Honda Element Complaints

1,283 consumer complaints on file.

#10213724January 4, 2008
SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAD NOT FAILED. ONE MONTH LATER, THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE SRS SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212207December 18, 2007
SEATS, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
I BOUGHT A HONDA ELEMENT 2007 IN JULY 2007. SINCE THE PURCHASE I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE FRONT SEATS DO NOT ADJUST AS IN PREVIOUS MODELS. HOWEVER, BOTH THE QUICK START MANUAL AND THE REGULAR MANUAL BOTH INDICATE VISUALLY AND IN WRITING THAT THE FRONT SEATS SHOULD ADJUST FORWARD AT ABOUT A 10 DEGREE ANGLE FOR ACCESS TO THE BACK SEAT. "OPEN THE DOOR, AND PULL UP ON THE SEAT-BACK ADJUSTMENT LEVER. THE SEAT-BACK TILTS FORWARD TO ALLOW EASIER ACCESS TO THE REAR SEAT." THE PICTURE ALSO SHOWS THIS TILT ANGLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS DESIGN CHANGE; THEY ALSO DID NOT KNOW THAT THE SAME CHANGE IS ON THE 2008 MODEL. I TALKED WITH HONDA ABOUT THIS DESIGN FLAW AS A SAFETY ISSUE. WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO TILT THE SEAT FORWARD BOTH ENTRY AND EXIT FROM THE BACK SEATS ARE RESTRICTED EVEN WHEN A FRONT SEAT IS MOVED FORWARD AS FAR AS IT WILL GO. HONDA'S RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY KNEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE CAR AND THEY AREN'T HAVING ANY PROBLEMS GETTING IN OR OUT OF THE BACK SEAT AND THAT I SHOULD JUST MOVE THE FRONT SEATS BACK AND FORTH TO USE THE BACK SEATS. IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, EXITING THE BACK SEAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT AT BEST AND A DANGER TO THEIR SAFETY AND WELL-BEING. HONDA'S RESPONSE IS THAT THE DESIGN IS WRITTEN IN STONE AND THAT UNLESS ENOUGH COMPLAINTS AND PROBLEMS WITH EMERGENCY EXITS ARE MADE THAT NOTHING WILL BE DONE. THEIR OPINION IS THAT THE CAR IS SAFE AND HAS BEEN FULLY APPROVED BY THE NTSB AND NHTSA. I WOULD DEFY ANYONE TO ENTER AND EXIT THE BACK SEAT WITH ANY SPEED BECAUSE OF THIS CHANGE IN DESIGN. I HOPE THIS WILL BE INVESTIGATED AND THAT HONDA WILL BE FORCED TO REDESIGN AND RECALL THE MODELS THAT NO LONGER ALLOW THE FRONT SEAT TO TILT FOR AS THEY SAY "EASIER ACCESS TO THE REAR SEAT" AND I WOULD ADD EASY, QUICK EXIT FROM THE BACK SEAT IN AN EMERGENCY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211537December 12, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WALKED OUT TO VEHICLE IN THE AFTERNOON, NOTICED WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. CRACK GREW OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS TO ABOUT 9". STARTED IN LOWER PART OF WINDSHIELD (NEAR VIN MARKER)WENT VERTICAL FOR ABOUT 3" THEN RAN HORIZONTAL FOR 6". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211051December 6, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I JUST NOTICED I HAVE A CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON MY NEW 2008 HONDA ELEMENT. I DON'T RECALL ANY DEBRI OR ANYTHING HITTING MY WINDSHIELD BUT I NOTICED A CRACK? IN MY 37 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE HAD ONLY 1 CRACKED WINDSHIELD AND IN THAT CASE I SAW AND HEARD THE ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD BACK IN 1995ISH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210799December 4, 2007
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND FOR NO REASON AT ALL, MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED!!!!! SCARED ME TO DEATH, GLAD I WASN'T GOING VERY FAST OR I MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT! I AM ALSO LUCKY THAT IT WASN'T THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG, OR IT COULD HAVE BROKEN MY ARM! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210197November 28, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE WINDSHEILD ONCE. IT CURRENTLY HAS 3 SEPERATE CRACKS AT THE MOMENT THAT WERE NOT FROM ANYTHING HITTING PLUS ONE THAT IS. THAT IS A TOTAL OF 4. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210199November 28, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
IN MARCH OF 2007 WE HAD A COLD SPELL. I TURNED ON THE HEAT BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. I FORGOT ABOUT IT AS THE SEASONS CHANGED AND IT WARMED UP. SINCE THE WEATHER HAS STARTED TO TURN COLD I'VE TRIED TO TURN THE HEAT ON. IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET LOOKED AT AND THE HEATER CORE HAS BEEN MESSED UP. MY CAR IS A 2005 AND HAS ONLY 52K MILES. I'VE RECEIVED REGULAR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THE COOLANT PUT IN THE CAR AT THE FACTORY WAS A BAD BATCH AND HAS THEREFORE MESSED UP THE HEATER CORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209860November 25, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
ON NOVEMBER 12, 2007, I NOTICED A HORIZONTAL CRACK IN MY HONDA ELEMENT'S WINDSHIELD, ABOUT 7 INCHES IN LENGTH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, ABOUT HALFWAY UP STARTING AT THE LEFT SIDE PILLAR. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW AND IT HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT. I DROVE IN TO WORK AND DID NOT NOTICE THE CRACK. I DID NOTICE IT WHEN GOING TO LUNCH THAT SAME DAY. THE CRACK WAS CLEARLY VISIBLE AS IT IS IN MY DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT. IT LITERALLY APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209215November 17, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. VEHICLE ONLY SLID BACKWARDS UNTIL PLACED IN PARK. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. DEALER PUT IN TRANSMISSION FLUID, CHECKED PRESSURE AND RETURNED TO OWNER. IN 5-7 DAYS VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK BACKWARDS FORCEFULLY. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR 4 DAYS NOW. DEALER FIRST REPLACED SOLENOID SWITCH. HONDA WOULD NOT RELEASE TO DEALER NEW TRANSMISSION UNTIL SOLENOID WAS REPLACED. NOW DEALER HAS TO KEEP CAR LONGER TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208435November 8, 2007
AIR BAGS
WHEN: MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON WEDNESDAY, 11/07/2007, 1515HRS WHERE: SOUTHBOUND CO HWY 93 AND EASTBOUND CO HWY 72; JEFFERSON COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO; WHAT: MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT: 2006 HONDA ELEMENT WAS STRUCK BY AN SUV. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED THE 2006 HONDA ELEMENT TO ROLLOVER, ONCE, BEFORE RIGHTING ONTO ITS WHEELS. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE ELEMENT AUTOMOBILE. NOTABLY, THE AIRBAGS - FRONT, PASSENGER, AND SIDE - DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SAFETY BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM PROTECTED THE SOLE OCCUPANT FROM LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. WHO: COLORADO STATE PATROL. JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, ARVADA, CO POLICE DEPARTMENT; AND ARVADA FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THE ATTENDING LAW AND EMERGENCY RESCUE PERSONNEL WERE SURPRISED THAT THE HONDA ELEMENT AIRBAG SYSTEM DID NOT DEPLOY DUE TO THE SEVERITY AND CATASTROPHIC NATURE OF THE ACCIDENT. ISSUE: WAS THE 2006 HONDA ELEMENT AIR BAG SYSTEM DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF DEPLOYMENT IN THIS ROLLOVER ACCIDENT? *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10204427September 28, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I PURCHASED MY CAR IN AUGUST 2003, AND THIS HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACK OCCURRED IN AUGUST OF 2004 FROM NO OBVIOUS REASONS SUCH AS SOMETHING HITTING MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS HAVING OTHER ISSUES WITH THE ELEMENT AND I ASKED MY HONDA ADVISOR ABOUT THE CRACK AND SHE TOLD ME THAT HONDA WOULD NOT REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND THAT IT WOULD BE OUT OF POCKET FOR ME. NOW I HAVE FOUND A HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN FROM MAY 6, 2003 CONCERNING THE WINDSHIELD AND IT WAS TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR IS 118,000 MILES NOW AND I AM SO LIVID THAT MY HONDA ADVISOR REFUSED TO FIX THIS CRACK WHICH HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 4 INCHES. PLEASE HELP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203990September 24, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, BROKEN DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR AND A HORN THAT HAS ONE BROKEN PITCH, LEAVING THE PITCH VERY LOW, ALMOST NOT NOTICEABLE. IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR A YEAR, BUT DID NOT FIND THIS SITE UNTIL NOW. TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203680September 21, 2007
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 HONDA ELEMENT ON A DIRT ROAD AT 25 MPH WHEN THE SIDE AIRBAG IN THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE AIRBAG DID WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. THE SIDE AIRBAG ON A HONDA ELEMENT DEPLOYS AS THE RESULT OF A SINGLE SENSOR BEING ACTIVATED. THE FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOY WHEN 2 OUT OF 3 SENSORS ARE ACTIVATED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER HONDA ELEMENTS, NOT AS THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT BUT BECAUSE OF THE SENSOR INDICATING A NEED FOR DEPLOYMENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201873September 4, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY 2003 ELEMENT DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT IT NEW (I CAN'T REMEMBER THE DATE EXACTLY). *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10200880August 27, 2007
SEATS
THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN MY '04 HONDA ELEMENT EX ROCKS BACK, ESPECIALLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO COME RIGHT OFF THE TRACK OR THAT THE BOLT WILL COME COMPLETELY LOOSE CAUSING THE SEAT OF MOVE IN SOME UNSAFE ANNER. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE IT MIGHT JUST SHEAR RIGHT OFF. THE SEAT WAS LOOSE WHEN I PURCHASED THE USED CAR. THE DEALER TIGHTENED IT AND NEVER MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING, UNSOLVED PROBLEM. I TOLD THE SALESMAN THAT I WOULD NOT BUY IF THE SEAT WAS NOT FIXED. WITHIN TWO MONTHS IT WAS LOOSE AND ROCKING. THE DEALERSHIPS TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS "A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL." THAT IS AN UNSATISFACTORY ANSWER. HONDA SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT CHARGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196708July 18, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK IS INOPERABLE. LOCK PINS ARE JAMMED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND KEY WILL ONLY GO IN HALF WAY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195507July 6, 2007
AIR BAGS
MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING. THIS IS THE AIRBAG THAT LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195433July 5, 2007
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
2007 HONDA ELEMENT EX GOT FLAT TIRE, PUT ON TEMPORARY SPARE. TIGHTENED LUGS: NUTS PROPERLY, AND DROVE TO TIRE STORE ABOUT 30 MILES. 2 OF THE LUG S:NUTS HAD COME OFF COMPLETELY AND THE REMAINING 3 WERE LOOSE, ALMOST LOST THE ENTIRE WHEEL. TIRE STORE WAS NOT SUPRISED. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10194778June 27, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS POOR ON HIS VEHICLE. THE BRAKES ONLY WORK FOR THE FRONT WHEELS. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DEALERS AND THEY HAVE CHANGED THE REAR BRAKE PADS, FRONT BRAKE PADS, AND THE MASTER BRAKE PUMP. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BRAKE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE ELECTRONIC POWER BRAKE SYSTEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4,700. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10194210June 25, 2007
AIR BAGS
I SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING A CAR AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT. MY CAR LIFTED OFF THE GROUND AND ROLLED 3 TIMES. I GOT THE ELEMENT BECAUSE IT HAD VERY HIGH SAFETY RATINGS. IT ALSO HAD SIDE AIRBAGS WHICH I FOUND ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR AN SUV HOWEVER NONE OF THEM DEPLOYED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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