friday for B1 and AC service. Ugh.

Click to expand...

One thing I overlooked about the AC not working (besides the fact when its hot and you want to be cool you can't be) is when it is cool and rainy outside and you have multiple people in the car.. you lose an effective windshield defroster too! Haven't had to carry a towel around to clear my windshield in 20+ years! doh!

racer said:

One thing I overlooked about the AC not working (besides the fact when its hot and you want to be cool you can't be) is when it is cool and rainy outside and you have multiple people in the car.. you lose an effective windshield defroster too! Haven't had to carry a towel around to clear my windshield in 20+ years! doh!

Click to expand...

Rainx makes an anti-fog window treatment that saved my ass coming back from a trip back in February, it isn't perfect but it's better than having to use a towel going down the interstate!

Still crossing my fingers and my 17' still blowing ice cold air.

My daughter has a 2016 Civic, and had to replace the condenser last month..$1,600 and the dealer won't acknowledge this is an issue...and sold us a defective condenser part...My mechanic had to go to the dealership parts department and raise HELL..Picture attached..this is what they tried to sell us..smh..my family mechanic did the work, after so much back and forth we spent a lot of money on testing, freon and finally replacing the condenser.....Just bought the car last year...less than 40k miles at purchase...there is now a class action suit solely for this issue see link...We are very disappointed with HONDA.....https://bergermontague.com/cases/honda-civic-ac-lawsuit/

ted said:

My daughter has a 2016 Civic, and had to replace the condenser last month..$1,600 and the dealer won't acknowledge this is an issue...and sold us a defective condenser part...My mechanic had to go to the dealership parts department and raise HELL..Picture attached..this is what they tried to sell us..smh..my family mechanic did the work, after so much back and forth we spent a lot of money on testing, freon and finally replacing the condenser.....Just bought the car last year...less than 40k miles at purchase...there is now a class action suit solely for this issue see link...We are very disappointed with HONDA.....https://bergermontague.com/cases/honda-civic-ac-lawsuit/

Click to expand...

Looking at that long horizontal "Crack", you have to try very hard to imagine what stone shape could have caused that, if the dealer is claiming "Road debris" Damage !!!

Thanks for posting the picture -- this is the 1st 10gen Condenser I have see a picture of that has obvious damage, and it sure does not look like a stone caused it !!

SCOPESYS said:

Looking at that long horizontal "Crack", you have to try very hard to imagine what stone shape could have caused that, if the dealer is claiming "Road debris" Damage !!!

Thanks for posting the picture -- this is the 1st 10gen Condenser I have see a picture of that has obvious damage, and it sure does not look like a stone caused it !!

Click to expand...

I understand this is a new part that hasn't been ever installed? And I wonder who has been the manufacturer of Honda condensers for all these years.

Gruber said:

I understand this is a new part that hasn't been ever installed? And I wonder who has been the manufacturer of Honda condensers for all these years.

Click to expand...

Well, there appears to be a dark shadow below the obvious crack.
That my just be a shadow, but if it is not, it sure looks like A/C Oil that has leaked out with the Refrigerant ... meaning .. Its like 99% sure to NOT a new Condenser !!!

or it was either defective when installed, or failed very quickly.

Difficult to imagine with such a MASSIVE leak, that it got installed like that, and it was not noticed that the system could not hold a vacuum.

Sure doe NOT pass the SNIFF test ( and certainly not the Refrigerant Leak Test SNIFF TEST

One of the many problems with "Dealers" is that the Owner cannot see 1st had what goes on "out the back" and has to rely on what they are then told by the Dealer.

I thought the classic "Car Salesman" was bad , but it now seems the "Service Dept" has far surpassed the Salesman on the BS meter.