Honda Element Complaints (2005)

159 consumer complaints on file.

#10179360January 22, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT AN IMPACT BY FLYING OBJECT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178529January 8, 2007
AIR BAGS
2005 HONDA ELEMENT'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. *CC THE CONSUMER WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT AND PARTIALLY DROVE OVER A CURB WITH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. AS THE TIRE ROLLED OFF THE CURB THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TOT HE CLOSEST HONDA DEALER. AFTER RUNNING THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SALES DEALER WHO CLAIMED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WHET OVER THE CURD, THE VEHICLE SCRAPED THE BRACKET FOR THE STEP RAIL, WHICH ACTIVATED THE SENSOR AND THE AIR BAG,. THE DEALER DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176172December 14, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE BATTERY WAS RECHARGED, AND AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174770November 30, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED. NOTHING HIT IT, THE WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED. IT NOW HAS TWO SIGNIFICANT CRACKS FROM THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD ACROSS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172123October 30, 2006
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IN MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT DEPLOYED, BUT I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169453September 27, 2006
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH OVER A SPEED BUMP THROUGH A PARKING LOT IN THE RAIN, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED FROM WITHIN THE SEAT WITHOUT WARNING. THE PASSENGER WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT, AND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED DUE TO IMPACT OF ONE OF THE AIRBAG SENSORS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10151766March 4, 2006
AIR 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
#10151151February 24, 2006
AIR 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
#10147185January 8, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED 3 TIMES OVER A 6 MONTH PERIOD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145357December 7, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE SEAT BELTS FOR THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER IN THE 2005 HONDA ELEMENT ARE ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE REAR DOOR, THEREFORE THE REAR DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED UNLESS THE FRONT DOORS ARE OPENED. *NM *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142872November 16, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I HAVE OWNED MY HONDA ELEMENT FOR TWO WEEKS NOW....FIRST TIME ON THE FREEWAY GOING AROUND 65-70 MILES PER HOUR. AT A SUBSTANTIAL FOLLOWING DISTANCE RECIEVED ONE CHIP AND ONE LARGE DING/CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD FROM ONCOMING DEBRIS--ALL WITHIN THE SPACE OF ONE HALF HOUR. RESEARCHED INTERNET ONLY TO FIND THAT AMONG OTHER COMPLAINTS THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PENDING RIGHT NOW ABOUT THIS VERY DESIGN FLAW IN THE HONDA ELEMENT--MANY SUGGEST IT CAN BE FIXED BY HONDA SIMPLY REINFORCING THE GLASS AND FLATTENING THE FLANGES AROUND THE WINDSHIELD TO PREVENT THE INORDINATE AMOUNT OF DINGS AND CRACKING. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY PROBLEM--BUT IVE DONE MORE RESEARCH ONLY TO FIND THAT HONDA HAS SENT TSB'S OUT TO MANY DEALERS ADVISING THEM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR THE 2003-2004 MODELS. MY DEALER TELLS ME THEY CAN'T HELP ME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140341October 20, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
WE PURCHASED A NEW 2005 HONDA ELEMENT EX 4WD AND AFTER DRIVING IT FOR ONLY 200 MILES, THE SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING THAT THE SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WE WERE TOLD THAT HONDA KNOWS THAT WHEN A CELL PHONE OR LAPTOP IS PLACED ON THE PASSENGER SEAT THIS TRIGGERS THE MALFUNCTION. WE WERE THEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT POWAY HONDA, IN POWAY, CA THAT THIS INFORMATION WAS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, WHICH IT IS NOT. THEY ALSO DID NOT KNOW IF THIS LED TO AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. THEY ONLY RESET THE SENSOR. WHEN CONFRONTED ABOUT BEING TOLD THAT THIS WAS IN THE MANUAL, THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP HUNG UP ON ME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139153October 9, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD ON MY 2 MONTH OLD HONDA ELEMENT HAS A CRACK AND WE DO NOT THINK IT WAS HIT BY A ROCK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135111September 29, 2005
STRUCTURE
DT: THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A ROLLOVER WITH THE VEHICLE. SHE IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE CAPACITY OF THE VEHICLE IS 675 LBS. THIS INCLUDES THE PASSENGERS AND CARGO LIMIT. SHE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WHEN SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. SHE FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD NOT SELL A VEHICLE OF THIS SIZE, THAT HAS THE WEIGHT LIMIT AS STATED ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON 8-21-05.*AK THE VEHICLE'S MAX CAPACITY IS 25 POUNDS LESS THAN A HONDA CIVIC. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136284September 12, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
HAVE A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT COVERED UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN #05E035000. TRAILER HITCH WAS INSTALLED BY THE DEALER ON A NEW VEHICLE. WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL THROUGH CONSUMERS REPORTS MAGAZINE. CHECKED THE NHTSA WEB SITE TO LEARN MORE. CALLED HONDA DEALER WHO DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL. CALLED AMERICAN HONDA NUMBER FROM THE NHTSA RECALL NOTICE, THEY SAID MY ELEMENT WAS NOT COVERED AS THE TRAILER HITCH WAS NOT FACTORY INSTALLED BUT DEALER INSTALLED. HONDA DOESN'T MENTION ANY FACTORY INSTALLED OPTIONS IN THE CATALOG, JUST DEALER INSTALLED ACCESSORIES. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT HONDA DIDN'T NOTIFY ME OR ANYBODY ELSE WITH A DEALER INSTALLED TRAILER HITCH OF THE RECALL. AS FAR AS THEIR CONCERNED, I DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR EXHIBITED ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS THE RECALL NOTICE DESCRIBED. WHAT'S THE POINT OF A RECALL IF THEY DON'T NOTIFY ANYBODY? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133301August 18, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN IN MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT, I TURNED TOO SHARPLY, CAUSING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO DRIVE OVER A LARGE PIECE OF A PREVIOUSLY BROKEN STREET LAMP THAT WAS ON THE CORNER OF THE STREET. THOUGH I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT 10-15 MPH, THE CAR OVERTURNED AND FELL ON ITS SIDE. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED. THERE WAS SOME BODY DAMAGE AND TWO BROKEN WINDOWS, AND SOME DAMAGE TO THE FRONT WHEELS/AXLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10130827August 1, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THERE ARE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE.. NO WARNING AT ALL... THE CAR, A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT STALLS WHILE DRIVING... IN ONE WEEKEND IT DID IT THREE TIMES ONCE AT 62 MPH, ONCE ON A RAMP BETWEEN TWO HIGH SPEED ROADS, AND ONCE IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEAVILY TRAFFIC AND BUSY ROAD IN THE MIDDLE LANE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. IT IS THERE YET, THEY ARE TRYING TO DUPLICATE IT AND CANNOT.. IT IS DANGEROUS... TO ME AND TO PEOPLE IN MY CAR WITH ME AND TO OTHERS AROUND ME IN OTHER CARS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128784July 14, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHEILD ON 2005 ELEMENT HAS 14 IN CRACK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125370June 15, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A HONDA ELEMENT VIN# [XXX]. NOT UNTIL LAST WEEK DID I OR A PASSENGER SIT IN THE BACK SEAT. WE BECAME AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER THAT THE DOOR DESIGN PRESENTS. YOU CAN NOT OPEN THE BACK DOOR UNLESS THE FRONT DOOR IS OPENED FIRST.THE "SUICIDE DOORS" DO NOT ALLOW EXIT FROM THE BACK SEATS (NOT THE ORIGINAL "SUICIDE DOOR" DESIGN). THIS DESIGN FLAW IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. ...SCROLL DOWN....THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY... 1. HOW COULD ANYONE GET OUT OF THE BACK SEAT IN AN EMERGENCY? 2. WHAT WOULD A CHILD DO IN CASE OF DRIVER INCAPACITATION? AN ADULT MIGHT BE ABLE TO CRAWL OVER THE DRIVER TO THE FRONT DOOR, BUT A CHILD WOULD BE AT A DISADVANTAGE IN THE BACK. 3. THERE IS NO EMERGENCY RELEASE HANDLE ON THE BACK HATCH DOOR TO ACCESS FROM THE INSIDE. 4. THE LITTLE WING WINDOWS ON THE BACK DOORS COULD BE KICKED OUT IN AN EMERGENCY, BUT A CHILD WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO DO SO. 5.WHAT WOULD PASSENGERS DO IF THE CAR WERE TO PLUMMET INTO A WATERWAY? HOW COULD ANYONE ESCAPE FROM THE BACK....WHICH IS WHAT IS LEFT FLOATING... 6. THERE IS NO WARNING SIGN IN THE CAR INDICATING THAT THE BACK DOORS DO NOT OPEN UNLESS THE FRONT DOOR IS OPEN. HOW MUCH TIME, VALUABLE TIME MIGHT BE LOST AS A PASSER-BY ATTEMPTS A RESCUE AND DOES NOT KNOW THE DOORS DO NOT OPEN? PERHAPS THEN, A SIGN, LIKE IN AIRPLANES, COULD BE POSTED BOTH INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE INDICATING THAT THERE IS NO EXIT THROUGH THE BACK DOORS. OR, A RECAL PUT INPLACE TO PUT IN A QUICK RELEASE EMERGENCY ACCESS WINDOW. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS CONCERN TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO A REPLY. THANK YOU, [XXX] *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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