AC & Heater complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 | 1% | 166,000 miles |
| 2019 | 2 | 0% | 43,000 miles |
| 2018 | 4 | 1% | 49,000 miles |
| 2017 | 11 | 2% | 39,000 miles |
| 2016 | 21 | 2% | 39,000 miles |
| 2013 | 2 | 1% | 39,000 miles |
| 2012 | 1 | 0% | 4,000 miles |
| 2010 | 1 | 0% | 113,000 miles |
| 2009 | 4 | 1% | 25,000 miles |
| 2008 | 9 | 1% | 91,000 miles |
| 2007 | 5 | 0% | 14,000 miles |
| 2006 | 14 | 1% | 9,000 miles |
| 2005 | 5 | 2% | 21,000 miles |
| 2004 | 2 | 1% | 0 miles |
| 2003 | 6 | 1% | 30,000 miles |
| 2002 | 6 | 1% | 4,000 miles |
| 2001 | 9 | 1% | 50,000 miles |
| 1999 | 5 | 1% | 78,000 miles |
| 1998 | 7 | 2% | — |
| 1997 | 3 | 1% | — |
| 1996 | 4 | 1% | — |
| 1995 | 12 | 6% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (air conditioning, heater, defroster, HVAC controls).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the air conditioner was blowing out hot air, and there was steam coming out of the passenger's side air conditioner vents. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where freon was added to the air conditioner system service port, and the contact was informed that there was no leak. The contact stated that the failure recurred a month later. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it diagnosed that the air conditioner condenser had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired twice and was currently in the process of being repaired a third time. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Number: 19-091(Warranty Extension: 2016-21 Civic A/C Condenser). …
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the compressor shaft failed, and the shaft seal caused further damage to the compressor and caused an additional failure. The contact associated the failure with Technical Service Bulletin: 23-039. The dealer was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with compressor failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the warranty only covered the shaft seal and not the compressor. The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.
The contact is an attorney who represented the owner of a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the client had taken pain medication and fell asleep in the driver's seat with the seat heater activated. The client slept for approximately seven hours and sustained severe burns the his lumbar region. The client was later admitted to the local hospital and treated for third-degree burns. The contact was concerned that the seat heater may have failed and became too hot causing injuries to the client. The vehicle was not yet examined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.
AC compressor and condenser are both broken or have leaked. They should cover both, not just one part. A lot of people with civic owners are complaining with the same issue. Honda should cover all AC parts. P.S: im not sure if this is related but i smell like metal from the AC vent which is very bad for the health.
The contact's father owns a 2017 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the A/C unit was blowing warm air while activated. Due to the failure, the defroster system failed to clear the glass as intended. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the mechanic discovered that the A/C compressor shaft seal and the A/C evaporator were inoperable. The mechanic also discovered that flammable gas was leaking from the A/C evaporator system into the cabin of the vehicle. The contact was informed that the A/C compressor shaft seal was covered under warranty; however, the A/C evaporator was not covered. The dealer submitted a Goodwill request to the manufacturer, and the manufacturer agreed to cover 75% of the cost of the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact opened a Goodwill request for assistance; however, the manufacturer denied the request. …
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while purchasing the vehicle, the contact became aware that the A/C was inoperable. Before purchasing the vehicle, the contact asked the dealer to replace the A/C condenser, and the component was replaced. The contact stated that three years later, the A/C compressor was replaced again, but the shaft seal was not replaced. The contact stated that on June 30, the evaporator failed, causing fumes to enter the A/C and there was bacteria trapped due to oil leaks from the shaft seal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with the failure of the evaporator, causing the oil from the shaft seal to leak into the evaporator. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,500.
A/C system.- compressor &/or shaft seal leak- As we were driving our BRAND NEW Honda civic to Las Vegas for our daughter's wedding on July 12, 2019 in the heat of 115 degrees, the AC stopped working & started blowing hot air, we were forced to continue our 5 hour journey in this unsafe driving condition since it was our daughter's wedding. This was at 36,100 miles, just 100 miles out of warranty. The recall had not happened yet & we were unaware other people were experiencing the same issues with this same AC system Honda used. I Took it to my local Honda dealer upon return of the torturous unsafe trip and they wanted $3000 to fix the problem they took no blame for it. I immediately filed a complaint with safecar.gov #11322455. …
In late winter of 2022, the car's A/C system failed for the fourth time. The car A/C system stopped functioning; it was no longer blowing cool air into the car. The diagnosis was that the A/C compressor was leaking. The A/C compressor was replaced and we were charged $2027. We paid the bill and asked Honda to reimburse us for the amount because after 4 failures in 3 years it was obvious that the Civic A/C system design was flawed. Honda refused to pay for the compressor replacement.
NHTSA investigations
Condenser fan motor inoperative
See resume for details.
Frequently asked questions
Which Honda Civic years have ac & heater problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2016 (21), 2006 (14), 1995 (12), 2017 (11) and 2001 (9) model years. AC & Heater complaints make up 2% of all complaints for the 2016.
Is there a recall for Honda Civic ac & heater problems?
No. NHTSA lists no a/c & heater recall for any Honda Civic model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Honda Civic ac & heater problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles; 77% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the appliance › air conditioner (85 mentions), followed by the defroster/defogger/hvac system (37).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.