Honda Element Complaints

1,283 consumer complaints on file.

#10508732April 18, 2013
AIR BAGS
MY SON ROLLED OUR 2005 HONDA ELEMENT IN A RELATIVELY LOW SPEED CRASH, ABOUT 30 MPH. ALTHOUGH THE ROOF WAS SMASHED IN AND WINDSHIELD BROKEN, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. LUCKILY HE WAS WEARING A SEATBELT AND ESCAPED HARM, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IN A WRECK IN WHICH THE CAR ENDED UP RESTING ON ITS ROOF, THAT THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504676March 27, 2013
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT 40 MPH ON PAVED CITY STREETS, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SUDDENLY FELL INTO THE DOOR CAVITY AND WAS LEFT INOPERABLE. HAD TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN COLD WEATHER WITHOUT A SIDE WINDOW. TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIR OF WINDOW REGULATOR. DEALER HAD VEHICLE FOR 24 HOURS. REPAIR WAS IT APPEARS THIS PREMATURE FAILURE COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME, LEAVING THE CAR VULNERABLE TO WEATHER AND BREAK INS. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR OF THIS AGE. REPAIR WAS $244.32. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504048March 26, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
2006 HONDA ELEMENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT COMBINATION SWITCH WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER HEADLIGHTS AS NOTED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED DUE TO THE VERY LOW FAILURE RATE IN THE ELEMENTS, THEY WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM CREATES OVERHEATING ON THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF LOW BEAM FUNCTIONALITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502508March 12, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE LOW BEAN ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V136000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 05/15/13*LJ UPDATED 05/30/2013 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501942March 7, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NHTSA RECALL 10V364000 I TOOK MY ELEMENT INTO BOB BOYT HONDA; BRANDON, MS FOR THIS RECALL. THEY TOOK THE CAR, REPLACED SOME LITTLE PLASTIC PART. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I COULD STILL REMOVE THE KEY AND WALK AWAY FROM THE CAR WITH THE CAR IN GEAR. WHEN THE CAR SHIFT IS IN THE DRIVE POSITION AND TURNED OFF, IT WILL STILL ROLL,LIKE IT WOULD IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP, LEFT IT, THEY TRIED AGAIN. BUT THE PLASTIC PART WOULD NOT FIX THE CAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS SOME SOLENOID NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND IT WOULD COST HUNDREDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS THAT PART WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I LEFT AND THE CAR IS NOT FIXED. WAS MY CAR SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED, REGARDLESS OF THE PART REQUIRED? THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS DEALERSHIP AND RECALLS ON THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496176February 2, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE DASHBOARD LIGHT OF THE HONDA ELEMENT GOES DARK INTERMITTENTLY. AT THE BEGINNING I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED EVENT - BUT FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE ON INTERNET FORUMS. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE PROBLEM IS SO INCONSISTENT THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT. FROM READING THE COMPLAINT OF THE OTHER ELEMENT OWNERS IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM OF THE ELEMENTS. I REQUEST THE NHTSA TO PERFORM A DETAILED INVESTIGATION INTO THIS -AS THIS POSES A SERIOUS RISK WITH THE INSTRUMENTS CLUSTER FAILING RANDOMLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496182February 2, 2013
SEATS
HONDA HAS A TSB FOR THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT. THE ISSUE IS THE SEAT ROCKS AS YOU ACCELERATE OR BRAKE LIKE A ROCKING CHAIR. I HAD MY LOCAL DEALER FIX THE SEAT UNDER THE TSB, HOWEVER SOON AFTER IT WAS FIXED THE ROCKING RETURNED AND I WAS TOLD THE WORK IS NO LONGER COVERED. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT WHERE YOU SIT ALONG THE LEFT SIDE IS WORN AND THE FABRIC IS CRACKED. I REALIZED THE WEAR AND TEAR IS ABOVE THE SEAT BASE WHERE THE TSB REPAIR WAS MADE. THE WEAR AND TEAR IS FROM THE INSIDE OF THE SEAT, NOT FROM THE DRIVER. I WAS TOLD THAT IT ISN'T COVERED AND I TRIED TO EXPLAIN HOW IT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE SEAT ROCKING. NONE OF THE OTHER SEATS HAVE A PROBLEM AND THIS IS ALONG THE SEAT FROM THE FRONT TO BACK, SAME AS THE BASE OF THE SEAT WHERE THE ROCKING TAKES PLACE. I WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED AND THE BASE OF THE SEAT RECALLED. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496181February 2, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
THERE IS A DEFINITE BREAKDOWN WITH THE BRAKE CALIPERS. I AM NOT A MECHANIC BUT REALIZED THE FAST DETERIORATION OF THE CALIPERS AND HAVE NOT HEARD OF THAT PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS AND I HAVE SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE BRAKES WERE NEVER THE SAME. THE VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE STOPPING WITH NEW BRAKES. I FLUSHED THE BRAKE FLUID WITH OFFICIAL HONDA BRAKE FLUID AND RECENTLY NOTICED THE ISSUE IS WITH THE CALIPERS. THEY ARE RUSTY AND THE METAL FLAKES OFF AND THE PISTONS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY ON ANY OF THE BRAKES. SOME BRAKES DON'T FULLY BRAKE AND ONE REAR CALIPER IS STUCK WHILE DRIVING SO THE PADS ARE ON THE ROTOR WHILE DRIVING. I HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE, THE CALIPERS ARE TO SQUEEZE AND RELEASE AND THEY NEVER HAVE SOON AFTER I GOT THE VEHICLE NEW. I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH THE HONDA DEALERS I HAVE TAKEN IT TO, BEFORE KNOWING THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH DETERIORATED CALIPERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN A FLOOD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I CAN'T IMAGINE I'M THE ONLY OWNER WITH THAT PROBLEM AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO FILE A COMPLAINT EARLIER OR WHAT A CALIPER WAS. I WOULD LIKE IT INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED IF NECESSARY. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494684January 25, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS ALSO HAPPENED ON 9/23/2011. BULBS ARE OK. DEALER SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. HONDA SAID IT'S NOT A RECALL. MANY PEOPLE REPORT SAME PROBLEM ON WEB. ALSO CRV HAS THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10491826January 8, 2013
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS DRIVING AROUND 12:15 IN AM, A VEHICLE FROM RIGHT CAME OUT OF STREET AND I COULD NOT AVOID HITTING THE CAR. MY HONDA HIT THE CAR, DESCRIBED AS A T BONE HIT. I HAD NO PASSENGERS,AND WAS WEARING SEAT BELT. MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG ACTIVATED, MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT ACTIVATE. MY HONDA CAR HAD SEVERE DAMAGE ON THE LEFT DRIVER SIDE, LESS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. MY HEAD LIGHT WAS GONE FROM THE LEFT SIDE AND RIGHT SIDE WAS INTACT. MY CAR WAS TOTALED AS A LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE SENSOR LOCATED ON MY DRIVER SIDE DID NOT REACT TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG. THE FRAME BAR WAS BENT AND DAMAGE RIGHT NEXT TO THE SENSOR. I RECEIVED NECK BRUISES, SWELLING AND NECK PAIN. MY KNEE WAS CUT AND SWOLLEN. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT BREAKS IN THE PLASTIC ON BOTH SIDES OF THE INTERIOR STEERING COLUMN, PROVING THE INTENSE OF THE FORCE OF THE HIT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. MY QUESTIONS WERE NOT ANSWERED BY HONDA AS TO WHY MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT EMPLOY. I SPOKE TO HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE, WITH NO SATISFACTORY RESULTS. THANK YOU, WITH MUCH APPRECIATION. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10488946December 17, 2012
AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING ON A CURVY ROAD WHERE IT HAD RECENTLY RAINED - ONLY DRIVER WAS IN VEHICLE. THE ELEMENT SUV SKID AND POSSIBLY HYDROPLANED A LITTLE. THE SUV JUMPED THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE COLUMN OF A FREEWAY OVERPASS. THE FRONT END WAS SMASHED IN AND THE RADIATOR WAS DESTROYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE COLLISION WAS MORE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND IT STILL DID NOT DEPLOY THE AIRBAG. THE SEATBELT I HAD ON TENSED UP AND KEPT ME FROM CRASHING INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I DID BOUNCE A LITTLE AND HIT MY HEAD EITHER ON THE SIDE COLUMN OR THE FRAME ABOVE THE WINDOW. THE AIRBAG MAY HAVE PREVENTED THAT. I AM SHOCKED IT DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10487753December 8, 2012
AIR BAGS
MY HONDA 2005 ELEMENT'S SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. I WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT AND PARTIALLY DROVE OVER A CURB WITH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. AS THE TIRE ROLLED OFF THE CURB THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND AND WAS COMPLETELY FREAKED OUT. I LOOKED TO MY LEFT SIDE AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG HAD EXPLODED OUT. IT WASN'T EVEN INFLATED. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT INJURED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487675December 7, 2012
VISIBILITY
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN WHILE DRIVING, BLOCKING VIEW OF ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486687December 1, 2012
SEATS
MY DRIVER SEAT HAS BEEN CRACKING AND IT IS LIKE THE SEAT COVER THAT IT WAS MADE OUT OF WAS DRY ROTTED. I HAVE TALK TO OTHER HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS AND THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME WITH THE DRIVER SEAT, OTHERS WITH THE OTHER SEAT. SO, IT IS NOT BECAUSE THE DRIVER GET IN AND OUT MORE, BECAUSE IT IS NOT ONLY ON THAT SIDE OF THE SEAT BUT THE OTHER SIDE AS WELL AND BACK PART ON THE SIDES. JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT COVERS AS CRACKING AND TEARING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486361November 28, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO UNLOCK THE DOOR BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE CONTACT UNLOCKED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND ENTERED THE VEHICLE. AFTER SOME TIME, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485960November 25, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM HAS ALWAYS HAD A NICE FIRM PEDAL PRESSURE. RECENTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP I NOTICED THE PEDAL TO FEEL SPONGY, SOFT AND TRAVEL CLOSE TO THE FLOOR. I CHECKED FLUIDS ETC. AND ALL SEEM NORMAL. STILL HAVE ADEQUATE PAD THICKNESS ON ALL PADS. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SOFT, SPONGY PEDAL SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENT NOW. CHECKED THE INTERNET AND SEE THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ON 2007 AND 2008 ELEMENTS. BELIEVE IT MIGHT ALSO BE SHOWING UP ON OTHER YEARS ALSO. WE ALSO HAVE A 2004 ELEMENT AND THE PEDAL PRESSURE IS AS THE 2003 USED TO BE. THE 2003 IS AN EX 2WD AUTO AND THE 2004 IS AN EX AUTO AWD MODEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485279November 20, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
I REPLACED THE TIRES ON MY NEW 2008 HONDA ELEMENT ON 10/21/2007 AT 869 MILES SINCE THE TIRES THAT THE CAME WITH THE VEHICLE HAD POOR TRACTION IN RAIN. A MONTH LATER, THE TPMS LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON 11/26/2007 AT 1056 MILES. HONDA OF SEATTLE CONCLUDED THAT THE SYSTEM JUST NEEDED A RESET AND PROCEEDED WITH DOING SO. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE TPMS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN SO I TOOK IT TO HONDA OF SEATTLE ON 12/05/2007 AT 1161 MILES. THEY FOUND THAT ONE TIRE SENSOR WAS NOT SENDING OUT A SIGNAL SO IT WAS REPLACED. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER THE TPMS SENSOR CAME ON AGAIN SO IT WAS TAKEN TO HONDA OF SEATTLE ON 01/04/2008 AT 1840 MILES. THIS TIME HONDA OF SEATTLE REPLACED ANOTHER TPMS SENSOR AND THE TPMS RECEIVER UNIT, HOWEVER THE TPMS LIGHT WAS STILL ON. AT THIS TIME, HONDA OF SEATTLE CONCLUDED THAT THE NEW TIRES THAT WERE INSTALLED (ELSEWHERE) HAD TOO MUCH CARBON IN THEM THUS BLOCKING THE SIGNALS FROM TPMS SENSORS AND THEREFORE THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT RESOLVE ITSELF UNTIL THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. FIVE YEARS LATER, SINCE I WAS WANTING TO REPLACE THE TIRES AGAIN, I TOOK IT TO HONDA OF SEATTLE TO CONFIRM THEIR PREVIOUS DIAGNOSIS THAT THE TIRES WERE A PROBLEM. NOW THEY STATED THAT THE TPMS LIGHT WAS ON DUE TO THE FAILURE OF ALL FOUR SENSORS RELATED TO WATER CORROSION. THEY REPLACED ALL FOUR SENSORS ON 09/25/2012 AT 28206 MILES. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE TPMS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND HONDA OF SEATTLE FOUND THAT ONE OF THE NEW TPMS SENSORS HAD FAILED SO THEY REPLACED IT ON 10/03/2012 AT 28317 MILES. AFTER THAT, WITH NO LIGHT COMING FOR WEEKS, I FELT COMFORTABLE THAT THE TPMS PROBLEM WAS FINALLY CORRECTED AND REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES ON 10/20/2012 AT 28518 MILES. HOWEVER ON 11/11/2012 THE TPMS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO HONDA OF SEATTLE ON 11/14/2012 AT 28691 MILES. TWO OF THE NEW SENSORS HAD FAILED AGAIN AND WERE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482726October 31, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED AND LUNGED FORWARD AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,708.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482149October 24, 2012
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE SUN VISOR MOUNT HAS LOOSENED UP OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO. TODAY, I PULLED DOWN THE SUN VISOR TO BLOCK THE SUN AND WHEN I ACCELERATED THE ENTIRE THING FELL ON MY FACE WHILE I WAS DRIVING, TEMPORARILY BLOCKING MY VISION. THE ENTIRE MOUNT AND VISOR CAME OUT OF THE CEILING OF MY CAR AND FELL ON ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479963October 12, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
I PUT ON MY BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING. MADE RUBBING SOUND AND THEN CONTINUED TO RUB ALL THE WAY TO MY DAUGHTERS. MINIMAL 2 HOURS IN TRAFFIC IN CHICAGO AT RUSH HOUR. AFRAID TO DRIVE BUT NO WAY TO GET OFF AND NOWHERE TO GO. TOOK TO MIDAS ON FRI. OVER $500.00 NOW MY BACK BRAKES ARE DOING THE SAME THING. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW 52,0000. THE DEALER HAD TOLD ME AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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