Honda Element Complaints

1,283 consumer complaints on file.

#10112108February 24, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD. SAME COMPLAINT AS EVERYONE ELSE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE GARAGE AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE SEAM HALF WAY UP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DEALER INSISTED THIS WAS NOT A FLAW OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS DUE TO A ROCK HITTING THE SEAM THOUGH THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE OF THIS. IN THE MEANTIME, THE LEFT SIDE HAS DONE THE EXACT SAME THING. THE WINDSHIELD IS ON BACK ORDER FOR OVER A MONTH. AFTER SEEING ALL OF THE LISTINGS HERE I CAN SEE WHY THERE AREN'T ANY LEFT. THIS IS CLEARLY A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE FOR MANY OWNERS. SPOKE TO HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AGAIN TODAY AND THEY STILL DENY THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND CLAIMED THEY'VE NOT HEARD OF THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM. VERY DISAPPOINTING. THIS IS MY 4TH HONDA AND AS A RESULT OF ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE (THIS IS MINOR IN COMPARISON) I WON'T BE BUYING ANOTHER HONDA AGAIN AND WILL BE GETTING RID OF THIS ONE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112109February 24, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM THE DEALER. IT BEGAN TO LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WITH THE COMPLAINT. THEY SAID THEY'D TAKE A LOOK AT IT, BUT IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME. THEY CLAIMED IT COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE LEAKING AND ANY FLUID I SAW WAS CONDENSATION FROM THE AC. THE GAVE IT BACK TO ME IN A FEW HOURS CLAIMING IT WAS FINE AND AGAIN SAID THE FLUID WAS CONDENSATION. I ARGUED AND SAID IT WAS OILY. THEY CLAIMED THIS WAS BECAUSE MY GARAGE FLOOR WAS OILY. THE RESPONSE TO ME WAS: "I'M SO CONFIDENT IT IS WATER I'LL COME OVER AND LICK OF THE GARAGE FLOOR. NEW CARS DON'T LEAK." WELL, IT DID LEAK AND LOADS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. I HAD TO MOP UP THE FLUID AND RETURN WITH THE SOAKED RAG AND THE VEHICLE TO GET THEM TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK. I HAD TO HAVE AN ENTIRELY NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. THIS IS MY 4TH HONDA. I'VE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH A VEHICLE AS I'VE HAD WITH THIS ELEMENT. I'VE ONLY HAD IT 3 MONTHS NOW. VERY DISAPPOINTING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112121February 24, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I HAVE A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. IT HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT. THE WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED BUT NOTHING EVER HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK STARTS UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER GOES UP ABOUT 6-8 INCHES AND THEN SPREADS TOWARD THE DRIVER'S SIDE ABOUT 12 INCHES. THIS IS A DEFECT AND HONDA SHOULD STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF IT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THIS CRACK WAS NOT THERE LAST NIGHT WHEN I PARKED MY CAR, BUT WAS THERE THIS MORNING WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY CAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113006February 24, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE WINDSHIELD IS EXPERIENCING MAJOR CRACKS WITHOUT ANY CAUSE, WHICH CAN AT ANYTIME BREAK. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY CONSUMER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112036February 23, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD INITIATING BELOW TRIM STARTING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR WITH NO CAUSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111923February 22, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY CAR WAS PARKED AT WORK DURING A SNOW STORM AND AT THE END OF THE DAY I CAME OUT TO THE CAR BRUSHED THE SNOW AWAY AND MY WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED IN THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE CORNER THE CAR HAD 7300 MILES ON IT. IT WAS FINE WHEN I LEFT IN THE MORNING . 2 DAYS LATER I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO A SMALL PIT IN THE WINDSHIELD THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF SAND AND THEREFORE HONDA WOULD NOT THE REPAIR. I HAVE HAD CARS (HONDAS) WITH LARGE STONE CHIPS 1/4 INCH IN SIZE NOT CRACK THE WINDSHIELD - THE SIZE OF THIS PIT IS BARELY VISIBLE. I TOLD MY DEALER THAT I FELT THIS WAS A DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD OR INSTALLATION AND HE SAID THAT HONDA WOULD NOT ADDRESS IT SINCE THERE WAS A PIT IN THE WINDSHIELD. HE SAID MY INSURANCE WOULD COVER IT. AFTER CHECKING ON THE WEB AND THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS MY SUSPICIONS WERE VERFIIED. I HAVE OWNED 6 HONDAS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH HONDA - TO ME THIS IS DANGEROUS, AN OBVIOUS DEFECT AND THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM!!! A MEMBER ON THE HONDA ELEMENTS OWNERS WEB SITE STATED THAT HE HAD HIS WINDSHIELD REPLACED BY ANOTHER FIRM AND THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW THIN THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD WAS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111988February 22, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I OWN A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. IT WAS SUBJECT A CRACKED WINDSHIELD DUE TO THE FACT THAT HONDA HAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH ITS WINDSHIELD INSTALLATION. THERE ARE STRESS POINTS WHICH CAUSE CRACKS IN THE BOTTOM CORNERS OF THE GLASS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THE ELEMENT AS HONDA HAS RELEASED A SERVICE REPORT FOR ITS DEALERS, BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111820February 19, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT HAS DEVELOPED A STRESS CRACK IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER IN THAT IS SIMILAR THAT REPORTED BY HUNDREDS OF ELEMENT OWNERS. THIS OCCURED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IS CONSISTENT WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A HONDA TSB ADDRESSING CRACKED WINDSHEILDS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. TWO HONDA DEALERSHIPS ARROGANTLY DISMISSED IT AS BEING CAUSED BY A PEBBLE CHIP; HOWEVER THE ALLEGED "CHIP" WAS A SMALL PIT THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF SAND. THE FIRST DEALER INDICATED HE LOCATED A SMALL DICONTINUITY IN THE PATH OF THE CRACK THAT WAS PIN SIZED. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP ALLEGED THAT HE LOCATED SIX PINHOLES, NONE OF WHICH WERE VISABLE TO ME OR DETECTED BY THE FIRST DEALERHIP! THE INSPECTION TECHNIQUE AND RESULTING DISMISSAL OF THE CLAIM APPEARED TO BE COACHED FROM SOME HONDA FACTORY ISSUED DIRECTIVE TO AVOID DOCUMENTATION OF THIS WIDESPREAD DEFECT. DOZENS OF WEBSITE POSTINGS ARE AVAILABLE WHICH DOCUMENTS SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH MANY ALSO DESCRIBING THE ALLEGED DETECTION OF A PINHEAD SIZE PIT ON THE SURFACE OF THE CRACK DIRECTLY UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT HONDA IS ATTEMPTING TO COVER UP THIS DEFECT TO AVOID A RECALL OR A"SECRET WARRANTY" SITUATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110665February 17, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2ND OCCURRENCE OF WINDSHIELD CRACK. 1ST EVENT ON 12-05-04. OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE PARKED-VERTICAL CRACK FROM UNDER TRIM BELOW DRIVER SIDE WIPER; TEE'D AT 6" AND WENT SIDE TO SIDE HORIZONTALLY. DEALER REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT CRACK. WINDSHIELD REPLACED ON 12-10-04. 2ND OCCURRENCE ON 02-15-05 WHILE VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE. VERTICAL CRACK FROM UNDER TRIM BELOW DRIVER SIDE WIPER FOR 3" THEN TEE'D AND WENT FROM SIDE TO SIDE HORIZONTALLY. CONTACTED DEALER BY PHONE - AGAIN TOTAL LACK OF INTEREST. BOTH EVENTS SHOWED PINHEAD SIZED PIT JUST BELOW WIPER. JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108514February 16, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WAS BEGINING TO CRACK. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *EH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111579February 15, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED TWICE, DRIVER DROVE TO THE DEALER ON THE LAST INCIDENT, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110582February 15, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I HAVE HERD SOME ABOUT THAT IN PAST. WHEN I WENT TO A HONDA DEALER THEY DECLINED REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD. STATING THERE IS NO RECALLS ON IT. HOWEVER I DID FOUND OUT SOME INFORMATION ON WWW.HONDAELEMENTSCRACK.COM THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110504February 14, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2004 HONDA ELEMENT. WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR LESS THAN 1 YEAR AND ALREADY THERE ARE 2 IMPACT CRACKS AND ONE IN-EXPLICABLE CRACK WHICH COMES FROM THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND CURVES UP ABOUT 12 INCHES. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THERE IS AN IMPACT ON THE CRACK RUNNING FROM LOWER PASSENGER SIDE (SAID THAT RAN A RAZOR OVER CRACK WHICH TELLS THEM THERE IS AN IMPACT). AM WRITING A LETTER TO HONDA AND COPYING NHTSA.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111354February 11, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL RUNNING OUT OF HER VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONSUMERS SON INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE OIL PLUG WAS MISSING. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE DEALER AND WAITED ON THE TOW TRUCK TO TRANSPORT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110178February 9, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
BROKEN WINSHIELD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111175February 8, 2005
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CAUSE OF WHY THIS HAPPENED IS UNDETERMINED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10110155February 8, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
A WINDSHIELD PROBLEM. THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE LEFT SIDE JUST 5" ABOVE THE LOWER CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO IMPACT MARK AT THE CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD. HOWEVER, DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS AN IMPACT MARK, AND REFUSED TO REPAIR IT! THERE ARE SEVERAL BIGGER DEBRIS CHIPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH DID NOT CAUSE CRACK! I HAVE ON THE CAR JUST 13 000 MILES AND THIS IS UNHEARD OFF. I HAVE OVER 10 YEARS OF DRIVING AND NOTHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENED TO ME WITH ANY OF MY CARS BEFORE. I WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH THE CRACK ON UNTIL THE DEALER OR AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. DECIDES TO REPLACE AT THEIR OWN COST. THEY HAVE TO ADMIT IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND DO A NATIONAL RECALL. I AM READY TO SUE AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY IF MY SAFETY IS JEOPARDIZED DUE TO THAT PARTICULAR DEFECT !!! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109979February 7, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
HONDA ELEMENT 2004 WINDSHIELD CRACKED. CHECKED OUT HONDAELEMENTSCRACK.COM TO FIND OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. CLAIMED WAS FIXED ON THE 2004, BUT 3 OTHER CARS IN THE SERVICE BAY WITH SIMILAR CRACKS WHILE AWAITING MINE TO BE SERVICED. ALL 2004 ELEMENTS. THEY CLAIMED INDICATION OF IMPACT, BUT HAPPENED WHILE GARAGED. APPEARED PERFECTLY CONSISTENT WITH STRESS FRACTURE TSB FROM 2003. THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR 1/2 AND I WAS QUOTED 250 AT THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT. WHEN THEY REALIZED HONDA AGREED TO PAY 1/2, THEY INSISTED NOW WE MUST USE THE HONDA WINDSHIELD TO RAISE THE PRICE TO 500 TO DROP IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL 250. WHAT A JOKE. ALTHOUGH THEY INSISTED THEY MUST USE HONDA WINDSHIELDS FOR SAFETY REASONS, THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHY NOT A SINGLE HONDA DEALERSHIP IN THE COUNTRY WILL DELIVER THE LABOR. ITS SUBBED OUT TO GOD ONLY KNOWS WHO AND I'M SURE LIABILITY FOR FUTURE FAILURES OR INJURY DURING AN ACCIDENT IS PASSED ALONG AS WELL. THEY DID INDICATE IF THEY CHANGED TSB TO INCLUDE 2004, I WOULD GET MY MONEY BACK, BUT I PRESUME I'D ALSO HAVE TO PAY 250 SOMEHOW ELSE TO GET THE 250 BACK AND STILL HAVE A FRACTURED WINDSHIELD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114975February 3, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT WINDSHIELD PROBLEM ON HONDA ELEMENT 2004. *BF BASED ON COMPLAINTS BY OTHER ELEMENT OWNERS THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE WINDSHIELD MAY SHATTER INWARD WHILE DRIVING. A SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM (SB 03-028). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108361February 1, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE FIRST CRACK CAME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER PART OF W/SHIELD STARTING BY THE COWL VENT PANEL AND THE CRACK WENT TO THE LT. THE SECOND CRACK CAME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I HEARD SOME CRACKING NOISES AND THEN THE CRACK APPEARED AND DID THE SAME THING BUT THE CRACK WENT TO THE RIGHT SIDE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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