Honda Element Complaints (2003)

424 consumer complaints on file.

#10111749March 30, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM SPONTANEOUS CRACK OCCURRED IN WINDSHIELD RIGHT LOWER SIDE . THEN A SPONTANEOUS CRACK OCCURRED IN LEFT LOWER WINDSHIELD . THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ROCK OR OTHER OBJECT STRIKING WINDSHIELD. *BF *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116027March 29, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKING FROM PASSENGER SIDE CORNER, EDGE, APPROX. 18". HAPPENED OVERNIGHT AS VEHICLE SAT. HONDA SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMS CRACK WAS CAUSED BY AN IMPACT WHOSE SITE IS BARELY VISIBLE AND THE SIZE OF A PIN POINT. HONDA WOULD NOT REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115960March 28, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACK DOCUMENT 1. THURSDAY (3/24/05) NOTICED CRACK IN WINDSHIELD THAT HAD NOT BEEN THERE THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. CRACK APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED AT POINT WHERE WINDSHIELD MEETS CAR BODY AND GOES UP ABOUT 3 INCHES, WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE A DIVED WHERE A PEBBLE OR ROCK COULD HAVE IMPACTED IT 2. FRIDAY(3/25/05) TOOK VEHICLE TO JOYCE HONDA FOR EVALUATION. WAS GIVEN AN INFO SHEET REGARDING WINDSHIELD CRACKS THAT STATED (BASICALLY) IF YOU CAN FEEL ANYTHING ON THE GLASS ITSELF IT IS CAUSED BY ROCK, IF NOT COULD BE FLAW SERVICE MANAGER LOOKED AT WINDSHIELD. RAN A PEN AT THE POINT OF INITIATION AND STATED HE COULD FEEL A DIVED. AFTER 10 MINUTES OF TRYING I STILL COULD NOT FEEL. HE STATED THAT IT WAS NOT WARRANTY PROBLEM AND ANYWAY HE ?DID NOT DO GLASS UNLESS FORCED TO WHEN IT IS WARRANTED?. HE DID NOT OFFER ANY INFO REGARDING PRICE, I ASKED HIM IF THERE ANY REQUIREMENTS FROM HONDA REGARDING REPLACEMENT (I.E. BRANDS, WHO SHOULD DO IT, ETC). HE SAID ?NO ANYONE WHO DOES AUTO GLASS IS FINE? 3. MONDAY (3/28/05) CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-800-999-1009 SPOKE TO CHRIS TO WHOM I RELATED THE EVENTS SO FAR INCLUDING THE FACT THAT THE CRACK HAS NOW TRAVELED ALMOST COMPLETELY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I MENTIONED THE TSB THAT INCLUDES MY VIN NUMBER (03-028) HE OPENED A CASE NUMBER SO THIS SITUATION CAN BE EVALUATED BY A DISTRICT MANAGER. HE STATED I WOULD BE CONTACTED IN 24-48 HOURS BY A HONDA DISTRICT MANAGER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114747March 25, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED TWICE. ONE CRACK IN FRONT OF PASSENGER SEAT, MAKES AN ARCH TO LOWER PASSENGER CORNER. OTICED SECOND CRACK IN MARCH, BEGINS IN FRONT OF DRIVER, VERY BOTTOM OF THE GLASS, EXTENDS TO MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114242March 17, 2005
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I HAVE A HONDA ELEMENT WITH WINDSHIELD THAT CONSISTENTLY CRACKS. I HAVE THE 5TH CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON MY CAR AND IVE HAD THIS CAR JUST 2 YEARS NOW. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I HAVE HAD MANY OTHER CARS THAT COULD SUSTAIN ROAD CONDITIONS AND HAVE NEVER RAPLACED A WINDSHIELD THIS OFTEN. THIS WINDSHIELD CRACKS UPON AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT OF A ROCK, AND ALWAYS COMES OUT OF ONE OF THE LOWER CORNERS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS DEFECT IN THE FRAMING OF THE WINDSHIELD AND HONDA AS WELL AS THE DEALERSHIPS WONT DO ANYTHING FOR ME UNLESS I PAY. I HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELDS 4 TIMES THROUGH INSURANCE BECAUSE HONDA WILL NOT ACCEPT INSURANCE CLAIMS. DUE TO THAT FACT I HAVE TO USE THE COMPANY THAT MY INSURANCE CO. SENDS TO ME. I ASSUME GEICO INS. CO. DOES NOT USE GLASS COMPANYS THAT USE FAULTY GLASS, AS I WAS TOLD BY THE HONDA DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE THAT HONDA SHOULD ASSESS THE FRAMING OF THE WINDSHIELD FREE OF CHARGE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN WINDSHIELD RECALS FRO 2003 ELEMENTS AND HONDA STATES THAT MY 2003 VEHICLE IS NOT ONE OF THEM. I FIND IT TOO COINCIDENTAL THAT I AM HAVING SUCH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE INCIDENT DATE LISTED BELOW JUST INDICATTES THE DATE OF THE MOST RECENT CRACK AFTER JUST BEING REPLACED TO PASS NYS INSPECTION ON 2-23-05.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113920March 10, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
(1) NORMAL EVERYDAY DRIVING; (2) CRACKED WINDSHEILD, ORIGINATING LOWER CORNER PASSENGER SIDE, CURVING UP AND TO MIDDLE, (3) PLAN TO TAKE TO DEALER SOON. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112801March 9, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM LOWER PASSANGER SIDE CORNER AND IS SPREADING RATHER RAPIDLY ACCROS TEH ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS NOT INSTIGATED FROM ANY IMPACT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112739March 8, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WHILE ATTENDING A CONFERENCE LAST MAY, MY HONDA ELEMENT WAS PARKED IN A PUBLIC GARAGE. WHEN I RETRIEVED IT THERE WAS A CRACK STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM CENTER EDGE. OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS IT CONTINUED TO CRACK VERTICALLY AND THEN HORIZONALLY ACROSS IN FRONT THE THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAD THE WINDOW REPLACED BY A WINDHSIELD REPAIR SHOP THAT IS USED BY MY HONDA DEALER. MY INSURANCE PAID FOR IT AS THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112473March 3, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON ITS OWN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112475March 3, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
JUST AS MY WARRANTY EXPIRED (37,000 MILES) WHILE OUT OF TOWN, I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I WOULD FILL UP AND IT WOULD ONLY MARK AT ABOUT HALF A TANK. I WAS A BIT CONFUSED AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I KNEW THAT THE TANK WAS FULL, BUT I DID NOT WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES. SO WHEN THE GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY AND THE FUEL LIGHT CAME ON I WOULD REFILL THE TANK AGAIN. WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NOT KNOWING EXACTLY HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE TANK IF I DO HAPPEN TO RUN OUT OF GAS. I COULD POTENTIALLY DO DAMAGE TO OTHER ENGINE AND MECHANICAL PARTS OR TO MYSELF AND FAMILY IF THIS HAPPENS ON THE ROAD. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AND NOW IT GOES TO ONLY 1/4 A TANK AND THEN TO EMPTY. I AM TRYING TO GET IT TO THE DEALER, BUT MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRES AND HONESTLY DO NOT HAVE THE CASH TO FIX IT. I FEEL THAT AT JUST BEING OVER THE WARRANTY THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT SO SOON. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER ELEMENT OWNER'S AND DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112247February 27, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
AS I GOT IN MY HONDA ELEMENT, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVERS SIDE, UP 16 INCHES ALMOST TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. NOTHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A STRESS CRACK THAT IS PROBABLY POOR DESIGN ON HONDA'S PART. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112036February 23, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD INITIATING BELOW TRIM STARTING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR WITH NO CAUSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111923February 22, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY CAR WAS PARKED AT WORK DURING A SNOW STORM AND AT THE END OF THE DAY I CAME OUT TO THE CAR BRUSHED THE SNOW AWAY AND MY WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED IN THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE CORNER THE CAR HAD 7300 MILES ON IT. IT WAS FINE WHEN I LEFT IN THE MORNING . 2 DAYS LATER I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO A SMALL PIT IN THE WINDSHIELD THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF SAND AND THEREFORE HONDA WOULD NOT THE REPAIR. I HAVE HAD CARS (HONDAS) WITH LARGE STONE CHIPS 1/4 INCH IN SIZE NOT CRACK THE WINDSHIELD - THE SIZE OF THIS PIT IS BARELY VISIBLE. I TOLD MY DEALER THAT I FELT THIS WAS A DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD OR INSTALLATION AND HE SAID THAT HONDA WOULD NOT ADDRESS IT SINCE THERE WAS A PIT IN THE WINDSHIELD. HE SAID MY INSURANCE WOULD COVER IT. AFTER CHECKING ON THE WEB AND THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS MY SUSPICIONS WERE VERFIIED. I HAVE OWNED 6 HONDAS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH HONDA - TO ME THIS IS DANGEROUS, AN OBVIOUS DEFECT AND THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM!!! A MEMBER ON THE HONDA ELEMENTS OWNERS WEB SITE STATED THAT HE HAD HIS WINDSHIELD REPLACED BY ANOTHER FIRM AND THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW THIN THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD WAS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111820February 19, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT HAS DEVELOPED A STRESS CRACK IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER IN THAT IS SIMILAR THAT REPORTED BY HUNDREDS OF ELEMENT OWNERS. THIS OCCURED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IS CONSISTENT WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A HONDA TSB ADDRESSING CRACKED WINDSHEILDS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. TWO HONDA DEALERSHIPS ARROGANTLY DISMISSED IT AS BEING CAUSED BY A PEBBLE CHIP; HOWEVER THE ALLEGED "CHIP" WAS A SMALL PIT THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF SAND. THE FIRST DEALER INDICATED HE LOCATED A SMALL DICONTINUITY IN THE PATH OF THE CRACK THAT WAS PIN SIZED. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP ALLEGED THAT HE LOCATED SIX PINHOLES, NONE OF WHICH WERE VISABLE TO ME OR DETECTED BY THE FIRST DEALERHIP! THE INSPECTION TECHNIQUE AND RESULTING DISMISSAL OF THE CLAIM APPEARED TO BE COACHED FROM SOME HONDA FACTORY ISSUED DIRECTIVE TO AVOID DOCUMENTATION OF THIS WIDESPREAD DEFECT. DOZENS OF WEBSITE POSTINGS ARE AVAILABLE WHICH DOCUMENTS SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH MANY ALSO DESCRIBING THE ALLEGED DETECTION OF A PINHEAD SIZE PIT ON THE SURFACE OF THE CRACK DIRECTLY UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT HONDA IS ATTEMPTING TO COVER UP THIS DEFECT TO AVOID A RECALL OR A"SECRET WARRANTY" SITUATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108514February 16, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WAS BEGINING TO CRACK. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *EH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110582February 15, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I HAVE HERD SOME ABOUT THAT IN PAST. WHEN I WENT TO A HONDA DEALER THEY DECLINED REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD. STATING THERE IS NO RECALLS ON IT. HOWEVER I DID FOUND OUT SOME INFORMATION ON WWW.HONDAELEMENTSCRACK.COM THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110178February 9, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
BROKEN WINSHIELD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110155February 8, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
A WINDSHIELD PROBLEM. THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE LEFT SIDE JUST 5" ABOVE THE LOWER CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO IMPACT MARK AT THE CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD. HOWEVER, DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS AN IMPACT MARK, AND REFUSED TO REPAIR IT! THERE ARE SEVERAL BIGGER DEBRIS CHIPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH DID NOT CAUSE CRACK! I HAVE ON THE CAR JUST 13 000 MILES AND THIS IS UNHEARD OFF. I HAVE OVER 10 YEARS OF DRIVING AND NOTHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENED TO ME WITH ANY OF MY CARS BEFORE. I WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH THE CRACK ON UNTIL THE DEALER OR AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. DECIDES TO REPLACE AT THEIR OWN COST. THEY HAVE TO ADMIT IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND DO A NATIONAL RECALL. I AM READY TO SUE AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY IF MY SAFETY IS JEOPARDIZED DUE TO THAT PARTICULAR DEFECT !!! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108361February 1, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE FIRST CRACK CAME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER PART OF W/SHIELD STARTING BY THE COWL VENT PANEL AND THE CRACK WENT TO THE LT. THE SECOND CRACK CAME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I HEARD SOME CRACKING NOISES AND THEN THE CRACK APPEARED AND DID THE SAME THING BUT THE CRACK WENT TO THE RIGHT SIDE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108321January 31, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD INITIATING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR WITH NO CAUSE SUCH AS ROCK CHIP DAMAGE, ETC. CRACK CONTINUES ACROSS WINDSHIELD JUST ABOVE DASHBOARD LEVEL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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