Service Bulletin - 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. The A/C condenser was not manufactured to specification. As a result, corrosion may develop in the form of tiny holes in the condenser tube walls that allow the refrigerant to leak out.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Honda Civic visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Honda Civic have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the visibility, typically surfacing around 21,000 miles at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Civic | 10 |
| 2014 Civic | 4 |
| 2015 Civic | 3 |
| 2016 Civic | 40 |
| 2017 Civic (this page) | 20 |
| 2018 Civic | 9 |
| 2019 Civic | 7 |
| 2020 Civic | 7 |
| 2021 Civic | 3 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering visibility on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service Bulletin - Due to a new North America regulation which introduces a new refrigerant and oil requirement, the compressor shaft seal may leak. American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C compressor shaft seal from the original 3 years to 10 years from the original date of purchase, with no mileage limitation. The new refrigerant and oil may cause swelling of the compressor shaft seal. The swelling may lead to abnormal wearing of the seal which may increase seal gaps around the compressor shaft allowing refrigerant to leak out.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Due to a new North America regulation which introduces a new refrigerant and oil requirement, the compressor shaft seal may leak. American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C compressor shaft seal from the original 3 years to 10 years from the original date of purchase, with no mileage limitation. The new refrigerant and oil may cause swelling of the compressor shaft seal. The swelling may lead to abnormal wearing of the seal which may increase seal gaps around the compressor shaft allowing refrigerant to leak out.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Due to a new North America regulation which introduces a new refrigerant and oil requirement the compressor shaft seal may leak. American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C compressor shaft seal from the original 3 years to 10 years from the original date of purchase, with no mileage limitation. The new refrigerant and oil may cause swelling of the compressor shaft seal. The swelling may lead to abnormal wearing of the seal which may increase seal gaps around the compressor shaft allowing refrigerant to leak out.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Due to a new North America regulation which introduces a new refrigerant and oil requirement the compressor shaft seal may leak. American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C compressor shaft seal from the original 3 years to 10 years from the original date of purchase, with no mileage limitation. The new refrigerant and oil may cause swelling of the compressor shaft seal. The swelling may lead to abnormal wearing of the seal which may increase seal gaps around the compressor shaft allowing refrigerant to leak out.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report six distinct failure modes affecting visibility and climate control on the 2017 Civic. Sunroof glass spontaneously shatters during normal driving with loud popping sounds; damage centers in the protected middle section, making manufacturer claims of road debris impact implausible to owners. A/C compressors fail and leak refrigerant early in vehicle life (22,000–29,000 miles), blowing warm air and preventing defroster operation. The A/C evaporator then fails separately on vehicles already out of extended warranty, leaving windshields unable to defrost during wet weather—a safety hazard. Windshield wipers stop working without warning at very low mileages (3,750–8,000 miles), sometimes while raining, with motors running but wipers stuck in raised position. One owner received a windshield with factory air bubbles between glass and rubber seal that cracked easily. Another reports the backup camera produces speckled, nearly useless nighttime images on 2017–2019 Civics but not older 2015 models. Owners cite repair costs ranging $700–$2,300 for A/C work. Honda denies most warranty claims, attributes failures to road damage or lacks documented recalls, despite owners citing known patterns across multiple 2015–2019 Civic model years and pending lawsuits.
Same Honda Civic visibility reports on nearby years: 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Sunroof spontaneous shattering
Sunroof glass shatters without impact, typically while vehicle is in motion or shortly after opening. Damage pattern centers in middle of glass panel despite front lip being the only exposed portion when open. Owners report loud pop/crackling sounds immediately before failure. Dealers attribute to road debris, but owners dispute this given the protected location of damage.
When: Various mileages reported: 21,000 miles, 100,000 miles, and one complaint at unspecified mileage. Occurs during normal driving on freeways in clear weather conditions.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud pop or crackling sound from sunroof area; Spontaneous shattering of sunroof glass without visible impact; Glass fragments scattered inside vehicle (seats, floor, cabin areas); Large hole in middle of glass panel
Repairs/costs cited: Sunroof glass replacement performed at Honda dealerships. Owners incurred repair costs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealers attributed failures to road debris impact. Manufacturer offered no recall. Reference numbers provided to owners but no warranty coverage or assistance extended.
A/C compressor failure with refrigerant leakage
A/C compressor develops leaks or shaft seal failures, causing system to blow warm air. Some complaints mention flammable refrigerant gas leaking into cabin. Multiple owners cite this as a known issue across 2015-2019 Civic model years. Occurs early in vehicle life despite proper manufacturing expectations.
When: 29,000 miles, 22,832 miles, unknown mileage. Failures occur within first 3-5 years of ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: A/C blowing warm or hot air when activated; Partial cooling on one side of cabin versus other; Defroster system unable to clear windshield properly due to A/C malfunction; Fog-like smoke from vents after 2 minutes of A/C operation; Light-headedness and shortness of breath (reported in one case with suspected refrigerant leak)
Repairs/costs cited: Compressor shaft seal and evaporator replacement. Owners cite repair costs of $700 to $2,300. One owner reports 75% manufacturer coverage via Goodwill request that was subsequently denied.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer denies claims attributing failure to road damage. Goodwill requests denied or partially approved (75% coverage in one case). Service bulletins cover condenser repair but not compressor or evaporator under standard warranty in some model years.
A/C evaporator failure
A/C evaporator fails after compressor and condenser have already been replaced, indicating systemic A/C design or manufacturing issues. Failure prevents defroster operation and causes windshield fogging, creating visibility hazard. Occurs on vehicles already out of extended warranty periods.
When: Out of extended warranty coverage (typically 3-5 years). Occurs after prior compressor and condenser failures.
Symptoms owners cite: Windshield fogs and cannot be defrosted or defogged; Loss of defroster functionality; Reduced driver visibility during wet or humid weather; Poor A/C cooling performance
Repairs/costs cited: Evaporator replacement required. Owners report costs around $2,000. Not covered under Honda's service bulletins or extended warranty programs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer refuses to cover evaporator failure under warranty. Service bulletins issued for condenser and compressor but not evaporator. No recall issued despite acknowledged pattern of failures.
Windshield wiper motor failure or electrical malfunction
Windshield wipers fail to operate or become stuck in raised position during rain or wet conditions, eliminating forward visibility. Motor may run but wipers do not return to rest or clear windshield. Occurs suddenly without warning at low mileages.
When: 3,750 miles, 8,000 miles, and unknown mileages. Failures occur very early in vehicle service life.
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers fail to respond when activated during rain or wet conditions; Wipers engage upright and stop, refusing to return to resting position; Complete loss of windshield clearing ability; Wipers stuck in raised position and striking windshield or paint; Motor running but wipers non-responsive
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired in complaints provided. Owners took vehicles to dealers but repairs were not completed or detailed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer offered no assistance when notified. No recalls issued. Dealers unable or unwilling to perform repairs.
Windshield defect from factory
Front windshield arrives from factory with air bubbles trapped between glass and rubber seal, compromising structural integrity and causing premature cracking. Windshield cracks easily from minor contact such as wiper blade resting on glass.
When: Factory defect present at or shortly after vehicle delivery. Observed at very low mileages.
Symptoms owners cite: Air bubbles visible between glass and rubber seal; Windshield cracks from minimal impact (wiper blade contact while washing); Compromised glass integrity
Repairs/costs cited: Windshield replacement required. No repair costs cited by owner.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in complaint.
Backup camera image quality degradation at night
Backup camera displays excessively speckled, grainy image at night making it difficult to use effectively, while daytime operation is acceptable. Issue appears specific to 2017-2019 Civic model years and does not occur on 2015 Civic models.
When: Occurs at night during any weather conditions. Affects vehicle usability for night driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Backup camera image very speckled and unclear at night; Image nearly useless for backing up safely in low-light conditions; Daytime camera operation normal and clear
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs mentioned in complaint.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented.
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had visibility trouble with your 2017 Honda Civic?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the visibility problem on the 2017 Honda Civic?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 20 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 11,800 and 29,000 miles, with the median around 21,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 11,800; a quarter make it past 29,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $350 for visibility repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Honda/Civic.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.