Air Conditioner problems of the 2002 Honda Odyssey

My a/c went out in my 2002 Odyssey. I am being told a rock or other debris hit the condenser, the freon leaked out, and then the compressor locked up. The whole system has to be replaced to the tune of $2000. An internet search reveals hundreds of similar complaints due to the grill that protects the condenser not doing the job. I see this as a clear design flaw. Especially when my research revealed an aftermarket grill (not designed by Honda) has been designed and is being sold. Honda needs to step up and issue a recall and take responsibility for this problem.

A few months after purchasing a Honda Odyssey car the air conditioning stopped working as we were driving down the road. The service technician was unable to duplicate the problem. On more than one occassion the service technician was able to replicate the problem and insisted that if it were to happen again he would replace the entire air conditioning system(only to find out the next time it happened he no longer worked there and the whole process had to start over again). Most recently my mothers three small grandchildren were in the vehicle when the air stopped working. The temperature outside that day was around 80 degrees. They drove straight to the dealership again. The service technician was able to replicate the problem again but cannot find the cause of the problem. This is extremely worrisome to me as my mother has very bad allergies that trigger her asthma. Each time my mother has taken the vehicle in (5 times that I know of) they keep her car and provide her a loaner car for up to two weeks. This last time she offered to trade the loaner car a newer Honda Odyssey van for her vehicle since the air conditioning works in it. The dealer told her that she would have to pay more money for this vehicle because he wouldn't be able to keep hers on the lot because there was too much liability. So he wants her to drive a vehicle that has no air conditioning, and everytime the air conditioning goes out bring it directly to the dealership to be evaluated, prolonging her exposure to allergens, which could cause her asthma to get aggrevated, not to mention the possibility of heat stroke or heart attack in the summertime in the south. She purchased the vehicle from piedmont Honda in anderson, SC. If someone could please let us know whether this car is considered a lemon and whether or not we have any legal recourse we would greatly appreciate it.