Piston Slap: Compressed About Condensed Non-Recalls?

Letty writes:

My 2016 Honda Civic A/C compressor is not working. It is sadly not under warranty, but I heard that the compressor is a problem that Honda knows about but is not willing to recall. Will the compressor be recalled in the near future?

Sajeev answers:

No, or at least not quick enough for your tastes.

That’s because, as of August 9th, Honda finally issued a technical service bulletin ( TSB 19-091, not a recall) for the A/C condenser: extending its warranty for 10 years. Condenser, not compressor.

There’s a (slim?) chance the condensor’s known issue subsequently introduced debris into the HVAC that also killed your compressor, but Honda may take years to issue a similar TSB. Or perhaps my GoogleFu didn’t work and that TSB already landed. Or it’s in the works, but I am not holding my breath on this.

Time to ask your local Honda dealer, they will know better than anyone else. Visit when they aren’t too busy (i.e not mornings and weekends), ask super nicely and you might eventually get a goodwill repair out of it. Good luck!

Bonus! A Piston Slap Nugget of Wisdom:

Let’s be clear about one thing, this ain’t just a Honda thing: every manufacturer-issued TSB authorizing a warranty extension is done to mitigate risks and keep customers loyal. Sometimes it’s done to avoid a full blown product recall, but don’t take my word for it. Since Honda’s A/C isn’t a safety issue, perhaps this isn’t a big deal. Or not…but no matter what, this ain’t just a Honda thing.

[Image: Honda]

Send your queries to sajeev@thetruthaboutcars.com. Spare no details and ask for a speedy resolution if you’re in a hurry…but be realistic, and use your make/model specific forums instead of TTAC for more timely advice.