2003 Honda CRV A/C compressor blew apart while driving on highway @ 65 mph-a few pieces of it escaped onto the road surface-have been researching and found many similar complaints about the CRV compressor failing on 2001-2004 models. Please see website town-talk edmunds.com w/same problem. According to reports on that website, Honda has been replacing the compressor, for most, free of charge, but some vehicle owners are reporting that the problem is recurring...

- Asbury, NJ, USA

I was driving on the freeway and I heard a noise that sounded like something fell off the car. After the noise, the air conditioner was blowing out hot air. I turned the air conditioner off and went straight to the dealer. Since it was late in the day, the dealer could not look at the vehicle, but a mechanic told me "off the record" that the condenser probably fell off the vehicle, and that it will probably be expensive to fix. He said that this was a known problem with this particular make/model/year. I stopped using the air conditioner and returned at a later time to get the problem fixed. And sure enough the dealer wanted almost $3,000- to fix the problem. The problem was fixed, but I had to pay half the cost which I thought was unfair. My car has had all of its scheduled maintenance on time and performed by the dealer, so the car was in excellent condition. Why did the condenser fall off the car...and why did I have to pay for it"?" obviously, the part or parts are faulty from the manufacturer.

- Fontana, CA, USA

Without any prior problem or indication of a problem, something dropped off the bottom of my car into the road. At that exact moment, the air conditioner stopped blowing cold air. I took the car to have it repaired only to find out that the A/C compressor had blown (and the clutch had fallen off). I have since found out that this is a very frequent occurrence with second generation Honda CR-V's. I am in the process of working with american Honda Motors as well as my dealership to have it repaired. Honda knows of this problem, and the part was redesigned for the 2004 model. This part needs a recall! how many people have to complain before there is a formal recall?

- Charlotte, TN, USA

I have a 2003 Honda CRV with 66,000 original miles. With no warning, the air compressor locked up, sending shards of metal throughout the a. C. system and ruining the whole system. Honda Corp. Of America is "checking my good customer status", with no return call thus far. The local dealership has assessed the a.C. to confirm the entire a.C. needs to be replaced for $2100. All the parts are in stock to fix the a.C. system, and the dealership admits to fixing this problem many times. Internet forums target this very problem, and Honda is not admitting faulty equipment.the a.C. has not been replaced, and I don't know if any other damage may occur from the a.C. system failure.

- Russellville, AL, USA

Consumer vehicle A/C stop working due to a bad compressor. The consumer was not satisfied with the length of time it was taking the sales dealer to rectify the problem, therefore the compressor was replaced by a local mechanic. The day after the repairs were made the compressor began making noise and the consumer could feel power draining. The consumer had to wait two weeks for another compressor.

- Bowie, MD, USA

Contact stated the air conditioning quit working this week. The compressor disrupted into the engine. The vehicle is at the service dealer to determine if there was damage to the engine. The service mechanic stated there was shrapnel all over the engine. Also, there had been three other incidents where the air condition compressor disrupted. There was no evidence that there was anything wrong within the air conditioner. Consumer stated they heard a noise coming from the air conditioner, and then the consumer quit using the air conditioner. Consumer has contacted the manufacturer, and they told her to contact NHTSA.

- Durham, NC, USA