Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (air conditioning, heater, defroster, HVAC controls).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Honda CR-V owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Honda CR-v. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, there was an abnormal noise coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the air conditioner compressor had locked up and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 142,000. Updated 2/24/15
During operation of the vehicle a loud thump was heard then the air conditioner stopped operating. I pulled off the road thinking there was a flat tire. The vehicle was taken to a Honda dealer in tampa for inspection where it had been serviced. The problem is that the sealed A/C compressor failed and ingested an internal componet then distributed small parts though the sealed pressurized system thereby causing other A/C system componets to fail. This major failure requires a complete A/C system replacement. The service manager is aware of this failure and stated that Honda is aware of it as well. He estimates this occurs to 1 in 25 vehicles. The estimated repair cost is $2600.00 to $2800.00. The vehicle is a 2003 Honda CR-v with 50,000 miles. There has been one other documented complaint about this system on this model. …
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. …
This is in connection with the air conditioner compressor. Head a clicking noise when I pulled into my drive way. Opened the hood and noticed that the sound was coming from the compressor section. I turned off the switch to the air conditioner and the clicking noise stopped. I turned it back on and the compressor blew up with white steam. Took it to the dealer the following day and was told the compressor was cracked and that I need a new compressor, replaced with the clutch, coil filter to the tune of $1502 plus tax. I went on the internet to check on this issue and found a lot of identical complains dealing with the Honda crv 2003 and 2004 series. Mine is 2003. Although there many other links, the one I noted was topix.com. Everyone complained about identical problems and diagnostics and cost. …
A/C on 2003 Honda CR-v failed (44,000 miles on vehicle) resulting in inability to adequately defog the windshield and side windows during thunderstorm. There was no vehicular accident. Honda repaired defect under extended warranty ($1900 value). Defective part is not available. It appears from discussion threads on edmunds.com that this is a recurring accessory failure on 2002-2004 crvs that has safety connotations. Honda America is repairing at no cost to auto owners even if out of warranty but you have to complain to their headquarters. Furthermore, it appears that the repairs are breaking down in instances before exceeding any where near reasonable replacement part service life. This suggests a design flaw. How many crvs are out there with impaired windshield defogging capabilities?
Tl contact owns a 2003 Honda CR-v. The vehicle is equipped with a 1982 Honda silverwing air conditioner compressor. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle made a strange sound, the air conditioner stopped blowing cool air, and the vehicle began to decelerate. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic and they stated that the air conditioning system was filled with freon, which caused the compressor to freeze and seize the engine. Honda informed the contact that she will be responsible for only the cost of the parts, not the labor. Honda also advised her not to use the air conditioner. The serial and part numbers for the compressor were unknown. The current mileage was 98,618 and failure mileage was 98,550.
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 $2100.00. 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.
On my 2003 Honda at around 66,000 miles the air conditioning quit working. Although I hardly use A/C since I only have a short drive to work. I took the vehicle into a Honda dealer. It was reported that the A/C blew up and was contaminated throughout the system. I had to replace everything including lines. Although they claim this happens, im concerned since the A/C was rarely used. Clearly a defect in the A/C. Ive owned other vehicles with only having to do regular maintenace on the A/C with no problems. This repair costed 2,611.70. I had an extended warrenty which did not help much either. I have been told or read other problems with the A/C in hondas.
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?
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Honda crv. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the air conditioner independently shut off. The dealer advised that the manufacturer was aware of the failure in his year, make and model. The dealer also advised that the air conditioner compressor could lock and the serpentine belt could fracture causing a loss of power steering. The manufacturer advised they would cover seventy-five percent of the total repair. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and current mileages were approximately 61,000.
AC & Heater complaints in other CR-V years
Frequently asked questions
How common are ac & heater problems on the 2003 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the a/c & heater of the 2003 Honda CR-V, 6% of the model year's 468 complaints. The component named most often is appliance › air conditioner (26 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Honda CR-V ac & heater problems?
No. NHTSA lists no a/c & heater recall for the 2003 Honda CR-V, though it has 13 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Honda CR-V ac & heater problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles.
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.