Honda Element Complaints (2003)

424 consumer complaints on file.

#10160389June 21, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELDS CRACKED TWICE. BOTH WINDSHIELDS CRACKED WITHIN THE SAME SPOT ON THE LOWER LEVEL PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT WINDOW. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THANKSGIVING OF 2005 AT 50000 MILES. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER IN JANUARY OF 2006. AND AT 4000 MILES AFTER THE REPLACEMENT IN APRIL OF 2006, THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD SUFFERED THE SAME DAMAGE. THE COLORADO REGIONAL DEALER MANAGER CAME OUT ON 06/21/06 AND INSPECTED THE WINDSHIELD. THE MANAGER DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD LOOKED LIKE A ROCK CRACK. THERE WERE NO TOOLS OR EQUIPMENT UTILIZED BY THE MANAGER TO DETERMINE THE FINAL DECISION. THE FINAL DECISION WAS THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WINDSHIELD. ON JUNE 12TH, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACK WAS WORSE. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THE WINDSHIELDS (FILED IN LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA SUPERIOR COURT CASE # BC319600, FILED IN 2004, NO VERDICT YET).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159779June 14, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY HONDA ELEMENT 2003 HAS NOW HAD 3 CRACKED WINDOWS UNDER A YEAR. THIS SEEMS VERY EXCESSIVE AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ONLINE. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157124May 9, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
HELLO, I PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD IN FEBRUARY, 2006. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND NOW IT IS CRACKED ONCE AGAIN IN PRETTY MUCH THE SAME PLACE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153510March 23, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2003 HONDA ELEMENT REAR BRAKES ARE TOTALLY SHOT NEEDING NEW PADS, ROTORS ETC. AND HONDA IS BLAMING "RUST BUILDUP," AND SAYING THAT IT IS OUR FAULT FOR NOT SERVICING THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED EACH TIME THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED OR TIRES ROTATED. HONDA'S CONTENTION THAT THE BRAKES SHOULD BE "TAKEN APART AND CLEANED DUE TO "SEVERE CONDITIONS" IS RIDICULOUS. WE DO LIVE IN NORTHEASTERN OHIO BUT EVEN THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS DRIVING IN SEVERE CONDITIONS OCCASIONALLY DOESN'T NECESSARILY PUT YOU IN THAT CATEGORY. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY VEHICLE THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE DISASSEMBLED AND CLEANED EVERY 10,000 MILES. COST TO REPAIR IS $450.00. IN ADDITION, MY WIFE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT BRAKE NOISE AND WAS TOLD BOTH TIMES TO GO OUT AND "JAM ON THE BRAKES HARD TO RELEASE DIRT BUILDUP ON THE BRAKES." AT NO TIME WAS SHE EVER ADVISED TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151187February 25, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING WEST ON INTERSTATE 10 NEAR BROOKSHIRE TX I REACHED INTO THE TRAY ON THE RIGHT DRIVER SIDE (IN DASH NEXT TO STEERING COLUMN) AND APPARENTLY BRUSHED THE REMOTE (HANGING ON THE KEY RING) AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE TWO LANE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO DRIVE OFF THE EXIT WITH NO POWER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO RESTART.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151056February 23, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT, A CRACK FORMED IN THE CORNER OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS PRESENT THAT CAUSED THE CRACK. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY STRESS FROM THE VEHICLE'S STRUCTURE. THERE WERE TWO TSB FOR THE WINDSHIELD, NHTSA ITEM NUMBERS 10009029 AND 10001628. THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER TSB BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147123January 6, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
ONE MORNING I GOT INTO CAR AND WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED TOP CENTER. THE CAR IS ALWAYS GARAGED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145657December 19, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2003 HONDA ELEMENT...FRONT WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER...WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A 2ND REPLACEMENT...BOUGHT THE CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2003...1ST WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT APRIL 2004...2ND REPLACEMENT DECEMBER 2005. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144859December 9, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD ON 2003 HONDA ELEMENT DEVELOPED A CRACK (WITHOUT ANY IMPACT) WHICH ORIGINATED FROM LOWER EDGE (BELOW WIPER, DRIVERS SIDE) AND WITHIN 24 HOURS HAD SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE WINDSHIELD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145386December 6, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 ELEMENT ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE AND KEYS IN HIS HANDS. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10142766November 15, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT DEVELOPED A CRACK BELOW THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER THAT GOES UP THREE INCHES THEN DOES A 90 DEGREE RIGHT TURN THEN TRAVELS APPROXIAMATELY TWO FEET HORIZONTALLY THEN DOES ANOTHER 90 DEGREE TURN DOWN INTO WINDOW BEAD. THERE IS A VERY VERY SLIGHT "DINK" IN THE WINDSHIELD ALONG THE CRACK BUT YOUR FINGERNAIL BARELY CATCHES IN IT. I BELIEVE AS DO MANY OTHER 2003 ELEMENT OWNERS THAT THERE IS UNDUE STRESS ON THE CORNERS OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLKAW THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY HONDA. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142771November 15, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK CAME UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW BEAD. IT FIRST BEGAN AS A TINY CRACK AND IS NOW ABOUT TWO AND HALF FEET LONG. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED TO HIM THERE WERE NO OTHER RELATED PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NM UPDATED 12/7/2005. IN LATE NOVEMBER THE CONSUMER FOUND A HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN REFERENCING A WINDSHIELD DEFECT. ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FALLS WITH THE RANGE OF VINS THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142028November 8, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, PARKING BRAKE
ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 22, 2005 I STARTED MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WHICH WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I QUICKLY REMEMBERED THAT I WANTED AN ITEM OUT OF THE GARAGE AND STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD NOT TOUCHED THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT AND THE E/R BRAKE WAS ON. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO REVERSE, DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE STREET, THE OPEN DOOR STRUCK THE NEIGHBORS MAIL BOX, VEHICLE PROCEEDED UP THE NEIGHBORS DRIVE WAY STRIKING THEIR PARKED VEHICLE, PUSHING IT 2 FEE UP THEIR DRIVEWAY. THEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO DRIVE, CAME BACK DOWN THE NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE STREET, UP MY DRIVEWAY, INTO MY GARAGE STRIKING ITEMS IN THE REAR OF THE GARAGE BEFORE STOPPING. I REACHED IN TO SHUT THE CAR OFF THEN RAN INTO THE HOUSE. WHEN MY HUSBAND CAME OUT TO THE GARAGE AND GOT INTO THE VEHICLE HE SAID THAT THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND THE E/R BREAK WAS ON. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE NEIGHBORS VEHICLE AND APPROX $3500 DAMAGE TO THE HONDA ELEMENT. I BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION/GEAR BOX FAILED AND THE E/B FAILED RESULTING IN INJURY AND DAMAGE. VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED AT BODY SHOP AND I HAVE NOTIFIED HONDA AND WILL HAVE THEM CHECK OUT WHEN REPAIRS COMPLETED. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10140182October 18, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR WAS PARKED, ENGINE TURNED OFF, AND KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. AS I STEPPED OUT THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL, MY RIGHT LEG BECAME CAUGHT IN THE CAR, I WAS DRAGGED ABOUT 80 FEET DOWN MY DRIVEWAY UNTIL I FINALLY MANAGED TO FREE MY FOOT AND ROLL AWAY. I FRACTURED A FINGER, TORE LIGAMENTS IN THAT AND ANOTHER, INJURED MY RIGHT KNEE AND ANKLE, SCRAPED MY RIGHT ARM, AND BRUISED MY UPPER THIGH. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL OVER SOME LARGE ROCKS, ACROSS THE ROAD, AND INTO THE CORN FIELD. THE KEY SHOULD NOT HAVE COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT IN PARK. AFTER GETTING NO SATISFACTION FROM HONDA AMERICA, MY LOCAL DEALER FINALLY AGREED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE ENTIRE KEY INTERLOCK SYSTEM. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10139873October 17, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD - PASSENGER SIDE - LOW AREA. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139218October 10, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON HONDA ELEMENT, IT STARTED LAST SUMMER AT EDGE OF WINDSHIELD AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GONE STRAIGHT ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD TO POINT WHERE IT NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL BUT BECAUSE MY VIN # DOES NOT MATCH THE RECALL HONDA WILL NOT NECESSARILY COVER. THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING $85.00 JUST CHECK TO SEE IF THEY WILL COVER. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELDS CRACKING. I HAVE LIVED IN AK FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD BEFORE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139902October 6, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, STRUCTURE
CONSUMER HAD WINDSHIELD REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BECAUSE IT MADE A HOWLING NOISE. *TS THE COMPANY THAT REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD BLAMED THE MANUFACTURER FOR NOT FIXING A BAD WELD. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THE CONSUMERS MODEL WAS PRONE TO BREAKAGE BECAUSE OF THE VERTICAL POSITION WHEN STRUCK BY EVEN THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT WITHIN THE BLACK AREA ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE GLASS, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DISAGREED WITH THAT THEORY, STATING THERE HAD BEEN OTHER VEHICLE DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS THAT HAD THIS TYPE OF WINDSHIELD POSITIONING WITHOUT EXCESSIVE WINDSHIELD BREAKAGE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138318October 1, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I OWN A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I HIT A PICKUP TRUCK AND BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTAL LOSSES. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT WHICH PUSHED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IN BY 24 INCHES AND BENT THE FRAME - THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DID DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH NO OTHER PASSENGERS WERE IN THE VEHICLE. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TWICE TO HONDA AMERICA BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM EXISTS. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10138274September 30, 2005
AIR BAGS
MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS MULTIPLE ROLLOVER ACCIDENT IN OUR 2003 HONDA ELEMENT TWO DAYS AGO. THERE WAS NOT ONE PORTION OF THE VEHICLE (INCLUDING THE FRONT) THAT WAS NOT SEVERELY IMPACTED AND YET BOTH THE SHERIFF AND TOW TRUCK DRIVER WERE VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE NONE OF THE AIRBAGS EVER DEPLOYED. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134360August 26, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT CRACKED IN THE CENTER RISING UP FROM THE BOTTOM EDGE. THE CRASH IS 18" LONG APPROX. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS FROM A ROCK AND NOT COVERED. THE "ROCK" CHIP IS BARELY VISIBLE. IT'S MORE LIKE A TINY PIT FROM A PIECE OF SAND. I BELIEVE THE ELEMENT HAS A DESIGN FLAW WHICH CAUSES CRACKS FROM THE FLEXING OF THE FRAME OR CHEAP GLASS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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