Honda Element Complaints (2003)

424 consumer complaints on file.

#10701209March 23, 2015
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
RE: TIRES MICHELIN XCX/APT 215/70 R16 DOT HNXO EKFX 4405 WHEN PUTTING AIR IN MY TIRES ON 3/21/2015 I FOUND ALL FOUR TIRE SIDEWALLS HAD A LOT OF CRACKS (ONE INCH AND BIGGER) PLUS A LOT OF OTHER TIRE FAILURE PROBLEMS. THESE WERE NOT NOTICE BY HONDA DEALER GARAGE ON TIRE ROTATION THAT WAS PERFORMED WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. NEITHER HAD I NOTICE THIS SINCE THAT ROTATION, THE TIRE TREAD ON THESE TIRES ARE STILL GOOD. I AM AWARE THAT THERE WERE NO RECALL AND THESE TIRES HAVE "EXPIRED" SO TO SPEAK. MY CONCERN IS THAT MICHELIN TIRES HAD NOT WARNED ME OF THIS POSSIBLE PROBLEM PUTTING MY FAMILY, MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD IN DANGER. I WANT MICHELIN TO REPLACE THOSE TIRES. ANYONE ELSE HAVING THESE TIRES SHOULD BE TOLD. I HAVE PHOTOS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682450February 10, 2015
AIR BAGS
I VISITED THE RECALL WEB SITE AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE AIRBAG CONCERNS WITH MY VEHICLE. I THEN MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND HAD MY DRIVERS AIRBAG/BECAUSE OF A RECALL, REPLACED ON NOV 26, 2014. I REQUESTED A VEHICLE FOR THE DAY SINCE THE RECALL IS NOT A PERSONAL PROBLEM BUT A PROBLEM OF THE MANUFACTURE. I WAS DENIED A DAY USE CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT DAY THAT THE PASSENGERS AIRBAG WAS ON BACKORDER, I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO DID NOT RETURN MY CALL. I THEN WENT TO THE DEALER WEB SITE AN E-MAILED THEM MY CONCERNS. SOMEONE DID CALL ME AND STATED THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE ON BACKORDER. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IT IS TAKING SO LONG TO GET MY PASSENGERS AIRBAGS REPLACED. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE LOCAL DEALER DOES NOT RETURN PHONE CALLS. LOCAL DEALER IS HONDA OF FORT MYERS FL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682290February 9, 2015
AIR BAGS
LETTER FROM SENATOR NELSON ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2003 HONDA ELEMENT AIRBAG. *SMD THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LOANER VEHICLE, DUE TO THE FACT, THE RECALL FIX WILL TAKE THREE HOURS TO COMPLETE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PART NEEDED TO BE ORDERED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679524January 28, 2015
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK TUMBLERS SEIZED MY KEY WHEN I TRIED TO UNLOCK THE CAR. THEY KEY WAS STUCK MIDWAY - I COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY NOR TURN IT EITHER WAY. SINCE THE KEY WAS CAUGHT IN THE LOCK, THE KEY FOB WOULD NOT OPEN THE PASSENGER'S DOOR OR REAR LATCH. I WAS LOCKED OUT OF THE CAR WITH MY LITTLE GIRL TRAPPED INSIDE. AFTER A POP-A-LOCK VISIT, I WAS ABLE TO GET MY SPARE KEY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BUT I STILL HAD THE ORIGINAL KEY STUCK IN THE DOOR LOCK. I DROVE TO HONDA SERVICE CENTER; THEY WERE UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY ALSO. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $450 TO HAVE THE LOCK TUMBLER REPLACED. I ASKED THEM IF THEY WOULD REMOVE THE DOOR PANEL BECAUSE THE KEY IN THE DOOR WAS A THEFT ISSUE. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $112.50 FOR THEM TO REMOVE THE PANEL. WHEN I ASKED IF THEY WOULD REMOVE THE PANEL FOR FREE SO I COULD TRY TO REMOVE THE KEY, THEY REFUSED, CITING LIABILITY ISSUES. THE SERVICE CENTER IS ONLY WILLING TO HELP WHEN PAID ASTRONOMICAL RATES LIKE $112.50 TO REMOVE A DOOR PANEL (WITHOUT BEING ASKED TO PUT IT BACK ON) AND $450 TO REPLACE A $40 PART THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANY OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS' CARS SEIZING A KEY IN THE DOOR LOCK EVER IN MY LIFE! WE COULD HAVE BEEN IN GREAT DANGER IF WE HAD BEEN IN A REMOTE AREA OF IF IT HAD BEEN NIGHTTIME. HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSES TO FIX MY PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL, DESPITE THE PROBLEMS OF OTHERS. EVEN WHEN I ASKED THAT THE REPAIR BE DONE AS "GOODWILL' THE REPRESENTATIVE REFUSED TO CONSIDER. POOR QUALITY WORKMANSHIP ON DOOR LOCKS -- SOMETHING AS INEXPENSIVE AND LOW TECH AS A LOCK, YET SO CRITICAL TO SAFETY AND THEFT -- REFLECTS POORLY ON HONDA AND DRAWS INTO QUESTION THEIR REPUTATION FOR QUALITY. THAT HONDA REFUSES TO STAND BY THEIR WORK WHEN THEIR POOR QUALITY ENDANGERS DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS, DEMONSTRATES THEIR DISREGARD OF HUMAN BEINGS SAFETY. PROFIT OVER PEOPLE IS HONDA'S MOTTO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10667343December 19, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK. SOMETIMES WOULD NOT LOCK. I HAD SAME PROBLEM SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND HAD LOCK REPLACED AT HONDA DEALER HOWEVER RECENTLY IT STARTED AGAIN. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON HONDA PROBLEM. I REALLY LIKE THE ELEMENT HOWEVER THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS LEAVE ME TO PROBABLY NEVER BUY ANOTHER HONDA. NOW THE AIRBAG RECALL WHICH HAS NOT EVEN RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO REPLACE IN WV. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662667December 7, 2014
AIR BAGS
HAPPENED IN NYC, AFTERNOON, WEATHER DRIZZLING/RAINING AND HUMID. SLID ON AN OIL SLICK ON THE ROAD, SWERVED SIDEWAYS AND HIT AN EXIT RAMP CONCRETE BARRIER FULL FRONT (W/ MY FRONT AGAINST IT, PERPENDICULAR TO THE BARRIER). PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, MINE DID NOT. THE THING IS, I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR, THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. CAR WAS ALWAYS DRIVEN IN NY, I AM ORIGINAL OWNER. DIDN'T REPORT IT EARLIER BEC NEWS ALWAYS SAID IT'S ONLY AN ISSUE W/ CARS IN THE SOUTH, AND ELEMENT DIDN'T APPEAR IN THE RECALL LISTS IN THE PAPERS (ONLY SAW IT LISTED THIS MINUTE ON THE GOV SITE, AFTER HEARING SO MUCH TALK ABOUT IT ON THE NEWS AND DECIDED TO CHECK). I THINK THE CAR MANUF'S SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED ALL OWNERS OF THAT AIRBAG OF THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ISSUE, EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T LIVE IN THE SOUTH, JUST IN CASE, IT'S NOT EXPENSIVE TO DO, JUST A STAMP. ANYWAY, THAT'S MY FEELING. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662497December 6, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DRIVER SIDE LOCK STOPPED WORKING FROM THE OUTSIDE. FIRST THE ALARM AND AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING. IT WOULD ARM AND UNARM THE ALARM AND UNLOCK THE BACK AND SIDE DOOR BUT NOT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THAT WAS ANNOYING BUT I HAVE THE KEY AND WOULD THEN JUST UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BUT THE LOCK WOULD STICK AND NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN. I WOULD THEN HAVE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT AND TRY AGAIN. OVER A FEW WEEKS IT GOT WORSE AND WORSE EVENTUALLY NOT ALLOWING THE KEY TO EVEN COMPLETELY ENTER. IT WOULD ALSO GET STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND I WOULD HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK IT TO GET OUT. EVENTUALLY IT STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. TO GET IN I WOULD HAVE TO UNARM THE ALARM AND FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE USE AN UMBRELLA TO REACH ACCESS THE SEATS TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR. I WOULD THEN HAVE TO WALK AROUND THE CAR TO GET IN. I WOULD ALSO HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK THE DOOR BEFORE DRIVING AS IT WOULD NOT LOCK ON ITS OWN. TO GET OUT I WOULD HAVE TO DO THE WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN BUT IN REVERSE ORDER. IF I LOCKED THE DOOR WITH THE DOOR OPEN IT WOULD NOT SHUT COMPLETELY. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE OVER ABOUT A YEAR. I HAD IT REPAIRED ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO AND HAVE NOT HAD ISSUES SINCE. I DID NOT HAVE TO CHANGE KEYS, ELECTRONIC LOCKS, OR ALARMS. THIS WAS SOME TIME AGO SO I DO NOT REMEMBER WHAT THEY HAD TO DO TO FIX IT BUT I REMEMBER IT NOT BEING CHEAP AND TAKING MUCH OF THE DAY AS THEY HAD TO TAKE THE DOOR APART. I AM NOT SURE IF THE DEALER OR MY REGULAR REPAIR PLACE FIXED IT BUT MORE INFORMATION CAN BE REQUESTED FROM THEM IF NEEDED. THE REPAIR GUYS HAD NOT MENTIONED THIS BEING AN ISSUE WITH 2003 HONDA ELEMENTS BUT AFTER SEEING MULTIPLE REPORTS ON HERE I DECIDED TO ADD MY INFORMATION FOR MORE CONTEXT AND DETAILS IN HOW THE PROBLEM STARTED AND ADVANCED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10660749November 24, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DRIVER'S-SIDE KEY LOCK ROUTINELY DOES NOT ACCEPT THE KEY WITHOUT MULTIPLE EFFORTS. SOMETIMES THESE EFFORTS FAIL, AND I MUST TRY THE BACK HATCH OR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. AS A SINGLE FEMALE, I FIND THIS DISTURBINGLY DANGEROUS. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT I CAN'T GET INTO THE CAR, MARKING ME AS VULNERABLE. THIS BASICALLY SETS ME AFOOT, OFTEN AT NIGHT, OFTEN IN UNCERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. SHOULD I FIND MYSELF NEEDING TO MOVE THE CAR FOR ANY EMERGENCY WHATSOEVER, A GREAT DEAL OF TIME WILL BE LOST AS I STRUGGLE WITH ENTRY. UNTIL I CHECKED FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL, I HAD NOT KNOWN ABOUT THIS SITE. I AM APPALLED TO FIND THAT THIS KEY FAILURE IS A COMMON ISSUE. MY NEXT CAR WILL BE A TOYOTA, THE BRAND I DROVE FOR MANY, MANY MILES AND YEARS WITHOUT TROUBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652691November 5, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650565October 28, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR LOCK DOES NOT ACCEPT A KEY. THIS IS EXTREMELY PROBLEMATIC DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ELEMENT DID NOT INCLUDE AUTO LOCKS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN IN A PARALLEL PARKING SITUATION WHERE MY DRIVER DOOR WAS FACING A BUSY STREET. I WAS TRYING TO GET INTO THE CAR WHEN THE LIGHT BEHIND ME TURNED GREEN AND THE CARS CAME WHIPPING BY. IT IS ALSO SCARY AT NIGHT WALKING TO MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT AS I DON'T KNOW IF MY LOCK WILL WORK AND SOMEONE COULD EASILY FOLLOW ME OUT TO MY CAR AND HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO ATTACK ME. I HAVE A DAUGHTER AND HER SAFETY IS MOST IMPORTANT. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE FIXED NOT ONLY FOR CONVENIENCE BUT ALSO PEACE OF MIND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10622402August 14, 2014
ENGINE
I STOPPED TO CHECK MY MAIL AND TURNED OFF MY VEHICLE TO USE THE MAIL BOX KEY AND WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR AGAIN, IT WOULD NOT START. ALL I GOT WAS A BUZZING NOISE FROM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT OVER THE LAST WEEK THERE WERE TIMES MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I WOULD MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND IT WOULD FINALLY START. THE BATTERY AND STARTER WERE CHECKED AND IN WORKING CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10622400August 14, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE LOCK ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR NO LONGER ACCEPTS THE KEY. I HAVE TO UNLOCK FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN TRYING TO LOCK OR UNLOCK FROM THE DRIVER SIDE, MY KEY GETS STUCK IN THE LOCK AND DOES NOT TURN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10621959August 13, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC DOOR SYSTEM FAILED TO OPEN OR LOCK THE DOORS, AND THE DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED WITH THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10621187August 10, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
FRONT DOOR LOCK WILL NOT WORK. IT IS JAMMED AND WILL NOT ACCEPT THE KEY GOING IN. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10618968August 5, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
BOTH DOOR LOCKS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER) ARE JAMMED. AT TIMES THE KEY GOES IN AND OTHERS IT DOESN'T BUT DO NOT TURN. I HAVE TWO KEYS AND NEITHER OF THEM OPEN EITHER DOOR. I HAVE TO ENTER THROUGH THE BACK DOOR, CLIMB OVER THE BACK SEATS TO GET TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH MANY HONDA ELEMENTS MADE IN 2003. I HAVE READ MANY REVIEWS AND SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. I HAVE BACK PROBLEMS AND CANNOT BE CLIMBING IN THROUGH THE BACK OF MY CAR TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO ENTER MY CAR. I THINK HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THESE LOCKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10611245July 17, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK BEGAN TO NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR ON FIRST ATTEMPT. AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR THE LOCK BECAME STUCK AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND WOULD NOT RELEASE THE KEY. FORCED THE KEY OUT OF THE LOCK BY PLACING MY KNEE AGAINST THE DOOR AND PULLING ON THE KEY UNTIL THE KEY FINALLY CAME OUT. LOCK CONTINUES TO BE AT ABOUT 20 DEGREES AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO ENTER AND/OR TURN. HAVE TRIED LIQUID WRENCH, BUT NO IMPROVEMENT. HAVE TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR BY ENTERING THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10607361July 1, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT OF MY CONDO, WHEN MY KNEE TAPPED THE KEYS ON MY IGNITION INWARDS. AS THIS HAPPENED THE CAR SHUT OFF. I WAS WORRIED BUT HAD TO GO ON WITH MY DAY. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE GM ISSUES I BECAME CONCERNED BECAUSE THE ISSUE WITH THEIR IGNITION WAS THE SAME ONE I WAS HAVING WITH MY HONDA ELEMENT. I CALLED HONDA ON JULY 1, 2014 AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INSPECTION AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT ON MY OWN. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE IGNITION ON MY HONDA HAS HAD AN ISSUE. A RECALL WAS INITIATED BY HONDA REGARDING THE IGNITION ALLOWING A CAR TO ROLL AWAY IF NOT ON PARK. I FOLLOWED DIRECTION AND HAD MY CAR INSPECTED BY A HONDA AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED, BUT NOW WITH A LIGHT BUMP ON THE KEY THE IGNITION TURNS OFF. I AM VERY WORRIED I AM NOT THE ONLY CONSUMER WITH THIS ISSUE AND THAT HONDA DOES NOT TAKE THIS CONCERN SERIOUSLY, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE GM ISSUES GOING ON. PLEASE HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10606382June 27, 2014
AIR BAGS
THE SRS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER HONDA ISSUED A PARTIAL RECALL ON 2003 ELEMENT AIRBAGS. I CALLED HONDA AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED. IN LOOKING INTO THE RECALL I SEE THAT IT IS FOR VEHICLES IN HOTTER CLIMATES. I THINK IT SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL CLIMATES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586840May 6, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT AND I HAVE TO PAY OVER $700 FOR A NEW IGNITION AND MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOES NOT WORK WITH A KEY OR THE KEYLESS REMOTE. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE AND HONDA SHOULD DO A BLANKET RECALL. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AT THIS TIME. IT IS EMBARRASSING AND UNACCEPTABLE AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. COME ON HONDA! NOW I WILL HAVE TWO KEYS, ONE FOR THE IGNITION AND ONE FOR THE DOORS. WHEN I GET MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FIXED, I WILL HAVE THREE KEYS TO USE. URG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584705April 24, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KEYLESS REMOTE WILL NOT WORK FOR ANY DOORS. KEY WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO MANUALLY TURN WITHOUT GETTING STUCK OR JAMMED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE (FROM THE OUTSIDE). THE DOOR WILL ONLY LOCK IF YOU CRAWL THROUGH FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND LOCK IT MANUALLY. THIS IS INCONVENIENT, UNACCEPTABLE AND A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS. THIS ISSUE SHOULD CAUSE A RECALL FOR HONDA TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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