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 →
RECURRING CRACKS AND CHIPS IN WINDSHIELD OF HONDA ELEMENT... HAD WINDSHIELD REPLACED AFTER 1 WEEK OF OWNING VEHICLE... MULTI-CHIPS IN WINDSHIELD AGAIN... MANY ELEMENT OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME... THERE IS EVEN A WEBSITE CALLED ELEMENTCRACKS.COM WHERE OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEMS. *LA
PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND THERE WAS NO ISSUE. I GOT IN THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING TO FIND A 2" CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD STARTING AT THE TOP WITH NO SIGN OF IMPACT. CRACK HAS SINCE GROWN TO ALMOST THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD HEIGHT WITH NO EXTREME CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE OR LIGHT (I HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND THE CAR HAS BEEN IN MY GARAGE. *AK
DURING A 45 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *LA
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE . *AK
HONDA ELEMENT 2004 - HAD FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS, CRACK DEVELOPED UNDER WINDSHIELD WIPER, DRIVER SIDE. STARTED FROM BOTTOM, CAME UP ABOUT 3 INCHES, MINISCULE STARBURST, THEN ANOTHER TEN OR SO INCHES. HONDA DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY OR GOODWILL CLAIM. *LA
WINDSHIELD CRACKED (IN 2 SEPARATE PLACES!?!) WITH NO APPARENT ROCK CHIP OR DAMAGE. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR LESS THAN 6 MONTHS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. APPARENTLY A DEFECT THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT. NO COOPERATION FROM THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED AT. WON'T MAKE MY NEXT CAR A HONDA BECAUSE OF THIER FAILURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM.*AK
CRACK IN WINDSHIELD THAT STARTS AT CORNER, PASSENGER SIDE, AND CONTINUES AT 45 DEGREE ANGLE (APPROX) 16". NO IDENTIFIABLE IMPACT POINT. OBVIOUS STRESS FAILURE DUE TO WINDSHIELD OR MOUNTING FLANGE DEFECT. HAVE NOT YET CONTACTED PURCHASEING DEALER. CAR IS 3 MONTHS OLD WITH 12,000 MILES. *AK
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF STRESS CRACKS. THE CRACK ARE ON THE PILLAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CAUSE OF THE STRESS CRACK IS UNDETERMINED. *MR *LA
MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE AREA AROUND THE WIPER. NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND IT APPEARS TO BE A PRESSURE CRACK. WE ONLY HAVE AROUND 1400 MILES ON THE ELEMENT. IT IS THE 2004 MODEL. *AK
THE WINDSHIELD OF A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT I'VE HAD FOR ABOUT A MONTH DEVELOPED A CRACK WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CRACK APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT GOES UP AND THEN CURVES OUT TOWARD THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR (FACING FORWARD OUTSIDE THE CAR). *LA
CRACK IN WINDSHIELD ORIGINATING AT LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE. SMALL PIT OBSERVED IN BLACKENED AREA OF WINDSHIELD - ABOUT 2" ABOVE BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD. CRACK DEVELOPED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. NO IMPACT NOTED THAT WOULD CAUSE SMALL PIT AREA, CRACK IS 5" IN LENGTH.*AK
VERY SMALL GRAIN OF SALT LIKE PING IN WINDSHIELD. PROCEEDED TO CRACK FROM JUST UNDER THE DRIVERS WINDSHIELD WIPERAND ACROSS. I HAD A NEW WINDSHIELD PUT IN AND NOW LESS THEN 1 MONTH LATER I NOW HAVE A NEW SMALL CRACK.*AK
IDROVE THE MY NEW HONDA ELEMENT HOME AND WATCHED THE WINDSHIELD CRACK AS IT SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY. THERE IS NO IMPACT POINT. I BELIEVE IT IS DUE TO A MFRS. DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD CHANNEL. A SPUR PERHAPS.*AK
THERE IS A DEFECT IN BOTH THE WORKMANSHIP (DESIGN) AND MATERIAL (PRONE TO MALFUNCTION IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS) OF THE HONDA ELEMENTS AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER. THE CONDENSER IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE RADIATOR, DIRECTLY BEHIND THE CARS FRONT GRILLE. THE CONDENSER IS APPARENTLY EXTREMELY DELICATE AND PRONE TO DAMAGE FROM ROAD DEBRIS. THIS VITAL PART OF THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO ROAD DEBRIS. NO PROTECTION IS PROVIDED FOR THIS CRITICAL COMPONENT. THIS IS A DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP AND DESIGN. THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER IS MADE OF MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTED IN A MANNER THAT MAKES IT PRONE TO FAILURE WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS.*AK
WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE CLOSE TO WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER IS CONNECTED. CRACK STARTED FROM UNDER THE PLASTIC COVER AND GREW TO A LENGTH OF OVER A FOOT WITHIN A WEEK. CAR WAS SITTING IN A GARAGE AT THE TIME CRACK OCCURRED. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY CLAIMING ROAD DEBRIS CAUSED THE CRACK.*AK
WINDSHIELD CRACKED BELOW PASSENGER SIDE WIPER. JUST AS EVERYONE ELSE. *NM
WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND FOUND CRACK JUST LIKE MANY OTHERS BEFORE ME UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER CREEPING UP AND THEN TO THE LEFT. *JB
2004 HONDA ELEMENT 4WD, A/T FACTORY NEW VEHICLE DEVELOPED A 10" CRACK IN WINDSHIELD ORIGINATING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER LEFT CORNER OF VEHICLE. NO IMPACT TO WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS ENTERING A DRIVEWAY WHEN THE CRACK WAS HEARD (APPROX 5 MPH) VEHICLE HAS ONLY 250 MILES CONTACTED DEALER, THEY ARE WILLING TO REPLACE UNDER HONDA WARRANTY. BUT ASKED ME TO SIGN A WAIVER BECAUSE "ALL OF THE GLASS RECEIVED FROM HONDA HAS A 1.5" SCRATCH IN THE CENTER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD ABOVE THE REARVIEW MIRROR" I REFUSED TO SIGN SUCH AN AGREEMENT. CONTACTED HONDA CUSTOMER SUPPORT CENTER 1.800.999.1009 IN CA. ZONE MANAGER ASSIGNED TO MY CASE. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THIS VEHICLE NOW!! I HOPE THAT NO ONE IS INJURED OR HURT BECAUSE OF THIS ONGOING (SINCE 2003 MODEL YEAR) DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD FRAME/FLANGE. DEALER SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED CUSTOMERS BEFORE PURCHASE! *NM
CRACK APPEARED FROM BASE OF WINDSHIELD OVERNIGHT, WITH NO APPARENT IMPACT. HAS GROWN TO 15" AND IS AN OBSTRUCTION TO VISION. CAR LESS THAN ONE MONTH OLD, DEALER HAS STATED CRACKS FROM LITTLE OR NO IMPACT ARE FREQUENT AND CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THE ELEMENT, AND WOULD NOT REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. *NM
CRACK IN WINDSHIELD BEGINNING AT THE DRIVER'S A PILLAR OF ONE MONTH OLD ELEMENT SPONTANEOUSLY APPEARED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED AND EVENTUALLY SNAKED ACROSS DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW TO A LENGTH OF APPROXIMATELY 18 INCHES OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, WHILE WAITING FOR WARRANTY VS. PRIVATE INSURANCE RESOLUTION AND REPLACEMENT. A SECOND CRACK SPONTANEOUSLY APPEARED, AGAIN OVERNIGHT, RISING VERTICALLY FROM BENEATH THE DRIVER'S WINDSHIELD WIPER AND GRADUALLY GROWING TO SNAKE OFF TO THE RIGHT, RUNNING PARALLEL TO THE ORIGINAL CRACK. *JB
CRACK APPEARED IN MY WINDSHIELD OF MY 2004 ELEMENT LESS THEN A MONTH AFTER TAKING DELIVERY. ON DRIVERS SIDE UNDER WINDSHIELD WIPERS. CAME UP FROM DASHBOARD. HAD BEEN DRIVING IN THE SNOW ON SNOW COVERED ROAD. WINDSHIELD REPLACED. NEW CRACK APPEARED MARCH 9TH 2004 WHILE PARKED IN PARKING LOT AT MALL. DAY WAS COLD. CRACK ON WINDSHIELD ON DRIVERS SIDE COMING OUT HALF WAY UP THE PILLAR ON SIDE. WAITING ON DEALER TO REPLACE.*AK
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE CORNER NEAR THE BOTTOM. *AK THE CRACK OCCURRED SPONTANEOUSLY WITHOUT AN IMPACT FROM AN OBJECT. *SC
CONSUMER HAD PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON COLD WEATHER IT CRACKED. DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO. ONCE AGAIN THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, BUT A THIS TIME DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD.*AK
STRUCTURAL DEFECT WITH WINDSHIELD. 17 DAY OLD ELEMENT DEVELOPED 16 INCH CRACK IN WINDSHIELD OVERNIGHT. STARTED AT GAP IN MOLDING UNDER WIPERS, CONTINUED UP FOR 3" AND THEN 13" TOWARDS DRIVER SIDE A-PILLAR. SALES DEALER SAID MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY PEBBLE AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET, IE, NO WARRANTY OR GOODWILL. AFTER COMPLAINT LETTER TO DEALER, SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO REPLACE IT AS GOODWILL ONE TIME ONLY. WENT TO GLASS EXPERTS WHO FOUND "BUBBLE AND BURR"/STRUCTURAL DEFECT AROUND WINDSHIELD CAUSING STRESS FRACTURE. HAD THEM REPLACE WITH HONDA GLASS. SECOND WINDSHIELD HAD HUNDREDS OF PITS IN GLASS. THIRD HONDA WINDSHIELD NOW INSTALLED. SCARED TO HAVE FAMILY DRIVE IN CAR DUE TO "SOFT" HONDA WINDSHIELDS, AS WINDSHIELD IS INTEGRAL STRUCTURAL COMPONENT IN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND ROLLOVER. I DON'T WANT TO BE THE FIRST PLAINTIFF IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ALA FORD/FIRESTONE. PLEASE HELP US ELEMENT OWNERS. *JB
CRACKED '04 ELEMENT WINDSHIELD FROM NO APPARENT CAUSE. *AK
RATTLES COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD/DASHBOARD WHEN HITTING SMALL POT HOLES. CREAKING NOISES COMING THE RIGHT REAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED. SLIGHT RATTLES COMING FROM THE LEFT PASSENGER DOOR BEHIND THE DRIVER SEAT. SEATBELTS DO NOT RETRACT COMPLETELY. THEY'RE OFTEN GET CAUGHT BETWEEN DOORS CAUSING PAIN AND BODY DAMAGES. *AK
SERVICE MANAGER DISCREDITED CONSUMER'S CLAIM THAT TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OR WARRANTY TO CORRECT CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD. (NAR) *LA *CB
DEFECT IN WINSHIELD AFTER 500 MILES (CRACKED). *AK
WINDSHIELD ON 2004 HONDA ELEMENT SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. STARTED BELOW DRIVERS SIDE WIPER BLADE AND HEADED STRAIGHT UP. NO ROCK OR SAND PITS. THE HONDA ELEMENT OWNER CLUB WEBSITE HAS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH MIXED RESPONSES FROM HONDA AND THEIR DEALERS. EVEN IF COVERED BY WARRANTY WHAT DO WE DO WHEN IT EXPIRES? DRIVE AROUND WITH CRACKS ALL OVER OUR WINDSHIELDS? DEALER SAID THERE ARE NO TSBS ON THIS BUT OWNERS CLUB WEBSITE HAS THEM. DEALER DID SAY ON PHONE THAT IF A STRESS FRACTURE THEY WILL REPLACE BUT WARNED IF THERE IS ANY SIGN OF A ROCK THEY WON'T AND THAT IT IS OBVIOUS IF IT IS A ROCK. NO SIGN OF ANY PIT AT ALL. IF YOU READ THE OWNER'S CLUB WEBSITE YOU SEE MUCH DISCUSSION ON WHAT IS A VERY OBVIOUS PROBLEM THAT HONDA HAS THAT THYE AREN'T REALLY DEALING WITH VERY OPENLY. THANKS.*AK
CRACK STARTED GROWING FROM LOWER LEFT CORNER OF WINDSHIELD. IS NOW ABOUT 12" AND GROWING. NO IMPACTED MARKED VISIBLE. *LA
04 HONDA ELEMENT EX WITH SIDE AIRBAGS AND 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WINDSHIELD CRACKED OVERNIGHT WHILE PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 2 WEEKS OLD WITH ONLY 450 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WHEN IT OCCURRED. *LA
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 →