NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Honda Element. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
DOOR LOCKS ARE DEFECTIVE- CANNOT INSERT MY KEY IN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. MY REMOTES DON'T LIFT THE LOCKS ANY MORE. LIGHTS FLASH OK, BUT I HAVE A FEELING THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK IS INVOLVED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE
MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF AND I ALSO HAVE A KNOCKING AND TICKING NOISE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEN TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. AFTER THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE START POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V364000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TAKATA RECALL. AT LESS THAN SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MPH, VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED ICY CONDITIONS ON HILL, AND VEHICLE ROLLED APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET OFF OF ROAD INTO GENTLY GRADED AREA. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE STRAIGHT OUT WITHOUT ANY SIGNIFICANT BODY DAMAGE, YET AIRBAGS BOTH DEPLOYED UPON EXITING THE ROAD, MOST LIKELY DUE TO ROLLING OVER A SMALL CURB BEFORE LEAVING ROADWAY. THIS WAS A CITY STREET, EARLY IN THE MORNING OF MARCH 23, 2016, WITH MY LICENSED AND INSURED 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVING. BUT FOR THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SHE WOULD HAVE DRIVEN AWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT, BUT DUAL DEPLOYMENT RESULTED IN BURNS TO HER JACKET AND RIGHT ARM AND A LACERATION TO HER LEFT KNEE DUE TO HER REACTION TO THE UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT. I BELIEVE THE AIRBAG INITIATORS WERE OVERLY SENSITIVE OR ON A HAIR TRIGGER. ESTIMATED SPEED AT TIME OF DEPLOYMENT IS 25MPH OR LESS. VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED AND REGISTERED IN NEW MEXICO AND APPARENTLY IN STORAGE FOR A PERIOD WHERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HOT AND/OR HUMID AT TIMES, BUT AT TIME OF INCIDENT WAS OWNED AND REGISTERED IN NORTH DAKOTA. POLICE AND INSURANCE REPORTS ARE PENDING AT THIS TIME. POLICE, INSURANCE AND AMBULANCE REPORTS WOULD NOT EVEN EXIST BUT FOR SHOCK OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AS THERE WAS NO IMPACT, NO OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED, AND NO TICKETS ISSUED OR DRIVING CITED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION IN ANY GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V364000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
THE STEEL FRAME IN THE DRIVERS SEAT COMPLETELY CRACKED AND BROKE, CAUSING THE SEATBACK TO BECOME SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. LOCAL HONDA DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE BREAK AND OFFERED A $2,400 NEW SEAT OPTION. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND A FRONT/REAR COLLISION WOULD HAVE CAUSED BODILY INJURY. PHOTOS AND VIDEO ARE AVAILABLE.
2003 HONDA ELEMENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNSATISFACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP WITH IGNITION SWITCH AND AIRBAG REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON OCCASIONALLY. ALSO, THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT TIMES WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V351000 (AIR BAGS) A MONTH AGO AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED THREE BROKEN RIBS AND LIVER DAMAGE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 227,590. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THE SEATBELT FOR THE DRIVER IT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AND STILL LOOSE AFTER IT BUCKLE UP ALSO THE SEATBELT LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME EVEN AFTER THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THAT IS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. I READ IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL THAT THE SEATBELT HAS A WARRANTY FOR THE LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE.
THE LOCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT WORK WITH THE KEY. THIS IS A 2003 AND A REMOTE LOCKING DEVICE WAS NOT OFFERED BY THE MANUFACTURER ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE SINCE WE OWN THIS VEHICLE DATING BACK TO 10/2015. THE ABILITY TO RELIABLY LOCK AND UNLOCK YOUR VEHICLE IS A FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENT TO AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY
WHILE DRIVING THE SRS/AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH. HAD IT RESETTED BUT DOESNT GO AWAY. CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED ABOUT RECALLS ON THE AIRBAGS AND IGNITION SWITCH. NOTHING ABOUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT. IVE REVIEWED MANY FORM WHICH COUNTLESS PEOPLE COMPLAIN OF THIS ISSUE. PLEASE UPDATE ME ON ANYTHING REGUARDING THIS ISSUE! IM SCARED THE AIRBAGS MAY DEPLOY AS IM DRIVING, OR NOT DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP AND BLACK SMOKE EMITTED THROUGH ALL OF THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V353000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V320000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 11/18/15*LJ UPDATED 01/11/16. *JB UPDATED 1/12/2016 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V353000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
RE: TIRES MICHELIN XCX/APT 215/70 R16 DOT HNXO EKFX 4405 WHEN PUTTING AIR IN MY TIRES ON 3/21/2015 I FOUND ALL FOUR TIRE SIDEWALLS HAD A LOT OF CRACKS (ONE INCH AND BIGGER) PLUS A LOT OF OTHER TIRE FAILURE PROBLEMS. THESE WERE NOT NOTICE BY HONDA DEALER GARAGE ON TIRE ROTATION THAT WAS PERFORMED WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. NEITHER HAD I NOTICE THIS SINCE THAT ROTATION, THE TIRE TREAD ON THESE TIRES ARE STILL GOOD. I AM AWARE THAT THERE WERE NO RECALL AND THESE TIRES HAVE "EXPIRED" SO TO SPEAK. MY CONCERN IS THAT MICHELIN TIRES HAD NOT WARNED ME OF THIS POSSIBLE PROBLEM PUTTING MY FAMILY, MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD IN DANGER. I WANT MICHELIN TO REPLACE THOSE TIRES. ANYONE ELSE HAVING THESE TIRES SHOULD BE TOLD. I HAVE PHOTOS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 10V364000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), 14V351000 (AIR BAGS), AND 14V700000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V351000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
LETTER FROM SENATOR NELSON ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2003 HONDA ELEMENT AIRBAG. *SMD THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LOANER VEHICLE, DUE TO THE FACT, THE RECALL FIX WILL TAKE THREE HOURS TO COMPLETE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PART NEEDED TO BE ORDERED.*JB
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK TUMBLERS SEIZED MY KEY WHEN I TRIED TO UNLOCK THE CAR. THEY KEY WAS STUCK MIDWAY - I COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY NOR TURN IT EITHER WAY. SINCE THE KEY WAS CAUGHT IN THE LOCK, THE KEY FOB WOULD NOT OPEN THE PASSENGER'S DOOR OR REAR LATCH. I WAS LOCKED OUT OF THE CAR WITH MY LITTLE GIRL TRAPPED INSIDE. AFTER A POP-A-LOCK VISIT, I WAS ABLE TO GET MY SPARE KEY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BUT I STILL HAD THE ORIGINAL KEY STUCK IN THE DOOR LOCK. I DROVE TO HONDA SERVICE CENTER; THEY WERE UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY ALSO. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $450 TO HAVE THE LOCK TUMBLER REPLACED. I ASKED THEM IF THEY WOULD REMOVE THE DOOR PANEL BECAUSE THE KEY IN THE DOOR WAS A THEFT ISSUE. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $112.50 FOR THEM TO REMOVE THE PANEL. WHEN I ASKED IF THEY WOULD REMOVE THE PANEL FOR FREE SO I COULD TRY TO REMOVE THE KEY, THEY REFUSED, CITING LIABILITY ISSUES. THE SERVICE CENTER IS ONLY WILLING TO HELP WHEN PAID ASTRONOMICAL RATES LIKE $112.50 TO REMOVE A DOOR PANEL (WITHOUT BEING ASKED TO PUT IT BACK ON) AND $450 TO REPLACE A $40 PART THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANY OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS' CARS SEIZING A KEY IN THE DOOR LOCK EVER IN MY LIFE! WE COULD HAVE BEEN IN GREAT DANGER IF WE HAD BEEN IN A REMOTE AREA OF IF IT HAD BEEN NIGHTTIME. HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSES TO FIX MY PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL, DESPITE THE PROBLEMS OF OTHERS. EVEN WHEN I ASKED THAT THE REPAIR BE DONE AS "GOODWILL' THE REPRESENTATIVE REFUSED TO CONSIDER. POOR QUALITY WORKMANSHIP ON DOOR LOCKS -- SOMETHING AS INEXPENSIVE AND LOW TECH AS A LOCK, YET SO CRITICAL TO SAFETY AND THEFT -- REFLECTS POORLY ON HONDA AND DRAWS INTO QUESTION THEIR REPUTATION FOR QUALITY. THAT HONDA REFUSES TO STAND BY THEIR WORK WHEN THEIR POOR QUALITY ENDANGERS DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS, DEMONSTRATES THEIR DISREGARD OF HUMAN BEINGS SAFETY. PROFIT OVER PEOPLE IS HONDA'S MOTTO. *TR
HONDA HAS FAILED TO FIX THE TWO OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR REPAIR AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. I INITIALLY CONTACTED THE DEALER IN EARLY JANUARY AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE A FEW WEEKS UNTIL PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. I THEN CALLED IN FEBRUARY AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE MID-MARCH. AGAIN THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. IT HAS NOW BEEN NEARLY 3 MONTHS SINCE INITIAL CONTACT AND THE TWO RECALLS HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *TR
BATTERY DIES AFTER 10 TO 12 HOURS OF NOT USING CAR, ON 3RD BATTERY IN 3 YEARS, BATTERY IS DRAINED DEAD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V700000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. UPDATED 7/6/2015*JS
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK. SOMETIMES WOULD NOT LOCK. I HAD SAME PROBLEM SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND HAD LOCK REPLACED AT HONDA DEALER HOWEVER RECENTLY IT STARTED AGAIN. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON HONDA PROBLEM. I REALLY LIKE THE ELEMENT HOWEVER THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS LEAVE ME TO PROBABLY NEVER BUY ANOTHER HONDA. NOW THE AIRBAG RECALL WHICH HAS NOT EVEN RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO REPLACE IN WV. *TR
JUST ENTERING THE INFORMATION CONCERNING THE SLOW RESPONSE TO REPLACING THE AIRBAGS ON MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT (SEE VIN ABOVE). CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP IN FEBRUARY 2015, BUT DEALERSHIP CANNOT GET PARTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. RECALL NUMBERS: 14V-700 AND 14V-351. ANY ASSISTANCE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON. *TR
I STOPPED TO CHECK MY MAIL AND TURNED OFF MY VEHICLE TO USE THE MAIL BOX KEY AND WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR AGAIN, IT WOULD NOT START. ALL I GOT WAS A BUZZING NOISE FROM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT OVER THE LAST WEEK THERE WERE TIMES MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I WOULD MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND IT WOULD FINALLY START. THE BATTERY AND STARTER WERE CHECKED AND IN WORKING CONDITION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY FAILED TO ENGAGE WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OCASIONALLY, IT TOOK THE CONTACT TEN MINUTES TO GET THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. MA 10/25/15
BOTH DOOR LOCKS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER) ARE JAMMED. AT TIMES THE KEY GOES IN AND OTHERS IT DOESN'T BUT DO NOT TURN. I HAVE TWO KEYS AND NEITHER OF THEM OPEN EITHER DOOR. I HAVE TO ENTER THROUGH THE BACK DOOR, CLIMB OVER THE BACK SEATS TO GET TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH MANY HONDA ELEMENTS MADE IN 2003. I HAVE READ MANY REVIEWS AND SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. I HAVE BACK PROBLEMS AND CANNOT BE CLIMBING IN THROUGH THE BACK OF MY CAR TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO ENTER MY CAR. I THINK HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THESE LOCKS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT OF MY CONDO, WHEN MY KNEE TAPPED THE KEYS ON MY IGNITION INWARDS. AS THIS HAPPENED THE CAR SHUT OFF. I WAS WORRIED BUT HAD TO GO ON WITH MY DAY. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE GM ISSUES I BECAME CONCERNED BECAUSE THE ISSUE WITH THEIR IGNITION WAS THE SAME ONE I WAS HAVING WITH MY HONDA ELEMENT. I CALLED HONDA ON JULY 1, 2014 AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INSPECTION AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT ON MY OWN. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE IGNITION ON MY HONDA HAS HAD AN ISSUE. A RECALL WAS INITIATED BY HONDA REGARDING THE IGNITION ALLOWING A CAR TO ROLL AWAY IF NOT ON PARK. I FOLLOWED DIRECTION AND HAD MY CAR INSPECTED BY A HONDA AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED, BUT NOW WITH A LIGHT BUMP ON THE KEY THE IGNITION TURNS OFF. I AM VERY WORRIED I AM NOT THE ONLY CONSUMER WITH THIS ISSUE AND THAT HONDA DOES NOT TAKE THIS CONCERN SERIOUSLY, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE GM ISSUES GOING ON. PLEASE HELP. *TR
THE DRIVER'S-SIDE KEY LOCK ROUTINELY DOES NOT ACCEPT THE KEY WITHOUT MULTIPLE EFFORTS. SOMETIMES THESE EFFORTS FAIL, AND I MUST TRY THE BACK HATCH OR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. AS A SINGLE FEMALE, I FIND THIS DISTURBINGLY DANGEROUS. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT I CAN'T GET INTO THE CAR, MARKING ME AS VULNERABLE. THIS BASICALLY SETS ME AFOOT, OFTEN AT NIGHT, OFTEN IN UNCERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. SHOULD I FIND MYSELF NEEDING TO MOVE THE CAR FOR ANY EMERGENCY WHATSOEVER, A GREAT DEAL OF TIME WILL BE LOST AS I STRUGGLE WITH ENTRY. UNTIL I CHECKED FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL, I HAD NOT KNOWN ABOUT THIS SITE. I AM APPALLED TO FIND THAT THIS KEY FAILURE IS A COMMON ISSUE. MY NEXT CAR WILL BE A TOYOTA, THE BRAND I DROVE FOR MANY, MANY MILES AND YEARS WITHOUT TROUBLE. *TR
THE SRS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER HONDA ISSUED A PARTIAL RECALL ON 2003 ELEMENT AIRBAGS. I CALLED HONDA AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED. IN LOOKING INTO THE RECALL I SEE THAT IT IS FOR VEHICLES IN HOTTER CLIMATES. I THINK IT SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL CLIMATES. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT AND I HAVE TO PAY OVER $700 FOR A NEW IGNITION AND MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOES NOT WORK WITH A KEY OR THE KEYLESS REMOTE. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE AND HONDA SHOULD DO A BLANKET RECALL. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AT THIS TIME. IT IS EMBARRASSING AND UNACCEPTABLE AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. COME ON HONDA! NOW I WILL HAVE TWO KEYS, ONE FOR THE IGNITION AND ONE FOR THE DOORS. WHEN I GET MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FIXED, I WILL HAVE THREE KEYS TO USE. URG. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR COLLISION OF ANY KIND. THERE WAS NO FRONT PASSENGER AT ALL, ONLY THE DRIVER IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON NC HWY 12 ON MY WAY TO WORK, ALONE, AND I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, WHEN I GLANCED DOWN TO SCRATCH MY LEG AND WHEN I GLANCED BACK DOWN, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS AT A DEAD STOP AND I REAR ENDED IT. MY PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, HOWEVER I HAD NO PASSENGER WITH ME, MY DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG FAILED. LUCKILY I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT AND ONLY RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND FAILED TO TURN OVER IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V364000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS INACCESSIBLE BECAUSE THE DOOR COULD NOT BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CYLINDER LOCK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,524.
RECALL FOR AIR BAG, NO PARTS AVAILABLE. VECHICLE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ? CALLED HONDA ABOUT CONCERNS FOR CHILDREN IN VEHICLE. *TR
FRONT DOOR LOCK WILL NOT WORK. IT IS JAMMED AND WILL NOT ACCEPT THE KEY GOING IN. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. *TR
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK BEGAN TO NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR ON FIRST ATTEMPT. AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR THE LOCK BECAME STUCK AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND WOULD NOT RELEASE THE KEY. FORCED THE KEY OUT OF THE LOCK BY PLACING MY KNEE AGAINST THE DOOR AND PULLING ON THE KEY UNTIL THE KEY FINALLY CAME OUT. LOCK CONTINUES TO BE AT ABOUT 20 DEGREES AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO ENTER AND/OR TURN. HAVE TRIED LIQUID WRENCH, BUT NO IMPROVEMENT. HAVE TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR BY ENTERING THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. *TR
DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVERS DOOR STOPPED WORKING. HONDA SAID I NEEDED A KEY FOB. IT WORKED FOR A WHILE. NOW MY KEY FOB WILL NOT OPEN DRIVERS DOOR. THE ONLY WAY TO LOCK OR UNLOCK MY DOOR IS TO PULL UP ON THE HANDLE AND PUSH LOCK DOWN AND TO GO TO THE OTHER DOOR AND CRAWL ACROSS TO UNLOCK IT. I HAVE READ OF MANY OWNERS BEING LOCKED OUT OF THEIR CARS TOTALLY. A REPAIRMAN THOUGHT IT WAS THE ACTUATOR. WHEN HE WENT TO INSTALL IT, IT WAS NOT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND THEY HAVE NO CLUE THEY SAID.
HAPPENED IN NYC, AFTERNOON, WEATHER DRIZZLING/RAINING AND HUMID. SLID ON AN OIL SLICK ON THE ROAD, SWERVED SIDEWAYS AND HIT AN EXIT RAMP CONCRETE BARRIER FULL FRONT (W/ MY FRONT AGAINST IT, PERPENDICULAR TO THE BARRIER). PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, MINE DID NOT. THE THING IS, I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR, THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. CAR WAS ALWAYS DRIVEN IN NY, I AM ORIGINAL OWNER. DIDN'T REPORT IT EARLIER BEC NEWS ALWAYS SAID IT'S ONLY AN ISSUE W/ CARS IN THE SOUTH, AND ELEMENT DIDN'T APPEAR IN THE RECALL LISTS IN THE PAPERS (ONLY SAW IT LISTED THIS MINUTE ON THE GOV SITE, AFTER HEARING SO MUCH TALK ABOUT IT ON THE NEWS AND DECIDED TO CHECK). I THINK THE CAR MANUF'S SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED ALL OWNERS OF THAT AIRBAG OF THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ISSUE, EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T LIVE IN THE SOUTH, JUST IN CASE, IT'S NOT EXPENSIVE TO DO, JUST A STAMP. ANYWAY, THAT'S MY FEELING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP FLASHED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V351000 (AIR BAGS) MONTHS AGO AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WITH KEY. HAD TO USE PASSENGER'S SIDE. SINCE THAT TIME, ALL OF THE DOOR KEYS (INCLUDING BACK) HAVE BECOME DIFFICULT TO OPEN. HAVE TO MOVE KEY UP AND DOWN TO GET IT TO SLIDE IN. NOW THE IGNITION IS ALSO BECOMING PROBLEMATIC. *TR
THE LOCK ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR NO LONGER ACCEPTS THE KEY. I HAVE TO UNLOCK FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN TRYING TO LOCK OR UNLOCK FROM THE DRIVER SIDE, MY KEY GETS STUCK IN THE LOCK AND DOES NOT TURN. *TR
DEALERSHIPS ROLLING THE MILAGE BACK 3000AND SCAMS DISABLE PEOPLE OUT OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND 28% LAWSUIT CRIMMAL AND CIVIL PLEASE CALL ME.
HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS ALSO HAPPENED ON 9/23/2011. BULBS ARE OK. DEALER SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. HONDA SAID IT'S NOT A RECALL. MANY PEOPLE REPORT SAME PROBLEM ON WEB. ALSO CRV HAS THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC DOOR SYSTEM FAILED TO OPEN OR LOCK THE DOORS, AND THE DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED WITH THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
I VISITED THE RECALL WEB SITE AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE AIRBAG CONCERNS WITH MY VEHICLE. I THEN MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND HAD MY DRIVERS AIRBAG/BECAUSE OF A RECALL, REPLACED ON NOV 26, 2014. I REQUESTED A VEHICLE FOR THE DAY SINCE THE RECALL IS NOT A PERSONAL PROBLEM BUT A PROBLEM OF THE MANUFACTURE. I WAS DENIED A DAY USE CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT DAY THAT THE PASSENGERS AIRBAG WAS ON BACKORDER, I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO DID NOT RETURN MY CALL. I THEN WENT TO THE DEALER WEB SITE AN E-MAILED THEM MY CONCERNS. SOMEONE DID CALL ME AND STATED THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE ON BACKORDER. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IT IS TAKING SO LONG TO GET MY PASSENGERS AIRBAGS REPLACED. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE LOCAL DEALER DOES NOT RETURN PHONE CALLS. LOCAL DEALER IS HONDA OF FORT MYERS FL. *TR