Honda Element Complaints (2004)

281 consumer complaints on file.

#10374631January 4, 2011
SUSPENSION:REAR, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING A DEER AND THE LEFT REAR STRUTS SNAPPED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER 250 FEET. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,476.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10373480December 30, 2010
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT SPACER BUSHING WAS BROKEN AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO BECOME MOBILE WHILE DRIVING. BOTH THE DEALER AS WELL AS THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT IT WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR IT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372124December 22, 2010
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATING SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE AND INQUIRED WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370159December 10, 2010
AIR BAGS
2004 HONDA ELEMENT. CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *KB WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A RECALL PERFORMED ON THE IGNITION, HE WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS UNLESS IT MET THE IMPLIED WARRANTY PREREQUISITES. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM IN THE PAST, THAT INCORRECTLY REPORTED A PROBLEM THAT DID NOT EXIST. THE CONSUMER IS NOW WONDERING WILL HE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE AIR BAG LIGHT PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368287November 30, 2010
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367287November 23, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
LOWERED PASSENGER SIDE ELEC WINDOW 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. WINDOW WENT DOWN, WILL NOT COME BACK UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366842November 19, 2010
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT AND INCURRED NO IMPACT WHATSOEVER! HONDA SAID SRS CHIP (FOR AIRBAGS) INFO INDICATED ELEMENT WAS IN COLLISION...DESPITE THE CONTRARY. OUR INSURANCE SAYS IT WAS NOT, AND CLAIMED IT WAS DEFECTIVE HONDA PARTS. HONDA TECHNICIAN EVEN TOLD US NOT TO DRIVE TOO FAST OVER BUMPY ROADS??!! IT'S A 4X4!! HONDA REFUSED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. COSTS ABOUT $1200 TO FIX. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND I WILL KEEP PURSUING HONDA FOR THIS...THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365225November 10, 2010
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FELL DOWN AND WILL NOT CLOSE. THE MOTOR IN THE WINDOW WAS MOVING, BUT THE WINDOW WOULDN'T. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WINDOW WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY OR ANY RECALLS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED SINCE VEHICLE WAS NOT SECURE WITH THE WINDOW STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 22300. UPDATED 01/28/11*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355503September 14, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DEFECT: MECHANICAL DOOR LOCK ON 2004 HONDA ELEMENT FAILURE. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM OF ONE OR MORE OF THE TUMBLERS NOT MOVING. I HAVE FOUND OVER 300+SPECIFIC EMAILS ON AUTOMOBILE PROBLEMS REGARDING THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM (ELEMENT AND CRV) AND THE CORPORATION HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS AS A MECHANICAL DEFECT THAT THEY SHOULD REPLACE. BEING UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR COULD POSE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM SHOULD RAPID ACCESS BE NEEDED. THIS IS AN ACKNOWLEDGED AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. THE CORPORATE OFFICE DIRECTED ME TO THIS WEBSITE TO LODGE MY CONCERNS STATING THAT NHTSA DIRECTIVES WERE THE ONLY WAY THEY WOULD RESPOND TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348937August 12, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, SEAT BELTS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SEATS, SUSPENSION:FRONT, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EQUIPMENT
2004 HONDA ELEMENT: (I HAVE 2 AND BOTH HAVE THE FOLLOWING EXACT PROBLEMS)1. AIRBAGS WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING PROBLEMS 2. DRIVERS SEAT IS LOOSE AND ROCKS 3. PASSENGER SEAT CAUSES EXTREME DISCOMFORT TO HIP AND BACK ON LONG TIPS (THIS IS OCCURS WITH ALL PASSENGERS, YOUNG AND OLDER) 3. UNDER CARRIAGE BRUSHES FAILURE 4. A/C AIR COMPRESSOR FAILURE 5. STRAPS IN BACK SEATS PULLED OUT AND SEAT CANNOT BE RECLINED 6. ENGINE DECELERATES WITHOUT WARNING. POWER CUTBACK DURING PASSING MAKES THIS VERY DANGEROUS. 7. DRIVERS SEATBELT BUCKLE IS DIFFICULT TO SECURE (ONLY 1 CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM) 8. LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHEN CARS ARE BEING TURNED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346752August 2, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES FROM ANY SPEED, THE BRAKES WOULD ABNORMALLY SQUEAK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN NINE MONTHS. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKES. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN ONE YEAR AND A HALF. THE CONTACT THEN HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES, ROTORS AND CALIPERS. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN EIGHT MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 38,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ UPDATED 11/04/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336921June 18, 2010
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN DEPRESSION OF ACCELERATOR, WITH A RAPID RPM TO 7000. SECOND OCCURRENCE, MULTIPLE EPISODIC OCCURRENCE, DEFEATING THE POSSIBILITY OF DRIVER ERROR. RAPID SHIFT TO NEUTRAL SETTING HELPED TO REDUCE THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. IT MAY BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM AKIN TO TOYOTA. THE ACCELERATOR PROBLEM MAY AN ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING PROBLEM. THE CAR IN QUESTION IS A HONDA ELEMENT 2004. THE CAR SHOULD BE INSPECTED AND EXAMINED IN ORDER TO ISOLATE AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS INDEED A SYSTEMIC PRODUCT DEFECT. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO HONDA. THEIR BRUSQUE AND CURSORY ANSWER DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM REPORTED EARLIER. I HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THIS AUTOMOBILE'S SAFETY. AS A CUSTOMER OF SEVERAL HONDA CARS SINCE 1980, THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD BE ANALYZED AND SOLVED SO NEXT GENERATIONS OF HONDA OWNER DOES NOT EXPERIENCE SUCH A DISTRESSING AND HAZARDOUS CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336339June 14, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2004 HONDA ELEMENT. REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WEARING AWAY REPEATEDLY. PADS REPLACED/ROTORS RESURFACED TWICE BETWEEN 48,000 AND 65,000. AT 65,000, PADS 95% WORN AWAY AGAIN AND ROTORS DAMAGED. REAR PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 15K MILES. DEALER CONFIRMS THAT PADS WERE PROPERLY INSTALLED, CLAIMS TO NOT KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. WEB SEARCHES ON WWW.ELEMENTOWNERSCLUB.COM FINDS MANY INSTANCES OF THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH MANY OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE ROTORS RUSTING PREMATURELY AND OFTEN, THE CALIPERS STICKING, AND HONDA REFUSING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. IN SOME CASES, PROBLEMS BEGIN UNDER THE 10K MARK, AND UPWARDS FROM THERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325670April 14, 2010
VISIBILITY
I OWN A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT I HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD 4 TIMES DUE TO THE WINDSHIELD GETTING HIT BY A STONE OR PEBBLE IT CRACKS SO EASILY. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES IN MY 35 YEARS OF DRIVING BUT HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE THAT THIS HAPPENS TO SO FREQUENTLY. I REPORTED IT TO THE TWO DIFFERENT GLASS REPLACEMENT COMPANIES I USED CHECKING TO SEE IF THE GLASS WAS DEFECTIVE. OF COURSE THEY USE COMPANY OEM REQUIRED GLASS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321643March 23, 2010
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING DOWN EXPRESSWAY, STEERING WHEEL TILT LOCK CAME LOOSE ALLOWING STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE UP & DOWN. AFTER STOPPING & RAISING TILT LEVER TO UPWARD POSITION (LOCK), I CONTINUED ON AND IT DID IT AGAIN (LEVER FALLING DOWN). NOW LEVER WILL NOT REMAIN IN "UP" OR "LOCKED" POSITION. VERY UN-NERVING WHEN BRAKING OR TURNING. AWAITING RETURN CALL FROM OUT OF TOWN HONDA DEALER. LOCAL HONDA DEALER SAID THEY WANTED $90.00 UP FRONT AS A "DIAGNOSTIC FEE" BEFORE THEY WOULD EVEN LOOK AT IT........
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319106March 12, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY HONDA ELEMENT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATOR PROBLEM. WHEN I WAS TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER CAR, I STEPPED ON TO THE ACCELERATOR & SUDDENLY IT WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. I HAVE A MANUAL CONTROL SO I PUSHED THE CLUTCH DOWN AND AFTER 1/4 MILE THE PEDAL RELEASED. I HAVE NO FLOOR MATS, BUT IT GAVE THE FEELING OF THE MAT TRAPPING THE PEDAL DOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295227December 10, 2009
AIR BAGS
DRIVING 30 MPH ON 2-WAY ROAD. DRIVER COMING OTHER WAY CUT ME OFF, I SWERVED, HE HIT MY LEFT FRONT WITH HIS RIGHT FRONT. MY DRIVER AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY ALTHOUGH PASSENGER DID. I SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND CHEST TRAUMA AS A RESULT. HONDA 2004 ELEMENT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10291271November 6, 2009
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE DRIVERS SEAT BOLTS HAVE BECOME LOOSE. CONSEQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING, THE SEAT MOVES OUT OF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A FRACTURED RAIL WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,289.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277241July 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
HONDA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE CRV MODEL HONDA. THE ELEMENT HAS THE SAME RUNNING GEAR, BUT NO BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THERE ELEMENT....THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL LUBRICANT IS FAILING AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES; CAUSING A PARTIAL LOCK UP OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE SERVICE MANUAL CALLS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FLUID AT 90,000 MILES FOR NORMAL SERVICE AND 60,000 MILES FOR SEVERE SERVICE.. ONE NOTICES A JUDDER ON TURNING THE VEHICLE AT SLOW SPEEDS, AS THE DIFFERENTIAL CLUTCHES BIND WITH THE FAILED LUBRICANT. I SEE A POTENTIAL SEVER SAFETY PROBLEM AS A RESULT OF THE FAILED LUBRICANT AND A LOCKED UP DIFFERENTIAL. IF THE DIFFERENTIAL IS ONLY PARTIALLY BINDING, THIS FORCES THE VEHICLE TO ATTEMPT TO ALWAYS GO IN A STRAIGHT LINE, AS NO DIFFERENTIAL ACTION IS OCCURRING , NOT COMPENSATING FOR THE DIFFERENT TRACK OF THE INSIDE WHEN TURNING THROUGH A CURVE. AT THE MOST SEVERS SITUATION - WET SLICK,OR ICY ROADS, THIS LOCKED DIFFERENTIAL WILL CAUSE THE C=VEHICLE TO TRACK IN A STRAIGHT LINE, INSTEAD OF TURNING THROUGH A CURVE; CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LEAVE THE ROAD AND POTENTIALLY CRASH, INJURING THE OCCUPANTS. I CALLED HONDA SERVICE AND EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS. THEY AGREED SUCH COULD HAPPEN, BUT FELT THE BULLETIN ISSUED ON THE CRV WAS SATISFACTORY TO COVER THE ELEMENT. I DISAGREE, AS OWNERS WERE NOT CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE POTENTIAL SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND THE NEED TO REPLACE THE OIL AT THE EARLIER MILEAGES. I SUGGEST THAT HONDA MUST BE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY ALL OWNERS OF THE EL;EMANATE VERSION, ABOUT THE NEED FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE REQUIRE DIFFERENTIAL OIL, AND THE POTENTIAL OF A SERIOUS INCIDENT IF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL LOCKS UP FROM THE FAILED DIFFERENTIAL OIL. I FIRST NOTICED THIS WHEN THE DIFFERENTIAL BECAME NOISY AS I TURNED THROUGH A "U" TURN. ON CALLING MY DEALER, I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE CRV BULLETIN.....THOUGH IT DID NOT APPLY TO THE ELEMENT, THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274729June 23, 2009
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT IS ROCKING ON HONDA ELEMENT 04. I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS CAR. THE SEAT BEGAN ROCKING WHILE STILL IN WARRANTY BUT IT WASN'T "BAD" ENOUGH TO REQUIRE REPAIR - FINALLY THE DEALER "REPLACED A BOLT" 11/02/06. ALL FURTHER INFO BASED ON REPAIR DATE BECAUSE I DIDN'T RECORD ORIGINAL ROCKING DATE. IT BEGAN ROCKING AGAIN AND THE DEALER "WILL DO HIS BEST" TO DO A NON PERMANENT "BOLT FIX" AGAIN, BUT IT REALLY REQUIRES A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE BACK OR THE SEAT AND THE PARTS THAT HOLD IT TO THE FLOOR "BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET THE COMPONENT WE NEED SEPARATELY" - IT'S OUT OF OUR HANDS - THE FULL REPAIR - OVER $900.00! FOR SOMETHING HONDA KNOWS IS POORLY DESIGNED. COMPLETELY UNSATISFACTORY AND REASON ENOUGH NEVER TO BUY A HONDA AGAIN. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A BOLT - BUT IT'S THE ENTIRE DESIGN - AND CAN'T POSSIBLY BE SAFE. THEY ARE GOING TO 'RIG IT" AGAIN. EVERY ELEMENT ACCIDENT WITH INJURY TO THE DRIVER SHOULD REQUIRE A REVIEW OF THIS DEFECT - MAYBE WHEN SOMEONE GETS HURT THERE WILL BE SOME ACTION TAKEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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