2003 Honda Element complaints

DRIVERS SIDE LOCK DOES NOT WORK AND NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE LOCK IS STARTING TO EXHIBIT THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

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

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

STRESS CRACKS ON FRONT WINDSHIELD ON 2003 HONDA ELEMENT AS DESCRIBED BY OTHER HONDA OWNERS. *TR

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

CRACK FORMED ON THE LOWER DRIVER SIDE OF MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WITH NO SIGN OF IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *TR

DRIVING DOWN SMOOTH ROAD AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON .... DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REFUSED TO FIX. CAR UNDER WARRANTY. CAR IS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. *TR

FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT IS LOOSE AND IT ROCKS. DEALER FIXED IT ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW WANTS $ 130 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NO INJURY YET, BUT WHY WANT UNTIL ONE OCCURS. THERE IS A WEBSITE OF OTHER HONDA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. YOU DO NOT LIST THE HONDA ELEMENT IN YOUR COMPLAINT SYSTEM FOR 2003. SHAME ON YOU. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT IN JUNE 2003 OF WHICH HAD MANY MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS/FAILURES. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF THESE FAILURES PROVED TO BE WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN MECHANISM SPECIFICALLY CV BOOTS AND STEERING FUNCTION. LOUD NOISES DEVELOPED WHEN TURNING WHICH GREW LOUDER OVER TIME AS WELL AS A "GRINDING" SOUND AND VIBRATION FROM UNDERNEATH APPROX. AT MID-ALE LOCATION. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP OUT OF REVERSE WHILE MOVING INTO NEUTRAL AT WILL. THESE ISSUES CULMINATED IN MY STEERING CEASING TO OPERATE AS THOUGH "FROZEN" WHILE I WAS MAKING A SLOW LEFT HAND TURN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A TREE ALONG SIDE OF A MAJOR STREET AND INTERSECTION. THE DRIVERSIDE AIR-BAG DID DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY IN-OPERABLE AND HAD TO BE FLAT BED TOWED DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF FRONT-END DAMAGE. I COMPLETED AND MAINTAINED ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE STOP REQUIREMENTS AND YET SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC DRIVE TRAIN FAILURE AT ONLY 82,000 MILES. MY RESEARCH ON THIS MAKE/MODEL FAILURES PROVED TO BE NUMEROUS IN NUMBER AS REPORTED ON VERIFIABLE/REPUTABLE WEBSITES. ONE OF WHICH WAS HONDA'S OWN - TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN'S SITE! *TR

POOR HEATING DUE TO RESTRICTED HEATER CORE. AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE 2004,AND 2005 ELEMENT (REF. HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 07-076 DATED 11/28/2007) AND THE HEATER CORE IS THUS REPLACED UNDER THE NORMAL WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM BEGAN ON MY 2003 ELEMENT IN 2006 AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, HONDA SERVICE PERSONNEL REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE THE TROUBLE AS A FACTORY DEFECT AND WILL CHARGE IN EXCESS OF $1,500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED REGARDING CONTAMINATION OF THE ENGINE COOLANT WHICH COULD CAUSE RESTRICTIONS IN THE HEATER CORE AND RADIATOR AND SOMETIMES CORROSION. UPDATED 03/05/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAD NOT FAILED. ONE MONTH LATER, THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE SRS SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE WINDSHEILD ONCE. IT CURRENTLY HAS 3 SEPERATE CRACKS AT THE MOMENT THAT WERE NOT FROM ANYTHING HITTING PLUS ONE THAT IS. THAT IS A TOTAL OF 4. *TR

I PURCHASED MY CAR IN AUGUST 2003, AND THIS HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACK OCCURRED IN AUGUST OF 2004 FROM NO OBVIOUS REASONS SUCH AS SOMETHING HITTING MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS HAVING OTHER ISSUES WITH THE ELEMENT AND I ASKED MY HONDA ADVISOR ABOUT THE CRACK AND SHE TOLD ME THAT HONDA WOULD NOT REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND THAT IT WOULD BE OUT OF POCKET FOR ME. NOW I HAVE FOUND A HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN FROM MAY 6, 2003 CONCERNING THE WINDSHIELD AND IT WAS TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR IS 118,000 MILES NOW AND I AM SO LIVID THAT MY HONDA ADVISOR REFUSED TO FIX THIS CRACK WHICH HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 4 INCHES. PLEASE HELP. *JB

MY 2003 ELEMENT DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT IT NEW (I CAN'T REMEMBER THE DATE EXACTLY). *JB

DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK IS INOPERABLE. LOCK PINS ARE JAMMED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND KEY WILL ONLY GO IN HALF WAY. *AK

2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHEILD. THIS WILL BE THE 3RD WINDSHIELD THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ON THE IS VEHICLE. EACH TIME IT CRACKS IN THE LOCATION THAT HONDA SAYS THERE IS A PROBLEM. I'VE HAD TO PAY FOR THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRS.

CRACKED WINDSHIELD...DRIVER'S SIDE...JUST SHOWED UP ONE AFTERNOON LIKE AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR...*JB

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 40000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING UNDER DRY CONDITIONS AT 20 MPH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED THAT SHE HAD TO HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO MAKE THE AIR BAG DEPLOY. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BROWNS HONDA ,AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE REASON WHY THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK UPDATED 04/05/07 *JB

MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH NO APPARENT REASON. THE CRACK STARTS BELOW THE RUBBER STRIP NEAR THE PIVOT OF THE DRIVER WINDSHIELD WIPER. THE CRACK IS MIGRATING UPWARDS INTO MY VIEWING AREA. *JB

BRAKES ON 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHEN HAVING MY CAR SERVICED RECENTLY THEY SAID MY BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE ONE OF THE PADS HAD STUCK AND WORN DOWN TO THE POINT OF SLIGHTLY DAMAGING THE ROTOR. THE BRAKES WERE ADJUSTED ON A PREVIOUS SERVICE CALL BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. THIS SERVICE PROBABLY OCCURRED AROUND 20,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN ADMITTED THAT FOR SOME REASON THE ONE STUCK AFTER THAT SERVICE HAD BEEN DONE. I FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR THIS REPAIR AS OBVIOUSLY EITHER THE TECHNICIAN DIDN'T ADJUST THE BRAKES PROPERLY OR THE EQUIPMENT FAILED TO PERFORM PROPERLY. *NM

MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT EX DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH WHENEVER I STOP OR START MOVING FORWARD. IT TURNS OUT MANY OTHER HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. I FOUND MORE THAN 30 OWNERS ON WWW.ELEMENTOWNERSCLUB.COM, COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WHEN MY VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP, MY DRIVER SEAT ROCKS FORWARD BY ABOUT 0.5 INCH. WHEN I ACCELERATE, THE SEAT ROCKS BACKWARDS BY ANOTHER 0.5 INCH. MY DEALER TELLS ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, BUT I FEEL LIKE IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *NM

WE BOUGHT OUR 2003 HONDA ELEMENT 7/03 NEW AND SINCE THEN WE'VE HAD CRACKS FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD IN 2003. RECENTLY 8/06 WE HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER REPLACEMENT AND HAD TO TAKE IT BACK FOR LEAKS AND THE REPAIR SHOP TRIED TO FIX IN 10/06. WINDSHIELD WAS STILL LEAKING SO THE SAME REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD 11/06 AGAIN AND NOW THERE ARE MORE LEAKAGE. I DON'T SEE HOW HONDA CAN JUSTIFY THIS WITH ANOTHER WINDSHIELD WHEN THE REAL PROBLEM EXISTS IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS VEHICLE FOR THE 2003-2004 MODELS. THE CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT THAT IS GOING ON ONLY STATES THE REPAIR AND REIMBURSEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD(S) NOT THE DEFECT ITSELF. SO WE HAVE A VEHICLE THAT LEAKS, NOT WORTH THE AMOUNT WE STILL OWE ON IT AND CANNOT SEE AN END TO THIS WINDSHIELD PROBLEM WITHOUT FIXING THE ORIGINAL DEFECT PROBLEM. *NM

IN MY 2003 ELEMENT I HIT A 500 POUND COW IN THE ROAD AT BETWEEN 50-60 MPH FROM THE CENTER OF MY CAR TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE FRONT FENDER WHERE THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS LOCATED WAS DESTROYED, AS WAS THE HOOD AND BUMPER. THE POLICE WERE ALL SURPRISED THE AIRBAGS HADN'T DEPLOYED. I CONTACTED HONDA, THE INSURANCE COMPANY, AND THE BODY SHOP TO INFORM THEM OF THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY IN SUCH AN ACCIDENT, AND NO ONE SEEMED OVERLY CONCERNED OTHER THAN THE POLICE AND MYSELF. *JB

SEATBELT CATCHES UNDER SEAT-RECLINE LEVER

WINDSHIELD ON MY ELEMENT 2003, DEVELOPPED A CRACK. DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. NO SIGN OF HIT BY ROCK OR OTHER. WAS PARKED AT WORK ALL DAY THEN WHEN LEAVING WORK NOTICED THAT CRACK? *NM

2003 HONDA ELEMENT DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. EASILY CRACKS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S HORN DIED FOR THE FIFTH TIME. THE HORN WAS QUIETER IN SOUND UNTIL IT FINALLY DIES. THE SERVICE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW TYPE OF HORN IN THE VEHICLE IN APRIL 2005, HOWEVER THIS HORN HAD ALSO STOPPED FUNCTIONING. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - THE HORN HAS BEEN REPLACED/REPAIRED FIVE TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WAS KEEPS CAUSING THE HORN TO FAIL.*NM

MY HONDA ELEMENT HAD A STRESS FRACTURE IN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE IT. *NM

CRACKED WINDSHIELD IN MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT STEMMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE BOTTOM CORNER. BURNS HONDA IN CHERRY HILL, NJ SAYS IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND WILL NOT FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE. *JB

MY 2003 ELEMENT WITH 30,000 MILES WAS PARKED FOR 3 WEEKS IN AN INDOOR PARKING STRUCTURE NEAR THE AIRPORT. I RETURNED FROM MY TRIP TO FIND THE SAME KIND OF CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT OTHERS ON THIS SITE HAVE DESCRIBED. IT STARTED FROM THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AND WENT UP ABOUT 12 INCHES. I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION OF ANY STONES HAVING HIT THE WINDSHIELD PRIOR TO LEAVING. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELDS CRACKED TWICE. BOTH WINDSHIELDS CRACKED WITHIN THE SAME SPOT ON THE LOWER LEVEL PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT WINDOW. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THANKSGIVING OF 2005 AT 50000 MILES. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER IN JANUARY OF 2006. AND AT 4000 MILES AFTER THE REPLACEMENT IN APRIL OF 2006, THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD SUFFERED THE SAME DAMAGE. THE COLORADO REGIONAL DEALER MANAGER CAME OUT ON 06/21/06 AND INSPECTED THE WINDSHIELD. THE MANAGER DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD LOOKED LIKE A ROCK CRACK. THERE WERE NO TOOLS OR EQUIPMENT UTILIZED BY THE MANAGER TO DETERMINE THE FINAL DECISION. THE FINAL DECISION WAS THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WINDSHIELD. ON JUNE 12TH, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACK WAS WORSE. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THE WINDSHIELDS (FILED IN LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA SUPERIOR COURT CASE # BC319600, FILED IN 2004, NO VERDICT YET).

MY HONDA ELEMENT 2003 HAS NOW HAD 3 CRACKED WINDOWS UNDER A YEAR. THIS SEEMS VERY EXCESSIVE AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ONLINE. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS. *JB

HELLO, I PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD IN FEBRUARY, 2006. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND NOW IT IS CRACKED ONCE AGAIN IN PRETTY MUCH THE SAME PLACE. *JB

2003 HONDA ELEMENT REAR BRAKES ARE TOTALLY SHOT NEEDING NEW PADS, ROTORS ETC. AND HONDA IS BLAMING "RUST BUILDUP," AND SAYING THAT IT IS OUR FAULT FOR NOT SERVICING THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED EACH TIME THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED OR TIRES ROTATED. HONDA'S CONTENTION THAT THE BRAKES SHOULD BE "TAKEN APART AND CLEANED DUE TO "SEVERE CONDITIONS" IS RIDICULOUS. WE DO LIVE IN NORTHEASTERN OHIO BUT EVEN THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS DRIVING IN SEVERE CONDITIONS OCCASIONALLY DOESN'T NECESSARILY PUT YOU IN THAT CATEGORY. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY VEHICLE THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE DISASSEMBLED AND CLEANED EVERY 10,000 MILES. COST TO REPAIR IS $450.00. IN ADDITION, MY WIFE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT BRAKE NOISE AND WAS TOLD BOTH TIMES TO GO OUT AND "JAM ON THE BRAKES HARD TO RELEASE DIRT BUILDUP ON THE BRAKES." AT NO TIME WAS SHE EVER ADVISED TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION. *NM

WHILE DRIVING WEST ON INTERSTATE 10 NEAR BROOKSHIRE TX I REACHED INTO THE TRAY ON THE RIGHT DRIVER SIDE (IN DASH NEXT TO STEERING COLUMN) AND APPARENTLY BRUSHED THE REMOTE (HANGING ON THE KEY RING) AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE TWO LANE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO DRIVE OFF THE EXIT WITH NO POWER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO RESTART.*JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT, A CRACK FORMED IN THE CORNER OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS PRESENT THAT CAUSED THE CRACK. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY STRESS FROM THE VEHICLE'S STRUCTURE. THERE WERE TWO TSB FOR THE WINDSHIELD, NHTSA ITEM NUMBERS 10009029 AND 10001628. THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER TSB BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE.

ONE MORNING I GOT INTO CAR AND WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED TOP CENTER. THE CAR IS ALWAYS GARAGED. *JB

2003 HONDA ELEMENT...FRONT WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER...WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A 2ND REPLACEMENT...BOUGHT THE CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2003...1ST WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT APRIL 2004...2ND REPLACEMENT DECEMBER 2005. *JB

WINDSHIELD ON 2003 HONDA ELEMENT DEVELOPED A CRACK (WITHOUT ANY IMPACT) WHICH ORIGINATED FROM LOWER EDGE (BELOW WIPER, DRIVERS SIDE) AND WITHIN 24 HOURS HAD SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE WINDSHIELD. *JB

2003 ELEMENT ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE AND KEYS IN HIS HANDS. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *JB

MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT DEVELOPED A CRACK BELOW THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER THAT GOES UP THREE INCHES THEN DOES A 90 DEGREE RIGHT TURN THEN TRAVELS APPROXIAMATELY TWO FEET HORIZONTALLY THEN DOES ANOTHER 90 DEGREE TURN DOWN INTO WINDOW BEAD. THERE IS A VERY VERY SLIGHT "DINK" IN THE WINDSHIELD ALONG THE CRACK BUT YOUR FINGERNAIL BARELY CATCHES IN IT. I BELIEVE AS DO MANY OTHER 2003 ELEMENT OWNERS THAT THERE IS UNDUE STRESS ON THE CORNERS OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLKAW THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY HONDA. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK CAME UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW BEAD. IT FIRST BEGAN AS A TINY CRACK AND IS NOW ABOUT TWO AND HALF FEET LONG. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED TO HIM THERE WERE NO OTHER RELATED PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NM UPDATED 12/7/2005. IN LATE NOVEMBER THE CONSUMER FOUND A HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN REFERENCING A WINDSHIELD DEFECT. ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FALLS WITH THE RANGE OF VINS THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. *NM

ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 22, 2005 I STARTED MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WHICH WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I QUICKLY REMEMBERED THAT I WANTED AN ITEM OUT OF THE GARAGE AND STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD NOT TOUCHED THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT AND THE E/R BRAKE WAS ON. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO REVERSE, DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE STREET, THE OPEN DOOR STRUCK THE NEIGHBORS MAIL BOX, VEHICLE PROCEEDED UP THE NEIGHBORS DRIVE WAY STRIKING THEIR PARKED VEHICLE, PUSHING IT 2 FEE UP THEIR DRIVEWAY. THEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO DRIVE, CAME BACK DOWN THE NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE STREET, UP MY DRIVEWAY, INTO MY GARAGE STRIKING ITEMS IN THE REAR OF THE GARAGE BEFORE STOPPING. I REACHED IN TO SHUT THE CAR OFF THEN RAN INTO THE HOUSE. WHEN MY HUSBAND CAME OUT TO THE GARAGE AND GOT INTO THE VEHICLE HE SAID THAT THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND THE E/R BREAK WAS ON. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE NEIGHBORS VEHICLE AND APPROX $3500 DAMAGE TO THE HONDA ELEMENT. I BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION/GEAR BOX FAILED AND THE E/B FAILED RESULTING IN INJURY AND DAMAGE. VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED AT BODY SHOP AND I HAVE NOTIFIED HONDA AND WILL HAVE THEM CHECK OUT WHEN REPAIRS COMPLETED. *NM

CAR WAS PARKED, ENGINE TURNED OFF, AND KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. AS I STEPPED OUT THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL, MY RIGHT LEG BECAME CAUGHT IN THE CAR, I WAS DRAGGED ABOUT 80 FEET DOWN MY DRIVEWAY UNTIL I FINALLY MANAGED TO FREE MY FOOT AND ROLL AWAY. I FRACTURED A FINGER, TORE LIGAMENTS IN THAT AND ANOTHER, INJURED MY RIGHT KNEE AND ANKLE, SCRAPED MY RIGHT ARM, AND BRUISED MY UPPER THIGH. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL OVER SOME LARGE ROCKS, ACROSS THE ROAD, AND INTO THE CORN FIELD. THE KEY SHOULD NOT HAVE COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT IN PARK. AFTER GETTING NO SATISFACTION FROM HONDA AMERICA, MY LOCAL DEALER FINALLY AGREED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE ENTIRE KEY INTERLOCK SYSTEM. *NM

CRACKED WINDSHIELD - PASSENGER SIDE - LOW AREA. *NM

CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON HONDA ELEMENT, IT STARTED LAST SUMMER AT EDGE OF WINDSHIELD AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GONE STRAIGHT ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD TO POINT WHERE IT NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL BUT BECAUSE MY VIN # DOES NOT MATCH THE RECALL HONDA WILL NOT NECESSARILY COVER. THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING $85.00 JUST CHECK TO SEE IF THEY WILL COVER. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELDS CRACKING. I HAVE LIVED IN AK FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD BEFORE. *NM

CONSUMER HAD WINDSHIELD REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BECAUSE IT MADE A HOWLING NOISE. *TS THE COMPANY THAT REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD BLAMED THE MANUFACTURER FOR NOT FIXING A BAD WELD. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THE CONSUMERS MODEL WAS PRONE TO BREAKAGE BECAUSE OF THE VERTICAL POSITION WHEN STRUCK BY EVEN THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT WITHIN THE BLACK AREA ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE GLASS, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DISAGREED WITH THAT THEORY, STATING THERE HAD BEEN OTHER VEHICLE DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS THAT HAD THIS TYPE OF WINDSHIELD POSITIONING WITHOUT EXCESSIVE WINDSHIELD BREAKAGE. *JB

I OWN A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I HIT A PICKUP TRUCK AND BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTAL LOSSES. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT WHICH PUSHED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IN BY 24 INCHES AND BENT THE FRAME - THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DID DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH NO OTHER PASSENGERS WERE IN THE VEHICLE. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TWICE TO HONDA AMERICA BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM EXISTS. *NM

MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS MULTIPLE ROLLOVER ACCIDENT IN OUR 2003 HONDA ELEMENT TWO DAYS AGO. THERE WAS NOT ONE PORTION OF THE VEHICLE (INCLUDING THE FRONT) THAT WAS NOT SEVERELY IMPACTED AND YET BOTH THE SHERIFF AND TOW TRUCK DRIVER WERE VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE NONE OF THE AIRBAGS EVER DEPLOYED. *NM

THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT CRACKED IN THE CENTER RISING UP FROM THE BOTTOM EDGE. THE CRASH IS 18" LONG APPROX. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS FROM A ROCK AND NOT COVERED. THE "ROCK" CHIP IS BARELY VISIBLE. IT'S MORE LIKE A TINY PIT FROM A PIECE OF SAND. I BELIEVE THE ELEMENT HAS A DESIGN FLAW WHICH CAUSES CRACKS FROM THE FLEXING OF THE FRAME OR CHEAP GLASS. *JB