Honda Element Complaints

1,283 consumer complaints on file.

#10478056October 1, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND AS THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS SMOKE SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKES SEIZING WHEN THEY WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. UPDATED 10/18/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED TO DISREGARD THE COMPLAINT. THE ISSUE WAS FLUID CONTAMINATION. UPDATED 10/19/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474186September 7, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH OR ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST SIX TIMES WHO RAN SEVERAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472093August 23, 2012
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE
WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 8/22/12. I WAS DRIVING A 2007 HONDA ELEMENT AWD AT 55MPH. AN ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN FRONT OF ME WHICH RESULTED IN ME HITTING A TRUCK AND A VAN HITTING ME. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED... NOT ONE! I AM UPSET THAT I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY MEASURES AND WHEN I NEEDED THEM, NOTHING HAPPENED. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED VERY SORE NECKS, SHOULDERS AND BACKS! I WANT A INVESTIGATION DONE ON MY VEHICLE TO SEE WHY THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED!!! THANKFULLY NOBODY WAS KILLED DUE TO SOME MALFUNCTIONING AIRBAGS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10470537August 14, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THE HONDA ELEMENT HAS A RECALL FOR A SOFT, SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL THAT HAS TO BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR TO GET THE BRAKES TO ENGAGE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS SYMPTOM, RELATED TO THE VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST MODULE. THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE, AND THE PEDAL FEEL IMPROVED, BUT AFTER TIME, THE ISSUE RETURNS. MY BRAKES ARE SOFT AND SPONGY AND I GET NO BRAKES UNLESS THE PEDAL GOES MOST OF THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR IS NOT GOING TO STOP EACH TIME I BRAKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470408August 13, 2012
ENGINE, SUSPENSION
EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE STICK SHIFT SHIMMY AND SHAKE. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER CAN FEEL CAR VIBRATING LIKE IT HAS A BAD WHEEL ALIGNMENT BUT WHEELS HAVE BRAND NEW TIRES AND ARE ALIGNED. MECHANIC SAYS IT SEEMS TO BE A BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL HONDA AND HONDA ELEMENT COMMUNITY FORUMS REPORTING THAT MOTOR MOUNTS BREAK WITH LOW MILEAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470085August 10, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TRIED TO START THE ENGINE BUT NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468301July 30, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURES DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5. UPDATED 08/28/12*LJ UPDATED 09/05/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466902July 21, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
I PULLED THE HOOD RELEASE LATCH AND IT BROKE. IT ALMOST HIT ME IN THE LEFT EYE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466405July 18, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000. UPDATED 08/01/12 *BF UPDATED 08/02/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466418July 18, 2012
AIR BAGS
AN OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON MOST TIME. FIRST TIME IT TURNED ON WAS AUG 2005, THEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A DEALER, THEY TURNED IT OFF. AFTER THAT, IT'S AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN, UNTIL THE LAST TIME THAT WAS JUNE 2009, THEY TURN IT OFF AGAIN, AND A SERVICE ADVISER SAID MAY BE A SENSOR OR CONTROL UNIT DEFECTIVE. BUT THEY DID NOT TAKEN CARE OF IT. SO, WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THIS PROBLEM? PLEASE, GIVE ME AN ADVICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465064July 10, 2012
AIR BAGS, SEATS
I WAS DRIVING INTO THE BANK DRIVE IN TELLER AND MY LEFT SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465145July 10, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
LIKE MANY OTHERS, DRIVER SIDE DOOR KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO INSERT. THEN IT INSERTED AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN; DESPITE GREASING LOCK. NOW USING PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK. I AM HOPING THIS DOES NOT GET STUCK ON ME TOO LIKE IT HAS HAPPENED WITH MANY OTHERS. LOCK COSTS ~$33 ON EBAY AND $55 FROM DEALER, BUT THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE INSTALLATION AND IT LOCK WILL HAVE A SEPARATE KEY. I WAS QUOTED AROUND $350-375 TO HAVE A MATCHING LOCK INSTALLED. I AM WORRIED TO EVEN DO THIS BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT. THIS NEEDS TO BE MADE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464090July 3, 2012
WHEELS, SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 HONDA ELEMENT "CS", JUST AFTER ENTERING A FREEWAY SOUTHBOUND, WHILE GETTING UP TO FREEWAY SPEED, A LOUD NOISE BEGAN TO COME FROM REAR OF VEHICLE AS IF A TIRE OR TIRES WERE COMING LOOSE. ONCE HITTING 55MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE SOMEWHAT, YET STILL CONTROLLABLE. I PULLED OVER & INSPECTED THE TIRES & WHEELS AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. CONTINUED INTO NEXT CITY TO DEALERSHIP WHERE A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS DONE & ALL TIRES ROTATED. NOW WHILE ON CROSS COUNTRY TRIP ON 20 MAY 2012, THIS SAME ISSUE HAS OCCURRED ONCE AGAIN ON A SET OF NEW TIRES. THE CAMBERS CANNOT BE ADJUSTED ON THIS MODEL & YEAR VEHICLE. HONDA HAS MADE NO EFFORT TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. IT WAS CORRECTED IN THE 2008 MODELS & SUBSEQUENT MODELS. THE TIRES WEAR UNEVENLY & "CUP" & COULD CAUSE THE TIRES TO BLOW, EITHER AT THE SAME TIME, ONE AT A TIME OR EVEN JUST ONE LEAVING DRIVER IN A POSITION OF BEING UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR FROM RAPID DEFLATION OF EXPLODING TIRE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY ELEMENT CS & HE TOLD ME HONDA IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS. I SPOKE WITH HONDA AMERICA & WAS TOLD THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF THIS & THEY DID NOT THINK "... THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE." THIS ISSUE IS WITH THE HONDA ELEMENT CS ONLY THAT I AM AWARE OF. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461412June 13, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY WIFE WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED ACCELERATING AND SHE PRESSED THE BRAKES TO TRY TO STOP IT. SHE EVENTUALLY PUT IT IN PARK TO STOP THE CAR, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO GO TO MAXIMUM RPM. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE HONDA DEALER WHERE IT WAS STILL EXHIBITING THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459736May 26, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER - CUT ON AIR CONDITIONING AFTER WINTER, WOULD NOT COOL. TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER, BILL GATTON HONDA IN BRISTOL, TN. TOLD ROAD DEBRIS THROUGH CONDENSER, NOT COVERED UNDER 3 YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY (WE HAD ALSO PURCHASED EXTENDED 100,000 MILE WARRANTY). THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN LIGHTLY AROUND TOWN, NO HIGH SPEED HIGHWAYS (INTERSTATES, ETC.). AWARE THAT HONDA HAS HAD CLASS ACTION LITIGATION FOR IDENTICAL COMPLAINT WITH OTHER HONDA VEHICLES (ODYSSEY VAN, ACURA, CIVIC, ETC.), THEREFORE, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN IN THE AUTOMOBILES, AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. SECOND REPAIR THAT HAS BEEN DENIED UNDER NEW VEHICLE WARRANTY. OTHER DENIED DAMAGE IS HEADLINER PULLED AWAY ON DRIVER'S SIDE. REPAIR COST, WITH HONDA PART, IS ATROCIOUS; WARRANTY IS VOIDED IS USE OFF MARKET PART. CONSUMER CAUGHT BETWEEN ROCK AND HARD PLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456754April 28, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TACHOMETER INDICATOR NEEDLE FELL OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454873April 11, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE REPEATED THREE TIMES AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,300. UPDATED 06/05/12*LJ UPDATED 06/06/12 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454046April 4, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES "REPAIRED" IN '11 AT DEALER AFTER '07 ELEMENT BRAKE RECALL. NO NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN BRAKE SOFTNESS, BRAKES ARE STILL SOFT AND REQUIRE A LOT OF MUSCLE TO STOP THE CAR. SCARED, AND REFUSE TO DRIVE '07 ELEMENT WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR FOR FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP ON TIME. OWN A 2011 ACCORD, AFTER DRIVING THE '07 ELEMENT FOR A DAY OR TWO, I AM "SLAMMING" ON THE BRAKES OF THE ACCORD DUE TO HABIT OF HAVING TO "FLOOR/MASH" THE BRAKES TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. THANK GOODNESS FOR GOOD ACCORD SEAT BELTS. :) PLEASE FIX THIS ISSUE. MANY TEENAGERS WILL BE RECEIVING THIS CAR AS FIRST TIME DRIVING CAR. VERY DANGEROUS. NOT SAFE WITH CURRENT CORPORATE APPROVED FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453661March 31, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLAMP LOW BEAM THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE NEWEST RECALL ANNOUNCED BY HONDA. I BELIEVE THAT THE SAME COMPONENT IN MY VEHICLE IS IN THE CRV AND OTHER MODELS. HOW DOES THIS ISSUE GET ADDRESSED. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453069March 23, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2004 HONDA ELEMENT. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE IGNITION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER, BECAUSE THE IGNITION WAS FROZEN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. HE WAS ABLE TO INSERT AND REMOVE THE KEY, BUT IT DID NOT FUNCTION. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER ELEMENT OWNER, A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, HONDA INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED ON FEB 1, 2011. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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