Honda Element Complaints (2003)

424 consumer complaints on file.

#10560649January 20, 2014
AIR BAGS
WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR COLLISION OF ANY KIND. THERE WAS NO FRONT PASSENGER AT ALL, ONLY THE DRIVER IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560672January 20, 2014
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE
I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON NC HWY 12 ON MY WAY TO WORK, ALONE, AND I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, WHEN I GLANCED DOWN TO SCRATCH MY LEG AND WHEN I GLANCED BACK DOWN, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS AT A DEAD STOP AND I REAR ENDED IT. MY PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, HOWEVER I HAD NO PASSENGER WITH ME, MY DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG FAILED. LUCKILY I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT AND ONLY RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10558721January 6, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS INACCESSIBLE BECAUSE THE DOOR COULD NOT BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CYLINDER LOCK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,524.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532129July 27, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WITH KEY. HAD TO USE PASSENGER'S SIDE. SINCE THAT TIME, ALL OF THE DOOR KEYS (INCLUDING BACK) HAVE BECOME DIFFICULT TO OPEN. HAVE TO MOVE KEY UP AND DOWN TO GET IT TO SLIDE IN. NOW THE IGNITION IS ALSO BECOMING PROBLEMATIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501942March 7, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NHTSA RECALL 10V364000 I TOOK MY ELEMENT INTO BOB BOYT HONDA; BRANDON, MS FOR THIS RECALL. THEY TOOK THE CAR, REPLACED SOME LITTLE PLASTIC PART. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I COULD STILL REMOVE THE KEY AND WALK AWAY FROM THE CAR WITH THE CAR IN GEAR. WHEN THE CAR SHIFT IS IN THE DRIVE POSITION AND TURNED OFF, IT WILL STILL ROLL,LIKE IT WOULD IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP, LEFT IT, THEY TRIED AGAIN. BUT THE PLASTIC PART WOULD NOT FIX THE CAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS SOME SOLENOID NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND IT WOULD COST HUNDREDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS THAT PART WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I LEFT AND THE CAR IS NOT FIXED. WAS MY CAR SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED, REGARDLESS OF THE PART REQUIRED? THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS DEALERSHIP AND RECALLS ON THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496176February 2, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE DASHBOARD LIGHT OF THE HONDA ELEMENT GOES DARK INTERMITTENTLY. AT THE BEGINNING I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED EVENT - BUT FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE ON INTERNET FORUMS. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE PROBLEM IS SO INCONSISTENT THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT. FROM READING THE COMPLAINT OF THE OTHER ELEMENT OWNERS IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM OF THE ELEMENTS. I REQUEST THE NHTSA TO PERFORM A DETAILED INVESTIGATION INTO THIS -AS THIS POSES A SERIOUS RISK WITH THE INSTRUMENTS CLUSTER FAILING RANDOMLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496182February 2, 2013
SEATS
HONDA HAS A TSB FOR THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT. THE ISSUE IS THE SEAT ROCKS AS YOU ACCELERATE OR BRAKE LIKE A ROCKING CHAIR. I HAD MY LOCAL DEALER FIX THE SEAT UNDER THE TSB, HOWEVER SOON AFTER IT WAS FIXED THE ROCKING RETURNED AND I WAS TOLD THE WORK IS NO LONGER COVERED. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT WHERE YOU SIT ALONG THE LEFT SIDE IS WORN AND THE FABRIC IS CRACKED. I REALIZED THE WEAR AND TEAR IS ABOVE THE SEAT BASE WHERE THE TSB REPAIR WAS MADE. THE WEAR AND TEAR IS FROM THE INSIDE OF THE SEAT, NOT FROM THE DRIVER. I WAS TOLD THAT IT ISN'T COVERED AND I TRIED TO EXPLAIN HOW IT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE SEAT ROCKING. NONE OF THE OTHER SEATS HAVE A PROBLEM AND THIS IS ALONG THE SEAT FROM THE FRONT TO BACK, SAME AS THE BASE OF THE SEAT WHERE THE ROCKING TAKES PLACE. I WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED AND THE BASE OF THE SEAT RECALLED. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496181February 2, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
THERE IS A DEFINITE BREAKDOWN WITH THE BRAKE CALIPERS. I AM NOT A MECHANIC BUT REALIZED THE FAST DETERIORATION OF THE CALIPERS AND HAVE NOT HEARD OF THAT PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS AND I HAVE SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE BRAKES WERE NEVER THE SAME. THE VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE STOPPING WITH NEW BRAKES. I FLUSHED THE BRAKE FLUID WITH OFFICIAL HONDA BRAKE FLUID AND RECENTLY NOTICED THE ISSUE IS WITH THE CALIPERS. THEY ARE RUSTY AND THE METAL FLAKES OFF AND THE PISTONS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY ON ANY OF THE BRAKES. SOME BRAKES DON'T FULLY BRAKE AND ONE REAR CALIPER IS STUCK WHILE DRIVING SO THE PADS ARE ON THE ROTOR WHILE DRIVING. I HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE, THE CALIPERS ARE TO SQUEEZE AND RELEASE AND THEY NEVER HAVE SOON AFTER I GOT THE VEHICLE NEW. I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH THE HONDA DEALERS I HAVE TAKEN IT TO, BEFORE KNOWING THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH DETERIORATED CALIPERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN A FLOOD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I CAN'T IMAGINE I'M THE ONLY OWNER WITH THAT PROBLEM AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO FILE A COMPLAINT EARLIER OR WHAT A CALIPER WAS. I WOULD LIKE IT INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED IF NECESSARY. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494684January 25, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS ALSO HAPPENED ON 9/23/2011. BULBS ARE OK. DEALER SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. HONDA SAID IT'S NOT A RECALL. MANY PEOPLE REPORT SAME PROBLEM ON WEB. ALSO CRV HAS THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486361November 28, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO UNLOCK THE DOOR BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE CONTACT UNLOCKED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND ENTERED THE VEHICLE. AFTER SOME TIME, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485960November 25, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM HAS ALWAYS HAD A NICE FIRM PEDAL PRESSURE. RECENTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP I NOTICED THE PEDAL TO FEEL SPONGY, SOFT AND TRAVEL CLOSE TO THE FLOOR. I CHECKED FLUIDS ETC. AND ALL SEEM NORMAL. STILL HAVE ADEQUATE PAD THICKNESS ON ALL PADS. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SOFT, SPONGY PEDAL SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENT NOW. CHECKED THE INTERNET AND SEE THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ON 2007 AND 2008 ELEMENTS. BELIEVE IT MIGHT ALSO BE SHOWING UP ON OTHER YEARS ALSO. WE ALSO HAVE A 2004 ELEMENT AND THE PEDAL PRESSURE IS AS THE 2003 USED TO BE. THE 2003 IS AN EX 2WD AUTO AND THE 2004 IS AN EX AUTO AWD MODEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478056October 1, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND AS THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS SMOKE SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKES SEIZING WHEN THEY WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. UPDATED 10/18/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED TO DISREGARD THE COMPLAINT. THE ISSUE WAS FLUID CONTAMINATION. UPDATED 10/19/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470408August 13, 2012
ENGINE, SUSPENSION
EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE STICK SHIFT SHIMMY AND SHAKE. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER CAN FEEL CAR VIBRATING LIKE IT HAS A BAD WHEEL ALIGNMENT BUT WHEELS HAVE BRAND NEW TIRES AND ARE ALIGNED. MECHANIC SAYS IT SEEMS TO BE A BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL HONDA AND HONDA ELEMENT COMMUNITY FORUMS REPORTING THAT MOTOR MOUNTS BREAK WITH LOW MILEAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466902July 21, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
I PULLED THE HOOD RELEASE LATCH AND IT BROKE. IT ALMOST HIT ME IN THE LEFT EYE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465145July 10, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
LIKE MANY OTHERS, DRIVER SIDE DOOR KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO INSERT. THEN IT INSERTED AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN; DESPITE GREASING LOCK. NOW USING PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK. I AM HOPING THIS DOES NOT GET STUCK ON ME TOO LIKE IT HAS HAPPENED WITH MANY OTHERS. LOCK COSTS ~$33 ON EBAY AND $55 FROM DEALER, BUT THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE INSTALLATION AND IT LOCK WILL HAVE A SEPARATE KEY. I WAS QUOTED AROUND $350-375 TO HAVE A MATCHING LOCK INSTALLED. I AM WORRIED TO EVEN DO THIS BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT. THIS NEEDS TO BE MADE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453661March 31, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLAMP LOW BEAM THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE NEWEST RECALL ANNOUNCED BY HONDA. I BELIEVE THAT THE SAME COMPONENT IN MY VEHICLE IS IN THE CRV AND OTHER MODELS. HOW DOES THIS ISSUE GET ADDRESSED. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446217February 2, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
WINDSHIELD LEAKED WATER, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX. WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND WAS CITED BY POLICE OFFICER FOR NOT FIXING, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX. UPON REPLACEMENT THE REPAIR GUYS JUST LAUGHED AND SAID THAT THAT GLASS WAS SEATED IMPROPERLY AND ASKED WHO HAD REPLACED IT. I RESPONDED THAT IT WAS THE ORIGINAL, THEY TOLD ME NOT TO BUY ANY MORE HONDAS. KEY WOULD NO LONGER WORK IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. REPLACED SOMETHING AT DEALERSHIP FOR $800 AS WELL AS THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AS IT STOPPED MOVING DUE TO THE MOTOR DYING AT AROUND 60,000 MILES. NOW THE KEYS DON'T WORK IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE NOR DOES THE WINDOW. IN ANOTHER INCIDENT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AFTER FULLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 5-10 MPH AND DRIFTING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING MODERATE DAMAGE. HONDA HAS NOT RESPONDED TO ANY INQUIRES MADE BY CONSUMER. NOR HAS DEALERSHIP. I STILL OWE 10,000 DOLLARS ON THIS CAR, HAVE SPENT OVER 3000 IN REPAIRS AND AT THIS POINT WANT TO DRIVE IT INTO A TREE AT A HIGH SPEED. *KB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445847January 30, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE AND FLIPPED THE VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444029January 17, 2012
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO FUNCTION WHEN THEY WERE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE SIMILAR DEFECT PERTAINING TO THE 2003 HONDA ACCORD AND THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS 08V169000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444170January 11, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
WE INITIALLY HAD PROBLEMS OPENING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WITH THE KEY AND FOR A LONG TIME HAD TO OPEN THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND REACH OVER TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THIS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE WHEN WE WERE UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR ALSO AND SO HAD TO START LEAVING THE CAR UNLOCKED FROM FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET BACK IN. WE HAD TO PAY TO GET WIRELESS ENTRY INSTALLED IN THE CAR SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE A HABITUAL PROBLEM WITH THE ELEMENT AND WE WOULD JUST END UP IN THE SAME SITUATION AGAIN DOWN THE ROAD IF WE HAD CHOSEN TO GET THE CAR RE KEYED. SO FAR WE ARE STILL ABLE TO USE THE ORIGINAL KEY FOR THE IGNITION BUT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH ONE OF THE KEYS WORKING AND NOW ONLY HAVE ONE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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