Honda Element Complaints (2004)

281 consumer complaints on file.

#10200880August 27, 2007
SEATS
THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN MY '04 HONDA ELEMENT EX ROCKS BACK, ESPECIALLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO COME RIGHT OFF THE TRACK OR THAT THE BOLT WILL COME COMPLETELY LOOSE CAUSING THE SEAT OF MOVE IN SOME UNSAFE ANNER. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE IT MIGHT JUST SHEAR RIGHT OFF. THE SEAT WAS LOOSE WHEN I PURCHASED THE USED CAR. THE DEALER TIGHTENED IT AND NEVER MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING, UNSOLVED PROBLEM. I TOLD THE SALESMAN THAT I WOULD NOT BUY IF THE SEAT WAS NOT FIXED. WITHIN TWO MONTHS IT WAS LOOSE AND ROCKING. THE DEALERSHIPS TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS "A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL." THAT IS AN UNSATISFACTORY ANSWER. HONDA SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT CHARGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192094May 31, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED ABOUT 4 TIMES-WE HAVE GIVEN UP-BROUGHT IT TO 2 HONDA DEALERS-ACTED AS IF THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190825May 15, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WENT INTO SHOPPING MALL , CAME OUT AND FOUND WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN LOWER LEFT CORNER ON DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAD RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM HONDA CONCERNING WINDSHIELD CRACKING RESULTING FROM LITTLE OR NO IMPACT". A FEW MONTHS EARLIER I TOOK IT TO DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS FROM AN UNKNOWN IMPACT, AND WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. I SHOWED THEM THE LETTER AND ASKED THEM TO DEFINE"LITTLE OR NO IMPACT WHICH WAS IN THE LETTER - THEY DECLINED AND SAID THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190695May 14, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2004 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKING IN FRONT OF DRIVER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183957March 1, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183026February 20, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO USE THE HORN IT WAS INOPERABLE. OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE HORN WORKED THE SOUND WAS VERY LOW. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. *AK UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182178February 10, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
DESIGN PROBLEM: ON MY 2004 HONDA ELEMENT, THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR IS NOT LOUD ENOUGH TO HEAR, OR BRIGHT ENOUGH TO SEE. FURTHERMORE, IT SEEMS THE (AUTOMATIC) SWITCH TO TURN THE TURN SIGNAL OFF IS NOT ADJUSTED PROPERLY. THE RESULT OF THESE DESIGN FLAWS IS THAT I FIND THAT MY TURN SIGNAL IS LEFT ON AFTER MAKING TURNS THAT ARE < 90 DEGREES. AFTER REVIEWING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE DEALER, THEY SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. RECCOMENDATION: MAKE ALL TURN SIGNALS MEET MINIMUM AUDIBLE/ VISUAL STANDARDS AND HAVE TIME OUT DEVICES THAT AUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF TURN SIGNALS AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178844January 16, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN ON MY 2004 HONDA ELEMENT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ANYMORE, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT MANY HONDA ELEMENT OWNER HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HORN IN THERE CAR AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SYSTEM, IT SEEMS THAT THE HORN STOPS WORKING AFTER 36, 000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178265January 9, 2007
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEATER CORE IS DEFECTIVE. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED @ $1100. DID NOT NOTICE TROUBLE UNTIL WEATHER TURNED COLD SO IT PROBABLY STARTED WELL BEFORE MY 36000/36 MONTHS WARRANTY RAN OUT,PLUS WE HAD A MILD WINTER IN MD IN 2006/07. VEHICLE HAD 39,377 WHEN TAKEN INTO DEALER. MOSTLY, I CANNOT BELIEVE THE HEATER CORE WOULD WEAR OUT SO SOON. IT WAS MOST LIKELY DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY. I ALWAYS NOTICED VERY LITTLE HEAT FROM THE FLOOR VENTS WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BUT THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A DESIGN ISSUE, NOT A MECHANICAL ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER @ ANOTHER DEALER WAS SHOCKED IT NEED REPLACEMENT SO SOON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175453December 7, 2006
SEATS
THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN OUR '04 HONDA ELEMENT EX IS ACTUALLY ROCKING BACK AND FORTH AND SIDEWAYS! IT FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO COME RIGHT OFF THE TRACK. THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE IT MIGHT JUST SHEAR RIGHT OFF. THIS BEGAN WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR AND HAS PROGRESSED. WE HAVE HEARD MANY OTHERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, SO WE KNOW IT'S NOT ISOLATED. ALL THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE TOLD US IT WOULD COST US TO HAVE IT FIXED, SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL. THIS IS CRAZY! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169498September 28, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY FRONT WINDSHIELD CHIPPED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE HONDA DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT 2003 AND 2004 HONDA ELEMENTS ARE PRONE TO THIS PROBLEM BUT CLAIMED HE HAS NO AUTHORITY TO MAKE THE REPAIR. I HAVE NOW FOUND THIS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. HONDA EVEN SENT A SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS (03-028 DATED MAY 6, 2003) DETAILING HOW TO CORRECT THE UNEVEN WINDSHIELD FLANGE SURFACE CAUSING THE WINDSHIELDS TO CRACK. THE UNEVEN WINDSHIELD FLANGE SURFACE AND UPRIGHT ANGLE OF THE WINDSHIELD CAUSE STRESSES IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT MAKE IT UNNECESSARILY LIKELY TO CHIP OR CRACK. THIS DESIGN FLAW IS HONDA'S RESPONSIBILITY AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165310August 12, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
STRESS CRACK(S) IN WINDSHIELD . HONDA REPLACED ONE, REFUSED TO DO MORE. NOW ON 4TH WINDSHIELD. SECOND ELEMENT HAS PICKED UP 4 CRACKS IN 6 MONTHS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162183July 12, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY WINDSHIELD HAS STARTED TO CRACK, VERY SIMILAR TO PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON THIS WEBSITE ABOUT EARLIER MODEL YEAR HONDA ELEMENTS. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH ABOUT 12 INCHES FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LEFT EDGE. THERE ARE NO, REPEAT NO CHIPS OR DINGS THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS EVENT. IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT HONDA IS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE ADDITIONAL MODEL YEAR ELEMENTS. THOSE PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED THAT THE WELDED SEAMS ALONG WHERE THE WINDSHIELD RESTS ON THE FRAME HAD HIGH SPOTS THAT WERE CAUSING THE STRESS CRACKS. CURRENTLY, THE CRACK IS ABOUT 12 INCHES LONG, BUT GROWS A LITTLE MORE EVERY WEEK. SURE, I COULD HAVE MY INSURANCE COMPANY REPLACE IT, AND I PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE, BUT THIS IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM THAT HONDA HAS BEEN HAVING AND I EXPECT HONDA TO FIX IT, ESPECIALLY SINCE ACCORDING TO THE STATE ON MARYLAND, CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ARE A SAFETY CONCERN, SO I EXPECT THIS AGENCY TO FORWARD THIS COMPLAINT TO HONDA. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160514June 13, 2006
AIR BAGS
2004 HONDA ELEMENT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT SHE PROBABLY HIT A POT HOLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158261May 25, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2004 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE SITTING IN PARKING LOT BEHIND MY HOME. VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN AT THE TIME THE CRACK OCCURRED. CRACK BEGINS AT TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND CURVES TOWARD THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154302March 31, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
ON A RESENT TRIP TO COLDER CLIMATES, WHERE THERE WAS STILL SOME SNOW ON THE GROUND, WHILE PARKING IN A PARKING LOT, I HIT A SMALL PATCH OF SNOW AND SLID INTO A TREE. NORMALLY I WOULD EXPECT NO DAMAGE DUE TO THE LOW SPEED I WAS TRAVELING AT AROUND 5 MPH AND CAR BUMPERS TO PROTECT THE VEHICLE IN LOW SPEED MISHAPS. HOWEVER, WITH THE DESIGN OF THE 2004 HONDA ELEMENT I OWN THERE IS NO BUMPER IN THE FRONT CENTER FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 INCHES. THIS LEAVES THE CAR WITH NO PROTECTION IF STRUCK IN THAT AREA. THERE WERE TWO PASSENGERS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. WHILE WE WERE HARDLY EVEN JOLTED BY THE IMPACT, THE CAR SUSTAINED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE IN THE AMOUNT OF OVER $7000. HOWEVER MY CONCERN HERE IS NOT LIMITED TO WHAT HAPPENED TO ME AT SUCH A LOW SPEED IMPACT BUT ALSO WHAT WOULD BE THE RESULT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IF THE CAR WAS STRUCK OR SKIDDED IN A SIMILAR WAY AS MY ACCIDENT. THE RESULTS WOULD PROBABLY BE DISASTROUS WITH CONSIDERABLE LOSSES POSSIBLE. IF POSSIBLE THEN, THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154007March 29, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, STRUCTURE
2004 HONDA ELEMENT. CRACKED WINDSHIELD X3 FIXES.....CRACKED AGAIN BY NO FAULT OF ROCKS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152479March 11, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, STRUCTURE
2004 HONDA ELEMENT : 2ND WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT IN 6 MONTHS . THE CRACKS ALWAYS START IN THE BLACK AREA FROM BELOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES. *JB HONDA DENIES ANY KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE WINDSHIELD FRAME . HONDA REPLACED FIRST WINSHIELD APPROX. 6 MONTHS AGO . THE 2ND REPLACEMENT HONDA REFUSED TO COVER/WARRANTY. I HAVE A SIGNED STATEMENT FROM THE WINDOW TECHNICHIAN THAT CAME OUT AND REPLACED MY 2ND WINDSHIELD STATING; THE CRACK IN MY WINSHIELD WAS CAUSED BY STRESS AND THAT THE BOTTOM CORNERS OF THE PINCHWELD ON BOTH SIDES ARE BROKE AWAY FROM THE WELDS AND ARE LOOSE . MY INSURANCE POLICY COVERED THE 2ND REPLACEMENT HOWEVER, I FEEL HONDA SHOULD HAVE. AFTER RESEARCHING MY VEHICLE TODAY ON LINE, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE IS A PENDING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST AMERICAN HONDA AND AN ALARMING NUMBER SITES WITH HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS OR LEASERS SHARING MY SAME CONCERNS . I WANT HONDA IN WRITTING, ASSURE ME THAT THIS DEFECT IN DESIGN OR, THE WAY THEY WILL ATTEMPT TO FIX IT WILL NOT CAUSE INJURY TO ME OR MY PASSENGERS OR LOSS OF LIFE TO MYSELF OR MY PASSENGERS IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT . I WOULD ALSO LIKE THEM TO WARANTY THE WINDSHIELD FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152165March 8, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
A STRESS CRACK APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. CRACK BEGAN FROM BELOW THE PLASTIC MOLDING AND BELOW THE LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER. THERE WAS NO IMPACT POINT FROM A ROCK OR OTHER OBJECT. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO BLAME IT ON A SMALL CHIP IN THE AREA OF THE CRACK--CHIP WAS 1/2 MM IN DIAMETER AND 1/4 OF A MM IN DEPTH. I HAVE NUMEROUS SMALL CHIPS LIKE THIS AND NONE HAVE CAUSED A CRACK. THE DEALER AT FIRST CLAIMED THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY THE SMALL CHIP. AFTER I POINTED OUT OTHER CHIPS AND ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE 2003 SERVICE BULLETIN AND CURRENT LAWSUIT, THE MANAGER CALLED THE HONDA REP. THE HONDA REP SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE IT AS A ONE TIME GOOD WILL GESTURE--THUS, RELIEVING THEMSELVES OF ANY LIABILITY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151771March 4, 2006
STRUCTURE, SEATS
HONDA ELEMENT - DRIVER SEAT STARTED ROCKING 7 MONTHS OLD. UNSAFE. CLEARLY SOME IS LOOSE AND THERE ARE THE COMPLAINT IS OUT THERE AND REAL. THIS IS TRULY UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE EMBRACED ASAP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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