2024-2026 Honda Civic, CR-V, HR-V A/C Seizure Investigation

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) has issued a "PRIORITY/ACTION REQUIRED" communication to its dealerships regarding a specific issue affecting the air conditioning systems in certain 2024-2026 Honda Civic, CR-V, and HR-V models. This communication, referenced as "Request for visit: 2024-2026 Civic, CR-V & HR-V A/C Compressor Seizure (ACTION REQUIRED)", indicates that Honda is actively seeking vehicles that exhibit an A/C compressor seizure condition.

The primary goal of this initiative is to gather more information to understand the underlying cause of the Honda A/C compressor seizure before any repair attempts are made. This proactive approach aims to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the problem.

The Issue: A/C Compressor Seizure

Owners of affected vehicles may experience their A/C system "not blowing cold air." Upon inspection by a technician, the A/C compressor may be found to be seized. This condition prevents the air conditioning system from functioning correctly, leading to a loss of cooling capability.

Honda's Investigation into A/C Failures

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. is searching for specific vehicles to better understand why the A/C compressor is seizing. This investigation is crucial for identifying the root cause and potentially developing a permanent solution. The company emphasizes the importance of inspecting these vehicles before any repairs are performed.

Vehicles of Interest and Specific Qualifiers

Honda is interested in vehicles that meet a precise set of criteria. The communication specifies that AHM is interested only if the vehicle meets the following requirements:

• Model Years: Certain 2024-2025 Civics, 2024-2026 CR-Vs, and 2024-2026 HR-Vs.
• Civic Trim Levels: LX, EX, Sport, Sport Touring, Touring, and SI trim levels are accepted.
• CR-V Trim Levels: LX, EX, and EX-L trim levels are accepted.
• HR-V Trim Levels: All trim levels are accepted.
• Hybrid Models: Hybrid Civics and Hybrid CR-Vs are not accepted for this specific investigation.
• Confirmed A/C Failure: A technician must confirm the A/C system is inoperative due to a seized compressor.
• No HVAC Leaks: A technician must confirm there are no leaks in the HVAC system using a leak detector (sniffer).
• No Prior HVAC Repairs: The vehicle must not have had any prior HVAC repairs, including A/C refrigerant evacuation, recharge, or replacement of HVAC components.
• No Repair Attempts: No repair attempts should have been made during the current visit for this issue.
• No Collision History: The vehicle should not have a history of collisions.

Important Information for Owners and Dealers

This communication includes a critical directive: "AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind." This means that if your vehicle matches the described symptoms and qualifiers, it is essential not to proceed with any repairs until Honda's Technical Information & Support (TIS) has been contacted and has provided further instructions. Attempting repairs before this inspection could disqualify the vehicle from the investigation.

This is a unique opportunity for Honda to gather direct data from affected vehicles. Owners whose vehicles meet these specific conditions should be aware that their dealership will need to follow a particular protocol before any work is done on the A/C system.

Next Steps for Dealerships

If a vehicle matching the qualifiers arrives at a Honda dealership, personnel are instructed to email Technical Information & Support (TIS) at [email protected] or call 800-880-1072 (Monday-Friday, 6am-5pm PST). TIS will then contact the dealership to record vehicle information and provide further instructions.

The email to TIS should include a title with the Model Year, Model Name, Issue (e.g., "Honda A/C compressor seizure"), and VIN. The body of the email must include the Dealer Name & Number, Dealer City & State, Your Name, Best Phone Number to be Reached, Current Mileage, confirmation that the vehicle meets all #1-#9 qualifiers, and the DPTS #.

Incentive for Participation

As a gesture of appreciation, Honda will provide a VISA gift card to dealer personnel who identify and report a qualifying vehicle that is accepted as a candidate for a successful Dealer Visit/Parts Collection/Info Collection. This incentive encourages dealerships to actively participate in Honda's information-gathering efforts for the Honda A/C compressor seizure issue.

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NHTSA ID: 11031276