Honda Element Complaints
1,283 consumer complaints on file.
- #10160514June 13, 2006AIR 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, 2006VISIBILITY: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
- #10157124May 9, 2006VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
HELLO, I PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD IN FEBRUARY, 2006. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND NOW IT IS CRACKED ONCE AGAIN IN PRETTY MUCH THE SAME PLACE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10154302March 31, 2006STRUCTURE: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, 2006VISIBILITY: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
- #10153510March 23, 2006SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2003 HONDA ELEMENT REAR BRAKES ARE TOTALLY SHOT NEEDING NEW PADS, ROTORS ETC. AND HONDA IS BLAMING "RUST BUILDUP," AND SAYING THAT IT IS OUR FAULT FOR NOT SERVICING THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED EACH TIME THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED OR TIRES ROTATED. HONDA'S CONTENTION THAT THE BRAKES SHOULD BE "TAKEN APART AND CLEANED DUE TO "SEVERE CONDITIONS" IS RIDICULOUS. WE DO LIVE IN NORTHEASTERN OHIO BUT EVEN THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS DRIVING IN SEVERE CONDITIONS OCCASIONALLY DOESN'T NECESSARILY PUT YOU IN THAT CATEGORY. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY VEHICLE THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE DISASSEMBLED AND CLEANED EVERY 10,000 MILES. COST TO REPAIR IS $450.00. IN ADDITION, MY WIFE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT BRAKE NOISE AND WAS TOLD BOTH TIMES TO GO OUT AND "JAM ON THE BRAKES HARD TO RELEASE DIRT BUILDUP ON THE BRAKES." AT NO TIME WAS SHE EVER ADVISED TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10152479March 11, 2006VISIBILITY: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, 2006VISIBILITY: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
- #10151766March 4, 2006AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE DRIVING, THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE VEHICLE WAS 6 MONTHS OLD AT THE TIME AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOMETHING MAY HAVE HIT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10151771March 4, 2006STRUCTURE, 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
- #10151304February 27, 2006TIRES
215/70 16 WRANGLER HP VERY NOISY LAST 10,000 MILES. SUSPECT SAFETY OF TIRES. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10151187February 25, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING WEST ON INTERSTATE 10 NEAR BROOKSHIRE TX I REACHED INTO THE TRAY ON THE RIGHT DRIVER SIDE (IN DASH NEXT TO STEERING COLUMN) AND APPARENTLY BRUSHED THE REMOTE (HANGING ON THE KEY RING) AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE TWO LANE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO DRIVE OFF THE EXIT WITH NO POWER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO RESTART.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10151151February 24, 2006AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING MY HONDA ELEMENT DOWN A FAIRLY BUSY STREET AT 45 MILES AN HOUR. A MAN PULLED OUT OF A STRIP MALL PARKING LOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. ALTHOUGH I HONKED MY HORN AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, I COULD NOT AVOID HITTING HIM. MY CAR HAS EXTREME FRONT END DAMAGE AND IT WAS A HIGH IMPACT CRASH, HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR IF IT WILL BE DETERMINED TO BE TOTALED, BUT IF IT ISN'T, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR IN THE FUTURE. *JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10151056February 23, 2006VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT, A CRACK FORMED IN THE CORNER OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS PRESENT THAT CAUSED THE CRACK. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY STRESS FROM THE VEHICLE'S STRUCTURE. THERE WERE TWO TSB FOR THE WINDSHIELD, NHTSA ITEM NUMBERS 10009029 AND 10001628. THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER TSB BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10150721February 21, 2006SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, TIRES
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A SCREECHING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR BRAKES WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT SPEEDS OF 2 MPH AND ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR AN INSPECTION DUE TO THE NOISE. THE INSPECTOR DETERMINED THE BRAKE PADS WERE WORN AND THE ROTORS WERE SCORED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE REAR BRAKE PAD AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THE TIRES WERE WORN AROUND THE TREAD ALTHOUGH, NO INCIDENTS OR PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED ABOUT THE TIRES PREVIOUSLY. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED, THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLE AND THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS A PART OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE REAR ABS ROTOR WAS BADLY WORN. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRE BECAUSE IT WAS LOOSING AIR DUE TO A SCREW. UPDATED 03/09/06
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10149889February 9, 2006VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
HONDA NEEDS TO ADMIT FAULT ON THEIR WINDSHIELDS AND RECALL THEIR ELEMENTS. MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND DEALER WILL NOT MAKE GOOD ON THEIR DEFECTS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10149836February 8, 2006VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
BOUGHT A NEW 2004 HONDA ELEMENT IN MAY 2004 AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD DUE TO CRACK ONCE PLUS REPAIRED TWO STONE CHIPS. PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD OUT OF OWN POCKET AS DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE AFTER EXAMINING WITH PEN. ONCE AGAIN RECEIVED ANOTHER CRACKED WINDSHIELD YESTERDAY AFTER BEING HIT BY A ROCK ON THE HIGHWAY ON THE WAY HOME. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10149334February 2, 2006VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I HAVE A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT, I HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP...FORTUNATELY THE DEALER CONSIDERED IT A "STRESS CRACK" & REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD AT NO COST TO ME. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, I NOTICED ANOTHER CRACK, I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO REPAIR IT AS IT WAS IN A NON-CRITICAL AREA. IT HAS NOW BEEN ABOUT 1 YEAR & THERE ARE NOW 3 CRACKS IN THE "NEW" WINDSHIELD...CLEARLY THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES & HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE WINDSHIELDS LIKE THIS?. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10148433January 24, 2006VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASE FROM THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD UP. CAME OUT ONE MORNING AND THERE WAS THE CRACK. NO ROCK IMPACT AS THE DEALER ALLEGED! THEY JAMMED A SHARP PEN INTO THE CRACK, AND SAID, LOOK, THIS WAS CAUSED BY A ROCK, & REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. CRIMINAL, IF YOU ASK ME! MANY OTHER ELEMENT OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS SAME PROBLEM TO ME. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WAS PRONE TO ATTRACTING ROCK & PEBBLE OFF THE ROADS, A SEPARATE ISSUE FROM THAT COMMON CRACKING PROBLEM. IT'S A DANGEROUS FLAW THAT HONDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS AND REPAIR. A RECALL IS IN ORDER!*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10147747January 13, 2006VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON HIGHWAY 395 IN CALIFRONIA COMING BACK FROM MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN IN MY 04 HONDA ELEMENT WHEN I HEARD A LOUD CRACK FROM MY WINDSHIELD AND DISCOVERED AN L SHAPE CRACK FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE, THERE WAS NOT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER I GOT HOME THE CRACK GREW 4 INCHES UPWARD. WENT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS BOTH TOLD ME IT IS CAUSE BY A ROCK HIT. I CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT WAS CAUSE BY A ROCK, I DID A SEARCH ON GOOGLE, THIS SEEM TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR HONDA ELEMENT. I FINALLY HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACE, OLD WINDSHIELD WAS DESTROYED BY THE REPAIR SHOP. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0