Honda Element Complaints

1,283 consumer complaints on file.

#10147185January 8, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED 3 TIMES OVER A 6 MONTH PERIOD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147123January 6, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
ONE MORNING I GOT INTO CAR AND WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED TOP CENTER. THE CAR IS ALWAYS GARAGED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146630December 31, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I OWN A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT EX. IN APPROXIMATELY DECEMBER 2004, THE WINDSHIELD SUFFERED THREE LINEAR CRACKS WITHIN A TWO WEEK PERIOD OF TIME. I DID NOT OBSERVE OR HEAR ANY ROAD DEBRIS STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD OR CAUSE THESE CRACKS. ONE CRACK EMANATED FROM THE LOWER CORNER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, ONE FROM APPROXIMATELY MID-POINT ON A-PILLAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND ONE FROM THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE CORNER. A SERVICE MANAGER REVIEWED THE CRACKS AND DETERMINED THAT TWO OF THE CRACKS WERE CAUSED BY ROAD DEBRIS BECAUSE OF A MINUTE PIT IN EACH OF THE TWO CRACKS. HE DID NOT OBSERVE A PIT IN THE THIRD CRACK AND REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD UNDER WARRANTY. IN APPROXIMATELY DECEMBER 2005 THE WINDSHIELD SUFFERED FOUR CRACKS WITHIN A THREE WEEK PERIOD OF TIME. THE CRACKS OCCURRED AT SEPARATE TIMES AND AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. THREE OF THE FOUR CRACKS WERE STARBURST CRACKS AND HAVE NOT SPREAD. ONE OF THE STARBURST CRACKS OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND I OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SMALL STONE CAUSE THE CRACK. I HEARD THE SUBSEQUENT TWO STARBURST CRACKS OCCUR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE FOURTH CRACK IS A LINEAR CRACK EMANATING FROM THE UPPER CORNER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT INCREASES IN SIZE BY APPROXIMATELY 1/4 INCH OVERNIGHT, AS IT IS LONGER EACH MORNING WHEN I GET IN THE CAR. THE CRACK HAS TRAVELED INTO THE DRIVER'S LINE OF VISION. THERE IS A HONDA TSB FOR 2003 HONDA ELEMENTS NOTING POSSIBLE STRESS FRACTURES IN THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I AM NOT AWARE OF A SIMILAR NOTICE FOR 2004 MODEL YEAR, NOR AM I AWARE OF ANY RECALL NOTICE FOR ANY MODEL YEAR. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE A DEFECT IN THE MOUNTING SURFACE OF THE WINDSHIELD THAT MAY RESULT IN SUCH STRESS FRACTURES. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT QUALITY OF GLASS USED FOR THE WINDSHIELD NOT SUFFICIENT FOR ROAD USE. THE INHERENT RISK CAUSED BY THIS APPARENT DEFECT WARRANTS INVESTIGATION AND/OR REMEDY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146578December 30, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON LOWER PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. NOT CAUSED BY FLYING DEBRIS. ACCORDING TO OTHER HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS ONLINE, THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND IS HAPPENING IN THE SAME GENERAL LOCATION ON WINDSHIELD. A STRESS FRACTURE SEEMS TO BE THE COMMON CONCLUSION AS TO THE CAUSE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146370December 29, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
HONDA ELEMENT DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD HAS STRESS CRACKS AT BOTH ENDS. HONDA HAS REFUSED TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD DESIGN OR INSTALLATION. BOTH CRACKS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE, THERE IS NO ROAD DAMAGE FROM ROCKS OR OTHER IMPACTS RELATED TO THE CRACKS. THE VEHICLE IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THE WINDSHIELD IS REPLACED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145657December 19, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2003 HONDA ELEMENT...FRONT WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER...WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A 2ND REPLACEMENT...BOUGHT THE CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2003...1ST WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT APRIL 2004...2ND REPLACEMENT DECEMBER 2005. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144859December 9, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD ON 2003 HONDA ELEMENT DEVELOPED A CRACK (WITHOUT ANY IMPACT) WHICH ORIGINATED FROM LOWER EDGE (BELOW WIPER, DRIVERS SIDE) AND WITHIN 24 HOURS HAD SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE WINDSHIELD. *JB
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
#10145386December 6, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 ELEMENT ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE AND KEYS IN HIS HANDS. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10143951November 29, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK STARTING FROM BELOW THE RIGHT WIPER BLADE AND GOES UP 4 INCHES AND THEN TOWARD THE RIGHT PILLAR 12 INCHES NO VISIBLE "HIT" MARK CRACK JUST APPEARED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143657November 25, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED ON THE LOWER QUARTER OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED SOMETHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD, AND WILL NOT ASSIST IN THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *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
#10142766November 15, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT DEVELOPED A CRACK BELOW THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER THAT GOES UP THREE INCHES THEN DOES A 90 DEGREE RIGHT TURN THEN TRAVELS APPROXIAMATELY TWO FEET HORIZONTALLY THEN DOES ANOTHER 90 DEGREE TURN DOWN INTO WINDOW BEAD. THERE IS A VERY VERY SLIGHT "DINK" IN THE WINDSHIELD ALONG THE CRACK BUT YOUR FINGERNAIL BARELY CATCHES IN IT. I BELIEVE AS DO MANY OTHER 2003 ELEMENT OWNERS THAT THERE IS UNDUE STRESS ON THE CORNERS OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLKAW THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY HONDA. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142771November 15, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK CAME UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW BEAD. IT FIRST BEGAN AS A TINY CRACK AND IS NOW ABOUT TWO AND HALF FEET LONG. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED TO HIM THERE WERE NO OTHER RELATED PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NM UPDATED 12/7/2005. IN LATE NOVEMBER THE CONSUMER FOUND A HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN REFERENCING A WINDSHIELD DEFECT. ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FALLS WITH THE RANGE OF VINS THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142028November 8, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, PARKING BRAKE
ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 22, 2005 I STARTED MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WHICH WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I QUICKLY REMEMBERED THAT I WANTED AN ITEM OUT OF THE GARAGE AND STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD NOT TOUCHED THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT AND THE E/R BRAKE WAS ON. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO REVERSE, DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE STREET, THE OPEN DOOR STRUCK THE NEIGHBORS MAIL BOX, VEHICLE PROCEEDED UP THE NEIGHBORS DRIVE WAY STRIKING THEIR PARKED VEHICLE, PUSHING IT 2 FEE UP THEIR DRIVEWAY. THEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO DRIVE, CAME BACK DOWN THE NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE STREET, UP MY DRIVEWAY, INTO MY GARAGE STRIKING ITEMS IN THE REAR OF THE GARAGE BEFORE STOPPING. I REACHED IN TO SHUT THE CAR OFF THEN RAN INTO THE HOUSE. WHEN MY HUSBAND CAME OUT TO THE GARAGE AND GOT INTO THE VEHICLE HE SAID THAT THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND THE E/R BREAK WAS ON. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE NEIGHBORS VEHICLE AND APPROX $3500 DAMAGE TO THE HONDA ELEMENT. I BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION/GEAR BOX FAILED AND THE E/B FAILED RESULTING IN INJURY AND DAMAGE. VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED AT BODY SHOP AND I HAVE NOTIFIED HONDA AND WILL HAVE THEM CHECK OUT WHEN REPAIRS COMPLETED. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10141388November 1, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO A MAJOR STREET. WHEN PULLING OUT IT IS ACROSS A VERY UNEVEN SPOT IN THE ROAD PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN A BIND. AT THIS TIME THE WINDSHIELD "POPPED" AND CRACKED IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER. *JB WINDSHIELD IS NOW BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UNSAFE FOR HIGHWAY USAGE. DEALERSHIP FLATLY SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND SENT ME ON MY WAY.
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
#10140182October 18, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR WAS PARKED, ENGINE TURNED OFF, AND KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. AS I STEPPED OUT THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL, MY RIGHT LEG BECAME CAUGHT IN THE CAR, I WAS DRAGGED ABOUT 80 FEET DOWN MY DRIVEWAY UNTIL I FINALLY MANAGED TO FREE MY FOOT AND ROLL AWAY. I FRACTURED A FINGER, TORE LIGAMENTS IN THAT AND ANOTHER, INJURED MY RIGHT KNEE AND ANKLE, SCRAPED MY RIGHT ARM, AND BRUISED MY UPPER THIGH. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL OVER SOME LARGE ROCKS, ACROSS THE ROAD, AND INTO THE CORN FIELD. THE KEY SHOULD NOT HAVE COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT IN PARK. AFTER GETTING NO SATISFACTION FROM HONDA AMERICA, MY LOCAL DEALER FINALLY AGREED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE ENTIRE KEY INTERLOCK SYSTEM. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10139873October 17, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD - PASSENGER SIDE - LOW AREA. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139218October 10, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON HONDA ELEMENT, IT STARTED LAST SUMMER AT EDGE OF WINDSHIELD AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GONE STRAIGHT ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD TO POINT WHERE IT NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL BUT BECAUSE MY VIN # DOES NOT MATCH THE RECALL HONDA WILL NOT NECESSARILY COVER. THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING $85.00 JUST CHECK TO SEE IF THEY WILL COVER. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELDS CRACKING. I HAVE LIVED IN AK FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD BEFORE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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