Service bulletin APaS11302020

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

The communication, as NHTSA indexes it (as of 2026-10-19)
Type	Service bulletin
NHTSA id	10183528
Published by NHTSA	2020-12-02
Manufacturer's number	APaS11302020
Manufacturer's date	2020-11-30
NHTSA component	EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; VISIBILITY

NHTSA's summary

Dealer Message - We have noticed an unprecedented parts demand and number of warranty claims for the 2016-2020 Civic A/C compressors. The overwhelming majority of the compressors returned and analyzed have been proven to be LEAK FREE. Some compressor designs will allow for some oil seepage and/or red dust in the compressor clutch/shaft area. This is NORMAL for this compressor design (see pictures HERE).

The document

The document is the manufacturer's. This site does not hold it. NHTSA files a document at one of these two addresses; we have not asked NHTSA which.

Components

Equipment and accessories, Glass, wipers and mirrors, Heating and air conditioning

Vehicles listed
HONDA CIVIC	2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

Listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned: the document says which.

Recalls for the same vehicles and component
18V817000	2018-11-16. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
18V421000	2018-06-20. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

A recall listed here may apply to some of the same vehicles. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle.

Other bulletins for the same vehicles and component
A23-039	2024-07-01. Service bulletin. 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.
A19-091	2024-07-01. Service bulletin. 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.
ATI&02292024906	2024-03-04. Service bulletin. Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021 Civics & 2020-2022 CR-Vs with a customer complaint of the center display flickering, flashing, or frozen. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
ATI&02152024901	2024-02-27. Service bulletin. Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021 Civics & 2020-2022 CR-Vs with a customer complaint of the center display flickering, flashing, or frozen. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
A23-039	2024-02-03. Service bulletin. 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.
A23-039	2023-10-07. Service bulletin. 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.
ONL6A506122023	2023-06-21. Service bulletin. Owner Notification Letter - Due to a new North America regulation that introduced a new refrigerant and oil requirement, the compressor shaft seal may leak. 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.
A23-039	2023-06-21. Service bulletin. 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.
A23-039	2023-05-31. Service bulletin. 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.
ABOM05192023901	2023-05-31. Service bulletin. Dealer Message - 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.