2018 Honda Civic · symptom sheet
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails
- 102owner reports
- 47,000median miles
- $1,800median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
102 of the 742 complaints on this car describe A/C failure. Only sticky steering is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 102 reports
A/C failure on other Civic years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Most A/C complaints start the same way: the fan still blows, but the air coming out of the vents is warm or only a little cool. Some owners get cold air that fades after a while, and others hear a noise from the compressor before it quits. It's rarely a safety problem on its own, which is also why it seldom gets a recall.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the condenser (48 reports), the evaporator (39 reports), the compressor (35 reports) and the clutch (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on this problem covers the 2018 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
41 of the 102 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,000 to $2,322.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 30,000 and 60,000 miles, from the 39 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 11 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Honda Civic that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C condenser to 10 years from the original date of purchase with unlimited miles. This warranty extension only covers vehicles that have a defective A/C condenser from the factory.
Due to supplier process concerns, the A/C compressor may not have been manufactured to specifications. As a result, abnormal wearing of the rubber seal may occur causing gaps in the compressor shaft to develop allowing refrigerant to leak out.
We have identified a potential concern with GUIDE, AC COMP SEAL 07AAG-5AAA100, which was a part of 6CVC SEAL REPLACEMENT KIT, 07AAC-5AAA1Z0 that was recently sent to all Honda dealers.
Customers have complained of the air conditioning system not blowing cold air due to the oil/refrigerant leak from the A/C compressor main shaft seal.
7 more on the 2018 Honda Civic page.
What owners wrote
“Air conditioner condenser needs replaced at 24,000 miles. Mechanic says he has worked on numerous exact models / similar year with same issue. Has there been a recall?”
Filed Apr 22, 2023 · 24,000 miles
“Service center states evaporator is leaking. The leaking ac components is a known issue to Honda who have issued a extended warranty for other AC component. R1234yf refrigerant is a flammable danger and leaking in the engine bay.”
Filed Jul 9, 2022
“The problem is Compressor of the AC is faulty/damage. This is very common and i see a lot of people online having this problem. Its weird because they only warranty the condenser. Not Compressor which is also affected by bad manufacturing. Please help bring this to light and let it fully covered all AC parts. Thank you in advance”
Filed Jul 4, 2022
“There crappy electrical Systems and cause a fire! Itâs breaks the Ac system. Someone could die of heat related reason from driving in 95 degree weather. DAMN YOU HONDA!!!”
Filed Jun 28, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 102 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks 239 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 76 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 54 reports
- Fuel pump failure 36 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 26 reports