Page 4 of 6 · complaints 151–200 of 281

2004 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 2004 record →

Seats
Filed Aug 12, 200850,500 milesIA

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

Visibility
Filed Jul 15, 200852,000 milesTN

WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE COMING FROM MYRTLE BEACH THE WINDSCREEN WAS CRACKED ON THE ELEMENT I PURCHASED ABOUT 3 WEEKS BEFORE THE TRIP. I DID NOT SEE A ROCK HIT , I ASSUMED THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED UNTIL I STARTED READING THE FORUM ON THE ELEMENT OWNERS CLUB ABOUT SIMILAR SITUATIONS THAT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER ELEMENT OWNERS. THE FIX WAS $330 OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE THE WINDSCREEN. *TR

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 30, 200850,000 milesSC

WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING DOWN TO ROAD. INSURANCE HAS REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 28, 200847,000 milesRI

I OWN A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CRACK STARTED UNDER MY WIPER BLADE AND SPREAD UP VERY QUICKLY. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED, NOT KNOWING THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM ON 03-04 HONDA ELEMENTS. LAST NIGHT I WENT OUT TO MY CAR AND NOTICED ANOTHER CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD, WITH THE CRACK OCCURRING WHILE THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO MONTHS I HAVE TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD, THOUGH THIS TIME I WILL DO IT THROUGH A HONDA DEALER AS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS CAUSED THEM TO COVER ALL WINDSHIELDS UP TO 60,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WHICH LEADS ME TO THE CAUSE FOR MY COMPLAINT. HONDA IS COVERING A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW UP TO 60,000 MILES, BUT NOT AFTER. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT 48K MILES, LEAVING ME WITH 12K MILES OF COVERAGE. ONCE I REACH 60K MILES I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE COSTS OUT OF POCKET, AND WITH THE REPLACEMENT BEING $250-300 EACH TIME, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING I CAN AFFORD. NOW I MUST TRADE IN MY CAR, A CAR KNOWN TO HAVE A FAULTY DESIGN BY HONDA, FOR FAR LESS THAN A 05 MODEL WOULD BE WORTH WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE. HONDA PUT A BAND AID ON A GAPING FINANCIAL WOUND FOR A CONSUMER. THEIR SHADY BUSINESS PRACTICE WILL CAUSE ME FURTHER FINANCIAL LOSS, HENCE THE REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT. *TR

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 1, 2008MA

MULTIPLE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module
Filed Feb 21, 2008WI

ON FEBRUARY 2, 2008, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING FROM MILWAUKEE WI TO MADISON WI WHICH IS ABOUT 80 MILES. THERE WAS NO SNOW ON THE ROAD THAT MORNING, ROADS WERE CLEAR. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT GO OFF. WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS AND MOVED OUT OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER TO PULL OVER. WE THEN NOTICED THAT THE SIDE AIRBAG THAT IS LOCATED IN THE DRIVERS SEAT DEPLOYED. NOTHING HIT US, WE HIT NOTHING. CALLED SCHLOSSMANS HONDA CITY THAT MONDAY THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING THE CAR . THE FIRST THING THEY SAID WAS THAT I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING. THEN MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT AND RUN SOME TESTS ON IT. AGAIN NOTHING. THE SENSOR TRIGGERED THE AIRBAG BUT THERE IS NO DAMAGE ANYWHERE ON MY CAR. THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST OVER $1200 HONDA REFUSES TO COVER THIS. I HAVE ABOUT 30,000 MILES ON MY 2004 ELEMENT, MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. I CONTACTED PRIVATE AUTO INSURANCE, I HAVE A $500 DEDUCTIBLE . I HAVE CONTACTED HONDA CORPORATION IN CALIFORNIA AND STARTED A CLAIM BECAUSE I FEEL NOT ONLY SHOULD THEY COVER THIS REPAIR BUT SHOULD CHECK OUT THE OTHER SENSORS AND AIRBAGS IN MY CAR. WHAT IF I GET THIS ONE FIXED AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN? WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR WORSE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET, SEEMS THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH HONDA'S AIRBAGS. THEY EITHER DEPLOY WHEN THEY AREN'T SUPPOSE TO OR DON'T DEPLOY IN SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. I BELIEVE TH

Electrical System
Filed Feb 8, 200864,000 milesFL

AIR BAGS AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. AIR BAGS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND BROUGHT TO DEALER. CABLE REEL ASSEMBLY IN STEERING COLUMN WAS BAD. DEALER SAID I HAD TO PAY FOR NEW ASSEMBLY AND LABOR. *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 19, 200865,000 milesFL

2004 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED AT STRESS POINT LOCATED ON DRIVER'S SIDE WHERE INSPECTION STICKERS USUALLY APPEAR. NO PITTING, NO IMPACT POINT FROM FLYING DEBRIS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE HONDA ELEMENT. HAD DRIVEN THE CAR AN HOUR EARLIER AND NO CRACK. *TR

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Dec 12, 200737,000 milesNC

WALKED OUT TO VEHICLE IN THE AFTERNOON, NOTICED WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. CRACK GREW OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS TO ABOUT 9". STARTED IN LOWER PART OF WINDSHIELD (NEAR VIN MARKER)WENT VERTICAL FOR ABOUT 3" THEN RAN HORIZONTAL FOR 6". *TR

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Sep 24, 200730,000 milesNC

CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, BROKEN DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR AND A HORN THAT HAS ONE BROKEN PITCH, LEAVING THE PITCH VERY LOW, ALMOST NOT NOTICEABLE. IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR A YEAR, BUT DID NOT FIND THIS SITE UNTIL NOW. TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. *JB

Seats
Filed Aug 27, 200727,800 milesVA

THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN MY '04 HONDA ELEMENT EX ROCKS BACK, ESPECIALLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO COME RIGHT OFF THE TRACK OR THAT THE BOLT WILL COME COMPLETELY LOOSE CAUSING THE SEAT OF MOVE IN SOME UNSAFE ANNER. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE IT MIGHT JUST SHEAR RIGHT OFF. THE SEAT WAS LOOSE WHEN I PURCHASED THE USED CAR. THE DEALER TIGHTENED IT AND NEVER MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING, UNSOLVED PROBLEM. I TOLD THE SALESMAN THAT I WOULD NOT BUY IF THE SEAT WAS NOT FIXED. WITHIN TWO MONTHS IT WAS LOOSE AND ROCKING. THE DEALERSHIPS TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS "A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL." THAT IS AN UNSATISFACTORY ANSWER. HONDA SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT CHARGE. *TR

Visibility › Windshield
Filed May 31, 2007NY

MY WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED ABOUT 4 TIMES-WE HAVE GIVEN UP-BROUGHT IT TO 2 HONDA DEALERS-ACTED AS IF THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. *TR

Visibility › Windshield
Filed May 15, 2007TX

WENT INTO SHOPPING MALL , CAME OUT AND FOUND WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN LOWER LEFT CORNER ON DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAD RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM HONDA CONCERNING WINDSHIELD CRACKING RESULTING FROM LITTLE OR NO IMPACT". A FEW MONTHS EARLIER I TOOK IT TO DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS FROM AN UNKNOWN IMPACT, AND WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. I SHOWED THEM THE LETTER AND ASKED THEM TO DEFINE"LITTLE OR NO IMPACT WHICH WAS IN THE LETTER - THEY DECLINED AND SAID THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed May 14, 200711,790 milesAK

2004 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKING IN FRONT OF DRIVER. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Mar 1, 2007RI

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT! *NM

Electrical System › Horn
Filed Feb 20, 200742,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO USE THE HORN IT WAS INOPERABLE. OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE HORN WORKED THE SOUND WAS VERY LOW. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. *AK UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Feb 10, 2007NJ

DESIGN PROBLEM: ON MY 2004 HONDA ELEMENT, THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR IS NOT LOUD ENOUGH TO HEAR, OR BRIGHT ENOUGH TO SEE. FURTHERMORE, IT SEEMS THE (AUTOMATIC) SWITCH TO TURN THE TURN SIGNAL OFF IS NOT ADJUSTED PROPERLY. THE RESULT OF THESE DESIGN FLAWS IS THAT I FIND THAT MY TURN SIGNAL IS LEFT ON AFTER MAKING TURNS THAT ARE < 90 DEGREES. AFTER REVIEWING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE DEALER, THEY SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. RECCOMENDATION: MAKE ALL TURN SIGNALS MEET MINIMUM AUDIBLE/ VISUAL STANDARDS AND HAVE TIME OUT DEVICES THAT AUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF TURN SIGNALS AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. *NM

Electrical System › Horn
Filed Jan 16, 200742,500 milesNY

THE HORN ON MY 2004 HONDA ELEMENT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ANYMORE, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT MANY HONDA ELEMENT OWNER HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HORN IN THERE CAR AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SYSTEM, IT SEEMS THAT THE HORN STOPS WORKING AFTER 36, 000 MILES. *NM

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core
Filed Jan 9, 200730,000 milesMD

HEATER CORE IS DEFECTIVE. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED @ $1100. DID NOT NOTICE TROUBLE UNTIL WEATHER TURNED COLD SO IT PROBABLY STARTED WELL BEFORE MY 36000/36 MONTHS WARRANTY RAN OUT,PLUS WE HAD A MILD WINTER IN MD IN 2006/07. VEHICLE HAD 39,377 WHEN TAKEN INTO DEALER. MOSTLY, I CANNOT BELIEVE THE HEATER CORE WOULD WEAR OUT SO SOON. IT WAS MOST LIKELY DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY. I ALWAYS NOTICED VERY LITTLE HEAT FROM THE FLOOR VENTS WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BUT THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A DESIGN ISSUE, NOT A MECHANICAL ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER @ ANOTHER DEALER WAS SHOCKED IT NEED REPLACEMENT SO SOON. *JB

Seats
Filed Dec 7, 20067,000 milesFL

THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN OUR '04 HONDA ELEMENT EX IS ACTUALLY ROCKING BACK AND FORTH AND SIDEWAYS! IT FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO COME RIGHT OFF THE TRACK. THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE IT MIGHT JUST SHEAR RIGHT OFF. THIS BEGAN WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR AND HAS PROGRESSED. WE HAVE HEARD MANY OTHERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, SO WE KNOW IT'S NOT ISOLATED. ALL THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE TOLD US IT WOULD COST US TO HAVE IT FIXED, SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL. THIS IS CRAZY! *NM

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Sep 28, 200623,000 milesMI

MY FRONT WINDSHIELD CHIPPED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE HONDA DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT 2003 AND 2004 HONDA ELEMENTS ARE PRONE TO THIS PROBLEM BUT CLAIMED HE HAS NO AUTHORITY TO MAKE THE REPAIR. I HAVE NOW FOUND THIS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. HONDA EVEN SENT A SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS (03-028 DATED MAY 6, 2003) DETAILING HOW TO CORRECT THE UNEVEN WINDSHIELD FLANGE SURFACE CAUSING THE WINDSHIELDS TO CRACK. THE UNEVEN WINDSHIELD FLANGE SURFACE AND UPRIGHT ANGLE OF THE WINDSHIELD CAUSE STRESSES IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT MAKE IT UNNECESSARILY LIKELY TO CHIP OR CRACK. THIS DESIGN FLAW IS HONDA'S RESPONSIBILITY AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED. *NM

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Aug 12, 200650,000 milesMA

STRESS CRACK(S) IN WINDSHIELD . HONDA REPLACED ONE, REFUSED TO DO MORE. NOW ON 4TH WINDSHIELD. SECOND ELEMENT HAS PICKED UP 4 CRACKS IN 6 MONTHS. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jul 12, 200639,500 milesMD

MY WINDSHIELD HAS STARTED TO CRACK, VERY SIMILAR TO PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON THIS WEBSITE ABOUT EARLIER MODEL YEAR HONDA ELEMENTS. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH ABOUT 12 INCHES FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LEFT EDGE. THERE ARE NO, REPEAT NO CHIPS OR DINGS THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS EVENT. IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT HONDA IS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE ADDITIONAL MODEL YEAR ELEMENTS. THOSE PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED THAT THE WELDED SEAMS ALONG WHERE THE WINDSHIELD RESTS ON THE FRAME HAD HIGH SPOTS THAT WERE CAUSING THE STRESS CRACKS. CURRENTLY, THE CRACK IS ABOUT 12 INCHES LONG, BUT GROWS A LITTLE MORE EVERY WEEK. SURE, I COULD HAVE MY INSURANCE COMPANY REPLACE IT, AND I PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE, BUT THIS IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM THAT HONDA HAS BEEN HAVING AND I EXPECT HONDA TO FIX IT, ESPECIALLY SINCE ACCORDING TO THE STATE ON MARYLAND, CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ARE A SAFETY CONCERN, SO I EXPECT THIS AGENCY TO FORWARD THIS COMPLAINT TO HONDA. *JB

Air Bags
Filed Jun 13, 2006DC

2004 HONDA ELEMENT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT SHE PROBABLY HIT A POT HOLE. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed May 25, 2006IL

2004 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE SITTING IN PARKING LOT BEHIND MY HOME. VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN AT THE TIME THE CRACK OCCURRED. CRACK BEGINS AT TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND CURVES TOWARD THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. *JB

Structure › Body › BumpersCrash
Filed Mar 31, 200624,500 milesNY

ON A RESENT TRIP TO COLDER CLIMATES, WHERE THERE WAS STILL SOME SNOW ON THE GROUND, WHILE PARKING IN A PARKING LOT, I HIT A SMALL PATCH OF SNOW AND SLID INTO A TREE. NORMALLY I WOULD EXPECT NO DAMAGE DUE TO THE LOW SPEED I WAS TRAVELING AT AROUND 5 MPH AND CAR BUMPERS TO PROTECT THE VEHICLE IN LOW SPEED MISHAPS. HOWEVER, WITH THE DESIGN OF THE 2004 HONDA ELEMENT I OWN THERE IS NO BUMPER IN THE FRONT CENTER FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 INCHES. THIS LEAVES THE CAR WITH NO PROTECTION IF STRUCK IN THAT AREA. THERE WERE TWO PASSENGERS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. WHILE WE WERE HARDLY EVEN JOLTED BY THE IMPACT, THE CAR SUSTAINED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE IN THE AMOUNT OF OVER $7000. HOWEVER MY CONCERN HERE IS NOT LIMITED TO WHAT HAPPENED TO ME AT SUCH A LOW SPEED IMPACT BUT ALSO WHAT WOULD BE THE RESULT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IF THE CAR WAS STRUCK OR SKIDDED IN A SIMILAR WAY AS MY ACCIDENT. THE RESULTS WOULD PROBABLY BE DISASTROUS WITH CONSIDERABLE LOSSES POSSIBLE. IF POSSIBLE THEN, THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *NM

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Mar 29, 2006CA

2004 HONDA ELEMENT. CRACKED WINDSHIELD X3 FIXES.....CRACKED AGAIN BY NO FAULT OF ROCKS. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Mar 11, 200610,000 milesOH

2004 HONDA ELEMENT : 2ND WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT IN 6 MONTHS . THE CRACKS ALWAYS START IN THE BLACK AREA FROM BELOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES. *JB HONDA DENIES ANY KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE WINDSHIELD FRAME . HONDA REPLACED FIRST WINSHIELD APPROX. 6 MONTHS AGO . THE 2ND REPLACEMENT HONDA REFUSED TO COVER/WARRANTY. I HAVE A SIGNED STATEMENT FROM THE WINDOW TECHNICHIAN THAT CAME OUT AND REPLACED MY 2ND WINDSHIELD STATING; THE CRACK IN MY WINSHIELD WAS CAUSED BY STRESS AND THAT THE BOTTOM CORNERS OF THE PINCHWELD ON BOTH SIDES ARE BROKE AWAY FROM THE WELDS AND ARE LOOSE . MY INSURANCE POLICY COVERED THE 2ND REPLACEMENT HOWEVER, I FEEL HONDA SHOULD HAVE. AFTER RESEARCHING MY VEHICLE TODAY ON LINE, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE IS A PENDING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST AMERICAN HONDA AND AN ALARMING NUMBER SITES WITH HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS OR LEASERS SHARING MY SAME CONCERNS . I WANT HONDA IN WRITTING, ASSURE ME THAT THIS DEFECT IN DESIGN OR, THE WAY THEY WILL ATTEMPT TO FIX IT WILL NOT CAUSE INJURY TO ME OR MY PASSENGERS OR LOSS OF LIFE TO MYSELF OR MY PASSENGERS IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT . I WOULD ALSO LIKE THEM TO WARANTY THE WINDSHIELD FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE .

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Mar 8, 200626,850 milesCA

A STRESS CRACK APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. CRACK BEGAN FROM BELOW THE PLASTIC MOLDING AND BELOW THE LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER. THERE WAS NO IMPACT POINT FROM A ROCK OR OTHER OBJECT. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO BLAME IT ON A SMALL CHIP IN THE AREA OF THE CRACK--CHIP WAS 1/2 MM IN DIAMETER AND 1/4 OF A MM IN DEPTH. I HAVE NUMEROUS SMALL CHIPS LIKE THIS AND NONE HAVE CAUSED A CRACK. THE DEALER AT FIRST CLAIMED THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY THE SMALL CHIP. AFTER I POINTED OUT OTHER CHIPS AND ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE 2003 SERVICE BULLETIN AND CURRENT LAWSUIT, THE MANAGER CALLED THE HONDA REP. THE HONDA REP SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE IT AS A ONE TIME GOOD WILL GESTURE--THUS, RELIEVING THEMSELVES OF ANY LIABILITY. *JB

Structure
Filed Mar 4, 2006NY

HONDA ELEMENT - DRIVER SEAT STARTED ROCKING 7 MONTHS OLD. UNSAFE. CLEARLY SOME IS LOOSE AND THERE ARE THE COMPLAINT IS OUT THERE AND REAL. THIS IS TRULY UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE EMBRACED ASAP. *JB

Tires
Filed Feb 27, 200630,000 milesOH

215/70 16 WRANGLER HP VERY NOISY LAST 10,000 MILES. SUSPECT SAFETY OF TIRES. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Feb 21, 200632,500 milesNY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A SCREECHING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR BRAKES WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT SPEEDS OF 2 MPH AND ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR AN INSPECTION DUE TO THE NOISE. THE INSPECTOR DETERMINED THE BRAKE PADS WERE WORN AND THE ROTORS WERE SCORED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE REAR BRAKE PAD AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THE TIRES WERE WORN AROUND THE TREAD ALTHOUGH, NO INCIDENTS OR PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED ABOUT THE TIRES PREVIOUSLY. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED, THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLE AND THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS A PART OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE REAR ABS ROTOR WAS BADLY WORN. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRE BECAUSE IT WAS LOOSING AIR DUE TO A SCREW. UPDATED 03/09/06

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 9, 2006CA

HONDA NEEDS TO ADMIT FAULT ON THEIR WINDSHIELDS AND RECALL THEIR ELEMENTS. MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND DEALER WILL NOT MAKE GOOD ON THEIR DEFECTS. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 8, 200600

BOUGHT A NEW 2004 HONDA ELEMENT IN MAY 2004 AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD DUE TO CRACK ONCE PLUS REPAIRED TWO STONE CHIPS. PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD OUT OF OWN POCKET AS DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE AFTER EXAMINING WITH PEN. ONCE AGAIN RECEIVED ANOTHER CRACKED WINDSHIELD YESTERDAY AFTER BEING HIT BY A ROCK ON THE HIGHWAY ON THE WAY HOME. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 2, 2006UT

I HAVE A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT, I HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP...FORTUNATELY THE DEALER CONSIDERED IT A "STRESS CRACK" & REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD AT NO COST TO ME. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, I NOTICED ANOTHER CRACK, I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO REPAIR IT AS IT WAS IN A NON-CRITICAL AREA. IT HAS NOW BEEN ABOUT 1 YEAR & THERE ARE NOW 3 CRACKS IN THE "NEW" WINDSHIELD...CLEARLY THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES & HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE WINDSHIELDS LIKE THIS?. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jan 24, 20063,000 milesCA

HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASE FROM THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD UP. CAME OUT ONE MORNING AND THERE WAS THE CRACK. NO ROCK IMPACT AS THE DEALER ALLEGED! THEY JAMMED A SHARP PEN INTO THE CRACK, AND SAID, LOOK, THIS WAS CAUSED BY A ROCK, & REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. CRIMINAL, IF YOU ASK ME! MANY OTHER ELEMENT OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS SAME PROBLEM TO ME. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WAS PRONE TO ATTRACTING ROCK & PEBBLE OFF THE ROADS, A SEPARATE ISSUE FROM THAT COMMON CRACKING PROBLEM. IT'S A DANGEROUS FLAW THAT HONDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS AND REPAIR. A RECALL IS IN ORDER!*AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jan 13, 200612,200 milesCA

I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON HIGHWAY 395 IN CALIFRONIA COMING BACK FROM MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN IN MY 04 HONDA ELEMENT WHEN I HEARD A LOUD CRACK FROM MY WINDSHIELD AND DISCOVERED AN L SHAPE CRACK FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE, THERE WAS NOT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER I GOT HOME THE CRACK GREW 4 INCHES UPWARD. WENT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS BOTH TOLD ME IT IS CAUSE BY A ROCK HIT. I CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT WAS CAUSE BY A ROCK, I DID A SEARCH ON GOOGLE, THIS SEEM TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR HONDA ELEMENT. I FINALLY HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACE, OLD WINDSHIELD WAS DESTROYED BY THE REPAIR SHOP. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Dec 31, 2005RI

I OWN A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT EX. IN APPROXIMATELY DECEMBER 2004, THE WINDSHIELD SUFFERED THREE LINEAR CRACKS WITHIN A TWO WEEK PERIOD OF TIME. I DID NOT OBSERVE OR HEAR ANY ROAD DEBRIS STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD OR CAUSE THESE CRACKS. ONE CRACK EMANATED FROM THE LOWER CORNER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, ONE FROM APPROXIMATELY MID-POINT ON A-PILLAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND ONE FROM THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE CORNER. A SERVICE MANAGER REVIEWED THE CRACKS AND DETERMINED THAT TWO OF THE CRACKS WERE CAUSED BY ROAD DEBRIS BECAUSE OF A MINUTE PIT IN EACH OF THE TWO CRACKS. HE DID NOT OBSERVE A PIT IN THE THIRD CRACK AND REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD UNDER WARRANTY. IN APPROXIMATELY DECEMBER 2005 THE WINDSHIELD SUFFERED FOUR CRACKS WITHIN A THREE WEEK PERIOD OF TIME. THE CRACKS OCCURRED AT SEPARATE TIMES AND AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. THREE OF THE FOUR CRACKS WERE STARBURST CRACKS AND HAVE NOT SPREAD. ONE OF THE STARBURST CRACKS OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND I OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SMALL STONE CAUSE THE CRACK. I HEARD THE SUBSEQUENT TWO STARBURST CRACKS OCCUR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE FOURTH CRACK IS A LINEAR CRACK EMANATING FROM THE UPPER CORNER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT INCREASES IN SIZE BY APPROXIMATELY 1/4 INCH OVERNIGHT, AS IT IS LONGER EACH MORNING WHEN I GET IN THE CAR. THE CRACK HAS TRAVELED INTO THE DRIVER'S LINE OF VISION. THERE IS A HONDA TSB FOR 2003 HONDA ELEMENTS NOTING POSSIBLE STRESS FRACTURES IN THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I AM NOT AWARE OF A SIMILAR NOTICE FOR 2

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Dec 30, 200521,100 milesCO

CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON LOWER PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. NOT CAUSED BY FLYING DEBRIS. ACCORDING TO OTHER HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS ONLINE, THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND IS HAPPENING IN THE SAME GENERAL LOCATION ON WINDSHIELD. A STRESS FRACTURE SEEMS TO BE THE COMMON CONCLUSION AS TO THE CAUSE. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Dec 29, 200528,000 milesSC

HONDA ELEMENT DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD HAS STRESS CRACKS AT BOTH ENDS. HONDA HAS REFUSED TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD DESIGN OR INSTALLATION. BOTH CRACKS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE, THERE IS NO ROAD DAMAGE FROM ROCKS OR OTHER IMPACTS RELATED TO THE CRACKS. THE VEHICLE IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THE WINDSHIELD IS REPLACED. *NM

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Nov 29, 2005CA

WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK STARTING FROM BELOW THE RIGHT WIPER BLADE AND GOES UP 4 INCHES AND THEN TOWARD THE RIGHT PILLAR 12 INCHES NO VISIBLE "HIT" MARK CRACK JUST APPEARED. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Nov 25, 20055,000 milesNV

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED ON THE LOWER QUARTER OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED SOMETHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD, AND WILL NOT ASSIST IN THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Nov 1, 200513,000 milesGA

PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO A MAJOR STREET. WHEN PULLING OUT IT IS ACROSS A VERY UNEVEN SPOT IN THE ROAD PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN A BIND. AT THIS TIME THE WINDSHIELD "POPPED" AND CRACKED IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER. *JB WINDSHIELD IS NOW BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UNSAFE FOR HIGHWAY USAGE. DEALERSHIP FLATLY SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND SENT ME ON MY WAY.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Sep 25, 2005CA

WINDSHIELD CRACKED STARTED FROM BELOW PASSENGER SIDE WIPER AND SPREADING TOWARD MIDDLE AND UPWARD. JUST AS EVERYONE ELSE. *CA *JB

Suspension › Rear
Filed Sep 19, 2005PA

I HAVE HAD MY HONDA ELEMENT INTO MY DEALER FOR THE SAME CREAKING ISSUE IN THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE OVER 6 TIMES. EVERYTIME IT'S NOT FIXED AND THEY MANAGE TO MESS UP SOMETHING ELSE. LATEST IS I HAVE NO REAR HATCH LIGHT AND THE GRAB HANDLE FALLS OFF. *JB

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Aug 26, 2005MD

GOODYEAR TIRE (SIZE- P215-70-R16) WRANGLER-HP-99S STOCK ON 2004 HONDA ELEMENT -4WD-EX-4AT. FLAT TIRE ON INTERSTATE,TRAVELED LESS THAN 1/4 MILE AFTER TIRE DEFLATED. CHANGED TIRE WENT DIRECTLY TO RESIDENCE ABOUT 2.5 MILES. I INFLATED THE TIRE ONCE I REACHED MY RESIDENCE TO OBSERVE ANY AIR FLOW COMING FROM A FOREIGN OBJECT THAT I MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED ON THE INTERSTATE. NOTHING NOTICEABLE IN TREAD AREA. I TURNED THE TIRE OVER TO LOOK AT THE BACK SIDE OF THE TIRE AND NOTICED 6 RIPPLES(BUBBLES) ON THE TIRE. TIRE DESTROYED. I ACTUALLY CALLED 14 DIFFERENT TIRE STORES AND EVERY STORE INFORMED ME THAT THIS TIRE WAS NOT A STOCK ITEM AND ASKED ME "WHY WOULD I PUT THESE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE?" I SAID I DIDN'T,THIS WAS A STOCK TIRE WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN MARCH,2005. ANYWAYS, TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT( NO ONE) HAD THIS TIRES. NOT EVEN THE CAR DEALER CRISWELL HONDA." EVERYONE," "EVERYONE WILL HAVE TO SPECIAL ORDER THEM." SO MAY I ADD IF YOU BUY ONE OF THESE VEHICLES MAKE SURE ANY TIRE IS AVAILABLE -AFTER MARKET- SO YOU DO NOT GET STUCK IN THIS DILEMMA. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jul 25, 200522,111 milesCA

I WAS WAITING TO CROSS OVER THE BAY BRIDGE AND A CRACK SURFACED OUT OF NOWHERE FROM THE LOWER DRIVER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT WAS EXTREMELY HOT THAT DAY, TEMPERATURE IN EXCESS OF 90F.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jul 8, 2005CO

I HAVE HAD TWO WINDOW GLASS ISSUES WITH MY HONDA ELEMENT. (1) IN DEC04 WHILE DRIVING 30 MILES TO WORK, 5 WINDSHELD CRACKS APPEARED. ALL STARTED AT EDGES OF GLASS AND MOVED INWARD. THEY WERE LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM AND SIDE EDGES. (2) IN JULY05 I LEFT WORK TO DISCOVER THAT MY RIGHT REAR WINDOW HAD EXPLODED. POLICE OFFICER REPORTED THAT THIS WAS NOT A CRIMINAL ACT, BUT MORE LIKELY AN ERROR WITH GLASS INSTALLATION. I REPORTED THE LATER INCIDENT TO HONDA AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR/REPLACE UNDER MY WARRENTY. AND WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONABLITY FOR THIS FAULTY GLASS.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jun 8, 200520,000 milesIL

I'VE HAD 3 CRACKED WINDSHIELDS IN MY HONDA ELEMENT NOW. THE FIRST WAS AT APPROXIMATLY 11,000 MILES, THE SECOND WAS AT APPROXIMATLY 17,000 MILES, AND NOW THE THIRD CRACKED WINDSHIELD WAS AT APPROXIMATLY 20,000 MILES. THE FIRST TWO WERE FIXED UNDER SOME SORT OF "ONE TIME" GAURANTEE. THE 3RD CRACK, I'M DEBATING WHETHER TO SELL THE CAR OR JUST DRIVE WITH THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD UNTIL I CAN NO LONGER SEE OUT OF IT. WHY FIX IT IF IT IS JUST GOING TO KEEP ON CRACKING!?! EVENTUALLY HONDA WILL REFUSE TO FIX IT FOR FREE!

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jun 3, 2005PA

DT: CONSUMER STATES THERE ARE TWO CRACKS THAT HAVE FORMED ON THE WINDSHIELD OF HIS VEHICLE. THE CRACKS STARTED OUT APPROXIMATELY 1-1 1/2 INCHES, NOW THEY ARE APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES. THE TWO CRACKS SEEM TO BE GOING IN THE DIRECTION WHERE THEY WILL MEET. *TT

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.

Full record for the 2004 Honda Element → · Every Element year → · How the figures are calculated →