Honda Element Complaints

1,283 consumer complaints on file.

#10319106March 12, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY HONDA ELEMENT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATOR PROBLEM. WHEN I WAS TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER CAR, I STEPPED ON TO THE ACCELERATOR & SUDDENLY IT WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. I HAVE A MANUAL CONTROL SO I PUSHED THE CLUTCH DOWN AND AFTER 1/4 MILE THE PEDAL RELEASED. I HAVE NO FLOOR MATS, BUT IT GAVE THE FEELING OF THE MAT TRAPPING THE PEDAL DOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319030March 11, 2010
AIR BAGS
THE CAR SLIPPED ON ICE AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT HEAD ON AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10317794March 8, 2010
SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS IMPROPERLY WELDED A FRONT BUSHING BRACKET ON THE LEFT TRAILING ARM OF THE REAR SUSPENSION. RECALL#08V349000, SUSPENSION:REAR BUT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED; THEREFORE, HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313882February 24, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE PREMATURE FAILURE / WEAR. WAS DRIVING AND HEARD TERRIBLE NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. SMOKE COMING FROM REAR BRAKE ON DRIVER SIDE. PAD HAD WORN COMPLETELY THROUGH ONLY AFTER 27,000MI. PASS. SIDE REAR BRAKE WAS OK WHEN INSPECTED. APPEARS REAR DRIVER SIDE CALIPER FROZE CAUSING UNEVEN WEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311947February 18, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DUE TO LOOSE BRAKE, IT TAKES TIME TO STOP (AT SPEED OF 15 MPH). I FELT IT COULD BE DANGEROUS IF I WERE TO BE DRIVING FASTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311132February 16, 2010
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
ADDENDUM TO ORIGINAL REPORT 10310546. SHOULDER AND ARM STILL AFFECTED FROM DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYING WITHOUT WARNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10310546February 15, 2010
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE DRIVING ON ROUGH PAVEMENT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED - URBAN STREET IN RUSH HOUR WHILE RAINING. 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308961February 12, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
BOUGHT 2008 HONDA ELEMENT NEW IN DEC. 2009. AT ABOUT 5000MI. (8MO.) BRAKES BECAME INCREASINGLY MUSHY AND PEDAL SOFT. EVENTUALLY BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE UNTIL ABOUT AN INCH OFF FLOOR. DEALER CONFIRMED AND REPLACED BRAKE MODULE. WITHIN A WEEK THEY WERE BAD AGAIN. DEALER REBLED BRAKES SAID REAR PADS WERE WORN EXCESSIVELY AND UNEVENLY, ROTORS SHOWED SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT, THEY REPLACED PADS. SOLID WHEN PICKED UP, LASTED LESS THAN A WEEK. NOW CAR HAS PERIODS OF A FEW HUNDRED MILES OF SOLID BRAKING, THEN PERIODS OF SOFT, FADING BRAKING WITH WILD SWINGS OF RPMS FROM THE VACUUM BOOST. HAVE HAD SIX CLOSE CALLS DURING THESE PERIODS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305675February 4, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILS WITH LOUD BANG AND WINDOW FALLS INTO DOOR WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE TWICE, ONCE IN APRIL 2008 AND AGAIN FEBRUARY 2010. ON-LINE RESEARCH WITH "ELEMENT OWNERS CLUB" INDICATES THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302932January 28, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
CAR DOOR LOCK NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10301784January 21, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD IT DIES ON A REGULAR BASIS. I CAN START THE CAR AND LET IT WARM UP BUT IT IS VERY ROUGH AND STILL HAS A TENDENCY TO DIE WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG BUT I HAVE LOOKED AT MANY HONDA ELEMENT OWNER FORUMS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON AND DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH THE ELEMENT. ONCE THE ENGINE DIES, THERE IS STILL BATTERY POWER, BUT LIMITED STEERING CONTROL. IT HAPPENS NEARLY EVERY MORNING 2-3 TIMES AND I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA WHERE IT DOESN'T GET NEARLY AS COLD AS OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THESE CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300430January 20, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR BRAKES FAILED 2008 HONDA ELEMENT HEARD WHINING NOISE 5 MONTHS PRIOR IN REAR BRAKES. DEALER CHECKED AND SAID NOTHING FOUND. 5 MONTHS LATER DEALER SAID REAR BRAKES 'GONE' AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. 1/3 OF ONE OF REAR ROTORS WAS MISSING/ERODED AWAY. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 24000 MILES. ROTOR AND PADS REPLACED. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS MULTIPLE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH ELEMENT . SEE: ELEMENTOWNERSCLUB.COM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300473January 20, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ACCIDENT INVOLVING A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. A FRONT END CRASH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND WE HIT THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. OUR HONDA ELEMENT SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE APPROXIMATE SPEED 30MPH. THE AIRBAG ON THE ELEMENT DID NOT DEPLOY. HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON ELEMENT AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING? WE ONLY SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296685December 22, 2009
STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
WHILE STANDING NEXT TO OUR 2008 HONDA ELEMENT, WHICH WAS PARKED BESIDE OUR HOUSE UNDER THE CARPORT, THE REAR SIDE WINDOW OF THE CAR SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED AND STRUCK BOTH MY WIFE AND I WITH GLASS. WE WERE NOT INJURED BY THE SAFETY GLASS. THE WINDOW SEEMED TO EXPLODE, FROM THE INSIDE OUT, AND GLASS PIECES FLEW OVER A WIDE AREA. NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR, AND THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHADE, UNDER THE CARPORT, AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 40 DEGREES. THERE IS NO CHANCE THAT ANYTHING COULD HAVE STRUCK THE WINDOW SINCE IT WAS FAR OFF THE STREET IN OUR DRIVEWAY BEHIND OUR IRON GATE. THE SHATTERED WINDOW WAS PROTECTED FROM THE POSSIBILITY OR FLYING OBJECTS BY OUR HOUSE. WE HAVE READ REPORTS ONLINE WHERE THIS SAME SITUATION HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER HONDA ELEMENTS. NO PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED EXCEPT THE WINDOW, WHICH MUST BE REPLACED. HAD THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WE THINK THE SURPRISE AND VIOLENCE OF THE EXPLODING WINDOW COULD HAVE CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION, INCLUDING A CRASH. IF WE HAD A PASSENGER OR CHILD IN THE REAR SEAT, THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK WITH GLASS. APPROXIMATELY 20 PERCENT OF THE GLASS PIECES WERE IN THE VEHICLE, WITH THE REST FALLING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295227December 10, 2009
AIR BAGS
DRIVING 30 MPH ON 2-WAY ROAD. DRIVER COMING OTHER WAY CUT ME OFF, I SWERVED, HE HIT MY LEFT FRONT WITH HIS RIGHT FRONT. MY DRIVER AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY ALTHOUGH PASSENGER DID. I SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND CHEST TRAUMA AS A RESULT. HONDA 2004 ELEMENT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10295085December 9, 2009
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I HAVE A 2006 HONDA ELEMENT. THE LAST FEW MONTHS I'VE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH POWER SIDE WINDOWS BECAUSE THE WINDOW REGULATOR 'CAME APART.' THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND FOR BOTH WINDOWS TO STOP WORKING AROUND THE SAME TIME MAKES ME THINK IT'S A MANUFACTURING SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291954November 12, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. CONSEQUENTLY, HE REAR-ENDED THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THE DRIVER IN THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE RECEIVED $4,000 WORTH OF DAMAGES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ANTI- LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM COMPUTER MODULE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 4,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10291339November 7, 2009
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT ON A SMOOTH GRAVEL ROAD AROUND 25MPH WHEN THE DRIVERS-SIDE AIRBAG IN THE CHAIR DEPLOYED BRUISING THE BACK OF MY LEFT ARM. IT DEPLOYED FULLY AND TORE MY SEAT. MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I FEEL THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD IF I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED AND COULD EASILY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HONDA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IN FIXING IT, AS I STAND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE MY AIRBAG, AIRBAG ECU, AND HAVE MY SEAT REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291271November 6, 2009
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE DRIVERS SEAT BOLTS HAVE BECOME LOOSE. CONSEQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING, THE SEAT MOVES OUT OF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A FRACTURED RAIL WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,289.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286203October 3, 2009
VISIBILITY
3-5-08, IN MORNING, WHEN I GOT INTO MY ELEMENT, I NOTICED TWO LONG CRACKS IN THE WINDSHIELD, STARTING AT THE LOWER RIGHT- AND LEFT-HAND CORNERS, TRAVELING UPWARDS AT AN ANGLE, TOWARD THE CENTER, APPROX 15 INCHES LONG, EACH. I CALLED THE HONDA DEALER, AND THEY SAID I SHOULD CHECK MY WARRANTY. I DID. WINDSHIELD DAMAGE NOT COVERED. I CALLED HONDA MOTOR COMPANY. THEY TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS NOT A DESIGN DEFECT (AS I BELIEVED). AFTER TELLING THEM I KNEW OF MANY REPORTS TO THE NHTSA, THEY FINALLY AGREED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD, AS "...A ONE-TIME GOODWILL GESTURE." (I BIT MY TONGUE, AS I KNEW THAT THE PHONE REP KNEW IT WAS, IN FACT, A DESIGN FLAW.) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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