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

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) has issued a "PRIORITY/ACTION REQUIRED" communication to its dealerships regarding an ongoing investigation into A/C compressor seizure issues affecting certain 2024-2026 Honda Civic, CR-V, and HR-V models. This initiative aims to understand the root cause of the condition before any repair attempts are made by service centers.

This message, titled "Request for visit 24-26 Civic, CR-V & HR-V A/C Compressor Seizure (ACTION REQ'D)", emphasizes that Honda is actively searching for specific vehicles to inspect. Dealership personnel are instructed to handle this communication with urgency and share it with their Shop Foreman and all Service Advisors.

Symptoms of the Issue

Owners of affected vehicles may experience the primary symptom of their "A/C not blowing cold air". This condition is typically accompanied by a technician's diagnosis that the "A/C compressor to be seized", indicating a mechanical failure within the air conditioning system.

Honda's Investigation Details

Honda's Technical Information & Support Group is seeking to inspect vehicles that exhibit these symptoms to gain a deeper understanding of why the A/C compressor is seizing. The goal is to gather data directly from affected vehicles before any components are replaced or repairs are performed. This proactive approach is crucial for identifying potential manufacturing defects or design flaws.

Important Warnings for Owners and Dealerships

It is critical for both owners and dealerships to adhere to Honda's specific instructions for this investigation:

• No Repair Attempts: Honda explicitly states that they would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind. Dealerships are instructed that there should be "No repair attempts during this visit" if the vehicle qualifies for the program.
• No Prior HVAC Repairs: Vehicles that have undergone any prior HVAC repairs, including A/C refrigerant evacuation, recharge, or replacement of HVAC components, will not be accepted for this inspection.
• No History of Collisions: Vehicles with a history of collisions are also excluded from this program.

These conditions are in place to ensure that Honda can examine the vehicle in its original failed state, providing the most accurate data for their investigation.

How to Qualify for Inspection

Honda is interested in inspecting vehicles only if they meet specific criteria. If your Honda CR-V A/C not blowing cold, check these points:

• Trim Levels:
  • For Civic models, LX, EX, Sport, Sport Touring, Touring, and SI trim levels are accepted.
  • For CR-V models, LX, EX, and EX-L trim levels are accepted.
  • For HR-V models, all trim levels are accepted.
• Exclusions: Hybrid Civics and Hybrid CR-Vs are not accepted.
• Confirmed Seizure: A technician must confirm that the A/C is inoperative due to a seized compressor.
• No 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 previous HVAC repairs, including refrigerant evacuation, recharge, or component replacement.
• No Repair Attempts: No repair attempts should be made during the visit for this inspection.
• No Collision History: The vehicle must not have been involved in any collisions.

Next Steps for Dealerships and Owners

If a vehicle matches all the qualifying requirements, dealerships are instructed to contact Technical Information & Support (TIS) via email at [email protected] or by phone at 800-880-1072 (Monday-Friday, 7am-5pm PST). TIS will then provide further instructions for recording specific vehicle information.

Dealerships will need to provide the following information in their email to TIS:

E-mail Title Information:

1. Model Year (e.g., 2026)
2. Model Name (e.g., Accord)
3. Issue (e.g., Brake Judder)
4. VIN

E-mail Body Information:

1. Dealer Name & Number
2. Dealer City & State
3. Your Name
4. Best Phone Number to be Reached
5. Current Mileage
6. Confirmation that the vehicle meets qualifiers #1-#9 listed above
7. DPTS #

As a token of appreciation, dealer personnel who identify and report a qualifying vehicle that is accepted for the program will receive a VISA gift card. This incentive encourages thorough screening and reporting of potential candidates for Honda's investigation into the Honda CR-V A/C not blowing cold issue.

NHTSA ID: 11028512