Honda Element Complaints

1,283 consumer complaints on file.

#10128370July 11, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DT: CONSUMER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM AND THE CRACK MOVED UP ABOUT ONE FOOT. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A STARTING POINT TO THE CRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THAT THEY FOUND A DING THAT CONSUMER SAYS IS ABOUT AS BIG AS THE HEAD OF A PIN. DEALER SAYS THIS IS WHERE SOMETHING STRUCK VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER IS CONFIDENT THAT NOTHING STRUCK WINDOW, WINDOW CRACKED UNDER STRESS FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER SAYS THAT SHE BELIEVES THAT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN HER GARAGE. CONSUMER SAID SHE DID NOT NOTICE CRACK UNTIL SHE GOT VEHICLE OUT OF GARAGE IN THE MORNING. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT IS IN HER WORK PARKING LOT, IS THE SAME VEHICLE BUT DIFFERENT COLOR, THIS VEHICLE HAS SAME CRACK. CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE CRACK IS VERY CLOSE. IT ALSO STARTS IN THE SAME PLACE IN THE BOTTOM OF WINDOW. CONSUMER SAYS THAT SHE TAKES CARE OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE ONLY HAS 12,000 MILES, CONSUMER DRIVES 3 MILES TO WORK, CONSUMER MOSTLY DRIVES ON LOCAL ROADS, DOES NOT TRAVEL ON HIGHWAYS MUCH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127900July 8, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I HAVE HAD TWO WINDOW GLASS ISSUES WITH MY HONDA ELEMENT. (1) IN DEC04 WHILE DRIVING 30 MILES TO WORK, 5 WINDSHELD CRACKS APPEARED. ALL STARTED AT EDGES OF GLASS AND MOVED INWARD. THEY WERE LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM AND SIDE EDGES. (2) IN JULY05 I LEFT WORK TO DISCOVER THAT MY RIGHT REAR WINDOW HAD EXPLODED. POLICE OFFICER REPORTED THAT THIS WAS NOT A CRIMINAL ACT, BUT MORE LIKELY AN ERROR WITH GLASS INSTALLATION. I REPORTED THE LATER INCIDENT TO HONDA AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR/REPLACE UNDER MY WARRENTY. AND WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONABLITY FOR THIS FAULTY GLASS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120049July 5, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
AN OBJECT HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND WAS TOO SMALL TO SEE. THE OBJECT NICKED THE WINDSHIELD AND CRACKS FORMED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY, AND WAS BEING REPLACED AGAIN THE DAY THE CONSUMER SENT THIS LETTER. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127280July 1, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM BENEATH PASSENGER WIPER BLADE UP APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES AND THEN TURNS TOWARD DRIVER'S SIDE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126824June 28, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
FOR THE SECOND TIME MY WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED ON MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CRACKS ARE CONSIDERED STRESS FRACTURES CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126227June 22, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I BOUGHT A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT EX SEPTEMBER 2004, HAVE ABOUT 30K ON IT, NO PROBLEMS UNTIL I CAME OUT TO THE PARKING LOT AND FOUND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED (THE NOW CLASSIC DESIGN, LOWER PASSENGER SIDE, NO IMPACT MARK, SPREADING FROM BLACK AREA, RIGHT NOW ABOUT TEN INCHES LONG AND MOVING STRAIGHT ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I AM HAVING CASCADE AUTO GLASS COME THIS MORNING TO REPLACE IT SINCE THE CRACK IS GROWING AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125370June 15, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A HONDA ELEMENT VIN# [XXX]. NOT UNTIL LAST WEEK DID I OR A PASSENGER SIT IN THE BACK SEAT. WE BECAME AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER THAT THE DOOR DESIGN PRESENTS. YOU CAN NOT OPEN THE BACK DOOR UNLESS THE FRONT DOOR IS OPENED FIRST.THE "SUICIDE DOORS" DO NOT ALLOW EXIT FROM THE BACK SEATS (NOT THE ORIGINAL "SUICIDE DOOR" DESIGN). THIS DESIGN FLAW IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. ...SCROLL DOWN....THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY... 1. HOW COULD ANYONE GET OUT OF THE BACK SEAT IN AN EMERGENCY? 2. WHAT WOULD A CHILD DO IN CASE OF DRIVER INCAPACITATION? AN ADULT MIGHT BE ABLE TO CRAWL OVER THE DRIVER TO THE FRONT DOOR, BUT A CHILD WOULD BE AT A DISADVANTAGE IN THE BACK. 3. THERE IS NO EMERGENCY RELEASE HANDLE ON THE BACK HATCH DOOR TO ACCESS FROM THE INSIDE. 4. THE LITTLE WING WINDOWS ON THE BACK DOORS COULD BE KICKED OUT IN AN EMERGENCY, BUT A CHILD WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO DO SO. 5.WHAT WOULD PASSENGERS DO IF THE CAR WERE TO PLUMMET INTO A WATERWAY? HOW COULD ANYONE ESCAPE FROM THE BACK....WHICH IS WHAT IS LEFT FLOATING... 6. THERE IS NO WARNING SIGN IN THE CAR INDICATING THAT THE BACK DOORS DO NOT OPEN UNLESS THE FRONT DOOR IS OPEN. HOW MUCH TIME, VALUABLE TIME MIGHT BE LOST AS A PASSER-BY ATTEMPTS A RESCUE AND DOES NOT KNOW THE DOORS DO NOT OPEN? PERHAPS THEN, A SIGN, LIKE IN AIRPLANES, COULD BE POSTED BOTH INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE INDICATING THAT THERE IS NO EXIT THROUGH THE BACK DOORS. OR, A RECAL PUT INPLACE TO PUT IN A QUICK RELEASE EMERGENCY ACCESS WINDOW. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS CONCERN TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO A REPLY. THANK YOU, [XXX] *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125429June 15, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
HONDA ELEMENT -- CRACK IN WINDSHIELD. STARTED AT BOTTOM PASSENGER SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A SMALL PIN SIZE HOLE AT THE BASE OF THE CRACK - ALMOST BELOW THE EDGE OF THE HOOD. THE CRACK WENT UP ABOUT 7 INCHES AND THEN STARTED SPREADING ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS DEFINITELY NOT FROM A ROCK CHIP. IT TOOK 2 FULL DAYS OF "NEGOTIATING" WITH AMERICAN HONDA TO GET THEM TO COVER THE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD UNDER WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124580June 8, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I'VE HAD 3 CRACKED WINDSHIELDS IN MY HONDA ELEMENT NOW. THE FIRST WAS AT APPROXIMATLY 11,000 MILES, THE SECOND WAS AT APPROXIMATLY 17,000 MILES, AND NOW THE THIRD CRACKED WINDSHIELD WAS AT APPROXIMATLY 20,000 MILES. THE FIRST TWO WERE FIXED UNDER SOME SORT OF "ONE TIME" GAURANTEE. THE 3RD CRACK, I'M DEBATING WHETHER TO SELL THE CAR OR JUST DRIVE WITH THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD UNTIL I CAN NO LONGER SEE OUT OF IT. WHY FIX IT IF IT IS JUST GOING TO KEEP ON CRACKING!?! EVENTUALLY HONDA WILL REFUSE TO FIX IT FOR FREE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124110June 3, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DT: CONSUMER STATES THERE ARE TWO CRACKS THAT HAVE FORMED ON THE WINDSHIELD OF HIS VEHICLE. THE CRACKS STARTED OUT APPROXIMATELY 1-1 1/2 INCHES, NOW THEY ARE APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES. THE TWO CRACKS SEEM TO BE GOING IN THE DIRECTION WHERE THEY WILL MEET. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121960May 23, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED DUE TO STRESS AT THE BOTTOM EDGE ON 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. DEALERSHIP AND HONDA USA DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND REFUSE TO REPAIR IT. CRACK DOES NOT ORIGINATE FROM A ROCK IMPACT BUT HONDA USA POLICY IS TO RULE ALL CRACKS AS RESULTING FROM ROCK IMPACT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121324May 18, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DT: 2003, HONDA ELEMENT, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED OUT OF THE BLUE. NOTHING STRUCK THE GLASS, NO ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING, HEARD POPPING NOISE AND A 5-6 ROUND CIRCLE CRACK APPEARED ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER, AND THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118345April 24, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN TWO SPOT ON DRIVER SIDE DURING HIGH WINDS. HAD A GLASS REPAIR SHOP FIX THE CRACKS, BUT ONE HAS CONTINUED TO SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. DESIGN/ANGLE OF WINDSHIELD IS AT ISSUE AS THE WINDSHIELD HAS 4 "STAR" FRACTURES AS WELL AS THE CRACKS IN THE 16 MONTHS WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118303April 23, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD OF MY HONDA ELEMENT. THE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD IS ABOUT 4 WEEKS OLD; IT HAD STARTED OVERNIGHT - IT WASN'T THERE WHEN I PARKED IT, BUT WAS THERE THE NEXT MORNING. I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH A SMALL CRACK, BUT DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON PROBLEMS WITH THE HONDA ELEMENT AND FOUND SEVERAL INCIDENCES OF A CRACK IN THE WINDOW STARTING IN THE SAME PLACE. I EVEN FOUND A HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 03-028) THAT ADDRESSED THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I PURCHASED MY 04 HONDA ELEMENT IN MID-DECEMBER OF 2004, AND AT THE TIME OF THE CRACK THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. I HAVE READ THAT IF THERE WAS AN IMPACT POINT THAT CAUSED THE CRACK, THAT IMPACT POINTS ALWAYS HAVE A STAR CRACK PATTERN AROUND THEM. MINE HAS NO CRACK PATTERN EXCEPT THE LARGER CRACK THAT MOVED UPWARD AND THEN TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF MY WINDSHIELD - NO STAR SHAPE. I HAVE ALSO READ ABOUT THE SURFACE OF THE WINDSHIELD BEING UNEVEN AND THAT A HIGH SPOT APPLIES UNEVEN PRESSURE TO THE GLASS CAUSING A STRESS CRACK. FURTHER, THAT A STRESS CRACK IS IDENTIFIED BY A HORIZONTAL CRACKS ORIGINATING IN THE LOWER CORNERS OF THE AND RADIATING TOWARD THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS EXACTLY MY PROBLEM. I REPEAT, THE PIT WAS SMALLER THAN THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF SALT AND LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER THE WIPER BLADE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND WAS TURNED AWAY WHEN I TRIED TO HAVE MY WINDOW REPAIRED. THIS SITUATION IS NOT UNIQUE TO MY HONDA ELEMENT. THERE ARE MANY OTHER ELEMENT OWNERS THAT HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD CRACKING UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. HONDA HAS SYSTEMATICALLY ?FOUND? THAT THESE CRACKS WERE CAUSED BY ROCKS, ALTHOUGH ADMITTING IN A SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS THAT THIS IS A SYMPTOM OF HONDA ELEMENTS, AND THAT IT IS PROBABLY CAUSED BY THE WINDSHIELD FLANGE SURFACE BEING UNEVEN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118959April 19, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WHILE PARKED IN A SECURED PARKING LOT WINDSHIELD CRACKED OVERNIGHT. THE CRACK WAS IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS ADVISED TO BUY ANOTHER. OWNER LATER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO FIX THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD WHICH IS UNDER WARRANTY. MANUFACTURER BELIEVED THAT ROAD DEBRIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CRACK. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118074April 18, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD STRESS CRACK WITH NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT LOCATED ON LOWERS DRIVER'S SIDE. WENT OUT TO THE CAR ONE MORNING AND THE CRACK WAS HAD APPEARED OVER NIGHT. STARTED ABOUT THREE INCHES LONG AND HAS SINCE BRANCHED OFF AND EXTENDED TO OVER 12 INCHES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117918April 15, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
THIS IS THE THIRD THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY INSTALLED INTO CAR SINCE PURCHASE. THE FIRST ONE WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED WITH A NEW MODEL. THE SECOND WAS REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURES, AND THE LAST ONE WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE DVD/NAV SYSTEM INSTALLED WHICH WAS CAUSING ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE TO THE THROTTLE BODY, CAUSING IT TO FAIL. THE SYMPTOM STARTED WITH THE SHIFT NOT UNLOCKING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THEN IT WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS, CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN AT 4500 RPMS. THEN VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN ROAD, AND IT SHIFTED TO BETTER HIGHWAY SPEED. DEALER STATED THAT HE COULD NOT GET TROUBLE CODES FROM COMPUTER UNTIL ALL DVD/NAV WAS DISCONECTED. THEY REPLACED THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, AND TOLD US NOT TO HOOK DVD/NAV SYSTEM UP UNLESS IT HAD ITS OWN FUSEABLE LINK LINE FROM BATTERY, AND NOT TO USE WIRE HARNESS TO CONNECT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116881April 13, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116894April 13, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
7 WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS SO FAR SINCE PURCHASE DATE ON 12/10/2003. THE FIRST 2 REPLACEMENTS WERE DONE BY THE HUNTINGTON HONDA DEALERSHIP. THE OTHER 5 REPLACEMENTS WERE DONE BY SAFELITE. THE MOST RECENT REPLACEMENT WAS DONE ON APRIL 13, 2005. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116728April 11, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THIS IS THE SECOND WINDSHIELD THAT CRACKED IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS, THEY BOTH APEARED TO BE STRESS CRACKS. BOTH TIMES I WAS NOT IN THE CAR WHEN CRACK APPEARED AND BOTH TIMES THE CRACK IS ON THE PASSANGER SIDE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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