2.4

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
65,058 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Honda CR-V cooling system problems

cooling system problem

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2003 Honda CR-V Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #32

Aug 282010

CR-V

  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Just driving down the expressway and I hear a loud noise and my A/C stops working....it was 94 degrees in the midwest! got home that night and my tire was flat. I took my tire to get fixed and they pulled shards of metal out of the tire, which was new! when I took the car to get the A/C looked at, they said that the compressor had blown for no apparent reason and that it would be $1700 to repair!!!!! they told me that when the compressor blew, it sprayed pieces of metal throughout my car, and obviously into my tire! I called Honda of America, and they offered to split the cost. I had no choice but to take this offer as it was summer and temperatures were over 100 with the heat index! Honda refused to give me the damaged part. There are sooo many complaints against this same event happening, but Honda refuses to do anything about it. There is a class action law suit, if you want to join. The more that join, the better the chances of getting Honda to take responsibility. I have only owned Honda's, but will now be buying a Toyota! so disappointed in Honda!

- Edgewood, KY, USA

problem #31

Jul 182010

CR-V

  • 69,000 miles
2003 Honda CR-V ac compressor failed at 69,000 miles. Rainy conditions caused interior windshield to continually fog up requiring repeated wiping of the windshield with paper towels while driving.

- Burlington, VT, USA

problem #30

Mar 032010

CR-V

  • 92,000 miles
There is two problems with my 2003 Honda CR-V. when car has sat overnight or when the air conditioner was on full and the car was off when we went to start the car it sounded like the main starter had been corroded not allowing the car to start it's not the battery nor the alternator and whats keeping the starter from starting the car only has 92,000 miles. The bigger safety issue is that the tilt steering is not locking allowing it to stay loose while driving, this is a big issue when in motion and cannot find a solution. My two requests are why is the starter going bad so early and why wont the tilt lock into place?

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

problem #29

Jul 082009

CR-V

  • 55,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2003 Honda CRV total ac failure and contamination caused by compressor failure. Replaced under warranty at 30,000 miles. Occurred again at 55,000 miles. The second most recent time came with a loud bang and sound of loss of parts. Did not notice items on ground after going back, but there was a great amount of green slippery fluid which was released. I assume that to be the oil from the compressor. Also would assume it spilled onto roadway.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #28

May 052009

CR-V

  • 73,962 miles
Ac compressor blew up causing extensive damage to the entire ac system. Compressor sent metal pieces through entire system after it blew up. Quoted over $3000 from Honda for repair. Called american Honda and they refused to help stating it is bc the car has over 36,000 miles. However, hundreds of people on the internet were helped by Honda with the same mileage as my CRV. It makes no sense. I believe that if anything is "blowing" up under the hood of my car (as Honda described it) it is a safety issue. Honda should take responsibility for something they know is a problem. This is negligence! look up www.Honda-lawsuit.com for information on a class action lawsuit about this issue.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #27

Dec 012008

CR-V

  • 64,000 miles
The A/C compressor of my 2003 Honda CRV locked up and it needs to be replaced. The failure occur at about 64,000 miles.

- Virginia Beach , VA, USA

problem #26

Aug 142005

CR-V

  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Just got in my car one day and turned on the air conditioning, a strange smelling mist starts coming out from the all the vents. This happens numerous times over the past 5 years. Took the car in, the dealership said of course there was nothing they could do unless it was happening right when they look at it. So around the summer months of 2008 when I would turn on the air it would be heat, I would have to turn the A/C switch from cold(blue) to hot(red) and then back to cold. For some reason the A/C would get cold at that time. Still with this strange smelling mist coming from the vents. I took my car into the Honda dealership May 2009 for a safety recall & asked if they would look at my A/C again. They told me I was leaking freon & now as of that day, it was empty. Strange since there was cold air on my drive to the dealership. They said they needed to find the leak and could come to very expensive repair cost, until they fix each little thing and find where it is leaking from. I told them about the strange smelling mist and asked if that could be freon? his reply was probably. No repairs made as of yet since it will be over $3500 to fix.

- Valley Village, CA, USA

problem #25

Apr 202009

CR-V

  • 76,215 miles
A/C compressor issue, compressor explodes sending metal fragments through out rest of system corrupting entire A/C system. Dealer looked at it and knew pretty well right off whole A/C system had to replaced.

- Mallie, KY, USA

problem #24

Apr 262009

CR-V

  • 64,600 miles
The air conditioning on my 2003 Honda CR-V suddenly began to blow warm air and make noise under the hood. I took it to the dealer where I purchased the car and they said it was my compressor and replaced both the clutch and compressor for $1400. The service tag says "compressor has an internal failure repl compressor assy" so this failure was not due to road debris.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #23

Apr 272009

CR-V

  • 52,230 miles
Honda 2003 CRV with 52,000 miles. Aircon just broke suddenly failed to blew cold air. Contacted american Honda but they wont admit that this is a known problem for CRV owners even though there's a lot of same complaints already for the air con system of CRV 2003.

- Glenolden, PA, USA

problem #22

Apr 222009

CR-V

  • 54,383 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I own a 2003 Honda CR-V with only 54,400 miles and the A/C just stopped working. I just took my car to midas shop to get A/C recharge. I was told after inspection that there is a leak on the A/C compressor. The cost to repair will be close to $1400.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #21

Apr 152009

CR-V

  • 80,000 miles
Air conditioner failed to function requiring a $3,875 repair. Upon investigation Honda knows about this defective part but refused to pay for the repair.

- Princeton, NJ, USA

problem #20

Jun 102006

CR-V

  • miles
Air-condition in my car stopped blowing cold air. It started in the summer of 2006. Honda dealer couldn't find what the cause of the problem is. They couldn't even find any leaks to the system. To remedy, I've been having the freon charged every summer. That would usually last until the cold season starts when I don't have to use the A/C again.

- Kew Gardens, NY, USA

problem #19

Oct 012008

CR-V

  • 90,000 miles
Air compressor exploded on 2003 Honda CRV. Honda will only pay for half the damage, and this seems to be a documented problem with this particular part. If Honda has an ongoing issue with this part, they should either recall the part or pay for the entire cost of replacement. Here is a link showing 22 pages of this same problem occurring with others. www.topix.com/forum/autos/Honda-CR-V/tu0okfjgv9V3F3fgl thank you for looking into this matter.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #18

Feb 122009

CR-V

  • 97,000 miles
Purchased 2003 Honda CRV in Feb 2003. Clutch snapped off ac compressor April 2005 - covered by warranty. February 2009 ac compressor imploded sending metal shavings into engine. Estimate to repair $3600. Waiting for dealership to advise if they will pay for all or part under "goodwill".

- Titusville, FL, USA

problem #17

Oct 012008

CR-V

  • 80,000 miles
I have a 2003 Honda CR-V and the A/C compressor died after some rattling sounds while on the highway. The dealer wants $3200 to fix it. My research on line and in talking to repair shop tells me this is not an unusual problem. I am told multiple parts have to be replaced when the compressor goes in this model. This seems to be a design flaw. I feel Honda should have to recall and pay for this design flaw.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #16

May 282007

CR-V

  • miles
My Honda CRV with 45589 miles dated May 28, 2007 ac died, had to pay $1546 to change the compressor.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #15

Jul 242008

CR-V

  • 60,000 miles
Air conditioning system failed at 60000, compressor arm snapped causing containments to enter system, need the whole system replaced.

- Shrewsbury, MA, USA

problem #14

Nov 052008

CR-V

  • 90,000 miles
Within the past year I have had both fans go out because the entire system was "contaminated." Also, the fan under the dash (the blower) has quit and I needed a new relay switch. They split the cost of the two fans in the engine compartment but they said the fan under the dash was separate. Altogether it cost me over 1800 dollars. Now I find out that there have been 35 complaints about the air conditioning system in the 2003 CRV. I think it is a factory problem and they should have a recall.....and give me back some of that money. 35 complaints"? isn't that enough to signal a recall?"

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

problem #13

Sep 012008

CR-V

  • 70,000 miles
Air conditioning stopped working at about 70,000 miles. This is a well-known problem with 2003 and 2004 crvs. Be sure to complain to Honda America and ask them for assistance. They should pay for the compressor and you might have to pay about $400 in labor.

- Amherst, NY, USA

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