I have a 2011 Accord and the AC just stopped one day. So I google it and see that its a common occurance for rocks/debris to go thru the gaping hole in the front bumper and whack the condenser and take it out. Well i took my car to the dealership, and guess what it was? Yup, a rock hit it and freon left the building. They told me $980, I told them to pound sand that it was a design flaw and a simple google search would show that it happens alot. Any way, they fixed it at NO CHARGE mostly because i bitched enough. So when I got the car back I thought " whats going to keep it from happening again?"...nothing. Anyway i fixed that and thought I would share. I stopped and got a $7 roll of some type a chicken wire. Then I popped off the front bumper, maybe a 15 min job. Tons of the those push type pins that come off with a flat tip screwdriver. Then there are two screws total/ One on each side of the fender. Anyway after i got the bumper off I just fabbed up a little guard for the AC. Heres the pics. pretty much invisible from looking at it. Here some pics, you could paint it flat black or some other color too. It literally cost me maybe an hour and about $7. Oh and Im a new guy...hello!

 

It happens but not that frequently. My daughter has a 2001 Celica w/ condensor tilted toward the road. It gets lots of small rock hits and looks very rough, but has never leaked. You must have had a big rock hit on critical location.

Rock screen is a good idea.

good luck

 

Good idea!