Honda Element Complaints (2008)

113 consumer complaints on file.

#10282898September 4, 2009
SEAT BELTS
I BELIEVE THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT ON MY CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS BELT CINCHES SO TIGHTLY THAT I MUST REMOVE IT WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. IT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE RACHETING SYSTEM INTENDED FOR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. IT IS UNSAFE AND HONDA HAS NO FIX FOR THIS. BMW FIXED MY 5-SERIES, AND GM PROVIDED ME A SEAT BELT EXTENDER WHICH SOMEHOW STOPS THE CINCHING FROM OCCURRING. A FRIEND HAS THE SAME CAR (OLDER MODEL) AND SHE HAS DISABLED HER SEAT BELT BECAUSE SHE CAN'T BREATHE. IS THERE SOMETHING WHICH CAN BE DONE TO AID ME IN GETTING HONDA TO FIX THIS SCARY SITUATION. THE PROBLEM IS ONGOING, THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275398June 30, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE AN 08 HONDA ELEMENT THAT I BOUGHT NEW. FROM 1ST DAY I'VE OWNED IT I THOUGHT THE BRAKES FELT SOFT/MUSHY. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME GETTING USED TO A NEW VEHICLE, AT TIMES NOW BRAKES WHEN I'VE STOPPED HARD IT FELT LIKE ELEMENT PEDAL WAS AT THE FLOOR AND I WONDERED IF VEHICLE WAS GOING TO STOP. I NOW KNOW THAT SEVERAL OTHER ELEMENT OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM AND HONDA HAS ISSUED A TSB ON IT. SEVERAL THAT HAVE HAD THE TSB DONE ARE SAYING THAT THEY STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I BROUGHT MINE IN AND THE DEALER HAS ORDERED THE VSA MODULATOR. I JUST WANT TO BE ON RECORD THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM THAT HONDA MAY HAVE TO DO MORE THAN THEY ARE CURRENTLY DOING TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. BRAKES ARE NOT A PROBLEM TO TAKE LIGHTLY. I BOUGHT MY ELEMENT NEW IN APR 08. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275092June 27, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2008 HONDA ELEMENT BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL IS EXCESSIVE AND THE BRAKES ARE AT TIMES SOFT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274568June 22, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MUSHY BRAKES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272844June 4, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PURCHASED NEW 2008 HONDA ELEMENT ON 23 SEP 2008 DURING FAMILY EMERGENCY VISIT TO OHIO WHILE TRAVELING TO FLORIDA. THE CAR WAS TO BE LICENSED IN FLORIDA WHERE I HAVE A HOME SO A THIRTY DAY TAG WAS ISSUED WITH ARRANGEMENTS FOR ANOTHER THIRTY DAY TAG TO BE SENT TO LOCATION IN ROUTE IF NEEDED. AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A BRAKE NOISE AND VIBRATION WHEN STOPPING. I WAS TRAVELING TO FLORIDA THE NEXT DAY BUT DID CALL THE SALESMAN, WHO ADVISED ME THAT AS THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING, THIS WAS NORMAL AND I SHOULD DRIVE THE CAR AND \"BURN IN\" THE BRAKES. I THEN TRAVELED IN THE CAR TO BOSTON TO VISIT FRIENDS AND THEN WORKED MY WAY DOWN THE EAST COAST. I STOPPED AT A HONDA DEALER IN VIRGINIA BEACH, VA WHERE THEY WERE KIND ENOUGH TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE SECOND THIRTY DAY TAG SENT BUT THEY COULD NOT LOOK AT THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS. MY SCHEDULE WOULD NOT PERMIT A DELAY SO I CONTINUED THE TRAVEL TO FLORIDA. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE IN MY HOME IN FLORIDA DURING DECEMBER 2008 TO FEBRUARY 2009 WHILE I RETURNED TO GERMANY TO TIE UP LOOSE ENDS. I RETURNED TO FLORIDA IN LATE FEBRUARY 2009 AND TOOK THE CAR TO BLOUNT HONDA IN LEESBURG, FL FOR 6000 MILE CHECKUP IN EARLY MARCH. I ASKED THEM TO SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT THE BRAKES. AS I WAS WAITING FOR THE CAR, THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THEIR WAS ROTOR DISTORTION CAUSED BY THE CAR SITTING, THE ROTORS WOULD HAVE TO BE TURNED, AND IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE CAR DID SIT FOR TWO AND A HALF MONTHS WHILE IN MY POSSESSION BUT I DISMISSED THIS AS THE CAUSE AS THE BRAKE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED THE INSTANT I GOT THE CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2008. IT WOUND UP COSTING ME $160.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR WAS RECEIVED BY JAY HONDA DEALER IN JANUARY 2008 AND THEY HAD IN THEIR POSSESSION FOR ALMOST NINE MONTHS. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH AMERICAN HONDA WHO SAID THAT IT WAS UP TO THE SELLING DEALER TO REIMBURSE ME. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THEY WOULD NOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268478May 12, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PREMATURE RIGHT REAR BRAKE WEAR (OUT BOAD 2.9MM INBOARD TAPERED FROM 6MM)REQUIRING RESURFACING AND NEW PADS AT APPROX 22,500 MILES. LEFT REAR OUT/INBOARD EXPECTED NOMINAL 6MM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268385May 11, 2009
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT PURCHASED FOUR NEW RIMS AND A TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR MONITOR. LAST FALL, THE TPMS ICON FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR WAS NOT WORKING. THE DEALER HAD TO ENTER A NEW CODE INTO EACH SET OF TPMS' TO ENABLE THE SYSTEM. FIVE MONTHS LATER, THE DEALER CHANGED THE TIRES. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE TPMS LIGHT FLASHED AGAIN. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE DEALER IS RIPPING OFF CONSUMERS BY CHARGING $50 TO ENABLE THE CODE TO ACTIVATE THE TPMS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500. UPDATED 5/27/09 *CN UPDATED 06/01/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268193May 8, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE AT NO MORE THAN 8 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB AND INTO A LAWN. SHE HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS AIR IN THE BRAKE LINES. THEY DRAINED AND REPLACED ALL THE FLUID FROM THE BRAKES AND PRESSURIZED THE BRAKE LINES. THE DEALER COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE FAILURE OCCURRED OR IF IT WOULD RECUR. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BECAUSE THE DEALER HAS DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE IN THE PAST. SHE WAS ADVISED TO CONSTANTLY PUMP THE BRAKES TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM RECURRING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262239March 18, 2009
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
GOT INTO THE CAR AND SAW A CRACK ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD THAT IS COMING FROM THE MIDDLE PORTION, UNDER THE MOLDING LEFT TO RIGHT. (IF SITTING IN CAR.) CONTACTED HONDA AND STILL NO RESPONSE. ALWAYS WE WILL CALL YOU BACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257807February 7, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2008 HONDA ELEMENT WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE CAR TO ONE DEALER IN SOUTH HILL VIRGINIA WHO TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS AND NEEDED A NEW MASTER CYLINDER. SOMEONE ELSE PICKED THE CAR UP FOR ME AFTER THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED. I DROVE THE CAR AND THOUGHT THEY WERE STILL "SOFT", SO A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER IN DANVILLE VIRGINIA AND ASKED THAT THEY TEST DRIVE THE CAR. THEY SAID , YOU BETTER NOT DRIVE THIS CAR , IT IS DANGEROUS, AND ORDERED ANOTHER MASTER CYLINDER. I POCKET THE CAR UP TODAY AND GUESS WHAT? THE BRAKES ARE THE SAME. WHAT DO I DO? THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS. THE BRAKES DO NOT REACT AS SOON AS APPLIED AND THEY LOOSE PRESSURE UNDER FOOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220113March 5, 2008
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
THE TPMS LIGHT ON MY 2008 HONDA ELEMENT EX WILL NOT TURN OFF. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2007. AFTER FIVE VISITS, THE HONDA DEALER CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS THE TIRES AND NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR TPMS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 2,000 MILES ON IT. AT 500 MILES I REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TIRES WITH BRIDGESTONE DUELER ALENZA'S OF THE SAME SIZE. IT IS THESE TIRES THAT HONDA IS SAYING IS THE PROBLEM. MY RESPONSE IS THE TPMS SHOULD WORK WITH ALL SAME SIZE TIRES! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211051December 6, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I JUST NOTICED I HAVE A CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON MY NEW 2008 HONDA ELEMENT. I DON'T RECALL ANY DEBRI OR ANYTHING HITTING MY WINDSHIELD BUT I NOTICED A CRACK? IN MY 37 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE HAD ONLY 1 CRACKED WINDSHIELD AND IN THAT CASE I SAW AND HEARD THE ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD BACK IN 1995ISH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209215November 17, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. VEHICLE ONLY SLID BACKWARDS UNTIL PLACED IN PARK. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. DEALER PUT IN TRANSMISSION FLUID, CHECKED PRESSURE AND RETURNED TO OWNER. IN 5-7 DAYS VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK BACKWARDS FORCEFULLY. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR 4 DAYS NOW. DEALER FIRST REPLACED SOLENOID SWITCH. HONDA WOULD NOT RELEASE TO DEALER NEW TRANSMISSION UNTIL SOLENOID WAS REPLACED. NOW DEALER HAS TO KEEP CAR LONGER TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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