Page 5 of 9 · complaints 201–250 of 424

2003 Honda Element complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2003 record →

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Aug 22, 2005OH

DT: THE WINDSHIELD HAS 3 CRACKS, ONE WAS ON HE FIRST DAY OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. GOT IT ON SUNDAY AND HUGE CRACK WAS DOWN THE MIDDLE. THERE WAS CRACK ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE THAT STARTED ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO. HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER. THERE IS ANOTHER CRACK EYE LEVEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS STARTED ON DECEMBER 22, 2005. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Aug 8, 200529,000 milesNY

MY REAR BRAKES WENT AT 29,000 MILES AND THEN AGAIN AT 50,000 MILES. HONDA REPLACED THE ROTORS AND PADS UNDER WARRANTY AT 29,000 MILES. I BROUGHT THE ELEMENT BACK SEVERAL TIMES AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE BRAKES AND THEY BLAMED IT ON DIRT BUILDUP. AT 50,000 MILES THE REAR BRAKES WENT AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY WEREN'T GOING TO COVER IT BUT AFTER COMPLAINING THEY COVERED THE ROTORS AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE PADS AND LABOR. I DON'T GO OFF ROAD OR TRAVEL ON DIRT ROADS. I HAD MY BRAKES CHECKED A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN I HAD MY TIRES ROTATED. I HAVE RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT MY FRIEND WHO ALSO OWNS AN ELEMENT HAD HIS REAR BRAKES REPLACED AT 18,000. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. MY FRONT BRAKES ARE STILL THE ORIGINALS. *NM

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jul 28, 20053,800 milesWA

I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE SEATAC AIRPORT, I HAD HEARD MY DASH CREAKING ON AND OFF FOR A WHILE AND JUST FIGURED IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, HOWEVER THIS TIME AFTER THE CREAK I NOTICED A VERY SMALL HAIRLINE CRACK THE CRACK CAME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER PART OF W/SHIELD STARTING BY THE COWL VENT PANEL AND THE CRACK WENT TO THE LT. AFTER THE CRACK APPEARED THE CREAKING STOPPED FOR A WHILE, NOW IT HAS STARTED AGAIN. I COULD NOT AFFORD A NEW WINDSHIELD, AND AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS -HTTP://WWW.ELEMENTOWNERSCLUB.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=4189&PAGE=5&PP=10 HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS CLUB > HONDA ELEMENT > *PROBLEMS & ISSUES RELOAD THIS PAGE WINDSHIELD ISSUES- I WAS NOT EXPECTING MUCH HELP FROM THE DEALER. I WILL CALL THEEALER TODAY AND REQUEST A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD AND TAKE COPIES OF YOPUR REPORTS. *NM

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jul 27, 20058,000 milesWA

AFTER ONLY 10,000 MILES OF NORMAL USE, MY WINDSHIELD HAS ACCUMULATED 2 OR 3 DINGS AND ONE CRACK THAT IS NOW 2 FEET LONG. I USE THE CAR FOR NORMAL TRAVEL WITHIN SEATTLE, AND ON WA HIGHWAYS AND EXPRESSWAYS. THE CRACKS HAVE ALL OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELLING ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE RESULT OF A FLAW, BECAUSE MY PREVIOUS CAR WAS USED IN THE SAME MANNER, IN THE SAME AREA, (SEATTLE WA) FOR 130,000 MILES, AND ONLY HAD ONE OR TWO DINGS AND NO CRACKS. I SUSPECT THAT IT IS A RESULT OF THE WINDOW BEING ANGLED TOO PERPENDICULAR TO THE TRAVEL OF ROCKS AND GRAVEL THROWN UP BY OTHER VEHICLES, OR DEFECTIVE GLASS.

Structure
Filed Jul 20, 200516,500 milesIL

1. HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED AND REPAIRED AT MY COST 2. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY IMPLODED ON 7/18/05. GLASS HIT MY SON THE DRIVER AND COVERED PASSENGER SEAT. 3. HONDA TELLS ME OVER $300.00 REPAIR BILL IS MY PROBLEM

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jul 12, 200518,000 milesNJ

DT: CONSUMER SAYS THAT HE HAS A CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON HIS VEHICLE. CONSUMER SAYS THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT GOING ON FOR THIS SAME REASON. CONSUMER FOUND SUIT ON INTERNET. CONSUMER SAYS THAT WINDSHIELD CRACKED BY ITSELF. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT A PEBBLE OR ROCK HIT WINDOW AND CAUSED CRACK. CONSUMER SAYS THAT PLACE DEALER POINTED OUT ON WINDOW WAS THE SIZE OF A PIN HEAD. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT WINDSHIELD WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANYTHING. CONSUMER HAS NO IDEAL WHAT CAUSED THE CRACK. CONSUMER IS THE ONLY PERSON TO DRIVE VEHICLE AND HE IS NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING EVER STRIKING WINDOW. CONSUMER FIRST NOTICED CRACK AFTER ARRIVING AT WORK, GOING INTO OFFICE, AND A COWORKER WHO HAD ROAD TO WORK WITH CONSUMER, TOLD CONSUMER ABOUT NOTICING THE CRACK. THIS WAS MORNING JULY 9, 2005. OFFICE IS LOCATED IN VERONA, NEW JERSEY. CONSUMER HAS LOOKED ON INTERNET TO FIND THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING CRACKED WINDSHIELDS OF SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. CONSUMER IS NOT AWARE OF WHERE THE WINDSHIELD CRACK MAY HAVE HAPPENED. *NM

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jul 11, 200511,800 milesWA

DT: CONSUMER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM AND THE CRACK MOVED UP ABOUT ONE FOOT. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A STARTING POINT TO THE CRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THAT THEY FOUND A DING THAT CONSUMER SAYS IS ABOUT AS BIG AS THE HEAD OF A PIN. DEALER SAYS THIS IS WHERE SOMETHING STRUCK VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER IS CONFIDENT THAT NOTHING STRUCK WINDOW, WINDOW CRACKED UNDER STRESS FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER SAYS THAT SHE BELIEVES THAT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN HER GARAGE. CONSUMER SAID SHE DID NOT NOTICE CRACK UNTIL SHE GOT VEHICLE OUT OF GARAGE IN THE MORNING. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT IS IN HER WORK PARKING LOT, IS THE SAME VEHICLE BUT DIFFERENT COLOR, THIS VEHICLE HAS SAME CRACK. CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE CRACK IS VERY CLOSE. IT ALSO STARTS IN THE SAME PLACE IN THE BOTTOM OF WINDOW. CONSUMER SAYS THAT SHE TAKES CARE OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE ONLY HAS 12,000 MILES, CONSUMER DRIVES 3 MILES TO WORK, CONSUMER MOSTLY DRIVES ON LOCAL ROADS, DOES NOT TRAVEL ON HIGHWAYS MUCH. *NM

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jul 5, 200587,230 milesNJ

AN OBJECT HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND WAS TOO SMALL TO SEE. THE OBJECT NICKED THE WINDSHIELD AND CRACKS FORMED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY, AND WAS BEING REPLACED AGAIN THE DAY THE CONSUMER SENT THIS LETTER. *AK *SC *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jul 1, 2005NJ

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM BENEATH PASSENGER WIPER BLADE UP APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES AND THEN TURNS TOWARD DRIVER'S SIDE.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jun 28, 200526,300 milesNY

FOR THE SECOND TIME MY WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED ON MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CRACKS ARE CONSIDERED STRESS FRACTURES CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jun 22, 2005NC

I BOUGHT A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT EX SEPTEMBER 2004, HAVE ABOUT 30K ON IT, NO PROBLEMS UNTIL I CAME OUT TO THE PARKING LOT AND FOUND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED (THE NOW CLASSIC DESIGN, LOWER PASSENGER SIDE, NO IMPACT MARK, SPREADING FROM BLACK AREA, RIGHT NOW ABOUT TEN INCHES LONG AND MOVING STRAIGHT ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I AM HAVING CASCADE AUTO GLASS COME THIS MORNING TO REPLACE IT SINCE THE CRACK IS GROWING AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jun 15, 200514,950 milesMN

HONDA ELEMENT -- CRACK IN WINDSHIELD. STARTED AT BOTTOM PASSENGER SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A SMALL PIN SIZE HOLE AT THE BASE OF THE CRACK - ALMOST BELOW THE EDGE OF THE HOOD. THE CRACK WENT UP ABOUT 7 INCHES AND THEN STARTED SPREADING ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS DEFINITELY NOT FROM A ROCK CHIP. IT TOOK 2 FULL DAYS OF "NEGOTIATING" WITH AMERICAN HONDA TO GET THEM TO COVER THE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD UNDER WARRANTY.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed May 18, 2005LA

DT: 2003, HONDA ELEMENT, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED OUT OF THE BLUE. NOTHING STRUCK THE GLASS, NO ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING, HEARD POPPING NOISE AND A 5-6 ROUND CIRCLE CRACK APPEARED ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER, AND THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 24, 20056,000 milesCO

WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN TWO SPOT ON DRIVER SIDE DURING HIGH WINDS. HAD A GLASS REPAIR SHOP FIX THE CRACKS, BUT ONE HAS CONTINUED TO SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. DESIGN/ANGLE OF WINDSHIELD IS AT ISSUE AS THE WINDSHIELD HAS 4 "STAR" FRACTURES AS WELL AS THE CRACKS IN THE 16 MONTHS WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 18, 200519,000 milesIL

WINDSHIELD STRESS CRACK WITH NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT LOCATED ON LOWERS DRIVER'S SIDE. WENT OUT TO THE CAR ONE MORNING AND THE CRACK WAS HAD APPEARED OVER NIGHT. STARTED ABOUT THREE INCHES LONG AND HAS SINCE BRANCHED OFF AND EXTENDED TO OVER 12 INCHES. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Filed Apr 15, 2005LA

THIS IS THE THIRD THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY INSTALLED INTO CAR SINCE PURCHASE. THE FIRST ONE WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED WITH A NEW MODEL. THE SECOND WAS REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURES, AND THE LAST ONE WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE DVD/NAV SYSTEM INSTALLED WHICH WAS CAUSING ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE TO THE THROTTLE BODY, CAUSING IT TO FAIL. THE SYMPTOM STARTED WITH THE SHIFT NOT UNLOCKING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THEN IT WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS, CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN AT 4500 RPMS. THEN VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN ROAD, AND IT SHIFTED TO BETTER HIGHWAY SPEED. DEALER STATED THAT HE COULD NOT GET TROUBLE CODES FROM COMPUTER UNTIL ALL DVD/NAV WAS DISCONECTED. THEY REPLACED THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, AND TOLD US NOT TO HOOK DVD/NAV SYSTEM UP UNLESS IT HAD ITS OWN FUSEABLE LINK LINE FROM BATTERY, AND NOT TO USE WIRE HARNESS TO CONNECT.*AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 13, 2005GA

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 13, 20053,891 milesNY

7 WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS SO FAR SINCE PURCHASE DATE ON 12/10/2003. THE FIRST 2 REPLACEMENTS WERE DONE BY THE HUNTINGTON HONDA DEALERSHIP. THE OTHER 5 REPLACEMENTS WERE DONE BY SAFELITE. THE MOST RECENT REPLACEMENT WAS DONE ON APRIL 13, 2005. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 11, 200517,900 milesRI

THIS IS THE SECOND WINDSHIELD THAT CRACKED IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS, THEY BOTH APEARED TO BE STRESS CRACKS. BOTH TIMES I WAS NOT IN THE CAR WHEN CRACK APPEARED AND BOTH TIMES THE CRACK IS ON THE PASSANGER SIDE.*AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 1, 200524,000 milesME

WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER DOWN BELOW THE SEAL & IS NOW BENDING HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. NO APPARENT ROCK HITS (NO STARRING), DEALER REFUSES TO COVER DAMAGE UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Mar 30, 2005MD

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM SPONTANEOUS CRACK OCCURRED IN WINDSHIELD RIGHT LOWER SIDE . THEN A SPONTANEOUS CRACK OCCURRED IN LEFT LOWER WINDSHIELD . THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ROCK OR OTHER OBJECT STRIKING WINDSHIELD. *BF *NM

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Mar 29, 200531,440 milesCT

WINDSHIELD CRACKING FROM PASSENGER SIDE CORNER, EDGE, APPROX. 18". HAPPENED OVERNIGHT AS VEHICLE SAT. HONDA SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMS CRACK WAS CAUSED BY AN IMPACT WHOSE SITE IS BARELY VISIBLE AND THE SIZE OF A PIN POINT. HONDA WOULD NOT REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Mar 28, 2005NJ

ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACK DOCUMENT 1. THURSDAY (3/24/05) NOTICED CRACK IN WINDSHIELD THAT HAD NOT BEEN THERE THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. CRACK APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED AT POINT WHERE WINDSHIELD MEETS CAR BODY AND GOES UP ABOUT 3 INCHES, WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE A DIVED WHERE A PEBBLE OR ROCK COULD HAVE IMPACTED IT 2. FRIDAY(3/25/05) TOOK VEHICLE TO JOYCE HONDA FOR EVALUATION. WAS GIVEN AN INFO SHEET REGARDING WINDSHIELD CRACKS THAT STATED (BASICALLY) IF YOU CAN FEEL ANYTHING ON THE GLASS ITSELF IT IS CAUSED BY ROCK, IF NOT COULD BE FLAW SERVICE MANAGER LOOKED AT WINDSHIELD. RAN A PEN AT THE POINT OF INITIATION AND STATED HE COULD FEEL A DIVED. AFTER 10 MINUTES OF TRYING I STILL COULD NOT FEEL. HE STATED THAT IT WAS NOT WARRANTY PROBLEM AND ANYWAY HE ?DID NOT DO GLASS UNLESS FORCED TO WHEN IT IS WARRANTED?. HE DID NOT OFFER ANY INFO REGARDING PRICE, I ASKED HIM IF THERE ANY REQUIREMENTS FROM HONDA REGARDING REPLACEMENT (I.E. BRANDS, WHO SHOULD DO IT, ETC). HE SAID ?NO ANYONE WHO DOES AUTO GLASS IS FINE? 3. MONDAY (3/28/05) CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-800-999-1009 SPOKE TO CHRIS TO WHOM I RELATED THE EVENTS SO FAR INCLUDING THE FACT THAT THE CRACK HAS NOW TRAVELED ALMOST COMPLETELY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I MENTIONED THE TSB THAT INCLUDES MY VIN NUMBER (03-028) HE OPENED A CASE NUMBER SO THIS SITUATION CAN BE EVALUATED BY A DISTRICT MANAGER. HE STATED I WOULD BE CONTACTED IN 24-48 HOURS BY A HONDA DISTRICT MANAGER. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Mar 25, 2005TX

WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED TWICE. ONE CRACK IN FRONT OF PASSENGER SEAT, MAKES AN ARCH TO LOWER PASSENGER CORNER. OTICED SECOND CRACK IN MARCH, BEGINS IN FRONT OF DRIVER, VERY BOTTOM OF THE GLASS, EXTENDS TO MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD.*AK

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Mar 17, 2005NY

I HAVE A HONDA ELEMENT WITH WINDSHIELD THAT CONSISTENTLY CRACKS. I HAVE THE 5TH CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON MY CAR AND IVE HAD THIS CAR JUST 2 YEARS NOW. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I HAVE HAD MANY OTHER CARS THAT COULD SUSTAIN ROAD CONDITIONS AND HAVE NEVER RAPLACED A WINDSHIELD THIS OFTEN. THIS WINDSHIELD CRACKS UPON AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT OF A ROCK, AND ALWAYS COMES OUT OF ONE OF THE LOWER CORNERS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS DEFECT IN THE FRAMING OF THE WINDSHIELD AND HONDA AS WELL AS THE DEALERSHIPS WONT DO ANYTHING FOR ME UNLESS I PAY. I HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELDS 4 TIMES THROUGH INSURANCE BECAUSE HONDA WILL NOT ACCEPT INSURANCE CLAIMS. DUE TO THAT FACT I HAVE TO USE THE COMPANY THAT MY INSURANCE CO. SENDS TO ME. I ASSUME GEICO INS. CO. DOES NOT USE GLASS COMPANYS THAT USE FAULTY GLASS, AS I WAS TOLD BY THE HONDA DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE THAT HONDA SHOULD ASSESS THE FRAMING OF THE WINDSHIELD FREE OF CHARGE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN WINDSHIELD RECALS FRO 2003 ELEMENTS AND HONDA STATES THAT MY 2003 VEHICLE IS NOT ONE OF THEM. I FIND IT TOO COINCIDENTAL THAT I AM HAVING SUCH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE INCIDENT DATE LISTED BELOW JUST INDICATTES THE DATE OF THE MOST RECENT CRACK AFTER JUST BEING REPLACED TO PASS NYS INSPECTION ON 2-23-05.*AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Mar 10, 20058,000 milesOH

(1) NORMAL EVERYDAY DRIVING; (2) CRACKED WINDSHEILD, ORIGINATING LOWER CORNER PASSENGER SIDE, CURVING UP AND TO MIDDLE, (3) PLAN TO TAKE TO DEALER SOON. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Mar 9, 200549,400 milesPA

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM LOWER PASSANGER SIDE CORNER AND IS SPREADING RATHER RAPIDLY ACCROS TEH ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS NOT INSTIGATED FROM ANY IMPACT.*AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Mar 8, 20058,500 milesVA

WHILE ATTENDING A CONFERENCE LAST MAY, MY HONDA ELEMENT WAS PARKED IN A PUBLIC GARAGE. WHEN I RETRIEVED IT THERE WAS A CRACK STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM CENTER EDGE. OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS IT CONTINUED TO CRACK VERTICALLY AND THEN HORIZONALLY ACROSS IN FRONT THE THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAD THE WINDOW REPLACED BY A WINDHSIELD REPAIR SHOP THAT IS USED BY MY HONDA DEALER. MY INSURANCE PAID FOR IT AS THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Mar 3, 200522,400 milesIA

2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON ITS OWN. *JB

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Fuel Gauge System
Filed Mar 3, 200537,000 milesTX

JUST AS MY WARRANTY EXPIRED (37,000 MILES) WHILE OUT OF TOWN, I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I WOULD FILL UP AND IT WOULD ONLY MARK AT ABOUT HALF A TANK. I WAS A BIT CONFUSED AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I KNEW THAT THE TANK WAS FULL, BUT I DID NOT WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES. SO WHEN THE GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY AND THE FUEL LIGHT CAME ON I WOULD REFILL THE TANK AGAIN. WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NOT KNOWING EXACTLY HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE TANK IF I DO HAPPEN TO RUN OUT OF GAS. I COULD POTENTIALLY DO DAMAGE TO OTHER ENGINE AND MECHANICAL PARTS OR TO MYSELF AND FAMILY IF THIS HAPPENS ON THE ROAD. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AND NOW IT GOES TO ONLY 1/4 A TANK AND THEN TO EMPTY. I AM TRYING TO GET IT TO THE DEALER, BUT MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRES AND HONESTLY DO NOT HAVE THE CASH TO FIX IT. I FEEL THAT AT JUST BEING OVER THE WARRANTY THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT SO SOON. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER ELEMENT OWNER'S AND DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 27, 2005NJ

AS I GOT IN MY HONDA ELEMENT, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVERS SIDE, UP 16 INCHES ALMOST TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. NOTHING HIT MY WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A STRESS CRACK THAT IS PROBABLY POOR DESIGN ON HONDA'S PART. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 23, 2005MO

CRACKED WINDSHIELD INITIATING BELOW TRIM STARTING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR WITH NO CAUSE. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 22, 20057,200 milesMO

MY CAR WAS PARKED AT WORK DURING A SNOW STORM AND AT THE END OF THE DAY I CAME OUT TO THE CAR BRUSHED THE SNOW AWAY AND MY WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED IN THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE CORNER THE CAR HAD 7300 MILES ON IT. IT WAS FINE WHEN I LEFT IN THE MORNING . 2 DAYS LATER I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO A SMALL PIT IN THE WINDSHIELD THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF SAND AND THEREFORE HONDA WOULD NOT THE REPAIR. I HAVE HAD CARS (HONDAS) WITH LARGE STONE CHIPS 1/4 INCH IN SIZE NOT CRACK THE WINDSHIELD - THE SIZE OF THIS PIT IS BARELY VISIBLE. I TOLD MY DEALER THAT I FELT THIS WAS A DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD OR INSTALLATION AND HE SAID THAT HONDA WOULD NOT ADDRESS IT SINCE THERE WAS A PIT IN THE WINDSHIELD. HE SAID MY INSURANCE WOULD COVER IT. AFTER CHECKING ON THE WEB AND THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS MY SUSPICIONS WERE VERFIIED. I HAVE OWNED 6 HONDAS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH HONDA - TO ME THIS IS DANGEROUS, AN OBVIOUS DEFECT AND THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM!!! A MEMBER ON THE HONDA ELEMENTS OWNERS WEB SITE STATED THAT HE HAD HIS WINDSHIELD REPLACED BY ANOTHER FIRM AND THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW THIN THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD WAS. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 19, 200516,897 milesVA

MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT HAS DEVELOPED A STRESS CRACK IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER IN THAT IS SIMILAR THAT REPORTED BY HUNDREDS OF ELEMENT OWNERS. THIS OCCURED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IS CONSISTENT WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A HONDA TSB ADDRESSING CRACKED WINDSHEILDS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. TWO HONDA DEALERSHIPS ARROGANTLY DISMISSED IT AS BEING CAUSED BY A PEBBLE CHIP; HOWEVER THE ALLEGED "CHIP" WAS A SMALL PIT THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF SAND. THE FIRST DEALER INDICATED HE LOCATED A SMALL DICONTINUITY IN THE PATH OF THE CRACK THAT WAS PIN SIZED. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP ALLEGED THAT HE LOCATED SIX PINHOLES, NONE OF WHICH WERE VISABLE TO ME OR DETECTED BY THE FIRST DEALERHIP! THE INSPECTION TECHNIQUE AND RESULTING DISMISSAL OF THE CLAIM APPEARED TO BE COACHED FROM SOME HONDA FACTORY ISSUED DIRECTIVE TO AVOID DOCUMENTATION OF THIS WIDESPREAD DEFECT. DOZENS OF WEBSITE POSTINGS ARE AVAILABLE WHICH DOCUMENTS SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH MANY ALSO DESCRIBING THE ALLEGED DETECTION OF A PINHEAD SIZE PIT ON THE SURFACE OF THE CRACK DIRECTLY UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT HONDA IS ATTEMPTING TO COVER UP THIS DEFECT TO AVOID A RECALL OR A"SECRET WARRANTY" SITUATION.*AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 16, 200532,400 milesMA

THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WAS BEGINING TO CRACK. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *EH *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 15, 2005NJ

MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I HAVE HERD SOME ABOUT THAT IN PAST. WHEN I WENT TO A HONDA DEALER THEY DECLINED REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD. STATING THERE IS NO RECALLS ON IT. HOWEVER I DID FOUND OUT SOME INFORMATION ON WWW.HONDAELEMENTSCRACK.COM THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 9, 2005CT

BROKEN WINSHIELD. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 8, 200513,200 milesME

A WINDSHIELD PROBLEM. THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE LEFT SIDE JUST 5" ABOVE THE LOWER CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO IMPACT MARK AT THE CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD. HOWEVER, DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS AN IMPACT MARK, AND REFUSED TO REPAIR IT! THERE ARE SEVERAL BIGGER DEBRIS CHIPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH DID NOT CAUSE CRACK! I HAVE ON THE CAR JUST 13 000 MILES AND THIS IS UNHEARD OFF. I HAVE OVER 10 YEARS OF DRIVING AND NOTHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENED TO ME WITH ANY OF MY CARS BEFORE. I WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH THE CRACK ON UNTIL THE DEALER OR AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. DECIDES TO REPLACE AT THEIR OWN COST. THEY HAVE TO ADMIT IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND DO A NATIONAL RECALL. I AM READY TO SUE AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY IF MY SAFETY IS JEOPARDIZED DUE TO THAT PARTICULAR DEFECT !!! *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 1, 200524,000 milesWI

THE FIRST CRACK CAME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER PART OF W/SHIELD STARTING BY THE COWL VENT PANEL AND THE CRACK WENT TO THE LT. THE SECOND CRACK CAME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I HEARD SOME CRACKING NOISES AND THEN THE CRACK APPEARED AND DID THE SAME THING BUT THE CRACK WENT TO THE RIGHT SIDE. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jan 31, 200512,556 milesCO

CRACKED WINDSHIELD INITIATING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR WITH NO CAUSE SUCH AS ROCK CHIP DAMAGE, ETC. CRACK CONTINUES ACROSS WINDSHIELD JUST ABOVE DASHBOARD LEVEL.*AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jan 27, 200516,000 milesVA

THE INFAMOUS WINDOW CRACK APPEARED ON MY HONDA ELEMENT. JUST WOKE UP ONE MORNING AND FOUND A 3 INCH CRACK. IT HAS SINCE EXPANDED.*AK

Electrical System › Horn
Filed Jan 26, 2005CA

THE CONSUMER HAS HAD CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S FACTORY INSTALLED HORN AND ALARM. *NM THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. OTHER PROBLEMS WERE; THE BUMPER COVER WOULD POP OUT INTERMITTENTLY, THE RIGHT SIDE CORNER PIECE WAS LOOSE, THE HORN SOUND WAS ABNORMAL AND ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING. *SC

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jan 24, 200512,579 milesNY

STRESS FRACTURE IN WINDSHIELD THAT STARTED FROM THE LOWER DRIVER SIDE AND STRETCHES ACROSS ABOUT 24" TO 36". *NM

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jan 13, 200520,836 milesGA

1) NO EVENT, WENT TO CAR IN MORNING AND CRACKS WERE ALREADY THERE. 2) WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN THREE PLACES STARTING IN LOWER LEFT SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. 3) CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA, WAITING FOR REPLY. *NM

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jan 10, 2005NY

MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER FOR NO REASON. I REPLACED IT AFTER ONLY 3 MONTHS OF OWNING MY CAR. AFTER ANOTHER 4 MONTHS MY SECOND WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN THE SAME EXACT SPOT. I BROUGHT IT TO HONDA BOTH TIMES AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. I HAVE OWNED CARS BEFORE AND I NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN. TWO WINDSHIELDS IN ONE YEAR! HONDA HAS NOT BEEN A HELP AT ALL, AND ACCORDING TO A LOT OF WEB SITES FOR HONDA ELEMENTS, THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR ALL ELEMENT OWNERS.*AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jan 8, 200519,960 milesOH

WINDSHIELD CRACKED AT LOWER LEFT CORNER WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE; NO SIGN OF ANY IMPACT; CRACK ORIGINATING FROM OUTSIDE TO INSIDE. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jan 6, 2005CT

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK.....CRACK GREW FROM THE BOTTOM MOULDING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT POINT. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF CRACKS EMINATING FROM THE EXACT SAME SPOT. *AK

Electrical SystemCrashFire
Filed Jan 6, 2005MD

ADSFKJLAEWIR;ALKGJFA;LSDJFASFDIAJ;LWEFJDS;FLSADFDSAFDSF. NOT READABLE. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jan 4, 200518,000 milesPA

I'VE HAD MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT FOR SLIGHTLY LESS THAN A YEAR. IT WAS SITTING IN MY GARAGE FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS OVER THE 2004 CHRISTMAS WEEKEND. UPON GETTING IN MY CAR TO GO SOMEWHERE I NOTICED A CRACK ABOUT 8 INCHES IN LENGTH GOING DOWN TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD. I KNOW THIS WAS NOT THERE THE LAST TIME I DROVE IT SINCE IT WAS SO BIG AND SO OBVIOUS. IT HAD APPARENTLY JUST CRACKED WHILE SITTING IN THE GARAGE. ANYWAY, OVER THE NEXT DAY THE CRACKED STARTED TO CURVE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. CONTACTED MY DEALER AND DROPPED IT OFF FOR THEM TO CHECK OUT. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I HAD READ ABOUT MANY OTHER ISSUES WITH THE WINDSHIELDS. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THEY WILL REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Dec 20, 200410,000 milesLA

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. WHILE RIDING ABOUT 60 MPH ON I-10, SLIDELL, LOUISIANA. FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE SUDDENLY BLEW. OUT. RIP WAS IN SIDEWALL, ABOUT 2 3/4 INCHES LONG (TEARDROP SHAPE), BOTTOM OF TEARDROP AT LEAST 1/2 INCH FROM TREAD. OTHER END OF RIPPED ENDS IN SIDEWALL BETWEEN M&S AND P215. HAD OIL CHANGED, AND TIRES CHECKED AT ROYAL HONDA, METAIRIE, LA, BEFORE THIS TRIP. PLIES TREAD: 2 POLYESTER + 2 STEEL. SIDEWALL-2 POLYESTER. MADE IN JAPAN. *AK

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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