Page 3 of 4 · complaints 101–150 of 159

2005 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 2005 record →

Seats
Filed Jun 1, 201070,000 milesOR

2005 HONDA ELEMENT. FRONT SEAT LOOSE. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT A PART WAS HOLDING THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT THAT IS WELDED HAS SOME PROBLEM WHERE IT CAME LOOSE. THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT LITERALLY ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. WHEN DISCUSSED WITH DEALERSHIP, THEY DID SAY "IT IS NOT WEAR AND TEAR" AND THAT IT WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal1 injured
Filed May 11, 201060,300 milesAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING AT 62 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE WHEN IT DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,300.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 4, 2010175,000 milesMI

I WAS THE DRIVER OF A HONDA ELEMENT THAT WAS REAR ENDED WHILE I WAS STATIONARY WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE IMPACT FROM THE OTHER CAR HAD BROKEN THE DRIVERS SEAT AND REPOSITIONED MY HEAD JUST A FEW INCHES FROM THE FLOOR AND BY THEN THE SPARE TIRE SECURING MECHANISM HAD BROKEN AND THE SPARE TIRE FLEW FORWARD HITTING ME IN THE HEAD AND EVENTUALLY COMING TO A REST IN THE PASSENGERS SEAT. WITH THE BACK IMPACT FROM THE OTHER CAR AND THEN THE FRONT IMPACT HITTING THE TREES ALONG SIDE OF THE ROAD DID NOT RELEASE THE AIRBAGS WHEN THE OTHER CAR THAT HIT THE ELEMENT HAD ITS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

Air Bags › Side/Window1 injured
Filed Mar 27, 201082,498 milesCA

I WAS LEAVING WORK, DRIVING ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR AND WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS A HUGE BOOM IN MY EAR, POWDER WAS IN THE AIR, THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE WAS NUMB (LATER, RED FROM HEATED AIR), MY LEFT SIDE WAS SHOVED FORWARD AND MY LEFT EAR WAS RINGING. MY SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG WENT OFF AS I WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN! I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN HIT BY A CAR...EXCEPT THERE WAS NO OTHER CARS AROUND. I PULLED OVER AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED UNTIL I OPENED MY DOOR, STEPPED OUT AND SAW THE AIRBAG HANGING OUT OF THE SEAT. SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME! I AM GLAD I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY AT A FASTER SPEED, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CRASHED! VERY SORE NOW THOUGH. LEFT SIDE IS SORE, NECK IS VERY SORE! I DROVE TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AFTERWARD AND SPOKE TO THE MANAGER (NEFF) OF THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT. THEY HAD A TECHNICIAN (TIM) HOOK UP SOME DATA MACHINE TO MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT 4WD - EX. I WAS ADVISED TO COME BACK ON MONDAY AND DROP THE CAR OFF SO THEY COULD CONTACT HONDA CORPORATE HQ AND GET A DIRECTION TO PROCEED. THE TECHNICIAN (TIM), AND MANAGER (NEFF) ADVISED ME THAT UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED, MY OTHER AIRBAGS WOULD NOT WORK. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN SOMETHING HAPPEN LIKE THIS. AFTER A GOOGLE SEARCH OF 'HONDA ELEMENT AIRBAG DEFECTS' IT APPEARS THAT IT IS A PRETTY PREVALENT PROBLEM. I HAVE TEMPORARILY PARKED THE CAR AT MY HOUSE UNTIL MONDAY'S MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENT.

Service Brakes, Air
Filed Mar 23, 2010NY

I BOUGHT THE 2005 HONDA ELEMENT IN OCTOBER 2006, AS A NEW 4 WHEEL DRIVE, STANDARD TRANSMISSION. AFTER USING IT FOR A SHORT PERIOD I NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE LIKE PUTTY. THEY PRESSED NEARLY TO THE FLOOR, AND NOT TOO EFFECTIVE. THE DEALER FIXED THE BRAKES FOR FREE, THEY TOLD ME AT THE SAME TIME ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAD THEIR HONDA ELEMENT THERE FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS, THE BRAKES WERE LIKE PUTTY AGAIN. I DROVE IT TILL THE BRAKES SQUEALED. ( I LEARNED TO DRIVE WITH LITTLE USE OF BRAKES, SHIFTING DOWN AND SLOWING DOWN AT STOPS AND TURNS. ) I HAD MY LOCAL MECHANIC FIX THE BRAKES THE SECOND TIME. AGAIN THE BRAKES WORKED ABOUT 2 WEEKS BEFORE THEY WERE LIKE PUTTY AGAIN. I WAS AT THE HONDA DEALER LAST MONTH FOR 60000 MILE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE. THEY TOLD ME THE BRAKES WERE BAD. I TOLD THEM I KNOW THEY ARE BAD, THEY ARE ALWAYS BAD.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Mar 17, 201036,000 milesNY

MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT BRAKE PEDAL FEELS SOFT. THEY HAVE FELT THIS WAY FOR THE LAST YEAR. PLEASE HAVE HONDA INCLUDE 2005 ELEMENTS IN THEIR RECALL. *TR

Steering › Column
Filed Mar 16, 2010AL

LTR FWD FM RE 2005 HONDA ELEMENT STEERING COLUMN DEFECT, REPLY TO BIRMINGHAM, AL OFC. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS LOST STEERING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. WHEN THE STEERING FAILED THE LAST TIME, THE CONSUMER ENDED UP FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND NONE OF THEM COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

Steering
Filed Mar 16, 20103,400 milesAL

STEERING AND/OR VSA SYSTEM I BOUGHT A NEW HONDA ELEMENT FEBRUARY 12TH, 2005. BETWEEN THEN AND NEAR THE END OF 2006, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING ON AT LEAST 8 OCCASIONS. THE CAR WOULD CONTINUE IN THE DIRECTION THAT IT WAS HEADED. THERE WAS NO STEERING AT ALL. THE OCCURRENCES ONLY LASTED FOR SECONDS BUT FELT LIKE MINUTES. THIS OCCURRED MOST OFTEN IN THE EARLY MORNINGS (6-7AM) AND BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MINUTES AFTER LEAVING HOME. THERE WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING DURING THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME. IN SPECIFIC SITUATIONS, IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL AND FELT AS THOUGH THE REAL TIME FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD KICK-IN. THIS HAPPENED MOSTLY BEHIND SEMI-TRUCKS. AFTER THE LAST OCCURRENCE OVER THREE YEARS AGO WHEN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL HEADED ME IN THE DIRECTION OF THE MEDIAN AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC, I BECAME SO FEARFUL OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE THAT I PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE. AFTER TAKING IN THE ELEMENT ON 8 OCCASIONS AND NOT HAVING BEEN SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF ROEBUCK HONDA, I BEGAN TO EXPLORE SOLUTIONS WITH OTHER LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIPS AND WITH AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY. THE DEALERSHIPS' SERVICE CENTERS COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE STEERING FAILURE. I HAVE BEEN TO DEALERSHIPS' OVER 11 TIMES WITH THIS PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION. AMERICAN HONDA WOULD NOT TAKE ACTIONS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND OTHER REPORTS ON STEERING ISSUES WITH THE ELEMENT. FRIENDS AND RELATIVES HAVE SUGGESTED THAT I TRADE THE CAR IN, BUT I CANNOT IN CLEAR CONSCIENCE DO THIS. I COULD NO

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 11, 201080,000 milesAZ

THE CAR SLIPPED ON ICE AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT HEAD ON AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 21, 2010125,000 milesCA

I HAVE A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD IT DIES ON A REGULAR BASIS. I CAN START THE CAR AND LET IT WARM UP BUT IT IS VERY ROUGH AND STILL HAS A TENDENCY TO DIE WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG BUT I HAVE LOOKED AT MANY HONDA ELEMENT OWNER FORUMS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON AND DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH THE ELEMENT. ONCE THE ENGINE DIES, THERE IS STILL BATTERY POWER, BUT LIMITED STEERING CONTROL. IT HAPPENS NEARLY EVERY MORNING 2-3 TIMES AND I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA WHERE IT DOESN'T GET NEARLY AS COLD AS OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THESE CARS. *TR

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jan 20, 201076,500 milesSC

ACCIDENT INVOLVING A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. A FRONT END CRASH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND WE HIT THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. OUR HONDA ELEMENT SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE APPROXIMATE SPEED 30MPH. THE AIRBAG ON THE ELEMENT DID NOT DEPLOY. HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON ELEMENT AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING? WE ONLY SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *TR

Air Bags › Side/Window
Filed Nov 7, 200976,259 milesUT

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT ON A SMOOTH GRAVEL ROAD AROUND 25MPH WHEN THE DRIVERS-SIDE AIRBAG IN THE CHAIR DEPLOYED BRUISING THE BACK OF MY LEFT ARM. IT DEPLOYED FULLY AND TORE MY SEAT. MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I FEEL THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD IF I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED AND COULD EASILY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HONDA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IN FIXING IT, AS I STAND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE MY AIRBAG, AIRBAG ECU, AND HAVE MY SEAT REPAIRED. *TR

Visibility
Filed Oct 3, 200947,000 milesWI

3-5-08, IN MORNING, WHEN I GOT INTO MY ELEMENT, I NOTICED TWO LONG CRACKS IN THE WINDSHIELD, STARTING AT THE LOWER RIGHT- AND LEFT-HAND CORNERS, TRAVELING UPWARDS AT AN ANGLE, TOWARD THE CENTER, APPROX 15 INCHES LONG, EACH. I CALLED THE HONDA DEALER, AND THEY SAID I SHOULD CHECK MY WARRANTY. I DID. WINDSHIELD DAMAGE NOT COVERED. I CALLED HONDA MOTOR COMPANY. THEY TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS NOT A DESIGN DEFECT (AS I BELIEVED). AFTER TELLING THEM I KNEW OF MANY REPORTS TO THE NHTSA, THEY FINALLY AGREED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD, AS "...A ONE-TIME GOODWILL GESTURE." (I BIT MY TONGUE, AS I KNEW THAT THE PHONE REP KNEW IT WAS, IN FACT, A DESIGN FLAW.) *TR

Seats
Filed Oct 2, 200920,000 milesMD

OWNER OF A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH, GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND NOW ROCKING LEFT AND ROCK. THIS PRESENTS A DANGER WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND BRAKE DURING DRIVING. SINCE THE PROBLEM IS WORSENING I FEEL THAT AT SOME POINT MY SEAT WILL DEFINITELY COME UNMOUNTED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. HONDA'S LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND CORPORATE OFFICE REFUSE TO FIX THIS ISSUE FOR FREE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A MULTITUDE OF INJURIES - EVEN WHIPLASH FROM JERKING OF THE VEHICLE. A SERVICE BULLETINS WAS ISSUED YET HONDA CLAIMS THEY DO NOT SEE THIS AS AN ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUE FOR ME WHEN DRIVING ESPECIALLY DURING STOP AND START AND TURNING. *TR

Seats
Filed Aug 17, 200920,000 milesSC

DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS DURING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. THIS IS POSSIBLY A SAFETY ISSUE IN AN ACCIDENT IF THE SEAT FIXTURES WERE TO BREAK. ALSO THE SEAT BELT CONFIGURATION MAKES EGRESS IMPOSSIBLE FROM THE REAR SEATS ONLY. THERE IS NO INTERIOR HANDLE FOR A REAR SEAT PASSENGER TO OPEN THE DOOR IN AN EMERGENCY. *TR

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Aug 4, 200938,400 milesPA

AIRBAG SELF CHECK LIGHT NEVER LIT IN THE TIME THAT WE HAD CAR. DRIVER ONLY- WITH SEATBELT. CAR HIT POLE WITH L FRONT CAUSING APPROXIMATELY $10K DAMAGE TO CAR. RIGHT AIRBAG DEPLOYED, LEFT DID NOT. SENSORS AND CONTROL MODULE REPLACED BY BODY SHOP DURING DAMAGE REPAIR. CONCERNED THAT IF THERE IS ANOTHER MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENT, SAME THING WILL HAPPEN. *TR

Seats
Filed Jul 28, 200930,800 milesKS

DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS WHEN ACCELERATING OR BRAKING. HONDA HAS ISSUED TSB BUT REFUSES TO COVER COST OF FIX IF VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MY CAR IS A 2005 BUT THE TSB COVERS ALL VEHICLES FROM 2003-2006. *TR

Air Bags › Side/Window
Filed Jul 16, 200959,000 milesCT

WHILE DRIVING ON I95 NORTHBOUND AT APPROX. 60 MILES PER HOUR, MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT SIDE-DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY; IT FELT LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF. MY 12 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER IN THE BACK CAR SEAT WAS COMPLETELY TRAUMATIZED BY THE SEVERITY OF THE EVENT. MY EARS WERE RINGING AND MY LEFT REAR SHOULDER WAS HIT BY THE BAG. NOTHING HIT MY CAR TO CAUSE THE DEPLOYMENT. AFTER REGAINING MY COMPOSURE I CONTACTED HONDA USA WHO TOLD ME TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY. MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THEY DO NOT COVER AN EVENT SUCH AS THIS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO APPARENT COLLISION. HONDA USA THEN SAID TO TAKE IT TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE ELEMENT AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS OR REASON AS TO WHY THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. HONDA USA ASSIGNED ME A CASE #, BUT HAS YET TO CONTACT ME. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP ALSO REFUSED TO RELEASE MY CAR BECAUSE THEY NOW DEEM THE CAR "UNSAFE TO DRIVE". I CAN GET THE CAR IF I SIGN A WAIVER STATING THAT I WILL NOT SUE THE HONDA DEALERSHIP IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. MY ATTORNEY HAS BEEN CONTACTED. ALSO, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER DEPLOYED AIRBAGS. THE SITUATION STILL REMAINS UNRESOLVED. *TR

Air Bags › Side/Window1 injured
Filed Jul 13, 200952,000 milesTX

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG, IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBACK, DEPLOYED ACCIDENTALLY IN MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WE WERE DRIVING VERY SLOWLY ON A GRAVEL ROAD. WE THOUGHT WE HAD BEEN SHOT AT, WITH THE LOUD BANG AND MY PASSENGER'S SWEARING AND GRABBING HIS ARM. I AM GOING TO CLICK BELOW TO SAY THERE WAS AN INJURY, BUT IT WAS ONLY BRUISING TO THE UPPER ARM. IT WAS PAINFUL. *TR

Air Bags › Side/WindowCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 11, 200964,000 milesGA

ON 3/31/09, I ROLLED MY HONDA ELEMENT FOUR TIMES (ACCORDING TO FHP REPORT) ON I-95, TO AVOID A CONSTRUCTION LADDER. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. AMONG OTHER INJURIES, I SUFFERED TWO FULL-WIDTH ROTATOR CUFF TEARS TO MY LEFT SHOULDER. THIS WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG ONLY PARTIALLY DEPLOYING. I HAVE DOCUMENTED WITH SEVERAL PICTURES OR THE BAG STILL FOLDED INSIDE THE SEAT FABRIC PANEL. THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED FULLY, AND YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN DEPLOYMENT SIZE DIFFERENCE OF DRIVERS SIDE VS. PASSENGERS SIDE. HONDA WAS NOTIFIED, AND DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 17, 200968,800 milesCT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 68,800.

Suspension › Rear
Filed Jun 16, 200948,000 milesMN

THE BUSHING THAT HOLDS THE LEFT REAR AXEL TO THE FRAME OF MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT FELL APART AND DROPPED THE AXEL CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TIRE AND WHEEL AXEL AND OTHER PARTS. LOOKING AT THE BUSHING AFTER THE FACT, I CAN SEE WHERE THE TWO 1" STUB BOLTS HAVE WORN THE BUSHING IN A OBLONG HOLE CAUSING THE BUSHING TO FAIL. I DO FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE WITH ALL ELEMENTS. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS, AS I'M ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR AS FOR IT HAPPENING AGAIN. *TR

Air Bags › Side/WindowCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 14, 200950,000 milesGA

I ROLLED MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT (2X DRIVE) ON I-95 AT LEAST FOUR TIMES ACCORDING TO FHP. MY FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, ALTHOUGH MY WINDSHIELD WAS CRUSHED IN. AND MY DRIVERS' SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ONLY PARTIALLY (1/4). I WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND LIFE-FLIGHTED TO SHAND'S EMERGENCY ROOM IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. I SUFFERED MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS; INTERNAL BLEEDING AND SEVERELY FRACTURED STERNUM. HAD MY DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN SPARED MUCH OF THIS TRAUMA. I HAVE THOROUGHLY DOCUMENTED WITH PICTURES TO SUPPORT MY CLAIM, AND MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER ALSO CONFIRMS THIS. I AM AWAITING THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL'S REPORT. *TR

Air Bags › Side/Window
Filed Apr 1, 2009107,000 milesCA

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH FOR NO REASON. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jan 14, 200955,000 milesTN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ODOMETER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE DISTANCE THAT WAS TRAVELED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

Visibility
Filed Jan 13, 200927,500 milesME

WINDSHIELD CRACKED AFTER USING DEFROSTER. HONDA DEALER IN ALBANY, NY SAID IT WAS CRACKED DUE TO A TINY NICK IN THE GLASS RESULTING FROM A STONE. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 21, 20088,311 milesPA

STARTED WITH PASS. AIR BAG LIGHT & PASS. SEATBELT BEEPER & LIGHT. HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED 4 TIMES BUT PASS. BEEPER & LIGHT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. SPOKE WITH HONDA AMERICA IN CA REGIONAL MGR MORRIS SAID IT DOESN'T EXIST IN THE 2005 HONDA ELEMENT THE MANUAL IS A MISPRINT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH HONDA DOES NOT WANT TO CORRECT. IT HAD WORKED BEFORE SO MY WIFE & I SPOKE TO PEOPLE WITH 1996 TO 2008 HONDA ELEMENTS AND THEY ALL HAVE A SEATBELT LIGHT & BEEPER FOR THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR FOUR LONG YEARS. I BELIEVE HONDA AMERICA IS TRYING TO DECEIVE US. I EVEN ASKED MORRIS TO PUT IT IN WRITING THAT IT IS A MISPRINT IN THE MANUAL BUT HE SAID HE COULD NOT DO THAT. I ALSO TOLD HIM THAT I HAD SPOKEN TO OTHER 2005 ELEMENT OWNERS WHO STATED THEIR PASSENGER SEATBELTS HAVE A LIGHT & BEEPER BUT STILL INSISTS THAT MY CAR DOES NOT. *TR

Air Bags › Side/Window1 injured
Filed Nov 22, 200846,000 milesWA

MY WIFE, MOTHER IN-LAW, AND 8 MONTH OLD SON WERE DRIVING ON A GRAVEL DRIVEWAY TO SOMEONES HOUSE WHEN SUDDENLY THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG IN MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO COLLISION, NO RECKLESS DRIVING, NOTHING TO PROVOKE AN AIRBAG TO SUDDENLY DEPLOY. IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE, HOWEVER, DUE TO FIGHTING W/ DEALERSHIPS AND HONDA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER OVER THE REPAIRS; MY WIFE IS STILL DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AS IT IS HER ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. MY 8 MONTH OLD SON ALSO RIDES IN THIS VEHICLE AND I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT HE AND MY WIFE WERE NOT HURT IN THE INCIDENT; MY MOTHER IN-LAW HOWEVER, RECEIVED A SEVERELY BRUISED ELBOW AS SHE WAS THE ONE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD THAT ONLY THE FAULTY SENSOR IS COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL AIRBAG, THEY WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE THE SEAT STITCHED BACK TOGETHER WERE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FROM, AND THEY WILL NOT PAY TO RESET ALL OF THE OTHER AIRBAG SENSORS THAT APPARENTLY NO LONGER WORK. IT HAS BEEN OVER A MONTH SINCE THIS OCCURRED AND THE BEST ADVICE HONDA HAS GIVEN ME IS TO HAVE MY INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECT THE VEHICLE-PAY FOR THE REPAIRS-AND THEN CONTACT HONDA FOR REIMBURSEMENT. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE-MY INSURANCE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS-AS THERE WAS NO COLLISION. MY WARRANTY SHOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR IN FULL. I AM SO VERY THANKFUL THAT MY FAMILY WAS ON A GRAVEL ROAD TRAVELING UNDER 10MPH. IT HORRIFIES ME TO THINK OF

Air Bags › Side/Window
Filed Jun 11, 200875,000 milesVA

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG IN 2005 HONDA ELEMENT DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING ON DRIVEWAY. NO ACCIDENT, NOTHING HIT, NO TRAVELING THROUGH WATER, JUST DEPLOYED WITHOUT CAUSE AND THE DEALER WANTS $2100 TO REPAIR. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Jun 6, 200853,000 milesGA

2005 HONDA ELEMENT BEGAN RUNNING WARMER THAN NORMAL. CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 53K MILES. INTERNET RESEARCH FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND INDICATION THAT FAULTY COOLANT WAS USED BY HONDA AT THE FACTORY. PROBLEMS INCLUDE OVERHEATING, POOR HEAT IN WINTER. INDICATED SOLUTIONS RANGE FROM COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH UP TO REPLACING THE RADIATOR, HEATER CORE, AND ENGINE. HONDA ADMITS NO FAULT. PROBLEMS/REPAIRS STILL BE EVALUATED. *TR

Electrical System › Horn
Filed Apr 28, 200844,050 milesVT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT HER HORN WAS NO LONGER WORKING. SHE HAS SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,050. UPDATED 6/2/08 *CN THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE HORN WAS NOT WORKING BECAUSE OF A MINOR FENDER BENDER SHE HAD 2 MONTHS PRIOR. UPDATED 06/02/08

Suspension
Filed Feb 13, 200820 milesWV

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY NEW 2005 HONDA ELEMENT EX, THERE HAS BEEN A REALLY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION, BOTH FRONT AND BACK. IT MOSTLY MAKES THIS NOISE WHEN HITTING A DIP IN THE ROAD, OR COMING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH SOMEONE IS HITTING THERE HANDS DOWN ON THE KEYS OF A PIANO. ALSO, THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WEARING TIRES AT AN ALARMING RATE, FOR THIS IS THE SECOND SET OF TIRES IT HAS GONE THROUGH WITHIN 27,000 MILES. THEY WERE ROTATED AS SCHEDULED BY THE MANUFACTURER, AND THE VEHICLE IS IN ALIGNMENT. ALSO, I HAD A 2006 HONDA ACCORD LX WHICH WAS MAKING THE SAME NOISE, WHICH THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE. ALSO, I HAVE FRIENDS WITH THE HONDA ODYSSEY VAN, RIDGELINE TRUCK, ALL WHICH ARE MAKING THE SAME NOISE AND ARE WEARING TIRES ABNORMALLY. *TR

Air Bags › Side/Window
Filed Dec 4, 2007VA

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND FOR NO REASON AT ALL, MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED!!!!! SCARED ME TO DEATH, GLAD I WASN'T GOING VERY FAST OR I MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT! I AM ALSO LUCKY THAT IT WASN'T THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG, OR IT COULD HAVE BROKEN MY ARM! *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Nov 28, 200736,400 milesTN

IN MARCH OF 2007 WE HAD A COLD SPELL. I TURNED ON THE HEAT BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. I FORGOT ABOUT IT AS THE SEASONS CHANGED AND IT WARMED UP. SINCE THE WEATHER HAS STARTED TO TURN COLD I'VE TRIED TO TURN THE HEAT ON. IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET LOOKED AT AND THE HEATER CORE HAS BEEN MESSED UP. MY CAR IS A 2005 AND HAS ONLY 52K MILES. I'VE RECEIVED REGULAR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THE COOLANT PUT IN THE CAR AT THE FACTORY WAS A BAD BATCH AND HAS THEREFORE MESSED UP THE HEATER CORE. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jul 6, 200728,000 milesDC

MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING. THIS IS THE AIRBAG THAT LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT. *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 25, 200735,000 milesCA

I SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING A CAR AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT. MY CAR LIFTED OFF THE GROUND AND ROLLED 3 TIMES. I GOT THE ELEMENT BECAUSE IT HAD VERY HIGH SAFETY RATINGS. IT ALSO HAD SIDE AIRBAGS WHICH I FOUND ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR AN SUV HOWEVER NONE OF THEM DEPLOYED.

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed May 18, 200743,605 milesSC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SRS LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND COULD NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM HAS FAILED. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 43,705 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,605.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 26, 200715,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH,THE CONTACT OBSERVED A CRACK IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD 7 OR 8 MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 10/2005. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000 ,AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE WINDSHIELD HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module1 injured
Filed Mar 1, 200759,000 milesCA

A WEEK AGO I WAS IN A PARKING LOT GOING 5-7 MPH I HAD TO SWERVE TO THE LEFT TO AVOID A COLLISION AND WHEN I DID MY LEFT FRONT TIRE HIT A CEMENT POLE AT WHICH TIME MY STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG AND PASSENGER (I HAD 0 PASSENGERS) AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON AND IT THREW ME TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SEAT CAUSING BACK PAIN AND IT BURNED MY ARM SO BAD IT WAS BLEEDING. IT IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW GETTING THE FRONT END FIXED AND THE AIR BAGS ARE COSTING $1500.00 TO REPAIR. I CONTACTED THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF AN IMPACT WOULD MAKE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY.*JB

Seats
Filed Feb 9, 200713,450 milesCA

OWN A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. AT 13K MILES BOTH THE FRONT SEATS SIDE SEAMS HAVE TORN. WE ARE NOT HARD ON THIS CAR AND ARE SHOCKED HOW SOON THE SEATS HAVE WORN OUT. WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO HONDA AND THEY DID CHANGE THE SEATS, BUT DENY THERE IS A PROBLEM OVERALL WITH THE SEATS. AT WWW.ELEMENTOWNERSCLUB.COM THERE ARE PAGE AFTER PAGE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT SEATS TEARING WITH LOW MILES. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jan 22, 20079,000 milesTX

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT AN IMPACT BY FLYING OBJECT. *JB

Air Bags
Filed Jan 8, 200727,000 milesAR

2005 HONDA ELEMENT'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. *CC THE CONSUMER WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT AND PARTIALLY DROVE OVER A CURB WITH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. AS THE TIRE ROLLED OFF THE CURB THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TOT HE CLOSEST HONDA DEALER. AFTER RUNNING THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SALES DEALER WHO CLAIMED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WHET OVER THE CURD, THE VEHICLE SCRAPED THE BRACKET FOR THE STEP RAIL, WHICH ACTIVATED THE SENSOR AND THE AIR BAG,. THE DEALER DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *NM

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Dec 14, 20067,470 milesWA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE BATTERY WAS RECHARGED, AND AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Nov 30, 2006CO

MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED. NOTHING HIT IT, THE WINDSHIELD JUST CRACKED. IT NOW HAS TWO SIGNIFICANT CRACKS FROM THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD ACROSS. *JB

Air Bags › Side/Window
Filed Oct 30, 200625,500 milesAR

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IN MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT DEPLOYED, BUT I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Sep 27, 20068,800 milesTN

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH OVER A SPEED BUMP THROUGH A PARKING LOT IN THE RAIN, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED FROM WITHIN THE SEAT WITHOUT WARNING. THE PASSENGER WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT, AND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED DUE TO IMPACT OF ONE OF THE AIRBAG SENSORS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

Air Bags › Side/Window
Filed Mar 4, 200615,000 milesLA

WHILE DRIVING, THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE VEHICLE WAS 6 MONTHS OLD AT THE TIME AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOMETHING MAY HAVE HIT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. *JB

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 24, 200613,000 milesIL

I WAS DRIVING MY HONDA ELEMENT DOWN A FAIRLY BUSY STREET AT 45 MILES AN HOUR. A MAN PULLED OUT OF A STRIP MALL PARKING LOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. ALTHOUGH I HONKED MY HORN AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, I COULD NOT AVOID HITTING HIM. MY CAR HAS EXTREME FRONT END DAMAGE AND IT WAS A HIGH IMPACT CRASH, HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR IF IT WILL BE DETERMINED TO BE TOTALED, BUT IF IT ISN'T, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR IN THE FUTURE. *JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jan 8, 20062,000 milesCA

WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED 3 TIMES OVER A 6 MONTH PERIOD. *NM

Seat Belts › Front
Filed Dec 7, 2005VT

THE SEAT BELTS FOR THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER IN THE 2005 HONDA ELEMENT ARE ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE REAR DOOR, THEREFORE THE REAR DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED UNLESS THE FRONT DOORS ARE OPENED. *NM *JB

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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