Honda Element Complaints

1,283 consumer complaints on file.

#10840245March 7, 2016
SEATS
THE STEEL FRAME IN THE DRIVERS SEAT COMPLETELY CRACKED AND BROKE, CAUSING THE SEATBACK TO BECOME SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. LOCAL HONDA DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE BREAK AND OFFERED A $2,400 NEW SEAT OPTION. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND A FRONT/REAR COLLISION WOULD HAVE CAUSED BODILY INJURY. PHOTOS AND VIDEO ARE AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10838797February 27, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT, COULD BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR DESPITE BLEEDING OF THE BRAKE LINES. REPLACING THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM WHETHER DRIVING OR STATIONARY. BLEEDING THE ABS MODULATOR WOULD TEMPORARILY IMPROVE BRAKING, BUT TURNING THE IGNITION ON AND OFF 6 TIMES WOULD INTRODUCE AIR INTO THE ABS MODULATOR. REPLACING THE ABS MODULATOR SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10838658February 26, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES VERY SPONGY, GOING ALMOST DOWN TO FLOOR, CAUSING A DANGEROUS INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE ON THE HIGHWAY MY MECHANIC BLED THE SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THEN CHANGED THE MASTER CYLINDER. STILL SPONGY, THEN THE MECHANIC CHECKED FOR HONDA SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. HE FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT ADDRESSES A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON 2007-2008 ELEMENTS (HTTPS://WWW.SKIDMORE.EDU/~PDWYER/E/FILES/CAMPAIGN_AND_RECALL_BULLETINS/A10-017.PDF). THERE IS ALSO A NHTSA RECALL REGARDING THIS PROBLEM (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V098000 ). I THINK THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2010 HONDA ELEMENT MAY BE SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE 2007-2008 YEAR MODELS AND REQUIRE A SIMILAR RECALL AND FIX. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BECAUSE THE LOSS OF BRAKING POWER ABILITY PUT MYSELF AND FAMILY IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10838034February 24, 2016
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS COLLAPSED INTO THE DOOR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10825792February 12, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER NEEDLES RANDOMLY FELL OFF. I WAS JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE TACHOMETER NEEDLE FELL OFF, AND ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE DID THE SAME. I TOOK OFF THE BEZEL AND IT SEEMS THAT THE PLASTIC SHAFT THAT HOLDS THE NEEDLE IN PLACE WAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES, THAT NEGATIVELY AFFECTED ITS ABILITY TO HOLD ON TO THE METAL SHAFT IN THE CLUSTER. THIS IS NOTHING THAT WAS DONE TO THE CAR, THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER RECALL, SINCE I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR AND KNOW EXACTLY HOW FAST I'M GOING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10824641February 6, 2016
SEATS
THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN MY 2004 ELEMENT ROCKS NOTICEABLY. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE SEAT FRAME. COST WAS $2300. SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND THAT HONDA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN #03-032 (ATTACHED). THE WORK INVOLVES REPLACING SEAT BUSHINGS. I TOOK THE SB TO THE DEALER, AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE DAMAGE TO THE FRAME WAS TOO BAD, AND THAT THE WORK WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. LOOKING AT THE SERVICE BULLETIN, THE BUSHINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED PROTECT THE FRAME. THEY RECOGNIZED THAT THE DESIGN FLAW REQUIRED THEM TO BE REPLACED. I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, AND CANNOT SAY IF THE WORK WAS EVER DONE. IN EITHER CASE, THE FAILURE OF THE BUSHINGS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE FRAME. PRESENTLY, THERE IS SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT AND THE SEAT IS LOOSE. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, IT IS MY CONCERN THAT THE MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT COULD RESULT IN SHEARING OF THE BOLTS, CAUSING THE SEAT TO COME APART. SINCE THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM WAS NOT A RECALL, BUT A SERVICE BULLETIN, IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THERE MAY BE MANY OF THESE VEHICLES WITH LOOSE SEATS. AS A SAFETY CONCERN THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO INSPECT THE FRAME FOR DAMAGE AND REPLACE IF DAMAGED. I AM PUTTING TODAY'S DATE IN THE DATE FIELD BELOW, BUT THIS IS A CHRONIC ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10824282February 4, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT AN IMPACT OCCURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V665000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10822188January 25, 2016
AIR BAGS
WHILE WAITING FOR OVER 9 MONTHS FOR THE PARTS FOR MY AIRBAG TO BE FIXED, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD BY HONDA THIS WOULD BE FIXED WHEN THE AIRBAG WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE LIGHT SENSOR WAS A SEPARATE ISSUE AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I DO NOT HAVE $800 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THE AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK AS LONG AS THE LIGHT IS ON. WHAT WAS THE POINT IN FIXING MY AIRBAG IF IT DOES NOT WORK ANYWAYS. IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10821170January 20, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V351000 (AIR BAGS) A MONTH AGO AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED THREE BROKEN RIBS AND LIVER DAMAGE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10819093January 8, 2016
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS FORWARD AND BACKWARD WHILE DRIVING - BRAKING ROCKS FORWARD - ACCELERATING ROCKS BACKWARD. WAS REAR-ENDED TWO DAYS AGO AND REALIZED THAT THE SEAT OR HEAD RESTRANT WOULD NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT TO PREVENT INJURY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10811973December 23, 2015
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE'S AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE CAR SOMETIMES WILL NOT START RIGHT AWAY. WE HAVE TO GIVE IT SEVERAL TRIES AND USUALLY AFTER 5 MINUTES IT WILL START. WE'VE ALREADY REPLACED THE STARTER AND PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. WE THOUGHT LAST RECALL WOULD HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THIS ISSUE WAS MENTIONED. BUT, THE SAME PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES AFTER LAST RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10811728December 22, 2015
SEAT BELTS
FEMALE SEAT BELT CONNECTION DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER FOR THIS WARRANTIED PART SUGGESTING THERE IS A LARGE PROBLEM WITH THIS PART THAT HONDA IS NOT RESOLVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10809744December 11, 2015
POWER TRAIN
INTERIM SHAFT BEARING BROKEN - REPLACED BY TWO DIFFERENT DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AT 20K MILES IN JUNE 2014 AND ALSO AT 30K MILES IN DEC 2015 WITH ORDINARY SUBURBAN DRIVING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808520December 4, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2007 HONDA ELEMENT ELECTRICAL DASHBOARD EQUIPMENT FAILURE. TACHOMETER GAUGE FELL OFF TACHOMETER, TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SOME OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AND THE ELECTRICAL PLUG FOR THE CHARGERS DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807900December 2, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
RECENTLY BECAME SECOND OWNER OF VEHICLE. NOTICED IT HAD A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. RECALL PERFORMED BY FIRST OWNERS DEALER, BUT, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807969December 2, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SEE HONDA SAFETY RECALL NO. R44. PUB NHTSA 2010-08-05 SAME ISSUE AS DESCRIBED. THE INTERLOCK LEVER OF THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY UNEXPECTEDLY DEFORM, WHICH CAN ALLOW THE INTERLOCK FUNCTION OF A VEHICLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO BE DEFEATED. REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION KEY WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR OF A VEHICLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN SHIFTED TO THE PARK POSITION CAN ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IS THAT MY CAR ROLLED WHILE I WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE A FEW TIMES BEFORE I FIGURED OUT I WAS LEAVING THE CAR IN DRIVE WHILE EXITING BECAUSE I LEAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL I JUMP OUT. THIS WAS SCARY AND NEARLY DISASTROUS, BECAUSE WITH THE CAR ROLLING BACKWARD, IT IS A DUKES OF HAZARD MOVE TO JUMP BACK IN THE CAR WHILE GETTING IMPACTED BY THE DOOR, THEN LAUNCHING INTO THE SEAT AND HITTING THE FOOT PEDAL BRAKE. IT IS A FRIGHTENING HAZARD, BUT THE $800-1K TO FIX IS A BARRIER TO MANY PEOPLE. I CHOOSE TO ALWAYS USE THE PARKING BREAK INSTEAD OF PAY THAT MUCH. I FIND THIS A FRIGHTENING PROBLEM THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE SAFETY ISSUE HONDA KNOWS ABOUT AND SHOULD FIX.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10795293November 22, 2015
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, STEERING
THE CAR WILL STALL WHEN IN MOTION AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A TURN. THE CAR WILL STALL AT A STOP SIGN , THE CAR WILL STALL AND BRAKE, FUEL AND BRAKE LIGHTS WIL COME ON BUT BATTERY IS FINE AND LIGHTS STAY ON. THIS IS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM HONDA WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE 2005 STALLING AUTO TRANSIMISSION THEY HAVE REPLACED THE AIC , THE THROTTLE , THE CRUISE CONTROL , O2 SENSOR. THE PROBLEM IS GOING OVER A YEAR SINCE 2014 NOW WORSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10795023November 20, 2015
AIR BAGS, SEATS
MY SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG CAME OUT AFTER RUNNING OVER A BRANCH THAT I COULD NOT AVOID. I CAME OVER A HILL ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND THE BRANCHES WERE ALL OVER THE ROAD. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR BECAUSE I SMELLED SMOKE. IT WAS ONLY UPON GETTING BACK IN MY CAR THAT I REALIZED THE AIR BAG WAS HANGING OUT. IT DID NOT INFLATE JUST CAME OUT. I RECENTLY HAD THE RECALL TAKEN CARE OF FOR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. EVERY AUTO BODY PERSON I HAVE SPOKE WITH SAYS THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED FOR SOMETHING LIKE A BRANCH. ALSO, MY SEAT BELTS ARE STILL WORKING WHICH IS UNCOMMON AFTER THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING. HONDA HAS NOT WANTED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING WITHOUT TRUE CAUSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10789151November 9, 2015
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 227,590. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10788108November 3, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK HAS BROKEN AT AROUND 83,000 MILES. I WAS HAVING TO UNLOCK AND GO THROUGH PASSENGER'S DOOR. NOW AT 150,000 MILES THE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK HAS BROKEN. DOOR LOCKS SHOULD NEVER BREAK AND NOW I FACE EITHER CLIMBING THROUGH THE BACK OF THE CAR OR LEAVING IT UNLOCKED, WHICH IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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