Honda Element Complaints

1,283 consumer complaints on file.

#10102112December 3, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED BELOW DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER WITH NO IMPACT NOTED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100939December 2, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD FAILURE-CRACK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100747November 30, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD IN HONDA ELEMENT. I HAD THE HONDA ELEMENT LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AND DEVELOPED MY FIRST CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE NOW HAD IT FOR 3 MONTHS AND HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED ANOTHER CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. I AM NOT THE ONLY HONDA ELEMENT OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED MY OTHER CARS FOR 8 AND 11 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS WITH THEM. I REALLY DO BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT HONDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100277November 21, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
BOUGHT 2004 HONDA ELEMENT EX IN FEB 2004. SINCE THEN HAVE HAD 2 STONE CHIPS AND NOW HAVE A CRACK ALONG THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR ONLY HAS 6,000 MILES ON IT. I'VE HAD CARS THAT HAVE LASTED 100,000 MILES WITH LESS DAMAGE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100217November 19, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2003 ELEMENT DEVEOPED A CRACK IN THE WIDSHIELD STARTING AT THE EDGE OF THE GLASS IN THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD AND SPREADING ACROSS THE GLASS. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER, AND THEY REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND KEPT TRYING TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A STONE CHIP. THEY POINTED OUT A TINY ONE THE SIZE OF A PIN HEAD MIDWAY DOWN THE CRACK. WHEN I ASKED HOW THE CRACK MANAGED TO START AT THE EDGE OF THE WINSHIELD AND MEET THE CHIP, THEY JUST KEPT SAYING THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE CHIP AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO DO WITH IT. THEY HAD NO INTEREST AT ALL IN RESOLVING WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS DEFECT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100040November 16, 2004
STEERING:COLUMN, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2003 HONDA ELEMENT, FRONT WINDOW CRACKED UNDER THE SEAL UP ON THE RIGHT HAND PASSENGER SIDE. POPPING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN DEVELOPED AFTER APPROX 15K MILES. POWER STEERING ROD REPLACED IN AUG 04. RETURNED TO DEALER IN SEPTEMBER. WAS TOLD THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE; HOWEVER, SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO HEAR IT AND SAID IT SOUNDED AS IF THE AIRBAG SPRING WERE LOOSE. WAS NOT FIXED, REPORT CLAIMED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. RETURNED TO DEALER THE FOLLOWING WEEK. HAD TWO SERVICE TECHNICIANS RIDE IN THE VEHICLE, THEY BOTH HEARD THE NOISE AND REPLACED A TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. POPPING NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS IN EITHER DIRECTION AND AT TIMES EVEN WHEN DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098764November 12, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THIS WAS ON A NEW VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098443November 8, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED, NO COLLISION. CRACK CONTINUED TO GROW. HAD TO REPLACE ON MY OWN EXPENSE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098285November 4, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT SUSTAINED A CRACKED FRONT WINDSHIELD WITHOUT ANYTHING CONTACTING IT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW FROM THE DEALER IIN JANUARY OF 2004. THE HONDA DEALER REPAIRED THE FIRST CRACKED WINDOW GRATIS IN MARCH OF 2004. I BROUIGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER ON MONDAY OCT. 25. THE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER PUT A PEN DOWN THE CRACK WHICH STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW AND TOLD ME AGAIN THAT SOMETHING HIT THE WINDOW AND IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX IT THIS TIME BECAUSE THEY FIXED THE FIRST ONE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098292November 4, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091097November 1, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I WAS DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY WITH NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME, HEARD A POP AND A 5" CRACK APPEARED ON MY WINDSHIELD(DRIVERS SIDE). THE CRACK HAS GROWN AN ADDITIONAL 3-4 INCHES IN THE PAST WEEK. THERE IS "NO EVIDENCE" OF ROAD OR ROCK DEBRIS HAVING HIT IT. *JB THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED WARRANTY COVERAGE ALTHOUGH A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NM *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097971October 29, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WITH VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND WITH ENGINE RUNNING, THE CAR WILL ROLL BACKWARD DOWN HILL. MY DRIVEWAY HAS A SMALL INCLINE - VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARD WHILE IN GEAR (DRIVE) WITH ENGINE RUNNING. 2004 HONDA ELEMENT EX.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097931October 28, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE OTHER DAY I WAS LEAVING FROM WORK, AND UPON ENTERING MY HONDA ELEMENT I NOTICED A 4"-6" CRACK ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD, STRETCHING FROM JUST BELOW THE WIPER BLADE TO APPROXIMATELY 4" UP THE PILLAR. UPON NOTICING THIS I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE ELEMENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER CAME OUT AND DID THE "PEN TEST" AND THE "PEN TEST FOUND A SMALL PIT ALONG THE CRACK." THE SERVICE MANAGER EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THIS PIT WAS CAUSED FROM POSSIBLY A ROCK THAT HIT THE WINDSHIELD JUST ON THE EDGE OF THE WEATHER STRIPING. WITH THIS ANSWER SEEMING A LITTLE STRANGE TO ME I DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FOUND A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN MY COWORKER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT HE DIDN'T THINK TWICE ABOUT THE HONDA ELEMENT, TRUSTING THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS CORRECT HE TURNED IT INTO HIS INSURANCE. I ALSO CAME ACROSS A CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT WAS FILED AUGUST. 04, 2004 AGAINST HONDA SITTING THE SAME PROBLEMS. ON TOP OF THIS FINDING I ALSO NOTICED THAT MAY 6TH, 2003 (ONLY SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE ELEMENT WAS ON THE MARKET FOR THE PUBLIC) HONDA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN SITTING THE SAME PROBLEM IN ONLY A SELECT FEW OF THE ELEMENTS. I FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD BE BACKING THERE PRODUCT WHETHER IT BE A DESIGN FLAW, WEAK GLASS, OR A ROCK THAT DAMAGED MY WINDSHIELD DUE TO UN UNSEEN AMOUNT OF STRESS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096299October 24, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHEILD DEVELOPED CRACK OVERNIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EVEN DRIVEN IN 5 DAYS PRIOR TO APPEARANCE OF THE CRACK. THE CRACK APPEARED TO START FROM THE LOWER EDGE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE CORNER AND SNAKED UP TO ABOUT 10 INCHES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096082October 20, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD. NO APPARENT IMPACT OCCURED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096084October 20, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096108October 20, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
FIRST DAY OF OUR VACATION, WE MADE OUR FIRST STOP FOR GAS. I WENT IN TO BATHROOM WHILE MY HUSBAND FILED TANK. WHEN WE GOT BACK IN CAR, WE NOTICED 5" CRACK COMING UP FROM UNDER TRIM STRIP,LEFT OF CENTER NEAR WIPER ATTACHMENT. NOTHING HAD IMPACTED WINDSHIELD DURING 2HR DRIVE FROM HOME TO THIS POINT. THE CAR WAS PARKED UNDER A CANAPY & MY HUSBAND OR I WERE WITH CAR THE ENTIRE TIME IT WAS AT THE STATION. DURING THE REST OF OUR 5,000 MILE TRIP, THE CRACK SPREAD SLOWLY. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WE PURCHASED IT FROM. THEY SAY IT WAS CAUSED BY IMPACT OF ROCK OR BUG. WE SEARCHED INTERNET & FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM HONDA SENT OUT IN 2003 FOR ON HOW TO FIX WINDSHIELDS IN 03 MODELS AS THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS W/STRESS CRACKS IN SAME PLACE OURS CRACKED. WE INFORMED OUR DEALER OF THIS-STILL NO WORD ON REPAIR/REPACEMENT OF OURS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095973October 18, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND AGAIN MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THIS WILL BE MY FOURTH WINDSHIELD IN 12K MILES. OBVIOUS A DESIGN FLAW SINCE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND DURING THAT TIME ONLY ONE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. HONDA STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD IS UPRIGHT AND CANNOT DEFLECT ROAD HAZZARD LIKE A CAR CAN I GUES I NEED TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD EVERY 3K MILES OR NOT DRIVE IT ON THE HIGHWAYS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND HONDA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPSIBILTY FOR THIER DESIGN FLAW.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095980October 18, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED MY 2004 HONDA ELEMENT IN LATE AUGUST. SINCE TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THE ELEMENT, I HAVE NOT HAD MY VEHICLE AVAILABLE TO ME FOR MORE THAN 2 WEEKS AT A TIME DUE TO A LINGERING OIL LEAK. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES, TO DATE, (FOR THE OIL LEAK) AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A LOOSE FILTER. I SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH THE MECHANIC. HE ADVISED THAT THE OIL POURED OUT FROM THE FILTER UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, BUT AFTER HE TIGHTENED IT, IT STOPPED. TIME NUMBER TWO, THE DEALER REPLACED THE OIL PAN, STATING THAT THIS WAS DEFINITELY THE PROBLEM. TIME NUMBER THREE, A DYE WAS PLACED IN THE OIL TO TRACK ITS BEGINNINGS. TIME NUMBER FOUR, THE DEALER HAD A HIGHER-RANKING INSPECTOR FROM HONDA VIEW THE LEAKING DYE, AND IT WAS DEEMED TO BE A "PRESSURE VALVE" PROBLEM OF SOME SORT. DAYS AGO, THE OIL PUDDLES BELOW MY VEHICLE BEGAN AGAIN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR FOUR DAYS ONLY TO LEARN THAT THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK; SO I AM TO PICK MY ELEMENT UP FROM THE DEALER TOMORROW WITH NO REPAIR. WILL A PROBLEM OF THIS SORT MEET THE CRITERIA OF THE LEMON LAW? I HAVE NOT LOST FAITH IN HONDA, BUT I'M THINKING THAT MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE GONE WITH A SIMPLE BUT RELIABLE CIVIC.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095920October 17, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD:TINY IMPACT CRACK LOCATED RIGHT ABOVE THE WIPER BLADE ON PASSENGER SIDE THAT HAS SPREAD ABOUT 24" TO THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD CAUSED BY THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT OF A TINY PEBBLE TRAVELING ~45 MPH ON 880 NORTH IN FREMONT ,CALIFORNIA DURING RUSH HOUR MORNING TRAFFIC. TINY CHIP WOULD NOT HAVE SPREAD IF THERE WASN'T SO MUCH STRESS PLACED ON THE WINDSHIELD BY THE "UNEVEN WINDSHIELD FLANGE SURFACE" THAT IS STATED IN HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 03-028 WHICH MY VIN FALLS WITHIN. HONDA DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THE THEY SAID THE IMPACT STARTED THE CRACK. I CONTACTED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE DIRECTLY AS STATED IN THE WARRANTY MANUAL AND THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING BASED ON THE DEALERSHIP FINDINGS. I MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT THE WINDSHIELD DESIGN IS WEAK AND FLAWED BUT BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND HONDA CS DID NOT EVEN THINK THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A PRESISTANT PROBLEM WITH 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELDS SUCH AS HTTP://WWW.AUTOSAFETY.ORG/ARTICLE.PHP?DID=956&SCID=103. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT (BC319600) THAT WAS FILED IN LA, CA: HTTP://WWW.HONDAELEMENTSCRACK.COM/. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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