While Driving i looked in the rear mirror and noticed my rear glass was shattered. I pulled over to inspect it and there was no visible points of impact.
2017 Honda Civic visibility problems
37 complaints (6% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 21,000.
- owner complaints
- 37
- of this car's complaints
- 6%
- typical mileage
- 21,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Defroster/defogger/HVAC system: compressor6
- Defroster/defogger/HVAC system5
- Sun/moon roof assembly2
- Defroster/defogger/HVAC system: condensor/evaporator2
- Windshield1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Honda Civic visibility problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2017 Honda Civic visibility
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2017 Honda Civic owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Evaporator on the AC system has failed repeatedly Honda is aware this is a reoccurring issue as they offered a goodwill discount once but I’ve had to replace more than once. This is a major visibility issue as the moisture from the faulty evaporator fogs my windshield making it dangerous to drive and the defogger is much less effective
AC evaporator failed (per dealership diagnostic) causing poor performance of windshield defogger
My air conditioning failed producing cool air in late 2020. I took it to Honda Penske in Ontario. The said at that time the Evaporator core is leaking but it not covered by warranty. I had pay out of pocket to install freon and that would like me for 5-6 months however the same problem would return. The following year I took it to El Monte Honda dealership where I purchased the car. They reviewed and stated the same the problem and they couldnt do anything about it. I once again had to pay out of pocket to install freon myself. Any local shop installs freon for $500. I have had to do that every summer of the last 4-5 years. My most recent visit was to Penske Honda which told me there is a recall for the AC Condensor, which was performed along with installing of freon. The same problem arises after 3 months where the evaporator core doesnt hold in the cool air, it leaks and eventually doesnt produce cool air at all. Hot days can be miserable especially with my kids in the Car.
I'm submitting a complaint for visibility concerns because the A/C system is plauged with issues on this vehicle. When A/C systems don't function properly it causes a visibility concern because the defogger won't clear the windshield (especially in the cold winters in my home state of [XXX]). This is the first series that Honda used this type of refrigerant (R-1234yf) and they ended up having issues with a few other vehicles when introducing this refrigerant. They released Warranty Extension 6A5 for this series to cover the A/C compressor and a shaft seal for premature failure due to complications with the refrigerant. In my opinion this was a bandaid-fix applied in an attempt to sweep the issue under the rug. My car's A/C has failed 3 times in the 5 years that I've owned it. I took it to Hoda last week and they said this time it was the evaporator and that it's $2,700 to fix. I would argue that all parts in this A/C system (including the evaporator and condenser) are affected by the same issues that cause premature failure in the Compressor. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The Body Control Module (BCM) on my 2017 Honda Civic suffered an internal failure, creating immediate safety hazards. The defect caused persistent parasitic battery drain, sudden vehicle power loss, and erratic electrical behavior. A faulty BCM can cause critical safety components—such as exterior lighting, turn signals, and windshield wipers—to fail without warning while driving. Honda has already recalled 2018–2020 Accords and 2019–2020 Insights for identical BCM programming and hardware failures (the federal safety agency Campaign 20V771000 / Honda Campaign X95). My 2017 Civic utilizes similar BCM architecture and exhibits the exact same dangerous failure symptoms. This component defect is widespread across multiple Honda platforms from this generation, and the safety recall must be expanded to include the Honda Civic before a catastrophic electrical failure results in a crash or injury. I had to replace the unit entirely out of pocket to ensure the vehicle was safe to operate.
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.
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 was provided with a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.
The AC Evaporator failed, this is after the condenser and compressor failed twice, which are also known issues within Honda's AC system. A failed evaporator can cause the windshield foggy issues and cause drivers visibility issue which endangers driver and passengers. Yes dealer has diagnosed the issue. There was no warning of the failure, and there are already many reports about this part failing. Honda refused to cover it under their warranty.
Ac evaporator has failed not allowing windshield to defrost and defog properly. It is know issue at this time ac compressor and condenser are covered under extended warranty but not the ac evaporator.
Questions about the 2017 Honda Civic visibility
Does the 2017 Honda Civic have visibility problems?
Owners have filed 37 complaints about the visibility of the 2017 Honda Civic, 6% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2017 Honda Civic visibility problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 21,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2017 Honda Civic visibility?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Honda Civic have the most visibility problems?
The Honda Civic model years with the most visibility complaints are 2006 (239 complaints), 2007 (212 complaints) and 2008 (133 complaints).
Is there a class action lawsuit over the Honda Civic?
Yes. Class action says Honda and Acura keyless entry makes cars easy to steal and asks for theft protection (November 12, 2026).
Other 2017 Honda Civic problems
Steering 174Electrical 104Engine 70Brakes 38Body 37Fuel system 34Transmission 29Airbags 25Driver assistance 23Acceleration 13Wheels 9Seat belts 5Suspension 5Tires 5Lights 4Seats 4
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