Honda Element Complaints (2003)

424 consumer complaints on file.

#10081279July 17, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING WEST ON VA. STATE ROUTE 33 WHEN I NOTICED A SMALL DEER IN THE ROAD. AS I MANUVERED TO AVOID THE DEER, THE CAR WENT COMPLETETLY OUT OF CONTROL. CAR STRUCK EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER. CAR LANDED RIGHT SIDE UP. ALL REAR WINDOWS BROKEN OUT.VEHICLE IS TOTAL LOST. I HAVE HAD TO AVOID DEER IN TWO OTHER VEHICLES AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. IF THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF CAR, DRIVERS NEED TO BE NOTIFED.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080566July 8, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2003 HONDA ELEMENT CRACKED WINDSHIELD. SAME AS MANY OTHER OWNERS. DEFINITE DESIGN DEFECT, HONDA MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS EXPENSIVE, TROUBLING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THEY CREATED. THEY JUST BLOW OFF MOST CONSUMERS SAYING "ROCK HIT IT." HOWEVER, MOST CRACKS ARE IN SAME SPOTS AND NO STAR BURST EVIDENCING A ROCK IMPACT. WAY TOO MANY COMPLAINTS TO CHALK UP TO ROAD DEBRIS IMPACT. DON'T JUST SIT ON YOUR DUFFS AND DO NOTHING. YOU HAVE OVER 100 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON A NEW VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR LESS THAN 2 YEARS. STATISTICALLY THAT IS HUGE. SO, DON'T JUST IGNORE THIS, SIT BACK AND DO THE TYPICAL GOVERNMENT THING, WORRY ABOUT YOUR TIME OFF, SICK DAYS, AND DO THE BEUROCRATIC IGNORANCE DANCE. COME DOWN ON HONDA WITH ALL YOUR MUSCLE AND PROTECT THE COMSUMER WHO HAS NO POWER AGAINST THIS HUGELY PROFITABLE GOLIATH.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080529July 7, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
1.SMALL PEBBLEW HIT WINDSHIELD 2.WINDSHIELD MOSTLY CHIPS, EXCEPT FOR CHIPS AT EDGE OF WINDSHIELD WHICH CRACKS PROPERGATE QUICKLY. 3.WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080416July 6, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN BROKEN 3 TIMES. IT WAS HIT BY ROCKS ALL 3 TIMES. I WATCHED THE 2ND CRACK SPLINTER UP THE WINDSHIELD AS I DROVE TO THE DEALER. IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND HAD TO PAY $400 TO REPLACE. I'M 52 AND HAVE HAD MANY, MANY CARS AND HAVEN'T HAD 3 BROKEN WINDSHIELDS IN THE LOT. I FEEL THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW OR SUB-STANDARD GLASS IS USED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079204July 2, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DURING THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, THE WINDSHIELD ON MY HONDA ELEMENT 2003 (PURCHASED NEW ON 8/28/03)) HAS BEEN PITTED THREE TIMES AND HAS BEGINNING N 6/17/04 DEVELOPED A HAIRLINE CRACK BEGINNING ONTHE PASSENGER SIDE AND EXTENDING FIFTEEN INCHES TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE. AS OF 7/2/04, I HAVE MADE CONTACT WITRH THE DEALER (BARON HONDA IN PATCHOGUE, NY) AND AMERICAN HONDA MOTORS BY PHONE AND CERTIFIED MAIL. THE CONDITION IS STILL BEING DISPUTED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE WARRANTY APPLIES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078930June 28, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CRACK IS ABOUT 7 INCHES LONG COMING UP FROM THE LOWER CORNER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND CURVING TO THE SIDE. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO TELL ME THAT A ROCK HAD TO HAVE HIT THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE "THESE WINDSHIELDS DON'T CRACK." THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A PLACE WHERE THE ROCK HIT JUST BELOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPER THAT, WHILE YOU CAN'T SEE IT, YOU CAN FEEL IF YOUR RUN A PEN ALONG THE CRACK. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT (THAT I'VE HAD A PRIOR BAD EXPERIENCE WITH) SAID THE WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER IT BUT MY INSURANCE SHOULD. I LEARNED VIA THE INTERNET THAT HONDA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS PROBLEM. I PURCHASED A FULL EXTENDED WARRANTEE, AND HONDA SHOULD BE FIXING THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078841June 26, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN THE MIDDLE. CRACK APPEARED AFTER A LOUD POP WITH ~4,000 MILES. THE HONDA DEALER EXAMINED THE CRACK AND FOUND A SMALL CHIP FROM THE SURFACE OF THE GLASS. THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT HONDA HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS, INSTRUCTING THEM TO ROLL A BALL POINT PEN ALONG THE CRACK SEARCHING FOR INDENTATIONS. IF ONE IS FOUND, A ROCK STRIKE IS DEEMED TO HAVE CAUSED THE CRACK. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HONDA WILL NOT WARRANTY WINDSHIELDS THAT HAVE EVIDENCE OF A ROCK STRIKE (NO MATTER HOW MINOR). HONDA WILL FIX WINDSHIELDS THAT MEET TSB03-028 WHICH ADDRESSES CRACKS IN THE LOWER CORNERS. THE FRAGILITY OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE HONDA ELEMENT IS UNUSUAL AND ABNORMAL. HONDA MOTOR CO. IS IN DENIAL AND IS COSTING CONSUMERS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES. IN 30 YRS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED WINDSHIELD FAILURES LIKE THIS. THE BODY OF THIS VEHICLE IS QUITE FLEXIBLE. WARRANTY WORK HAS BEEN REQUIRED ON THE BODY TO ELIMINATE SQUEAKS CAUSED BY A RUBBING AT A WELDED SEAM UNDER THE WINDSHIELD COWLING. THE DEALER SPREAD THE SEAM (BETWEEN EACH WELD POINT) WITH A SCREWDRIVER AND FILLED THE CAVITY WITH A FLEXIBLE COMPOUND. THE SQUEAKS STOPPED, BUT, THERE APPEARS TO BE A BIGGER PROBLEM. IS THIS WINDSHIELD GOING TO WITHSTAND AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND KEEP THE BAG IN THE VEHICLE TO CUSHION OCCUPANTS? CONSIDERING THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SEEN IN FORUMS, HONDA MOTOR CO. NEEDS TO COME OUT OF DENIAL AND START ADDRESSING THE DESIGN FLAW IN THIS VEHICLE THAT CAUSES WINDSHIELDS TO FRACTURE UNDER NORMAL USE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078843June 26, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2003 HONDA ELEMENT EXPERIENCE A SECOND WINDSHIELD FAILURE AT ~15000 MILES. FIRST FAILURE WAS REPORTED UNDER COMPLAINT 10078841. SIMILAR TO THE FIRST FAILURE, THE DEALER IDENTIFIED A SMALL ROCK STRIKE AND DENIED COVERAGE UNDER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY. THE CRACK IS 12 INCHES LONG, RUNNING DIAGONALLY FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE UPPER CORNER TOWARD THE DRIVER SIDE CORNER. THE FRAGILITY OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE HONDA ELEMENT IS UNUSUAL AND ABNORMAL. HONDA MOTOR CO. IS IN DENIAL AND IS COSTING CONSUMERS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES. IN 30 YRS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED WINDSHIELD FAILURES LIKE THIS. THE BODY OF THIS VEHICLE IS QUITE FLEXIBLE. WARRANTY WORK HAS BEEN REQUIRED ON THE BODY TO ELIMINATE SQUEAKS CAUSED BY A RUBBING AT A WELDED SEAM UNDER THE WINDSHIELD COWLING. THE DEALER SPREAD THE SEAM (BETWEEN EACH WELD POINT) WITH A SCREWDRIVER AND FILLED THE CAVITY WITH A FLEXIBLE COMPOUND. THE SQUEAKS STOPPED, BUT, THERE APPEARS TO BE A BIGGER PROBLEM. IS THIS WINDSHIELD GOING TO WITHSTAND AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND KEEP THE BAG IN THE VEHICLE TO CUSHION OCCUPANTS? CONSIDERING THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SEEN IN FORUMS, HONDA MOTOR CO. NEEDS TO COME OUT OF DENIAL AND START ADDRESSING THE DESIGN FLAW IN THIS VEHICLE THAT CAUSES WINDSHIELDS TO FRACTURE UNDER NORMAL USE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079582June 21, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
A CRACK APPEARED ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, AT THE TOP DRIVER SIDE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079388June 16, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
LESS THAN THREE THOUSAND MILES INTO OWNING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER INSISTED THAT THE CRACK CAME FROM A ROCK, AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY COULD NOT CONFIRM THE ALLEGATION. DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD, BUT THE NEW WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK ALSO. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075137June 10, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE THE DAY IT HAPPEN I HAD BEEN IN MY CAR ALL DAY LONG. I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD OR ANYTHING. WHEN I DISCOVERED THE CRACK, I WAS TOTALLY SURPRISE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD PINPOINT THAT CAUSE IT TO CRACK. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED IT YET B/C I AM HOPING HONDA WILL DO A RECALL OF THESE WINDSHIELDS!! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074977June 8, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TRAVELING WEST ON RESIDENTIAL ROAD AT APROX. 15 MPH. WAS STRUCK IN REAR PASSENGER PANEL BY A 4 DOOR SEDAN WHO WAS STOPPED ON ROAD TO THE NORTH WAITING TO TURN EAST. MY HONDA ELEMENT SKID UNTIL FACING NORTH AND PROCEDED TO ROLL AND SLIDE ON DRIVERS SIDE, BECAME AIRBORN LANDED ON PASSENGER FRONT ROOF CORNER, THEN ONTO PASSENGER SIDE AND COMMING TO A REST IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. I WAS DRIVING. TWO YEAR OLD SON IN CAR SEAT BEHIND ME. SEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN REAR PASSANGER SEAT. ALL BUCKLED SAFELY. INJURIES CONSIST OF SOFT TISSUE/CONNECTIVE TISSUE DAMAGE THUS FAR. CHILDREN EXPERIENCED NAUSSEA AND VOMMITING FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER. THE ELEMENT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHER ELEMENT DRIVERS. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10074760June 3, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
1) UNDER NORMAL DRIVING WINDSHIELD IN VEHICLE CRACKED..IMPACT QUESTIONABLE...LOOKS STRESS RELATED 2) CAUSED VISIBILITY PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING 3) HONDA HAS NOT OFFERED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM AS OF YET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074016May 20, 2004
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD, CD PLAYER, HORN AND ALARM.*MR THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AFTER A SMALL PIECE OF DEBRIS HIT IT. THE CD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING AFTER IT HAD BEEN PLAYING FOR 5 HOURS. THE RIGHT SIDE BUMPER FELL OFF. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072640May 14, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF GETTING MY BRAND NEW 2003 HONDA ELEMENT, I HAD A CRACK AND STAR CHIP IN THE VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD. WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH, IT ACQUIRED YET ANOTHER CHIP. AS A RESULT OF THE ELEMENT'S WINDSHIELD'S UNPRECEDENTED VULNERABILITY, I QUESTION ITS SAFETY. AT THE VERY LEAST, IT REPRESENTS INFERIOR QUALITY OF MATERIALS AND/OR DESIGN, WHICH IS COSTING DRIVERS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR REPAIR COSTS. SO FAR, AMERICAN HONDA AND THE DEALERSHIP INSIST THAT THERE IS NO INHERENT FLAW IN MATERIALS, DESIGN, OR INSTALLATION, AND WANT TO ATTRIBUTE THE CHIPS AND CRACK TO BAD LUCK. HOWEVER, HONDA OWNERS ARE DOCUMENTING THIS PROBLEM IN DROVES ON WWW.HONDAELEMENT.ORG, AND ON WWW.EPINIONS. COM. HONDA MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS AT THEIR COST, AND RE-SPEC THE ELEMENT'S WINDSHIELD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068158May 1, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I HAVE HAD MY ELEMENT LESS THAN 1 YEAR, AT 1000 MI I DEVELOPED A STRESS CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT DEALER SAID WAS FROM A "ROCK", BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT IT - THEY DID AFTER PROTEST REPLACE IT "ONE" TIME. AT 10000 MI I NOW HAVE ANOTHER CRACK IN ALMOST THE SAME PLACE THAT SEEMED TO COME ON WITH OUT ANY IMPACT - WE ARE IN THE NEGOTIATING STAGES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063091April 29, 2004
SEATS
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT MATERIAL/ITS STRUCTURE OR BOTH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO HAVE SEVERE BACK PAINS. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE SEAT WAS POORLY STRUCTURED. CONSUMER SPOKE TO 5 OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE AND THEY ALL ARE EXPERIENCED THE SAME BACK PAINS. *AK *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068024April 28, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE WINDSHIELD CHIPS VERY EASILY. WE INCURRED THREE CHIPS IN JUST ONE DAY, ONE OF WHICH QUICKLY TURNED INTO A TWELVE INCH CRACK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067597April 21, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I BOUGHT A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT IN DECEMBER OF 2003. A FEW DAYS AFTER PICKING UP THE BRAND NEW CAR, I DISCOVERED A 4" CRACK ON MY WINDSHIELD. THE CRACKED STARTED FROM A VERY SMALL PINPOINT SPECK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE BLACK AREA. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT THEY SAID IT'S NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY SINCE THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY ROAD DEBRIS, REGARDLESS OF HOW SMALL THAT DEBRIS MAY BE. TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT, I DISCOVERED A 3" CRACK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. AGAIN, THE CRACKED STARTED WITH A PINPOINT ON THE BLACK AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD. I CALLED THE WINDSHIELD EXPERTS IN MY AREA, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THEY'VE BEEN REPLACING AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF WINDSHIELDS ON HONDA ELEMENTS. ARMED WITH THIS INFORMATION, I CONTACTED HONDA CUSTOMER RELATIONS. THE REPRESENTATIVE DENIED ANY ISSUES WITH WINDSHIELDS ON THE ELEMENTS AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON WHETHER THEY HAVE RECEIVED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. THE MOST SHE COULD DO WAS SUBMIT A COMPLAINT ON MY BEHALF (COMPLAINT NUMBER N012004-04-2100773). WINDSHIELDS ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND HONDA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELDS ON THE ELEMENTS. THEY NEED TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066531April 20, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
STRESS CRACK APPEARED AFTER NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD. CRACK STARTS BELOW THE DRIVERS SIDE WINSHIELD WIPER AND CURVES TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD, STOPPING ABOUT 15" LATER. SERVICE MANAGER AT HONDA CALLS A HOLE THE SIZE OF A PIN HEAD JUST ABOVE THE WIPER A "POINT OF IMPACT." HOW CAN A ROCK EVER HIT THERE?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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