2020 Defender Max Limited did not even out of the shop before the air conditioning failed

[Joe]

The dealer ordered a expansion valve to try it. Does anyone think this will work?

 

[Toolboy]

Well I finally got my defender back.  It was leaking on its connection to the compressor.  The air works but nobody would say it is cold, just cool.  We have run it several hours since getting it back and it has held up.  It has been 94 degrees with near 60% humidity and I can drive the defender and not sweat.  I don't think it is as comfortable in the back seats but for now it will do.  I recommend everyone clean their in cab filters to max out the airflow.  I also checked and when on max cool, no air is being pulled from the outside intake as I was going to close mine off but that was not needed.  I did close off my the 2 foot vents to boost output to the vents blowing at my face.  I do think I will add a 12 volt powered fan to the dash to move more air at me.  I hate the heat and can now ride and not get too hot.  

 

[Merc]

My A/C worked for a week.  Called two BRP service centers and they do not have certified A/C techs so they sent me to a Ford Service Center.  The Ford Tech found that theIt was no refrigerant In the unit and That both O-rings on the compressor side failed.  They are on back order till August.  The A/C is an automotive unit, so I was the told to bring it to Midas and that they could get the O-Rings from NAPA and that BRP warranty would be honored through my CAN AM dealer.  I will bring my machine in next week to see if Midas can correct it.  
Meanwhile, BRP advanced my claim to the Resolution department where I was on hold for 28 minutes and then hung up on.  The dealers are trying to help me correct the A/C problem but say that almost every Defender with A/C has failed.  

 

[Merc]

When my A/C did work (For one week) it leaked all the Condensation on to the floor board of the drivers And passenger side floor board.  Anyone else have that problem?

 

[Perch]

Two days after delivery, it quit!  Back at the dealer now for uncertain stay!  Not hearing any consensus here on what the issues and solutions are....hopefully BRP will  advise....

 

[Merc]

My 2020 Defender goes into Midas tomorrow to have the A/C fixed.  We bought it May 20th.  It worked a week.  I’ve been getting the runaround from BRP.  No Can Am dealers (2) in my area are equipped to deal with air conditioning.  So the dealer made arrangements to go to Midas.  Previously I had it to a Ford dealership where they found both O-rings on the compressor side leaking.  O-rings from Can Am are on back order till the end of August.  Midas says they can get them from NAPA.  We’ll see.  It’s all covered under warranty.  All I know is that Midas says they are getting several in for repair so there is obviously a engineering defect.  Meanwhile, BRP has escalated my warranty claim to the resolution department.  The summer is more than half over and I’ve had no A/C since June 1. Also, when it did work, the condensation leaked onto the floorboard of the driver and passenger side floorboard.  Anyone else have that problem?

 

[Rayden]

I had my Limited out this weekend in plus 30 degrees weather. The air seemed to work on low but would send the warning code if on medium or high. The dealer filled the Freon before heading out and said they had no issues. Of course it always works at the dealership. I have not seen any leaks so I am hoping it’s just the sensor like I’ve seen in other posts. It’s going back to the dealer this weekend so I will keep you posted if they report anything. 

 

[kck]

My defender limited a/c also quit. They dealer said the evaporator is leaking. It's back ordered until Sept 8. Seems to be poor QC at the factory. Not happy but will give them one chance to fix it. 

 

[Limited max]

Summers almost over still no ac and still waiting on parts can am sucks and so does their costumer service 

 

[Toolboy]

UPDATE:  It has been over 550 miles since I got my defender back with working air.  The air has been run for all 550 miles without any problems.  I did add the 12 volt powered fan, suction cupped to the front window for additional breeze and it has worked very well.  I think that this is really gonna work well and I would recommend the Defender Max Limited to anyone considering getting one.

 

[2020 limited defender]

Hello, I too purchased a new 2020 defender max limited and the AC didn’t work when I got home and unloaded it off the trailer. Flashing the triangle and blowing cool not cold vent air. Dealership I bought from as well as three others told me they are too booked up to get it in. It would be 4-6 weeks.... Very very very disappointed in this purchase. I am coming from 2017 AND 2018 Polaris North Star crew’s that I never had an issue with!! I thought I was making an upgrade! It’s summer and the extra money spent for AC and cab is now a nuisance. After some self investigation my AC lines up front are full of sticky dried Freon coming out of the condenser on passenger side. The nut that tightens the line to condenser was never attached at all, not even a turn. What else is loose and missing though!? May take matters into my own hands and follow up with CANAM with photos and videos if my dealer gives me the run around. 

Along with the AC not working my front AND rear doors are adjusted horribly and there are air gaps on 3 of the 4 doors. I attempted to adjust myself but not much luck. Have to slam the rear doors because they get jammed. The reviews I saw all talked of how automotive the cab on this machine is, NOT. To go on when I loaded machine up On delivery at the dealer the driver side rear fender plastic was rubbing the rear tire to find out it was missing fasteners, my salesman ran inside then threw in some plastic darts to attach and gave me some extras and said “i may need them” after getting it home I found the front plastic CV Guard was missing a rivet from factory, also found missing plastic dart fasteners laying on the rear floor. Finally found where those went as the interior plastic was vibrating so bad. At this point I am frustrated, this is not the CanAm quality I paid for. 

Dealer I purchased from was 250 miles away because nobody closer had one or could get one. I am very dissatisfied to say the least, as soon as I handed over that check for the most expensive machine in their floor nobody cares who I am. I really hope CanAm stands behind this and gets us going because when people ask how I like it they will be getting an ear full as of now! if anyone has any questions my phone number is 716-860-4290 I would be glad to explain in more detail. 

 

[Andystoy19]

 Sounds to me though you got a machine that did not have a pdi at the dealership. I would take the machine back to the dealer and tell him to call when its ready. At that time do a thorough walk around with the service manager if the machine doesn't meet your requirements leave the machine at the dealership and go back to Polaris. Most dealerships should have a return policy for an unhappy customer. 

This is my opinion only based on the tone of your post. 

 

[Woody]

The dealer ordered a expansion valve to try it. Does anyone think this will work?

Not unless it fixes the leak.

 

[Kevin Day]

Sorry to hear that a number of you are having problems with the AC, that sounds like a problem with the supplier of the AC parts and possibly at the assembly plant in Mexico. My first impression is that the folks at the assembly plant are not doing any leak checks after the system is charged with freon resulting in leaks that drain your system. Can Am will resolve this issue but I am surprised that they are not stepping up with the parts so that your vehicles can be repaired and back out where you can use them.

I have owned many BRP/Can Am (well over a dozen skidoos and quads) since 1996 (my first Summit) and have had very few problems, mostly the odd recall. All of the issues were resolved at the "dealer level who is the first point of contact". I have to disagree that Can Am service is the first point of contact. For example I don't call GM corporate if I have a problem with my truck, I would take it to the dealer. Since AC is new to the Can am sxs I am not surprised that the dealer may send your unit to an AC shop to troubleshoot because their tech's may not have any experience with AC.

BRP Care probably monitors this forum, as they do others, to see if there are customer complaints about dealer service and occassionally reach out to the customer to have them call directly. If you are unhappy with the dealer service I agree that you should call Can Am Care to try and resolve the complaint but I don't expect they will step in to over ride the dealer very often?

I just bought a 2121 Defender Max Limited and let me assure you that the “Leader in the industry “ as one writer posted has not got a handle on this problem as of yet.  I had to drive over 3 hrs one way after work just to purchase mine so it after 11 pm when I got home so I just put it away and played with it next morn.  Sure enough blinking triangle same as everyone else.  Call dealer, you know.... “first point of contact “ they had no idea.  Since they are over 3 hrs away I called a dealer 30 minutes away, Jackson Ohio, first words out of there mouth was “Did you buy it here? Well then we can’t help you, we’re not certified.  Understanding now another reason I drove over 3 hrs to buy instead of 30mim up the road.  So I call another dealer in Huntington WV, about one hour away from me, they we eager to help.  The second day it was there I called and was told me the same story, “We don’t know, BUT we have a Can-Am Rep coming in today and we are going to ask him.”  Well guess what, the “Leader in the Industry” Rep didn’t know either.  The only reassurance I got was there was probably going to be a recall. 
Leader in the industry........ more like “ Legend In there own mind”.  A leader in the industry would not field a product without FIRST ensuring that the Techs in the field were AT LEAST familiar with it, let alone certified to service it.

Now here is a NEW spin on the problem my is working and l have no F***ING HEAT !!!! 
P.S. this is the first time I have ever been motivated enough to join a forum.  My second one today is going to a Polaris Polaris sight .

Think of the advertising possibilities for Polaris. A Polaris ranger driving in foot deep snow with the occupants wearing polo shirts passing a defender with its occupants freezing to death. Cut to a desert scene people in the Polaris are cool and fine, The people in the defender are miserable in the sweltering heat.  The ads only words Are “Want a HVAC System that actually works?  
Buy Polaris

 

[Perch]

When my A/C did work (For one week) it leaked all the Condensation on to the floor board of the drivers And passenger side floor board.  Anyone else have that problem?

Hi Merc/All, 

Got the sensor replaced on mine, and now leaking water all over the floor - anyone find a fix?  Called the dealer.....1) did ya buy it here?, 2) dunno/never heard of it!  

Wow, hoping someone can help me figure it out!

 

[Dakota]

I posted last spring about my defender max ac not working. I picked it up in May and  ac never worked and the little triangle blinks. I believe it’s a warning of a freon leak. Here it is almost Oct. and am still without AC. Dealer is trying hard but very little response from Can am. 
first they tried a sensor , that didn’t do anything. Then they discovered no freon in system. After 3 weeks of waiting they got parts and replace the seal on compressor. That lasted a week and cooling stopped. Took it back and same seal was leaking, they now think it is the plate or something next to the seal  isn’t right. The dealer contacted Brp to see what they wanted to do next , I was hoping my dealer would here back right away, but it took weeks for them to get answers and now waiting for parts. So summer is over and I spent big bucks to stay cool and ride, that didn’t  happen. Unfortunately for me it is a 3 hour one way to the dealer so pretty much a all day trip and another day to go pick up my defender  every time they have it ready .   I am disappointed in Brp that they haven’t  came forward and had a recall or at least helped dealers in what is going on. This apparently has been a wide spread fault from the day they rolled into dealerships starting last fall.. 

 

[Mark in Colorado]

We’ve got to go back to the original reason we bought a Defender in the first place, friends.  Seriously, outfitting these rigs with AC is like putting an elevator in an outhouse.  I feel lucky to have heat.  I’d pay CASH for a set of trouble free crank windows.  3 position mode switch?  Keep it.  But AC in a Defender that actually gets used?  It’s like putting an ACOG scope on a hammer.  - Mark

 

[Perch]

any ideas?  seems like there's no  drain

 

[Steelslinger]

I have heard other places that the drain hose from the AC system in some cases were pinched in a panel.

 

[Perch]

Thanks Steelslinger, I can't see any drain hose coming of the bottom of that condenser box....just see water flowing out the sides over the lip!  Any one else have a lead/clue?