Honda Element Complaints (2003)

424 consumer complaints on file.

#10443337January 10, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING ON I-5 GOING THROUGH GRANTS PASS IN OREGON UPHILL, MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT SUDDENLY DECELERATED FROM 65MPH TO BARELY 35 MPH. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR TWO DAYS, THERE WERE NO CODES INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED IT BE SEEN BY A ENGINE MECHANIC. CAR IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE AFTER A TRANSMISSION FLUSH, NEW SPARK PLUGS, FUEL SYSTEM CLEANING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, THE CAR ONLY HAS 82500 MILES ON AND HAS NEVER BEEN PLACED IN STORAGE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10435849November 13, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE DOOR LOCKS ON THE HONDA ELEMENT ARE FAULTY. SO FAULTY IN FACT THAT A YEAR AFTER THE ELEMENTS WERE ADVERTISED, A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (06-068) WAS ISSUED FOR "DOOR LOCK CYLINDER BINDS". THIS TSB APPLIED TO 2003-2004 CIVICS, 2002-2003 CR-V, 2003 ELEMENTS. THE TSB INCLUDES THE AFFECTED VIN NUMBERS. ONCE THE DOOR CYLINDER STOPS WORKING YOU CANNOT GAIN ENTRY INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AFFECTED DOOR. FOR ME IT WAS THE DRIVERS DOOR AND I WAS FORCED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE VIA THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE HONDA SITE STATED THAT YOU SHOULD CONTACT THE DEALER AND ASK FOR RE NUMERATION AS THIS WAS A KNOWN FAILURE. THE HONDA DEALER LOCAL TO ME STATED THAT SINCE IT WASN'T A RECALL THEY WOULDN'T "GIVE ME A BREAK" ON THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HONDA SHOULD BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE SINCE THEY KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM. THE SAFETY ISSUE HERE LIES IN THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T ENTER YOUR VEHICLE QUICKLY IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. CLIMBING OVER SEATS IS CERTAINLY NOT A SAFE THING TO DO EITHER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432545October 24, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS WILL FREEZE UP AND NOT ALLOW THE KEYS TO BE REMOVED. THIS KEEPS THE CAR FROM BEING ABLE TO BE LOCKED. HONDA WILL NOT HONOR A WARRANTY OR RECALL ON THIS ITEM THEY CHARGE $250.00 PER DOOR TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED TO BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGERS SIDE DOORS, AND IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10423145September 3, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING
TUMBLERS IN IGNITION BECOMES MAL ALIGNED, KEY WILL NOT INSERT OR TURN, ENGINE WILL NOT START. THIS IS NOT PART OF THE CURRENT ACTIVE RECALL ON THE IGNITION SYSTEM. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER TWICE IN 3 YEARS. IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE, ASK ANY ONE WHO DRIVES A 2003 ELEMENT, THEY'VE REPLACED THIS PART TOO. HONDA ONLY WARRANTIES THE PART FOR ONE YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421582August 26, 2011
SEATS
THE PASSENGER HEAD REST FOAM HAS DETERIORATED. YOU CAN NOW FEEL THE METAL FRAME STICKING OUT AGAINST THE BACK OF THE SKULL. IN A COLLISION, INSTEAD OF THE HEADREST PROTECTING THE HEAD AND NECK, IT SEEMS AS THIS DEFECT IN THE HEADREST COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FATAL INJURY. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417862August 7, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK STARTED TO "STICK", KEY WOULD NOT UNLOCK DOOR FROM TIME TO TIME, UNTIL IT WOULD NO LONGER UNLOCK AT ALL. I'VE HAD TO OPEN THE LOCK FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CRAWL OVER THE SEATS TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. I HAVE VERY LIMITED FUNDS AT THE MOMENT AND CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIRS, WHICH WERE ESTIMATED AT OVER $300.00 BY A LOCAL SHOP. MY FEAR IS THAT THE PASSENGER LOCK WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL AND I'LL HAVE TO CRAWL IN THROUGH THE BACK AS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER 2003 HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS. I ONLY HAVE 56,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON MY ELEMENT, THE LOCK STARTED FAILING AT 52,000 MILES. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS THAT I'M UNAWARE OF? *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10405230June 5, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE DRIVER'S SIDE OUTER LOCK AND AUTOMATIC LOCK FAILS ON THE CAR. PASSENGER MUST ENTER THROUGH PASSENGER SIDE ONLY. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURRING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390035March 14, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE LOCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT THE KEY TO UNLOCK IT. THIS PROBLEM WAS SPORADIC ORIGINALLY, BUT NOW IS A PERMANENT PROBLEM. IT APPEARS TO BE AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. HONDA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390172March 14, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I ALSO HAVE A DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK THAT IS COMPLETELY UNUSABLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE KEY WILL NOT GO INTO THE LOCK AND THE REMOTE DOESN'T WORK FOR THAT DOOR. I CRAWL IN FROM THE PASSENGERS SIDE EVERY TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386962March 9, 2011
EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I LIKE MANY OTHER 2003 HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY DRIVER SIDE LOCK. KEY WONT ALWAYS GO IN AND IF DOES GO IN WONT UN LOCK THE DOOR. I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS AND HOPE TO SEE MORE ON HERE SO WE CAN GET A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380931February 7, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER TO VERIFY WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372098December 22, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS ADVISED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A GASOLINE FUEL LEAK AND THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,362. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368986December 6, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 HONDA ELEMENT. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE IS HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING THE REPAIR WORK DONE ON HER HONDA VEHICLE THAT HAS TO DO WITH A RECALL. *KB THE CONSUMER ATTACHED AN IGNITION RECALL NOTICE ALONG WITH HER LETTER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367791November 24, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE KEY FIRST STOPPED WORKING IN MY DRIVERS DOOR AND I THEN HAD TO USE THE PASSENGER DOOR TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE KEY ACTUALLY GOT STUCK IN THE LOCK ON THE PASSENGER DOOR AND STILL CANNOT BE REMOVED AND I AM FORCED TO CRAWL IN AND OUT THROUGH THE BACK HATCH IF I WISH TO LOCK MY VEHICLE, HOWEVER IT SEEMS THE BACK DOOR LOCK IS SHOWING SIGNS OF FAILURE NOW AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363590November 1, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK EVEN WITH THE KEY. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359131October 4, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1. THE EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE WAS USAGE. 2. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AS LOCKING MECHANISMS FAILED TO ALLOW KEY ENTRY TO DRIVER SIDE DOOR (ENTRANCE TO VEHICLE). 3. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE WAS NOTHING BUT TO CRAWL TO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR VIA OPENING THE PASSENGERS DOOR WITH A LOCKING MECHANISM PROGRESSIVELY FAILING ON IT'S DOOR AS WELL. (MANY - MANY OTHER OWNER'S OF HONDA ELEMENTS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS ISSUE - PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE - LOOK INTO IT.) THE CAR IS GREAT MINUS THIS AND IT'S' GAS MILEAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349161August 13, 2010
EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY IGNITION ON MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT,WAS NO LONGER WORKING, NOT ONLY COULD YOU PULL OUT THE KEY WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AFTER AWHILE THE KEY WOULD NO LONGER EVEN TURN IN THE IGNITION EVEN IF YOU HAVE WARRANTY AND PAID EXTRA FOR APPARENTLY THE BEST COVERAGE, THEY FIND A WAY THE YOU HAVE TO PAY OUT OF YOUR POCKETS, MY IGNITION REPLACEMENT COST ME $1,000.00 AND NOW THERE IS A RECALL OUT ON IT , AND AGAIN APPARENTLY MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE DISC HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY 6 MONTH. THE SERVICE FOR HONDA IS THE [XXX] , I PERSONALLY WOULD NEVER BUY A HONDA AGAIN. MY WINDSHIELD ALSO CRACKED I HAVE BEEN A HONDA SERVICE DEPT OFTEN FOR FOLLOW UP ON THE TRUCK THEY SEEN MY WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED BUT WOULD NEVER TELL ME IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME EVER TO BUY A BRAND NEW VEHICLE I WANTED TO FEEL SAFE AND SECURITY, BEING STUCK IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT A NIGHT BECAUSE THE STUPID KEY WOULDN'T WORK DID NOT IMPRESS ME AT ALL, THERE WAS A LITTLE GARAGE CLOSE BUY BUT HE COULDN'T HELP ME BECAUSE APPARENTLY HONDA DOES NOT DELIVER THERE PARTS TO OTHER GARAGES, HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED AND STUCK WITH OUT A CAR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, BECAUSE HONDA DO NOT HAVE LOANERS. 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
#10348269August 9, 2010
PARKING BRAKE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK. THE LEVER CAN BE PULLED UP OR PUSHED DOWN WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BUTTON ON THE LEVER. THE OWNER WAS UNABLE TO NOTIFY HONDA USA. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340324June 27, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
HONDA 2003 ELEMENT SRS LIGHT COMING ON. THIS LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON/// SUPPOSEDLY BECAUSE I AM TALKING ON MY CELL PHONE. SINCE MY AIRBAGS WON T DEPLOY WHILE THIS LIGHT IS ON... THIS IS SAFETY CONCERN, WORTHY OF A RECALL. IF I DON'T GET ACTION... I'M GOING TO THE NATIONAL MEDIA. TOO BAD SO SAD FOR HONDA AMERICA. MY LIFE IS AT RISK!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331874May 23, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I HAVE A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT AND THE KEYS ARE NOT WORKING IN THE DOORS CORRECTLY. THEY WORK SOMETIMES AND NOW THE IGNITION WILL NOT WORK WITH THE KEYS. I HAVE BEEN READING FOR TWO HOURS ON COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AND WONDERING WHY THERE ARE NOT ANY RECALLS ON THIS MATTER. WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET THIS RESOLVED. MY ELEMENT WILL NOT CRANK NOW BECAUSE OF THIS. I AM STUCK. WHAT DO I DO NOW? I DO NOT HAVE ANY WARRANTY EITHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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