Honda Element Complaints (2007)

112 consumer complaints on file.

#10276402July 11, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES ARE SPONGY ON 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL HAS INCREASED, ESPECIALLY ON HARD BRAKING. THIS HAS DEVELOPED MOSTLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. NO ACCIDENTS, BUT A COUPLE OF CLOSE CALLS BECAUSE THE CAR DOES NOT STOP AS QUICKLY AS IT SHOULD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275842July 6, 2009
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE AUTOMATIC AIR CIRCULATION FAN ACTIVATED. SUDDENLY, THE REAR TAILGATE WINDOW GLASS SHATTERED INTO PIECES. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNABLE TO BE ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 18,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266194April 21, 2009
VISIBILITY
10 INCH LONG CRACK APPEARED IN WINDSHIELD FROM RIGHT SIDE. NOTHING HIT THE GLASS AND THERE ARE NO CHIPS. HONDA REFUSES TO REPLACE IT EVEN THOUGH MY WARRANTY BOOK SAYS WINDSHIELD WORKMANSHIP IS COVERED. THEY WANT ME TO REPORT THEIR DEFECT IN MATERIAL TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND HAVE MY INSURANCE COMPANY PAY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE GLASS. I'LL BE CALLING MY LAWYER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265228April 14, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKING SYSTEM PREMATURE WEAR AND SOFT, "MUSHY" BRAKE PEDAL. THIS ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED BY ME WITH 5 HONDA DEALERSHIPS, ALL CLAIMING NO MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY. THEIR STATEMENT: "USER VARIANCES; DRIVER SENSITIVE" DATES, NAMES AND PARTS, AS WELL AS PHOTOGRAPHS, ARE AVAILABLE. SPECIFICS: 2007 HONDA ELEMENT SC. AT 30K MILES, REAR BRAKES NEEDED COMPLETE RE-DO, INCLUDING ROTOR TURN. AT 23K MILES, SAME, TO FRONTS. ON REAR, MARCH, 2009, ON REAR SYSTEM, 1 PAD OF 4 PADS FOUND TO BE SEIZED TO CALIPER HOUSING BY CORROSION; LACK OF LUBRICANT. INTENSIVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH HONDA, TORRANCE CA. INDICATED THEY FEEL NO RESPONSIBILITY. LATER, INVESTIGATIONS INTO SOFT, INEFFECTIVE BRAKE PEDAL FOUND FP# NOT ADMITTED BY HONDA AT ANY TIME; INTER NET INVESTIGATION THROUGH ELEMENT OWNERS FORUM FOUND FP#57110-SCV-A72, AND TSB 07-045. MODULATOR, BRAKES, PART # 9125782. MY CONTENTION: MY FEELING IS THAT THIS MODULATOR, RESPONSIBLE FOR SENDING THE PROPER FLUIDS TO EACH WHEEL CALIPER FOR PROPER BRAKING AND MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE, HAS CAUSED THOUSANDS IF NOT MILLIONS OF BRAKE SYSTEMS TO WEAR UNEVENLY AND PREMATURELY, AND SAME NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS THEMSELVES DUE TO A HONDA PART FAILURE IN THE SYSTEM. SAFETY: FURTHER, VEHICLE STABILITY AND ANTI LOCK BRAKE MECHANISMS ARE AFFECTED NEGATIVELY, WHILE HONDA DENIES RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THEIR PART AND MANUFACTURING. NOTE: MY VEHICLE IS TO BE REPAIRED TODAY, APRIL 14, 2009, AT HONDA EXPENSE. I HAVE ALREADY PAID IN EXCESS OF $ 200 FOR REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLES BRAKE SYSTEM; NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO ME, WITH TOTAL HONDA DENIAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220222March 6, 2008
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
SPONTANEOUS WINDSHIELD CRACK ON 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. LOWER PASSENGER SIDE CRACK OCCURRED WHILE I WAS SITTING IN CAR; NO IMPACT EVENT, ONLY DEFROSTER IN COLD WEATHER. DEALER EXAMINED AND CLAIMS 'STONE PIT' AND REFUSED TO COVER ON WARRANTY, BUT THERE IS NO VISIBLE PIT NOR ANYTHING THAT CAN BE FELT WITH FINGER. 19,100K MILES. CLASSIC CRACK STORY TYPICAL OF MANY OTHER HONDA ELEMENTS, AND CLASSIC 'STONEWALL TREATMENT' BY HONDA DEALER AS REPORTED BY OTHER HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218270February 17, 2008
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2007 HONDA ELEMENT, PURCHASED MARCH OF 2007. FEBRUARY 15, 2008 CRACK SHOWED UP ON WINDSHIELD STARTING FROM RIGHT SIDE FRAME OF WINDSHIELD, GROWING DAILY. *TR
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
#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
#10189164April 28, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
HONDA ELEMENT PURCHASED 4/16/07: A CHIP A WEEK ON WINDSHIELD! TODAY IS 4/28/07. INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS HISTORY WITH ELEMENT WINDSHIELDS. CALLED SALESMAN, "ITS OUR ROADS...REPAIR DEPT." JUST WANT TO GET A COMPLAINT ON RECORD SINCE THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR OTHER RECENT YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181315February 1, 2007
AIR BAGS
CAR CRASH, THE PERSON I HIT RAN A STOP SIGN GOING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. 2007 HONDA ELEMENT AIR BAGS WENT OFF, AND LOST PERMANENT HEARING LOSS IN BOTH EARS, L EAR 50% AND R EAR 70%. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10178399January 11, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2007 HONDA ELEMENT WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 1,473 MILES. THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE REAR SEAT, THE REAR DOORS CAN NOT BE OPENED. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE REAR SEAT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE WIND BLEW THE DOORS SHUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A WAY FOR HIM TO UNLATCH THE DOORS. ON PAST MODELS THERE WAS A LATCH ON THE FRONT SEATS WHICH WOULD RELEASE THE SEAT SO THE DOORS COULD BE UNLOCKED. NOW ON THE CURRENT VEHICLE THE LATCH IS NOT AVAILABLE, AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THE REAR SEATS IT TO CLIMB OVER THE SEATS OR OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE VIN AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. UPDATED. *JB UPDATED 05/10/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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