Honda Element Complaints

1,283 consumer complaints on file.

#10286077October 2, 2009
SEATS
OWNER OF A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH, GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND NOW ROCKING LEFT AND ROCK. THIS PRESENTS A DANGER WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND BRAKE DURING DRIVING. SINCE THE PROBLEM IS WORSENING I FEEL THAT AT SOME POINT MY SEAT WILL DEFINITELY COME UNMOUNTED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. HONDA'S LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND CORPORATE OFFICE REFUSE TO FIX THIS ISSUE FOR FREE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A MULTITUDE OF INJURIES - EVEN WHIPLASH FROM JERKING OF THE VEHICLE. A SERVICE BULLETINS WAS ISSUED YET HONDA CLAIMS THEY DO NOT SEE THIS AS AN ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUE FOR ME WHEN DRIVING ESPECIALLY DURING STOP AND START AND TURNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282898September 4, 2009
SEAT BELTS
I BELIEVE THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT ON MY CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS BELT CINCHES SO TIGHTLY THAT I MUST REMOVE IT WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. IT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE RACHETING SYSTEM INTENDED FOR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. IT IS UNSAFE AND HONDA HAS NO FIX FOR THIS. BMW FIXED MY 5-SERIES, AND GM PROVIDED ME A SEAT BELT EXTENDER WHICH SOMEHOW STOPS THE CINCHING FROM OCCURRING. A FRIEND HAS THE SAME CAR (OLDER MODEL) AND SHE HAS DISABLED HER SEAT BELT BECAUSE SHE CAN'T BREATHE. IS THERE SOMETHING WHICH CAN BE DONE TO AID ME IN GETTING HONDA TO FIX THIS SCARY SITUATION. THE PROBLEM IS ONGOING, THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281431August 22, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR LOCK WILL NOT OPEN. STARTING IN 2007, THE DRIVER'S SIDE (MOST USED DOOR) DOOR LOCK BECAME DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. BY MARCH 2009 THE KEY NO LONGER FUNCTIONED AT ALL. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO LEAVE THE CAR LOCKED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280778August 17, 2009
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS DURING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. THIS IS POSSIBLY A SAFETY ISSUE IN AN ACCIDENT IF THE SEAT FIXTURES WERE TO BREAK. ALSO THE SEAT BELT CONFIGURATION MAKES EGRESS IMPOSSIBLE FROM THE REAR SEATS ONLY. THERE IS NO INTERIOR HANDLE FOR A REAR SEAT PASSENGER TO OPEN THE DOOR IN AN EMERGENCY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279358August 4, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIRBAG SELF CHECK LIGHT NEVER LIT IN THE TIME THAT WE HAD CAR. DRIVER ONLY- WITH SEATBELT. CAR HIT POLE WITH L FRONT CAUSING APPROXIMATELY $10K DAMAGE TO CAR. RIGHT AIRBAG DEPLOYED, LEFT DID NOT. SENSORS AND CONTROL MODULE REPLACED BY BODY SHOP DURING DAMAGE REPAIR. CONCERNED THAT IF THERE IS ANOTHER MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENT, SAME THING WILL HAPPEN. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278531July 28, 2009
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS WHEN ACCELERATING OR BRAKING. HONDA HAS ISSUED TSB BUT REFUSES TO COVER COST OF FIX IF VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MY CAR IS A 2005 BUT THE TSB COVERS ALL VEHICLES FROM 2003-2006. *TR
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
#10277001July 16, 2009
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE DRIVING ON I95 NORTHBOUND AT APPROX. 60 MILES PER HOUR, MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT SIDE-DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY; IT FELT LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF. MY 12 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER IN THE BACK CAR SEAT WAS COMPLETELY TRAUMATIZED BY THE SEVERITY OF THE EVENT. MY EARS WERE RINGING AND MY LEFT REAR SHOULDER WAS HIT BY THE BAG. NOTHING HIT MY CAR TO CAUSE THE DEPLOYMENT. AFTER REGAINING MY COMPOSURE I CONTACTED HONDA USA WHO TOLD ME TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY. MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THEY DO NOT COVER AN EVENT SUCH AS THIS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO APPARENT COLLISION. HONDA USA THEN SAID TO TAKE IT TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE ELEMENT AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS OR REASON AS TO WHY THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. HONDA USA ASSIGNED ME A CASE #, BUT HAS YET TO CONTACT ME. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP ALSO REFUSED TO RELEASE MY CAR BECAUSE THEY NOW DEEM THE CAR "UNSAFE TO DRIVE". I CAN GET THE CAR IF I SIGN A WAIVER STATING THAT I WILL NOT SUE THE HONDA DEALERSHIP IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. MY ATTORNEY HAS BEEN CONTACTED. ALSO, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER DEPLOYED AIRBAGS. THE SITUATION STILL REMAINS UNRESOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276746July 14, 2009
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 HONDA ELEMENT DOWN THE ROAD TO GET OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CAR ONLY HAS 24,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS IN ARROWHEAD HONDA IN PEORIA, AZ ON JUNE 30TH 09 FOR A OIL CHANGE. AS I WAS DRIVING THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG(SEAT AIRBAG) DEPLOYED. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY LOAD BANG. I PULLED OVER TO SEE IF IT WAS MY TIRE OR WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ROAD AT ALL. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN. I TOOK IT BACK TO ARROWHEAD HONDA, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT. THEY SAID I HAD TO FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM FOR THIS. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. HONDA NEEDS TO FIX THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276765July 14, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE DEPLOYMENT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF AIR BAGS DEPLOYING WITHOUT AN IMPACT OCCURRING AND WOULD NOT ASSUME LIABILITY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 26,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276490July 13, 2009
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG, IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBACK, DEPLOYED ACCIDENTALLY IN MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WE WERE DRIVING VERY SLOWLY ON A GRAVEL ROAD. WE THOUGHT WE HAD BEEN SHOT AT, WITH THE LOUD BANG AND MY PASSENGER'S SWEARING AND GRABBING HIS ARM. I AM GOING TO CLICK BELOW TO SAY THERE WAS AN INJURY, BUT IT WAS ONLY BRUISING TO THE UPPER ARM. IT WAS PAINFUL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10276402July 11, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES ARE SPONGY ON 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL HAS INCREASED, ESPECIALLY ON HARD BRAKING. THIS HAS DEVELOPED MOSTLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. NO ACCIDENTS, BUT A COUPLE OF CLOSE CALLS BECAUSE THE CAR DOES NOT STOP AS QUICKLY AS IT SHOULD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276416July 11, 2009
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
ON 3/31/09, I ROLLED MY HONDA ELEMENT FOUR TIMES (ACCORDING TO FHP REPORT) ON I-95, TO AVOID A CONSTRUCTION LADDER. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. AMONG OTHER INJURIES, I SUFFERED TWO FULL-WIDTH ROTATOR CUFF TEARS TO MY LEFT SHOULDER. THIS WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG ONLY PARTIALLY DEPLOYING. I HAVE DOCUMENTED WITH SEVERAL PICTURES OR THE BAG STILL FOLDED INSIDE THE SEAT FABRIC PANEL. THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED FULLY, AND YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN DEPLOYMENT SIZE DIFFERENCE OF DRIVERS SIDE VS. PASSENGERS SIDE. HONDA WAS NOTIFIED, AND DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10276351July 10, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I NOTICED THAT THE SIDE DOORS LATCH ALONG THE RUNNING BOARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY 2006 HONDA ELEMENT HAD COME LOOSE. THE TWO SIZABLE BOLTS THAT SHOULD SECURE THE LATCH TO THE VEHICLE BODY FLOAT FREELY WHEN THE LATCH CAN BE MOVED BY HAND. VISUALLY, THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMS TO BE KEEPING THE LATCH FROM FALLING ONTO THE STREET IS THE BLACK PLASTIC INTERIOR STRIPS THAT OVERLAP THE FLANGE OF THE LATCH. LOOKS TO ME THAT IF THAT LATCH COMES FREE FROM THE VEHICLE THEN BOTH DOORS COULD POTENTIALLY SWING OPEN CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275842July 6, 2009
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE AUTOMATIC AIR CIRCULATION FAN ACTIVATED. SUDDENLY, THE REAR TAILGATE WINDOW GLASS SHATTERED INTO PIECES. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNABLE TO BE ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 18,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275612July 2, 2009
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TO SCHOOL WHEN SUDDENLY THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG EXPLODED INTO HER SIDE. SHE HADN'T HIT A POT HOLE AND HADN'T RUN OVER ANYTHING. SHE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CHECKED TO SEE IF SHE HAD BEEN SHOT. SHE SAID SMOKE OR A GAS RELEASED FROM THE AIRBAG. SHE TOOK IT TO THE CLOSEST HONDA DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. THE DEALERSHIP DID AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SENSORS AND EXAMINED UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THEY SAID THAT THE CAR MUST HAVE RUN OVER AN OBJECT THAT SET THE SENSORS OFF BECAUSE THEY SAID THERE WAS A SMALL GASH THAT RAN PARALLEL TO THE CAR;S BODY. MY DAUGHTER DID NOT NOTICE ANY DEBRIS ON THE ROAD. EVEN IF SHE DID RUN OVER ROAD DEBRIS, WHY ARE SENSORS PLACED IN THIS SPOT UNDER THE SIDESTEP WHERE ANY LITTLE BUMP CAUSES THE SENSORS TO MAKE THE AIRBAG EXPLODE. THEY OFFERED TO HAVE THE SENSORS AND SEAT AIRBAG REPLACE AT A COST TO US. WE DECLINED AS WE FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD PAY FOR THIS SINCE THE SENSORS ARE PLACED IN A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT CAUSING POSITION WHERE ANY BUMP CAN SET IT OFF CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO EXPLODE WITHOUT NECESSARILY BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275398June 30, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE AN 08 HONDA ELEMENT THAT I BOUGHT NEW. FROM 1ST DAY I'VE OWNED IT I THOUGHT THE BRAKES FELT SOFT/MUSHY. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME GETTING USED TO A NEW VEHICLE, AT TIMES NOW BRAKES WHEN I'VE STOPPED HARD IT FELT LIKE ELEMENT PEDAL WAS AT THE FLOOR AND I WONDERED IF VEHICLE WAS GOING TO STOP. I NOW KNOW THAT SEVERAL OTHER ELEMENT OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM AND HONDA HAS ISSUED A TSB ON IT. SEVERAL THAT HAVE HAD THE TSB DONE ARE SAYING THAT THEY STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I BROUGHT MINE IN AND THE DEALER HAS ORDERED THE VSA MODULATOR. I JUST WANT TO BE ON RECORD THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM THAT HONDA MAY HAVE TO DO MORE THAN THEY ARE CURRENTLY DOING TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. BRAKES ARE NOT A PROBLEM TO TAKE LIGHTLY. I BOUGHT MY ELEMENT NEW IN APR 08. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275092June 27, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2008 HONDA ELEMENT BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL IS EXCESSIVE AND THE BRAKES ARE AT TIMES SOFT. *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
#10274568June 22, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MUSHY BRAKES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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