9.5

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$770
Average Mileage:
23,250 miles
Total Complaints:
11 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. honda should redesign (7 reports)
  2. need fine mesh protection or move condenser location (4 reports)
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problem #11

Jul 012015

Accord EX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

Dealer says condenser punctured by rock, so not covered under warranty. Might be covered under road hazard under auto policy, but combination of deductible and potential rate increase does not warrant a claim. About 2010 Honda settled a class action for this problem on Odysseys, CRVs and one of the Acura models. Apparently still a problem, per other posts on this site and elsewhere. I called Honda Customer Service and they refused to do anything to help; not even a modest reduction in repair cost. Time for another class action. We would be pleased to be a named plaintiff.

- clh, Columbus, OH, US

problem #10

Jul 312015

Accord EX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,900 miles

I took my car in to get a simple oil change and the next day I had no air. I took it back to the same shop and they told me I had a hole in my condenser and my freon had all leaked out. I just bought the car in Feb. 2015 so this did not make me happy. I have been driving around in 90-100 degree weather without any air conditioning. My commute home is an hour so when I get there, I have to take a shower. It has been frustrating and I do NOT have the money to fix it since I just spent over $400 on vet bills and had to put my dog down. The timing could not have been worse!

- constance63, Georgetown, IN, US

problem #9

Dec 102014

Accord EX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,000 miles

Honda needs to come clean and pay for a poor design. I've had 7 Honda and this may be the end of that long history.

- Art L., Livingston, NJ, US

problem #8

Feb 062013

Accord EX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 31,650 miles

The air conditioning in my 2011 Honda Accord V6 suddenly stopped cooling. Because the car is still under warranty, I took it to my local Honda dealer (Coggin Honda). They informed the freon was totally empty, so they would refill it in order to look for a potential leak. It could be a gasket, hose, or hole in the condenser. Shortly thereafter, the service advisor came out and said it was a pinpoint hole in the condenser as a result of a rock hitting it. I asked to see the hole, but when he shined the flashlight on the area that is leaking (through the top part of the grill), it looks exactly like a hundred other "bent-up" areas on the condenser (on the bottom part of the grill). And, because this is from "road hazard," it is not covered under the warranty, I must fork out $757 to fix it! I must file a claim under the comprehensive section of my insurance policy, but I have a $500 deductible.

This is the third Honda I have owned since 1998 and have NEVER had an air conditioning probem with any of them. I buy Honda because I believe in the product. Now, my husband is nagging me to shop for a different car because this could literally happen again as soon as I get this repaired.

Honda, you have an obvious flaw and you need to fix it. I didn't pay $33,000 for a car just so I can sink another $750 into it for repairs due to a flaw in the Honda design. Oh - and you also need to fix the road noise inside the car. Talking on the hands-free phone device is really annoying to the person I am talking to. (Another reason my husband wants me to shop for a different brand of car.)

- susiec, Orange City, FL, US

problem #7

Sep 062012

Accord 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles

Driving at highway speed, heard something hit under the car. After a few minutes the AC suddenly quit cooling. Took to nearby Honda dealer and was told that a rock had hit my condenser and put a hole in it. Now tell me why the condenser would be in such a vulnerable place. I had never heard of such a thing. This dealer told me it would cost $800.00 to fix because it was very labor intense. I had just purchased a new puppy and decided to go ahead and drive the 290 miles home in 100 degree heat.

When I got to work the next day, one of my colleagues told me the same thing happened to his son's Honda Accord and he was told by a Honda dealer that it was a design flaw. However he was charged only $400.00 to fix his car.

It just seems like Honda should take on some of the responsibility for this since it obviously must be a design flaw. Guaranteed it will be my last Honda. Final bill for repair was $544.40.

- Delores C., Osage Beach, MO, US

problem #6

Feb 012012

Accord EX-L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 9,844 miles

In a two minute internet search, I have found this site and at least two others, which list multiple iterations of this issue. What good is a grill if it does not protect the items behind it? No space in the grill should be large enough for a rock to puncture anything. Nor should the condenser be so fragile. I'll be following up with this, perhaps with an attorney.

- Jeri T., Austin, TX, US

problem #5

Jun 142012

Accord 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7,856 miles

I haven't had the AC fixed yet. The dealership said the condensor isn't covered by warranty and that the cost will be $759. The car is only 11 months off the lot and THIS happens? Looks like it's happening to a lot of people. This sucks. We take exceptional care of the car and only drive it in town on cemented roads. A hole from normal driving shouldn't kill my AC and the cost of repair shouldn't be so steep. I'm outraged! Am I going to spend the next 14 years worried about pebbles? I can't afford this. I bought a HONDA to have a dependable car - and yes, the AC isn't life threatening - but a cost of $800 each repair is!

- Robin M., Jersey City, NJ, US

problem #4

Mar 022012

Accord EX-L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,935 miles

The A/C compressor got hit by a rock, now no a/c and here's the shocker, I get to pay for it. Okay it goes through my insurance, but still a $500 deductable. I guess I'll get over it, but what is there an OEM or after market solution to help protect from a recurrence of this issue?

- nbkmun4, Phoenix, AZ, US

problem #3

Feb 282012

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,000 miles

A/C was blowing warm air , has 12K miles, take it to Honda because still under warranty , they say a rock flew up off road and hit condenser = so not under warranty and my problem to tune of 752. REALLY ?? Why don't you design the car better ! Why is this MY problem ?? I have had 3 other Accords previous to this one - but never again . I live in Texas and summers are 100 degrees plus , now I have to come up with 750 bucks asap - we need class action lawsuit as I am seeing other Honda owners saying same exact thing

- Christi H., Pilot Point, TX, US

problem #2

Jul 042011

Accord EX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,200 miles

I can’t believe all these complaints for the same exact design flaw on my brand new 2011 Honda accord EX. This thing is only 3 months old with 3200 miles and I have to pay to drive a new car with broken a/c. Same deal, air was warm, went to Holliman Honda dealer in Ft Lauderdale Service tech looked right through hole and said wow look at that big ding in condenser. If it leaks it is not covered and you have to pay Honda for repair. Not a manufacture defect. I said you have to be kidding. Sure enough I got a ride to work, and 3 hours later, the old rock hit condenser, caused leak, and not covered $682. I had no money to fix and am now driving around with no ac in my 3 month old bullet proof Honda, I thought. I have owned a 1994, 2008, and 2011 Honda accord. Also a 1998 Acura TL a 2002 Acura TL S type, a 2005 Honda Odyssey, That is a lot of Honda's, Acura same thing. I can’t believe I am sweating to pay my $354 car payment, insurance, gas, maintenance, etc., and now they think I have an extra $682 to throw away on a gaping hole in the front of the bumper with a paper condenser, that gets damaged if someone farts in the general area. I think this is going to be my last Honda for my life time. Honda needs to do the right thing and make good on the repair and retrofit some type of mesh in those two large holes, in bumper so I don’t have to have this happen all over again in a few months. Honda, wake up and smell the coffee. I was a very loyal Honda/ Acura buyer, ask Maroni Honda in Hollywood. This is my food money guys. I am not made of money. I will call Honda corporate and let them know how I fell. We must file a class action law suit. I am going to pursue this to the end.

- jdilorenzo, Pompano Beach, FL, US

problem #1

Jul 012011

Accord LX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7,344 miles

this is my second new Accord and second identical problem with poor design allowing rocks and debris to hit condenser. I installed screen behind the bumper lower open grill on 2005 accord after hefty repair. This is new care with 4000 miles on it without first oil change and it has happened again. Seems that there was a class action suit from one state about this? Very unhappy with Honda and can't recommend buying a Honda until they redesign the front bumper lower grill open access to road debris and the resultant damage to the exposed AC condenser. You can get a off brand condenser from ebay and get local mechanic to repair cheaper than the dealer, but you are voiding warranty if done to new car within Honda's warranty time.

- rxry, Longwood, FL, US