Honda Element Complaints

1,283 consumer complaints on file.

#10256581January 28, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVERS SIDE LOCK DOES NOT WORK AND NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE LOCK IS STARTING TO EXHIBIT THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255793January 20, 2009
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED SUDDENLY FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY. AIRBAG WAS RIPPED & DEFLATED IN THE EXPLOSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254964January 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ODOMETER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE DISTANCE THAT WAS TRAVELED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254932January 13, 2009
VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD CRACKED AFTER USING DEFROSTER. HONDA DEALER IN ALBANY, NY SAID IT WAS CRACKED DUE TO A TINY NICK IN THE GLASS RESULTING FROM A STONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253128December 29, 2008
TIRES
I KNOW THAT THE CORRECT TIRE SIZE FOR THE HONDA ELEMENT IS 215/70-R16. I DECIDED TO TAKE MY BUSINESS TO SEARS AUTO CENTER, WHERE THEY INSTALLED THE MICHELIN HYDROEDGE 215/65-R16 TIRES. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS SIZE IS SAFE FOR THE PASSENGERS AND FOR VEHICLE PERFORMANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252927December 27, 2008
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
UNPROMPTED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT ON MY 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. SLAMMED CAR DOOR SHUT WHEN IT WAS PARKED AND OFF. HEARD LOUD POP SOUND. DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, THE SRS LIGHT WAS ON. OPENED FRONT/REAR DOOR AND SAW THAT THE STITCHING ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS ALL TORN AND THE AIRBAG WAS SEMI-EXPOSED. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS MY FAULT. I HAD DONE SOMETHING TO CAUSE THE SRS SENSOR TO BE DEFECTIVE. THEY TOLD ME TO CLAIM IT VIA INSURANCE. I HAVE SINCE INVESTIGATED AND FOUND MANY MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE-- AND HAVING BEEN TOLD THE SAME EXCUSE. SEEMS TO ME THAT HONDA IS TRYING TO COVER SOMETHING UP. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE PRESS IF NO ONE RESPONDS TO THIS SUBMISSION ASAP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252458December 21, 2008
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
STARTED WITH PASS. AIR BAG LIGHT & PASS. SEATBELT BEEPER & LIGHT. HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED 4 TIMES BUT PASS. BEEPER & LIGHT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. SPOKE WITH HONDA AMERICA IN CA REGIONAL MGR MORRIS SAID IT DOESN'T EXIST IN THE 2005 HONDA ELEMENT THE MANUAL IS A MISPRINT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH HONDA DOES NOT WANT TO CORRECT. IT HAD WORKED BEFORE SO MY WIFE & I SPOKE TO PEOPLE WITH 1996 TO 2008 HONDA ELEMENTS AND THEY ALL HAVE A SEATBELT LIGHT & BEEPER FOR THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR FOUR LONG YEARS. I BELIEVE HONDA AMERICA IS TRYING TO DECEIVE US. I EVEN ASKED MORRIS TO PUT IT IN WRITING THAT IT IS A MISPRINT IN THE MANUAL BUT HE SAID HE COULD NOT DO THAT. I ALSO TOLD HIM THAT I HAD SPOKEN TO OTHER 2005 ELEMENT OWNERS WHO STATED THEIR PASSENGER SEATBELTS HAVE A LIGHT & BEEPER BUT STILL INSISTS THAT MY CAR DOES NOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252238December 18, 2008
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
SAT. 11/1/08 -HONDA ELEMENT WAS PARKED, BUT RUNNING, IN FRONT OF OUR HOME. MY KIDS WERE IN THE BACK, MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. AFTER STRAPPING MY CHILD INTO THE CARSEAT, I CLOSED THE BACK DOOR AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED! NO ONE WAS HURT, JUST SCARED. I CONTACTED HONDA DEALER & TOOK IT IN ON MON 11/3/08 & WAS TOLD THAT HONDA REP WOULD HAVE TO INSPECT. SERVICE MEN AT DEALERSHIP WERE VERY NICE & FELT IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. I WAITED FOR CALL FOR APPT W/ HONDA REP. I WASN'T GIVEN AN APPT UNTIL WED. 12/17. HONDA REP REFUSES TO PAY SAYING IT IS NOT HONDA'S FAULT. SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY & NOT A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. REP SAID IT MIGHT BE THE SENSOR BUT THAT I COULD HAVE HIT A POTHOLE OR SOMETHING CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME. WE HIT NOTHING! THE AIR BAG JUST DEPLOYED! HONDA REP TOLD ME TO FILE WITH MY INSURANCE. STATE FARM DENIES CLAIM AND SAYS IT WILL NOT PAY BECAUSE THIS IS "CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT." THE HONDA REP ALSO SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENING BEFORE. SO DID THE HONDA CUSTOMER RELATIONS HEADQTRS IN CA THAT I CALLED TODAY. BUT I HAVE GOOGLED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND OTHER ELEMENT OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOY FOR NO REASON. AT LEAST ONE WHILE HE WAS DRIVING! PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND LET ME KNOW IF OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THIS TO YOU. I WOULD LIKE HONDA TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND HOPEFULLY CORRECT IT SO NO ONE WILL GET HURT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT! CLOSING THE BACKDOOR SHOULD NOT DEPLOY THE AIRBAG!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250035November 28, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. I NOTICED FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS EVERY TIME THAT I FILL THE TANK COMPLETELY, I SMELL STRONG GASOLINE FUMES UNTIL I USE ABOUT 4 OR 5 GALLONS. I FAILED A CHATTANOOGA, TN EMISSIONS CHECK. THEY SAID THAT I HAVE A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK. I NOTICED THE WEB THAT OTHERS HAVE REPORTED LEAKS AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE FILLER CAP FOR THE SAME MODEL YEAR. CAN YOU ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL? THE VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS RELATIVELY CLEAN, AND CORROSION DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A FACTOR THAT CAUSED THE LEAK NEAR THE FILLER CAP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249539November 22, 2008
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
MY WIFE, MOTHER IN-LAW, AND 8 MONTH OLD SON WERE DRIVING ON A GRAVEL DRIVEWAY TO SOMEONES HOUSE WHEN SUDDENLY THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG IN MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO COLLISION, NO RECKLESS DRIVING, NOTHING TO PROVOKE AN AIRBAG TO SUDDENLY DEPLOY. IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE, HOWEVER, DUE TO FIGHTING W/ DEALERSHIPS AND HONDA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER OVER THE REPAIRS; MY WIFE IS STILL DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AS IT IS HER ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. MY 8 MONTH OLD SON ALSO RIDES IN THIS VEHICLE AND I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT HE AND MY WIFE WERE NOT HURT IN THE INCIDENT; MY MOTHER IN-LAW HOWEVER, RECEIVED A SEVERELY BRUISED ELBOW AS SHE WAS THE ONE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD THAT ONLY THE FAULTY SENSOR IS COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL AIRBAG, THEY WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE THE SEAT STITCHED BACK TOGETHER WERE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FROM, AND THEY WILL NOT PAY TO RESET ALL OF THE OTHER AIRBAG SENSORS THAT APPARENTLY NO LONGER WORK. IT HAS BEEN OVER A MONTH SINCE THIS OCCURRED AND THE BEST ADVICE HONDA HAS GIVEN ME IS TO HAVE MY INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECT THE VEHICLE-PAY FOR THE REPAIRS-AND THEN CONTACT HONDA FOR REIMBURSEMENT. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE-MY INSURANCE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS-AS THERE WAS NO COLLISION. MY WARRANTY SHOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR IN FULL. I AM SO VERY THANKFUL THAT MY FAMILY WAS ON A GRAVEL ROAD TRAVELING UNDER 10MPH. IT HORRIFIES ME TO THINK OF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY-AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. I FEEL THAT IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM-THAT SOMEONE WILL BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. HONDA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND TAKE THE PROPER STEPS NOW TO FIX IT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10248515November 11, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
AFTER AN ACCIDENT ON 4/24/08 IN WHICH MY VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AFTER COMING TO COMPLETE STOP FOR AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AT 50 MPH. MY VEHICLE'S REAR END WAS LIFTED OFF THE GROUND PLACING ALL THE WEIGHT ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION BEFORE THE REAR CAME BACK DOWN ON THE GROUND. NOW MY VEHICLE HAS HAD FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS NOT LIMITED TO BALL JOINT FAILURE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY USAA HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON WHO HIT ME WAS CONVICTED IN COURT OF THE ACCIDENT AND HER INSURANCE COMPANY AMICA ACCEPTED 100 PERCENT LIABILITY FOR THE CLIENTS ACTION. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10242880September 19, 2008
WHEELS, SUSPENSION
OUR CAR, TRAVELING AT 40 MPH WAS HIT FROM THE SIDE AT THE LEFT FRONT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT. THE TIRE AND PART OF THE AXLE WERE DETACHED AND ABOUT 10 FEET FROM THE CAR. THE SHERIFF TOLD US THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS TYPE OF CAR IN SIMILAR ACCIDENTS WHERE THE TIRE AND AXEL HAVE DETACHED FROM THE CAR AND FOUND IT UNUSUAL IN THIS TYPE OF CRASH. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242193September 15, 2008
SEATS
DRIVER SEAT BEGAN ROCKING BACK AND FORTH. MANY OWNERS ON THE HONDA ELEMENT OWNER'S CLUB WEBSITE REPORT THIS PROBLEM FOR THIS AND OTHER MODEL YEARS. H AND A SELLS HARDWARE KITS TO REPLACE SEAT COMPONENTS, BUT THEY ARE EXPENSIVE AND THIS TYPE OF RECURRING PROBLEM SHOULD NOT FALL ON CONSUMERS' SHOULDERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241315September 8, 2008
SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT'S CHILD WAS RESTRAINED IN A BOOSTER WITH BOTH THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS IN PLACE. UPON ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE CHILD FROM THE SAFETY SEAT, THE BELT WOULD CONTINUALLY TIGHTEN AROUND HIS STOMACH AREA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED; HOWEVER, THE CHILD HAD ALREADY BEEN CUT FROM THE SAFETY SEAT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CHILD WAS IN A LOT OF PAIN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10241053September 5, 2008
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
STRESS CRACKS ON FRONT WINDSHIELD ON 2003 HONDA ELEMENT AS DESCRIBED BY OTHER HONDA OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237856August 12, 2008
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
MY PARKED VEHICLE DEPLOYED PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WITHOUT COLLISION TO VEHICLE, ACCORDING TO INSURANCE COMPANY THERE WAS NO SIGN OF FORCED ENTRY TO THE VEHICLE (WHICH HONDA CLAIMS "COULD" BE THE CAUSE OF THE DEPLOYMENT). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237855August 12, 2008
SEATS
THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE 04 HONDA ELEMENT. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT ROCKING BACK AND FOURTH. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND HONDA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237775August 11, 2008
STRUCTURE
CRACK FORMED ON THE LOWER DRIVER SIDE OF MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WITH NO SIGN OF IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236968August 5, 2008
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
ACCIDENTAL SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT: THE SIDE AIR BAD HAS DEPLOYED TWICE (~12 MONTHS APART) WITHOUT ANY SIDE IMPACT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10236234July 29, 2008
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
AIR BAG WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY... AIR BAG WENT OFF FOR NO REASON JUST DRIVING DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG BURNED AND BRUISED ARM..CAR AT THE HONDA DEALER THEY ARE DECIDING TO FIX OR NOT TO FIX THE CAR. DON'T KNOW IF HONDA WILL FIX THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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