Honda Element Complaints (2005)

159 consumer complaints on file.

#10510718May 5, 2013
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, RESET AND CHECKED CODES. IT IS TELLING ME THAT THE DRIVERS AIRBAG IS FAULTY. THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509050April 22, 2013
AIR BAGS
2005 HONDA ELEMENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY A $100 DIAGNOSTIC TEST FEE. IN ADDITION TO THAT CHARGE, SHE WAS INFORMED THERE COULD BE AN ADDITIONAL FEE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AFTER DIAGNOSING IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508732April 18, 2013
AIR BAGS
MY SON ROLLED OUR 2005 HONDA ELEMENT IN A RELATIVELY LOW SPEED CRASH, ABOUT 30 MPH. ALTHOUGH THE ROOF WAS SMASHED IN AND WINDSHIELD BROKEN, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. LUCKILY HE WAS WEARING A SEATBELT AND ESCAPED HARM, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IN A WRECK IN WHICH THE CAR ENDED UP RESTING ON ITS ROOF, THAT THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504676March 27, 2013
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT 40 MPH ON PAVED CITY STREETS, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SUDDENLY FELL INTO THE DOOR CAVITY AND WAS LEFT INOPERABLE. HAD TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN COLD WEATHER WITHOUT A SIDE WINDOW. TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIR OF WINDOW REGULATOR. DEALER HAD VEHICLE FOR 24 HOURS. REPAIR WAS IT APPEARS THIS PREMATURE FAILURE COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME, LEAVING THE CAR VULNERABLE TO WEATHER AND BREAK INS. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR OF THIS AGE. REPAIR WAS $244.32. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10491826January 8, 2013
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS DRIVING AROUND 12:15 IN AM, A VEHICLE FROM RIGHT CAME OUT OF STREET AND I COULD NOT AVOID HITTING THE CAR. MY HONDA HIT THE CAR, DESCRIBED AS A T BONE HIT. I HAD NO PASSENGERS,AND WAS WEARING SEAT BELT. MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG ACTIVATED, MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT ACTIVATE. MY HONDA CAR HAD SEVERE DAMAGE ON THE LEFT DRIVER SIDE, LESS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. MY HEAD LIGHT WAS GONE FROM THE LEFT SIDE AND RIGHT SIDE WAS INTACT. MY CAR WAS TOTALED AS A LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE SENSOR LOCATED ON MY DRIVER SIDE DID NOT REACT TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG. THE FRAME BAR WAS BENT AND DAMAGE RIGHT NEXT TO THE SENSOR. I RECEIVED NECK BRUISES, SWELLING AND NECK PAIN. MY KNEE WAS CUT AND SWOLLEN. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT BREAKS IN THE PLASTIC ON BOTH SIDES OF THE INTERIOR STEERING COLUMN, PROVING THE INTENSE OF THE FORCE OF THE HIT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. MY QUESTIONS WERE NOT ANSWERED BY HONDA AS TO WHY MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT EMPLOY. I SPOKE TO HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE, WITH NO SATISFACTORY RESULTS. THANK YOU, WITH MUCH APPRECIATION. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10487753December 8, 2012
AIR BAGS
MY HONDA 2005 ELEMENT'S SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. I WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT AND PARTIALLY DROVE OVER A CURB WITH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. AS THE TIRE ROLLED OFF THE CURB THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND AND WAS COMPLETELY FREAKED OUT. I LOOKED TO MY LEFT SIDE AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG HAD EXPLODED OUT. IT WASN'T EVEN INFLATED. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT INJURED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479963October 12, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
I PUT ON MY BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING. MADE RUBBING SOUND AND THEN CONTINUED TO RUB ALL THE WAY TO MY DAUGHTERS. MINIMAL 2 HOURS IN TRAFFIC IN CHICAGO AT RUSH HOUR. AFRAID TO DRIVE BUT NO WAY TO GET OFF AND NOWHERE TO GO. TOOK TO MIDAS ON FRI. OVER $500.00 NOW MY BACK BRAKES ARE DOING THE SAME THING. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW 52,0000. THE DEALER HAD TOLD ME AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465064July 10, 2012
AIR BAGS, SEATS
I WAS DRIVING INTO THE BANK DRIVE IN TELLER AND MY LEFT SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440024December 15, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
2005 HONDA ELEMENT (2 WD) HAS NO HEAT AT ALL WHILE A/C SYSTEM IS WORKING FINE.. COME TO FIND OUT, HONDA RELEASED AN ORIGINAL TSB OF 07-076, AND SINCE THEN REPLACED IT WITH TSB 08-097 WHICH WAS "FAILED HEATER CORE". IT SEEMS THE MANUFACTURER USED WRONG COOLANT AND SO IT CLOGGS UP HEATER CORE. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN LOCAL DEALER FOR 5 DAYS AND THEY TRIED TO BLAME ON EVERYTHING OUTSIDE OF THE HEATER CORE AND ALSO CHANGED EVERYTHING EXCEPT HEATER CORE, AND STILL NO HEAT. FINALLY, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE HEATER CORE IS PLUGGED UP AND IT HAS TO BE CHANGED OUT; HOWEVER; THEY NOW TELL ME THAT MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT FIT INTO THEIR TSB AND THEREFORE, THEY WON'T HONOR THE TSB. CALLED HONDA AMERICA AND SPOKE TO 1ST LEVEL, 2ND, AND UP TO 3RD WHICH [XXX] AND EVENTHOUGH THIS IS A COMMON MANUFACTURER DEFECT (ALSO CANNOT BE INTRODUCE FAILURE BY THE CONSUMER), THEY STILL WON'T HONOR THE REPAIRS. TSB CALLS FOR 10 HRS AND PARTS WHICH COULD RUN INTO THOUSANDS FOR COMMON IDENTIFIED AND CONFIRMED BY HONDA. IT'S ABSOLUTELY ABSORB THAT THEY USED WRONG PRODUCTS AND NOW CAUSING PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD WHICH THEY ARE MAKING CONSUMER TO PAY THEM FOR REPAIRS. THIS CLOGGED HEATER CORE NOT ONLY GIVES NO HEAT BUT ALSO COULD CAUSING CAR OVER-HEATING PROBLEM WHICH CAN DAMAGE THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION AT THE SAME TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430119October 13, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 11/23/11*BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428108October 1, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FROM ABOUT MARCH OF 2007 WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR BRAKES, THEY HAD BEEN CHANGED ABOUT TWICE A YEAR. WE THOUGHT CAUSE WE DRIVE AROUND IN A CITY, THE BRAKES WEAR OUT FASTER THAN NORMAL. THEN 2 YEARS LATER WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING THE CAR. WE HAD TO GET IT JUMPED START- IT SEVERAL TIMES, BEFORE WE PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY. THOUGH IT HAS BEEN A YEAR FROM THE TIME WE GOT A NEW BATTERY, WE STILL HAD PROBLEMS STARTING THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE AUTO SHOP SEVERAL TIME, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEN THE GEAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND WE TOOK IT IN TO GET THAT FIXED, AND NOW IT DOES NOT START ALL. IT IS NOT THE BATTERY, BECAUSE THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS STILL COME ON. AT 74,0000 MILES WE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING SO MANY FAILURES WITH THIS VEHICLE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426976September 23, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425562September 15, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION ON AND NOTICED SMOKE AND HEARD A CRACKING SOUND COMING FROM THE MASTER POWER WINDOW SWITCH ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE SMOKE WAS FOLLOWED BY A SMALL FLAME. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN AND CAUSED THE DOOR PANEL TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FIRE AND STATED THE WIRING HARNESS AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,962.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425047September 12, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2011, UPON STARTING THE IGNITION OF MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT, I NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. AFTER HEARING SOME CRACKLING NOISES FROM THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH, IT SOON POPPED INTO A SMALL FIRE WHICH WENT OUT ON IT'S OWN, PROCEEDED BY MORE CONTINUOUS SMOKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412240July 14, 2011
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COASTING IN TRAFFIC WHEN HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE METAL WHICH HELD THE CLUTCH SPRINGS IN PLACE FRACTURED, JAMMING THE CLUTCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. UPDATED 09/27/11 *BF UPDATED 12/02/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410083June 30, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR DIES WHEN DRIVING. NO PRIOR WARNING BEFORE IT DIES (SUCH AS ILLUMINATION ON PANEL). CAR RPM'S REV UP AND DOWN WHILE IN PARK. WINDSHIELD CRACKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393045March 28, 2011
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW, SEATS
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON MARCH 26, 2011 ON THE FREEWAY AND IT WAS EARLY AND A CLEAR DAY. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND OUT OF NO WHERE I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND AND WAS COMPLETELY FREAKED OUT. MY RIGHT EAR WAS RINGING AND I STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE. I LOOKED TO MY RIGHT SIDE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HAD EXPLODED OUT. IT WASN'T EVEN INFLATED AND THERE WAS NO ONE SITTING ON THE SEAT THANKFULLY. BUT SINCE NO ONE WAS ON THE SEAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN OFF, THE HONDA ELEMENT HAS A SENSOR ON THE SEAT. I CALLED THE HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM. THAT I SHOULD TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP AND REPORT IT TO MY INSURANCE SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF IT FOR ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376445January 12, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY '06 HONDA ELEMENT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WIT MY FOOT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN I GO TO APPLY THE BRAKE. ADD HEAVY BOOTS AND A BIT OF WINTER ICE AND IT ALL ADDED UP TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND SLIDING INTO THE FRONT GATE ON MY PROPERTY WHILE I WAS TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKE CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND MY PROPERTY. THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR ARE TOO CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER!!! I KNEW SOME DAY THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN, GUESS I SHOULD BE THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352301August 27, 2010
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DRIVING TO WORK AT 6:20AM ON 08/27/2010, WHILE EXITING THE 91 FREEWAY (GOING EASTBOUND) AND ENTERING THE 71N TOWARDS CHINO HILLS, MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED OUT OF NOWHERE. THE DEPLOYMENT (OR BETTER, THE EXPLOSION) HIT THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE, MY LEFT ARM AND JERKED MY HEAD TOWARDS THE OTHER SIDE (TO THE RIGHT/PASSENGER SEAT). FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND WAS PARTIALLY DEAF FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. NOW MY FACE AND ARM STING A LITTLE, MY NECK IS A LITTLE STIFF AND I'M STILL HEARING A LITTLE RING IN MY LEFT EAR. I CONTACTED HONDA'S CORPORATE OFFICE IN TORRANCE, CA AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS VERY LIKELY HONDA WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN SINCE MY CAR IS A 2005 ELEMENT, PAST THE WARRANTY. TO THAT, ALL I HAVE TO SAY (OR ASK) IS: ONCE THE CAR IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY, DOES THE MANUFACTURER CEASE TO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE OVERALL SAFETY OF IT'S VEHICLES? TO ME IT SEEMS THAT IS THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, MY CAR WASN'T HIT OR IT DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING, THAT MY AIRBAG SHOULDN'T DEPLOY. NOBODY HAS EVER TOLD ME THERE IS AN EXPIRATION DATE ON AN AIRBAG AND MY SEATS ARE IN GREAT CONDITION (AS IS THE REST OF MY CAR). ULTIMATELY, THIS DEPLOYMENT COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE, AND I AM NOT EXAGGERATING. I WAS BLOWN IN THE FACE ON A MAJOR FREEWAY, IF I HAD LOST CONTROL DUE TO THE EXPLOSION I COULD HAVE SLAMMED MY CAR INTO A WALL OR ANOTHER CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10334427June 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN
HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR THIS FORUM, JUST BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER AN 05 HONDA ELEMENT FOR HER GRADUATION, WITH A LITTLE OVER 100K MILES. SHE LOVES IT, AND THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING A STRAIGHT DEAL FROM THE SELLERS, BUT NOT THE CASE. WHEN WE DROVE THE CAR, UNFORTUNATLY, AFTER BUYING, WE NOTICED A RUMBLING NOISE IN THE CAR, SO DROVE TO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT THE SOURCE. WE NAILED IT TO THE REAR END BY ONE DRIVING AND ONE WALKING OUTSIDE THE CAR. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY AND WAS IMMEDIATLY DIAGNOSED WITH THE 4WD REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEING THE SOURCE. HE CALLED HIS TRANSMISSION CONTACT WHO IMMEDIATLY CONFIRMED THAT THE PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON FOR THE HONDA 4WD AND THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BECAUSE HIS BUSINESS HAS FIXED MANY OF THESE 'UNSAFE' GEAR BOXES THAT TRANSER POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS. BEING A CONCERNED FATHER, I'M NOT GOING TO WAIT FOR THE RIGHT THING TO BE DONE BY HONDA, BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER AND ANY CARS ON THE ROAD AROUND HER, NEED TO BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED BY MYSELF AND THE OTHER 431 POSTS I BRIEFLY SCANNED THROUGH REGARDING THIS DEFECT WITH THE HONDA CR-V AND THE ELEMENT. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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