2003 HONDA CR-V Complaints

THE A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED AFTER ONLY 3 YEARS OF BUYING IT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE SAME EQUIPMENT FAILURE FROM OTHER BUYERS.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND STARTING HEARING MY ENGINE MAKE STRANGE GRINDING-LIKE NOISES. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A TIRE, BUT IT WOULD COME AND GO SO I KNEW THAT WASN'T IT. I STOPPED A FEW MILES LATER AND WHEN I PULLED IN THE PARKING SPACE AND STOPPED, THE ENGINE MADE AN INCREDIBLY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND DIED. I TRIED TO RESTART IT AND IT MADE THE SAME LOUD NOISE AND DIED AGAIN. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE A/C, IT STARTED OKAY, BUT THEN TURNING ON THE A/C KILLED IT AGAIN. APPARENTLY, THE A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED, AND CONTAMINATED THE COMPLETE A/C SYSTEM. THE COMPLETE A/C SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS LUCKY IN THAT THE HONDA SERVICE MANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP APPARENTLY REALIZES THAT THERE IS SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THE 2003 CR-V; HE HAD HAD FOUR OTHER 2003 CR-V''S COME IN FOR REPAIR FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OVER THE COURSE OF ONLY A FEW MONTHS. HE WAS ABLE TO GET HIS DEALERSHIP TO COVER THE COST OF THE PARTS. MY 2003 CR-V WAS BOUGHT FROM A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP THAN THE ONE WHERE WE HAD THE REPAIRS DONE, SO THERE WAS BASICALLY NOTHING HE COULD DO TO HAVE THEM COVER THE LABOR. WE ENDED UP PAYING $1074.76. I FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD HAVE COVERED THIS COMPLETELY, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THE SAME THING. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE CONTACTED HONDA DIRECTLY AS HE SUGGESTED, BUT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF RESPONSE. THIS IS OUR SECOND MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. THE FIRST ONE WAS WITH THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM (ALSO COST OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS). BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED IN OUR NEIGHBOR'S IDENTICAL VEHICLE.

I HAVE NOW TAKEN MY 2003 CRV IN FOR THE THIRD TIME BECAUSE OF VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FIRST TIME THEY MACHINED THE ROTORS AND THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THEM. NOW, AFTER ABOUT 15,000 MILES, THEY ARE TELLING ME THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE WRONG HERE. *NM

I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM IN MY 2003 HONDA CR-V. WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE A/C SYSTEM WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AND THAT METAL SHARDS FROM THE COMPRESSOR HAD TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THE A/C SYSTEM AND CONDEMNED MANY COMPONENTS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AUTHORIZED REPLACEMENT OF THE A/C COMPONENTS TO BE PAID BY HONDA AND THE LABOR TO BE PAID BY ME. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE TOTAL BILL WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $2500 AND THAT MY PORTION WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $700. I SPOKE WITH A CSR AND EXPRESSED MY DISSATISFACTION WITH HONDA''S DECISION. I TOLD THE CSR THAT I WANTED FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE A/C PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD, THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE AND HONDA WAS AWARE THAT IT HAD A DEFECTIVE PART(S). THE CSR ENCOURAGED ME TO TAKE HONDA''S DEAL STATING THAT THIS IS THE BEST OFFER THAT I WOULD BE GIVEN AND THAT IF I CONTINUED TO ''PUSH'' MY COMPLAINT THAT HONDA COULD WITHDRAWAL THE OFFER. I EXPLAINED TO HER THAT I WOULD ACCEPT THE OFFER (DESPITE BEING DISSATISFIED) AND THAT ONCE THE CAR WAS FIXED AND THE PARTS PAID FOR BY HONDA, I WOULD EXPRESS MY DISSATISFACTION AGAIN. I TOLD HER THAT I FELT LIKE I COULDN'T REALLY MAKE A VALID COMPLAINT GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE REIMBURSEMENT COULD BE WITHDRAWN. BASICALLY, I FELT THAT HONDA WAS SAYING ''TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT'' THE PARTICULARS DON''T MATTER. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I AM STILL DISSATISFIED WITH HONDA''S POSITION AND I AM ASKING FOR FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF ALL THE WORK DONE IN CONNECTION WITH THE A/C SYSTEM. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL ITEM. I''M ALSO CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE SAFETY RISKS GIVEN THE FACT THAT ''METAL SHARDS TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM AND CONDEMNED MANY COMPONENTS". I DO KNOW THAT A 2 YEAR OLD CAR THAT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH A MAJOR PROBLEM. *NM

A/C ON 2003 HONDA CR-V FAILED (44,000 MILES ON VEHICLE) RESULTING IN INABILITY TO ADEQUATELY DEFOG THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS DURING THUNDERSTORM. THERE WAS NO VEHICULAR ACCIDENT. HONDA REPAIRED DEFECT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY ($1900 VALUE). DEFECTIVE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. IT APPEARS FROM DISCUSSION THREADS ON EDMUNDS.COM THAT THIS IS A RECURRING ACCESSORY FAILURE ON 2002-2004 CRVS THAT HAS SAFETY CONNOTATIONS. HONDA AMERICA IS REPAIRING AT NO COST TO AUTO OWNERS EVEN IF OUT OF WARRANTY BUT YOU HAVE TO COMPLAIN TO THEIR HEADQUARTERS. FURTHERMORE, IT APPEARS THAT THE REPAIRS ARE BREAKING DOWN IN INSTANCES BEFORE EXCEEDING ANY WHERE NEAR REASONABLE REPLACEMENT PART SERVICE LIFE. THIS SUGGESTS A DESIGN FLAW. HOW MANY CRVS ARE OUT THERE WITH IMPAIRED WINDSHIELD DEFOGGING CAPABILITIES? *JB

MY 2003 HONDA CRV EX SUSTAINED OVER $2700 IN DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE FOLLOWING: AFTER PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND TURNING OFF THE CAR,I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION,AND EXITED ,THINKING THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK. IT WAS NOT IN PARK,IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE IGNITION SWITCH INTERLOCK FAILED! THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS ON THE DRIVEWAY, STRIKING AND DAMAGING A FENCE AND NARROWLY MISSING A GROUP OF TEENAGERS AS IT ROLLED INTO THE STREET. *NM

DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE A LOUD THUMP WAS HEARD THEN THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED OPERATING. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD THINKING THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A HONDA DEALER IN TAMPA FOR INSPECTION WHERE IT HAD BEEN SERVICED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SEALED A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED AND INGESTED AN INTERNAL COMPONET THEN DISTRIBUTED SMALL PARTS THOUGH THE SEALED PRESSURIZED SYSTEM THEREBY CAUSING OTHER A/C SYSTEM COMPONETS TO FAIL. THIS MAJOR FAILURE REQUIRES A COMPLETE A/C SYSTEM REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER IS AWARE OF THIS FAILURE AND STATED THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF IT AS WELL. HE ESTIMATES THIS OCCURS TO 1 IN 25 VEHICLES. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS $2600.00 TO $2800.00. THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 HONDA CR-V WITH 50,000 MILES. THERE HAS BEEN ONE OTHER DOCUMENTED COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS SYSTEM ON THIS MODEL. HONDA IS REVIEWING AT THIS TIME WHETHER THEY WILL COVER THE COST OF REPAIR AS THIS IS AN UNUSUAL FAILURE. I AM AWARE THAT THIS PART WAS REDESIGNED IN 2004. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS BECAUSE WITH NO A/C SYSTEM THERE IS NO DEFROSTER CAPABILITIES THEREBY CREATING VISIBILITY AND SAFETY CONCERNS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S STEERING FROZE UP WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS. THE PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURRED WHILE MAKING TURNS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CORPORATE OFFICE OF DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE BELT CHANGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE BELT REPLACED.

AIR CONDITIONING FAILED TWICE IN HONDA CR-V. AT 37,000 MILES, AND AGAIN AT 56,000 MILES. *NM

DEAR REVIEWER OF MY COMPLAINT PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THE IS WEBSITE TO BETTER GET A UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE I AM GOING WITH THIS. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0D3FB5/0. I OWN A 95 ACCORD WITH 130K AND NEVER HAD TO GET THE COMPRESSOR FIXED....MY WIFE'S 2003 HONDA CR-V 49,000 MILES JUST WENT...HONDA TOLD ME $1400.00+TAX. I HAVE A 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. YOU KNOW HOW THE WEATHER GETS HERE ON THE EAST COST IN THE SUMMER? ALSO I DRIVE MY 80 YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER TO THE MARKET AND PLACES SHE NEEDS TO GO. WHAT ABOUT WHEN THE WINDOWS FOG UP IN THE WINTER. HOW CAN YOU DRIVE IF YOU CAN'T SEE. I COULD SEE IF THIS WAS MY 95 ACCORD A/C THAT WENT. I FOUND THAT WEBSITE OF HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF 02, 03 AND 04 HONDA CR-V OWNERS THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THEM. SOME WITH ON 20K MILES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR A BAD COMPESSOR . MAYBE BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T SEE IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CAN DRIVE WITHOUT A/C AND LIVE, BUT WHEN YOU NEED TO TRANSPORT A BABY OR 80 YR OLD GRANDMOTHER IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER EVEN HOTTER IN THE CAR WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. MAYBE IT'S THE FACT THAT THEY CAN PUT A CRAPPY COMPRESSOR IN THE CAR AND HAVE PEOPLE COME BACK AND PAY ANYWHERE UP TO $2000.00 IF THERE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEN THEY TELL YOU, YOU SHOULD OF BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OR THAT YOU SHOULD TRADE THE CAR IN AND GET A NEW ONE. YOU USE THE A/C JUST SAY 1/2 YEAR. IF THIS WAS THE ABS, SRS OR SEAT BELTS, THERE WOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX IT .BUT FOR A BAD PART OF THE A/C NOTHING IS DONE, A/C NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. FROM THAT WEBSITE ABOVE "WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY COMPRESSOR BLEW-UP AND PARTS WHERE BEING SPREAD ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY!. WHEN WINDOWS FOG UP WHAT ARE YOU TO DO. HAVE A RAG NEXT TO YOU AT ALL TIMES TO WIPE YOUR WINDOWS. I CALLED HONDA AND THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. JUST DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT PUBLIC. WHY WOULD THEY BE WILLING TO PAY FOR THE PARTS AND REPAIR TO OTHER OWNERS WHO CALLED CUSTOMER RELATIONS. *JB