2018 Honda CR-V · symptom sheet
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails
- 58owner reports
- 11,461median miles
- $1,438median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jul 26, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
58 of the 2,145 complaints on this car describe A/C failure.
Tick what matches of 58 reports
A/C failure on other CR-V 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, 2016, 2019, 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 compressor (17 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on this problem covers the 2018 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
17 of the 58 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $400 to $2,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 5,000 and 42,000 miles, from the 31 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 6 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Honda CR-V 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.
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.
ServiceNews Article - If you are inspecting this particular CR-V and notice oil residue on the A/C discharge and suction hoses, it's not always an indication that the hoses are leaking refrigerant.
2 more on the 2018 Honda CR-V page.
What owners wrote
“"fuel pump issues directly cause injector system failures". Today Honda assured me than the fuel pump recall could not interfere in the injector system, that's totally false Now I have to changed injector system and spark plugs to my own expense. On Monday 6th of April 2026 showrd engine light as well as stalling when driving On Monday 30th of March AC COMPRRSSOR SMOKED, ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED”
Filed Apr 8, 2026
“2018 CR-V my air conditioner began to blow warm air after warranty expired. Research showed that many people are having same defect. Honda has put out service bulletin TSB APAS11162021901. The local dealer quoted 1500$ to replace seal. Honda help line declined to help with cost. We live in AZ so AC is a safety issue.”
Filed May 8, 2023
“Warning lights for multiple (possibly all) systems begin appearing and all ADAS including traction control is deactivated. The condition clears eventually in its own after fuel up, possibly several days later. Dealership attributes conditions to bad fuel injector with no other fuel related symptoms because the condition includes and engine code for either a faulty fuel injector or fault AC control module.”
Filed Dec 30, 2022
“AC Compressor Leaking Freon. 23243 miles. Cost $2184.20 to repair. Numerous complaints concerning AC, compressor should not have failed at this juncture. Believe HONDA installed defective part during production.”
Filed Jul 20, 2022 · 23,243 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 58 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
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 244 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 219 reports
- Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks 212 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 196 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 130 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 128 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 126 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 109 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 96 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 94 reports
- Fuel pump failure 89 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 84 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 80 reports
- Fuel smells, leaks, or the gauge reads wrong 77 reports
- Turbo failure or loss of boost 73 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 70 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 51 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 46 reports
- Steering wheel clicks, clunks or grinds when I turn 44 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 32 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 30 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 29 reports