Honda Element Complaints (2003)

424 consumer complaints on file.

#10056234January 31, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT IN OCT-03 AND CURRENTLY HAVE 4400 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ON 1-24-04 A VERY SMALL PEBBLE "NICKED" MY WINDSHIELD ( NO STAR) AT THE BASE ( JUST UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE) CAUSING A WINDSHIELD CRACK THAT HAS GROWN TO ABOUT 12 INCHES IN LENGTH. I HAVE DRIVEN VEHICLES OVER 35 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS EXPERIENCE WITH SUCH A MINOR PEBBLE HIT. I CHECKED THE HONDA WEBSITE - SEE TECH ADVISORY( 03-028) BUT HONDA AUTHORIZATIONS ARE ONLY FOR WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF IMPACT. I DON'T BUY HONDA'S EXPLANATION. GLASS STRESS IS JUST THAT & STRESS ON GLASS THAT IS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, FITTED, OR DESIGNED WILL LEAD TO CRACKS FROM MINOR IMPACTS AT A HIGHER RATE. I VISITED THE HTTP://WWW.HONDAELEMENT.ORG/SHOWTHREAD.PHP WEBSITE AND NOTED THAT 25 TO 30 % OF NEW ELEMENT OWNER COMPLAINTS HAD TO DO WITH CRACKED WINDSHIELDS. IN SOME CASES OWNER HAD ALREADY REPLACED THEIR WINDSHIELDS TWICE ($500.00 A POP). HONDA'S CURRENT POLICY IS TO SIDE STEP THE PROBLEM. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE AND HONDA HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO STEP UP AND WORK TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I AM ALSO GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED BEFORE THE PROBLEM IS IDENTIFIED AND SOLVED. THERE ARE ALSO A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS REPORTED ON THE WEB SITE NOTED ABOVE REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH IMPROPER INSTALLATION/FIT OF NEW WINDSHIELDS (SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, PERSISTENT RATTLES, & CRACKS) AFTER REPLACEMENT. IF HONDA ISN'T GOING TO STEP UP - SOMEONE ( HOPEFULLY NHTSA) WILL. ACCORDINGLY, I AM SURPRISED AT HONDA'S "HEAD IN THE SAND" ATTITUDE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM NHTSA ON THE EVOLUTION OF THIS PROBLEM IF THAT IS WITHIN YOUR POLICY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055144January 29, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
ON 1/24/04, I NOTICED A CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD WHILE PARKED. THE CRACK IS IN THE LOWER RIGHT PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD, BEGINNING APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM, EXTENDS 2 INCHES TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD, THEN MAKES A 90 DEGREE BEND STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE BOTTOM. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BASED ON THE TSB REGARDING THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF WINDSHIELDS ON '03 HONDA ELEMENTS. THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION CREATES UNDUE STRESS THAT RESULTS IN CRACKING. THE SERVICE MANAGER IDENTIFIED A PINHEAD SIZE IMPACT MARK UNDER THE SIDE MOLDING STRIP THAT HE SAYS CAUSED THE DAMAGE. EVEN WITH THE TSB THAT I BELIEVE CAUSED THE CRACK TO SPREAD BEYOND REPAIR, THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE THE GLASS AND REPAIR THE DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056123January 29, 2004
WHEELS
THE STEEL WHEELS CAN'T BE BALANCED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE BOUNCES ALL OVER THE ROAD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055188January 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT HAS A SULPHUR SMELL THAT IS BEYOND ANNOYANCE. THE SMELL IS SO INTENSE THAT IT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY. MY DEALER IS UNABLE TO REPAIR AND HONDA SEEMS INDIFFERENT TO THE PROBLEM. WHILE NOT LIFE THREATENING, IT COULD, I BELIEVE BE DETRIMENTAL TO MY HEALTH AS WELL AS THE HEALTH OF MY PASSENGERS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055198January 29, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
12-INCH CRACK IN WINDSHIELD ORIGINATING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE COWL BRANCHING UPWARDS. A COPY OF HONDA TSB 03-028, INDICATING THAT THE WINDSHIELD MAY CRACK IN THE LOWER CORNERS, WAS SHOWN TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE TSB AND STATED THAT A GRAIN-SIZED "PIT" IN THE GLASS UNDER THE WIPER BLADE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CRACK. AS MY AUTO FALLS WITHIN THE VIN # RANGE OF AFFECTED VEHICLES, THIS WOULD INDICATE THAT MY SUV IS SUCEPTIBLE TO WINDSHIELD CRACKING. I CAN UNDERSTAND IF A LARGE ROCK CAUSED THE DAMAGE, BUT THE "PIT" IN THE WINDSHIELD WAS NO LARGER THAN THE PERIOD AT THE END OF THIS SENTENCE. THIS WINDSHIELD APPEARS WEAKER THAN THE INDUSTRY NORM AND CANNOT HANDLE EVEN MINUTE STRESSES. HONDA NEEDS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, NOT KEEP HAVING THEIR CUSTOMERS CONTINUALLY PAY FOR NEW WINDSHIELDS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055073January 28, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
SPONTANEOUS WINDSHIELD CRACK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054703January 22, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
LESS THAN A 1000 MILES ON THE CAR - CRACKED WINDSHIELD PASSENGER SIDE BOTTOM CORNER- DID NOT PASS THE "PEN" TEST DONE AT A DEALER. NO COVERAGE SO WE REPLACED WINDSHIELD AT OUR OWN COST- *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054565January 21, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED UNDER WIPER ON RIGHT HAND SIDE. MY DEALER SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRINTY, SAID THERE IS A SMALL PIT IN CRACK FROM ROCK. THE WINDSHIELD IS FULL OF SMALL PITS. THERE IS SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE ELEMENT MESSAGE BOARDS ABOUT CRACKED WINDSHIELDS MORE THAN ANY THING ELSE THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE DESIGN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054429January 19, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I HAVE A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 2400 MILES ON IT. MY WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK, APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES LONG, THAT BEGAN UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND CURLS TO THE RIGHT. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054388January 18, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACK OF ABOUT 3-4 INCHES FROM BOTTOM UNDER PASSENGER WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS "JUST THERE" IN THE MORNING AFTER HEAVY SNOWFALL AND MAJOR DEFROSTER USE. IN TWO DAYS, BEFORE I GOT TO DEALER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED, IT HAD EXTENDED UPWARDS ABOUT 6 MORE INCHES, IN TWO MORE DAYS, ALL THE WAY ACROSS WINDSHIELD TO WITHIN 2 INCHED OF WINDSHIELD EDGE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. NOW EXTENDED TO LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE CORNER. THERE WAS COLD WEATHER THROUGH OUT. DEALER POINTED OUT MINISCULE PIT ON CRACK BELOW PASSENGER WINDSHIELD WIPER, SAID NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE CAUSE BY ROCK CHIP, ETC. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A MINOR IMPACT THERE, WHO IS TO SAY, BUT THE "EVIDENCE" NEARLY REQUIRES MAGNIFYING GLASS TO SEE&IN FACT I SCRAPED ICE AWAY ON WINDSHIELD THAT VERY MORNING. IN FACT THERE ARE MANY OTHER "PITS ON WINDSHIELD, INCLUDING OTHERS ON CRACK. A PIECE OF GRIT/TINY GRAVEL MAY HAVE IMPACTED, NEAR ORIGINAL AREA OF CRACK, BUT SHOULD NEVER HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE THAT ENSUED. THERE IS A MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE BULLETIN FOR WINDSHIELD CRACKS STARTING AT LOWER CORNERS CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE STRESS DUE TO DESIGN OR INSTALLATION OF WINDSHIELD/FLANGES, HOWEVER MY VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THE VIN RANGE FOR THAT BULLETIN. MY OBSERVATION OR BELIEF IS THAT EXCESSIVE STRESS MAY STILL A FACTOR, MAKING WINDSHIELD UNACCEPTABLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO CRACKING DURING SCRAPING ICE OF WINDSHIELD AND/OR IF THERE ARE CHANCES OF EXTREMELY MINOR IMPACTS THAT WOULD IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES NOT CAUSE PROBLEMS. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054243January 16, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED BELOW BOTH WIPERS. STARTED BELOW PLASTIC TRIM, BOTH WENT VERTICAL, AND FINALLY A HORIZONTAL CRACK CONNECTED THEM. WINDSHIELD HAS OTHER "STAR" CRACKS THAT HAVE REMAINED STATIC. DEALER IS REPLACING IS AS "GOODWILL," SAYS ITS NOT THE SAME AS LISTED IN THE HONDA TSB. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054284January 16, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD PIYS AND CRACKS. I HAVE 2 CRACKS IN LESS THAT 1 MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. THE GLASS IS EASILY PITTED AS I HAVE DRIVEN MINE ON SANDED ROADS BRIEFLY AND HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED SMALL PITS, THIS IS FAR IN EXCESS OF ANY CAR OR TRUCK I HAVE OWNED IN OVER 30 YEARS OF THRIVING AND OWNERSHIP. THESE WINDSHIELD ARE STICKING POOR!!! *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070288January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IT TWICE SINCE JANUARY AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO CRACKS. I CHECKED AROUND AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT THE WINDSHIELD IN THE ELEMENT IS VERY SUSCEPTABLE TO CRACKS DUE TO THE FLANGE CREATING TOO MUCH STRESS WHICH RENDERS THE GLASS VERY PRONE TO CRACKING BY ROAD DEBRIS. I GOT HIT BY A TINY PEBBLE WHICH SHOULD NEVER HAVE CRACKED THE GLASS. AND IN MY 18 YEARS OF DRIVING VARIOUS VEHICLES, I HAVE NEVER, EVER HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM, SO I KNOW IT IS NOT JUST "BAD LUCK" AS THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054233January 15, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACK ON LOWER LEFT SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. CRACK ON LOWER RIGHT SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. NO OBJECTS HIT THE WINDSHIELD. NHTSA BULLETIN SHOWED PROBLEMS WITH CRACKS ON WINDSHIELDS OF HONDA ELEMENTS WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE. WINDSHIELDS ARE APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE! *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040060January 15, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK THAT STARTED AT THE BOTTOM /MIDDLE AND REACHED UPWARD. DEALERSHIP SAID THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY ROAD DEBRIS. *AK TSB 03-028 WHICH PERTAINS TO FAULTY WINDSHIELD CONSTRUCTION. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054129January 14, 2004
STRUCTURE
VEHICLE'S RADIATOR IS EXPOSED IN THE FRONT END OF THE CAR.*MR THE VEHICLE'S RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO ROAD DEBRIS FLYING INTO IT AND PENETRATING IT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE IS FLAWED IN SOME WAY AND THAT THE RADIATOR AND A/C CONDENSER NEED SOME PROTECTION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053949January 13, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD ON A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. *MR CRACKS APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD WITH NO APPARENT TRIGGER. (9 INCH CRACK APPEARED ON THE LOWER LEFT SECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD) *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053063January 13, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD TWICE IN 6 MONTHS TIME
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053110January 13, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I JUST BOUGHT A HONDA ELEMENT 2003 IN OCTOBER '03. THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED TWICE. THE CRACK GOES FROM THE BOTTOM AND SPREADS IN THE LINE OF MY DRIVING VISION. THERE IS A FLAW IN THE MANUFACTURING; HOWEVER, THE DEALER AND HONDA SAYS THAT ONLY THE EARLY MODELS HAS THIS PROBLEM AND MINE DOESN'T. I DISAGREE. I SUGGEST NO ONE BUY A HONDA ELEMENT 'CAUSE THEY ARE NOT FIXING THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053991January 13, 2004
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN IN THE SNOW 4-WHEEL DRIVE MECHANISM KICKED IN AUTOMATICALLY, VEHICLE SPUN OUT AND HIT A VENDER YARD POST.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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