2003 Honda Element Complaint Log

THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM HAS ALWAYS HAD A NICE FIRM PEDAL PRESSURE. RECENTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP I NOTICED THE PEDAL TO FEEL SPONGY, SOFT AND TRAVEL CLOSE TO THE FLOOR. I CHECKED FLUIDS ETC. AND ALL SEEM NORMAL. STILL HAVE ADEQUATE PAD THICKNESS ON ALL PADS. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SOFT, SPONGY PEDAL SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENT NOW. CHECKED THE INTERNET AND SEE THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ON 2007 AND 2008 ELEMENTS. BELIEVE IT MIGHT ALSO BE SHOWING UP ON OTHER YEARS ALSO. WE ALSO HAVE A 2004 ELEMENT AND THE PEDAL PRESSURE IS AS THE 2003 USED TO BE. THE 2003 IS AN EX 2WD AUTO AND THE 2004 IS AN EX AUTO AWD MODEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND AS THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS SMOKE SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKES SEIZING WHEN THEY WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. UPDATED 10/18/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED TO DISREGARD THE COMPLAINT. THE ISSUE WAS FLUID CONTAMINATION. UPDATED 10/19/2012 *JS

I PULLED THE HOOD RELEASE LATCH AND IT BROKE. IT ALMOST HIT ME IN THE LEFT EYE. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE LOCK STOPPED WORKING FROM THE OUTSIDE. FIRST THE ALARM AND AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING. IT WOULD ARM AND UNARM THE ALARM AND UNLOCK THE BACK AND SIDE DOOR BUT NOT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THAT WAS ANNOYING BUT I HAVE THE KEY AND WOULD THEN JUST UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BUT THE LOCK WOULD STICK AND NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN. I WOULD THEN HAVE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT AND TRY AGAIN. OVER A FEW WEEKS IT GOT WORSE AND WORSE EVENTUALLY NOT ALLOWING THE KEY TO EVEN COMPLETELY ENTER. IT WOULD ALSO GET STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND I WOULD HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK IT TO GET OUT. EVENTUALLY IT STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. TO GET IN I WOULD HAVE TO UNARM THE ALARM AND FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE USE AN UMBRELLA TO REACH ACCESS THE SEATS TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR. I WOULD THEN HAVE TO WALK AROUND THE CAR TO GET IN. I WOULD ALSO HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK THE DOOR BEFORE DRIVING AS IT WOULD NOT LOCK ON ITS OWN. TO GET OUT I WOULD HAVE TO DO THE WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN BUT IN REVERSE ORDER. IF I LOCKED THE DOOR WITH THE DOOR OPEN IT WOULD NOT SHUT COMPLETELY. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE OVER ABOUT A YEAR. I HAD IT REPAIRED ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO AND HAVE NOT HAD ISSUES SINCE. I DID NOT HAVE TO CHANGE KEYS, ELECTRONIC LOCKS, OR ALARMS. THIS WAS SOME TIME AGO SO I DO NOT REMEMBER WHAT THEY HAD TO DO TO FIX IT BUT I REMEMBER IT NOT BEING CHEAP AND TAKING MUCH OF THE DAY AS THEY HAD TO TAKE THE DOOR APART. I AM NOT SURE IF THE DEALER OR MY REGULAR REPAIR PLACE FIXED IT BUT MORE INFORMATION CAN BE REQUESTED FROM THEM IF NEEDED. THE REPAIR GUYS HAD NOT MENTIONED THIS BEING AN ISSUE WITH 2003 HONDA ELEMENTS BUT AFTER SEEING MULTIPLE REPORTS ON HERE I DECIDED TO ADD MY INFORMATION FOR MORE CONTEXT AND DETAILS IN HOW THE PROBLEM STARTED AND ADVANCED. *TR

THE DASHBOARD LIGHT OF THE HONDA ELEMENT GOES DARK INTERMITTENTLY. AT THE BEGINNING I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED EVENT - BUT FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE ON INTERNET FORUMS. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE PROBLEM IS SO INCONSISTENT THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT. FROM READING THE COMPLAINT OF THE OTHER ELEMENT OWNERS IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM OF THE ELEMENTS. I REQUEST THE NHTSA TO PERFORM A DETAILED INVESTIGATION INTO THIS -AS THIS POSES A SERIOUS RISK WITH THE INSTRUMENTS CLUSTER FAILING RANDOMLY. *TR

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLAMP LOW BEAM THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE NEWEST RECALL ANNOUNCED BY HONDA. I BELIEVE THAT THE SAME COMPONENT IN MY VEHICLE IS IN THE CRV AND OTHER MODELS. HOW DOES THIS ISSUE GET ADDRESSED. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO FUNCTION WHEN THEY WERE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE SIMILAR DEFECT PERTAINING TO THE 2003 HONDA ACCORD AND THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS 08V169000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE AND FLIPPED THE VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE STICK SHIFT SHIMMY AND SHAKE. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER CAN FEEL CAR VIBRATING LIKE IT HAS A BAD WHEEL ALIGNMENT BUT WHEELS HAVE BRAND NEW TIRES AND ARE ALIGNED. MECHANIC SAYS IT SEEMS TO BE A BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL HONDA AND HONDA ELEMENT COMMUNITY FORUMS REPORTING THAT MOTOR MOUNTS BREAK WITH LOW MILEAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR

THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS WILL FREEZE UP AND NOT ALLOW THE KEYS TO BE REMOVED. THIS KEEPS THE CAR FROM BEING ABLE TO BE LOCKED. HONDA WILL NOT HONOR A WARRANTY OR RECALL ON THIS ITEM THEY CHARGE $250.00 PER DOOR TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED TO BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGERS SIDE DOORS, AND IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS. *TR

TUMBLERS IN IGNITION BECOMES MAL ALIGNED, KEY WILL NOT INSERT OR TURN, ENGINE WILL NOT START. THIS IS NOT PART OF THE CURRENT ACTIVE RECALL ON THE IGNITION SYSTEM. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER TWICE IN 3 YEARS. IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE, ASK ANY ONE WHO DRIVES A 2003 ELEMENT, THEY'VE REPLACED THIS PART TOO. HONDA ONLY WARRANTIES THE PART FOR ONE YEAR. *TR

LIKE MANY OTHERS, DRIVER SIDE DOOR KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO INSERT. THEN IT INSERTED AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN; DESPITE GREASING LOCK. NOW USING PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK. I AM HOPING THIS DOES NOT GET STUCK ON ME TOO LIKE IT HAS HAPPENED WITH MANY OTHERS. LOCK COSTS ~$33 ON EBAY AND $55 FROM DEALER, BUT THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE INSTALLATION AND IT LOCK WILL HAVE A SEPARATE KEY. I WAS QUOTED AROUND $350-375 TO HAVE A MATCHING LOCK INSTALLED. I AM WORRIED TO EVEN DO THIS BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT. THIS NEEDS TO BE MADE A RECALL. *TR

WINDSHIELD LEAKED WATER, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX. WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND WAS CITED BY POLICE OFFICER FOR NOT FIXING, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX. UPON REPLACEMENT THE REPAIR GUYS JUST LAUGHED AND SAID THAT THAT GLASS WAS SEATED IMPROPERLY AND ASKED WHO HAD REPLACED IT. I RESPONDED THAT IT WAS THE ORIGINAL, THEY TOLD ME NOT TO BUY ANY MORE HONDAS. KEY WOULD NO LONGER WORK IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. REPLACED SOMETHING AT DEALERSHIP FOR $800 AS WELL AS THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AS IT STOPPED MOVING DUE TO THE MOTOR DYING AT AROUND 60,000 MILES. NOW THE KEYS DON'T WORK IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE NOR DOES THE WINDOW. IN ANOTHER INCIDENT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AFTER FULLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 5-10 MPH AND DRIFTING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING MODERATE DAMAGE. HONDA HAS NOT RESPONDED TO ANY INQUIRES MADE BY CONSUMER. NOR HAS DEALERSHIP. I STILL OWE 10,000 DOLLARS ON THIS CAR, HAVE SPENT OVER 3000 IN REPAIRS AND AT THIS POINT WANT TO DRIVE IT INTO A TREE AT A HIGH SPEED. *KB

WHILE DRIVING ON I-5 GOING THROUGH GRANTS PASS IN OREGON UPHILL, MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT SUDDENLY DECELERATED FROM 65MPH TO BARELY 35 MPH. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR TWO DAYS, THERE WERE NO CODES INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED IT BE SEEN BY A ENGINE MECHANIC. CAR IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE AFTER A TRANSMISSION FLUSH, NEW SPARK PLUGS, FUEL SYSTEM CLEANING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, THE CAR ONLY HAS 82500 MILES ON AND HAS NEVER BEEN PLACED IN STORAGE. *TR

THE PASSENGER HEAD REST FOAM HAS DETERIORATED. YOU CAN NOW FEEL THE METAL FRAME STICKING OUT AGAINST THE BACK OF THE SKULL. IN A COLLISION, INSTEAD OF THE HEADREST PROTECTING THE HEAD AND NECK, IT SEEMS AS THIS DEFECT IN THE HEADREST COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FATAL INJURY. *TT

KEYLESS REMOTE WILL NOT WORK FOR ANY DOORS. KEY WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO MANUALLY TURN WITHOUT GETTING STUCK OR JAMMED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE (FROM THE OUTSIDE). THE DOOR WILL ONLY LOCK IF YOU CRAWL THROUGH FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND LOCK IT MANUALLY. THIS IS INCONVENIENT, UNACCEPTABLE AND A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS. THIS ISSUE SHOULD CAUSE A RECALL FOR HONDA TO FIX. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER TO VERIFY WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

2003 HONDA ELEMENT. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE IS HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING THE REPAIR WORK DONE ON HER HONDA VEHICLE THAT HAS TO DO WITH A RECALL. *KB THE CONSUMER ATTACHED AN IGNITION RECALL NOTICE ALONG WITH HER LETTER. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO UNLOCK THE DOOR BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE CONTACT UNLOCKED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND ENTERED THE VEHICLE. AFTER SOME TIME, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS ADVISED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A GASOLINE FUEL LEAK AND THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,362. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000.

NHTSA RECALL 10V364000 I TOOK MY ELEMENT INTO BOB BOYT HONDA; BRANDON, MS FOR THIS RECALL. THEY TOOK THE CAR, REPLACED SOME LITTLE PLASTIC PART. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I COULD STILL REMOVE THE KEY AND WALK AWAY FROM THE CAR WITH THE CAR IN GEAR. WHEN THE CAR SHIFT IS IN THE DRIVE POSITION AND TURNED OFF, IT WILL STILL ROLL,LIKE IT WOULD IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP, LEFT IT, THEY TRIED AGAIN. BUT THE PLASTIC PART WOULD NOT FIX THE CAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS SOME SOLENOID NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND IT WOULD COST HUNDREDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS THAT PART WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I LEFT AND THE CAR IS NOT FIXED. WAS MY CAR SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED, REGARDLESS OF THE PART REQUIRED? THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS DEALERSHIP AND RECALLS ON THIS CAR. *TR

I ALSO HAVE A DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK THAT IS COMPLETELY UNUSABLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE KEY WILL NOT GO INTO THE LOCK AND THE REMOTE DOESN'T WORK FOR THAT DOOR. I CRAWL IN FROM THE PASSENGERS SIDE EVERY TIME. *TR

HONDA 2003 ELEMENT SRS LIGHT COMING ON. THIS LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON/// SUPPOSEDLY BECAUSE I AM TALKING ON MY CELL PHONE. SINCE MY AIRBAGS WON T DEPLOY WHILE THIS LIGHT IS ON... THIS IS SAFETY CONCERN, WORTHY OF A RECALL. IF I DON'T GET ACTION... I'M GOING TO THE NATIONAL MEDIA. TOO BAD SO SAD FOR HONDA AMERICA. MY LIFE IS AT RISK!!! *TR

1. THE EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE WAS USAGE. 2. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AS LOCKING MECHANISMS FAILED TO ALLOW KEY ENTRY TO DRIVER SIDE DOOR (ENTRANCE TO VEHICLE). 3. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE WAS NOTHING BUT TO CRAWL TO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR VIA OPENING THE PASSENGERS DOOR WITH A LOCKING MECHANISM PROGRESSIVELY FAILING ON IT'S DOOR AS WELL. (MANY - MANY OTHER OWNER'S OF HONDA ELEMENTS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS ISSUE - PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE - LOOK INTO IT.) THE CAR IS GREAT MINUS THIS AND IT'S' GAS MILEAGE. *TR

THE LOCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT THE KEY TO UNLOCK IT. THIS PROBLEM WAS SPORADIC ORIGINALLY, BUT NOW IS A PERMANENT PROBLEM. IT APPEARS TO BE AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. HONDA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT AND THE KEYS ARE NOT WORKING IN THE DOORS CORRECTLY. THEY WORK SOMETIMES AND NOW THE IGNITION WILL NOT WORK WITH THE KEYS. I HAVE BEEN READING FOR TWO HOURS ON COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AND WONDERING WHY THERE ARE NOT ANY RECALLS ON THIS MATTER. WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET THIS RESOLVED. MY ELEMENT WILL NOT CRANK NOW BECAUSE OF THIS. I AM STUCK. WHAT DO I DO NOW? I DO NOT HAVE ANY WARRANTY EITHER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK. THE LEVER CAN BE PULLED UP OR PUSHED DOWN WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BUTTON ON THE LEVER. THE OWNER WAS UNABLE TO NOTIFY HONDA USA. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

I LIKE MANY OTHER 2003 HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY DRIVER SIDE LOCK. KEY WONT ALWAYS GO IN AND IF DOES GO IN WONT UN LOCK THE DOOR. I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS AND HOPE TO SEE MORE ON HERE SO WE CAN GET A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON ROUGH PAVEMENT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED - URBAN STREET IN RUSH HOUR WHILE RAINING. 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. *TR

ADDENDUM TO ORIGINAL REPORT 10310546. SHOULDER AND ARM STILL AFFECTED FROM DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYING WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILS WITH LOUD BANG AND WINDOW FALLS INTO DOOR WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE TWICE, ONCE IN APRIL 2008 AND AGAIN FEBRUARY 2010. ON-LINE RESEARCH WITH "ELEMENT OWNERS CLUB" INDICATES THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK STARTED TO "STICK", KEY WOULD NOT UNLOCK DOOR FROM TIME TO TIME, UNTIL IT WOULD NO LONGER UNLOCK AT ALL. I'VE HAD TO OPEN THE LOCK FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CRAWL OVER THE SEATS TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. I HAVE VERY LIMITED FUNDS AT THE MOMENT AND CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIRS, WHICH WERE ESTIMATED AT OVER $300.00 BY A LOCAL SHOP. MY FEAR IS THAT THE PASSENGER LOCK WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL AND I'LL HAVE TO CRAWL IN THROUGH THE BACK AS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER 2003 HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS. I ONLY HAVE 56,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON MY ELEMENT, THE LOCK STARTED FAILING AT 52,000 MILES. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS THAT I'M UNAWARE OF? *TT

THE KEY FIRST STOPPED WORKING IN MY DRIVERS DOOR AND I THEN HAD TO USE THE PASSENGER DOOR TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE KEY ACTUALLY GOT STUCK IN THE LOCK ON THE PASSENGER DOOR AND STILL CANNOT BE REMOVED AND I AM FORCED TO CRAWL IN AND OUT THROUGH THE BACK HATCH IF I WISH TO LOCK MY VEHICLE, HOWEVER IT SEEMS THE BACK DOOR LOCK IS SHOWING SIGNS OF FAILURE NOW AS WELL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK EVEN WITH THE KEY. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY REMOTE UNLOCK FEATURE. IN ADDITION, THE KEY WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR EVEN WHEN IT WAS MANUALLY INSERTED. IN ORDER TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR, THE PASSENGER DOOR HAD TO BE UNLOCKED TO GET TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE RESULTS WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,000.

MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2003 HONDA ELEMENT TO HIS INTERNSHIP AS HE HAS DONE MANY TIMES. AS HE BEGAN UP A HILL AND AROUND A CURVE THAT TURNS SHARPLY TO THE LEFT, HE HEARD A LOUD CRACK. THE CAR VEERED OFF OF THE ROAD SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT, LESS THAN AN INCH DROPOFF. WHEN HE TRIED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE THE CAR. AS THE CURVE IN THE ROAD BEGAN TO END, THE CAR MOVED QUICKLY TO THE LEFT BUT STILL WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE STEERING WHEEL. IT RAN OFF THE ROAD TO THE LEFT AND WENT INTO A DITCH ABOUT 18 INCHES DEEP. THEN, APPARENTLY THE RIGHT WHEEL BENT UP UNDER THE CAR. THE WHEEL BROKE IN TWO, AS DID THE ROTOR. THE WHEEL THEN DUG INTO THE PAVEMENT AND CUT A GROOVE INTO THE PAVEMENT ABOUT 8 FEET LONG. APPARENTLY THIS RAPID SLOWING DOWN OF THE RIGHT SIDE, COUPLED WITH THE CONTINUED MOVEMENT OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR, PROJECTED THE CAR OUT OF THE DITCH AND CAUSED IT TO ROLL OVER TWICE AND LAND ON ITS ROOF. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. MY SON WAS ABLE TO DISENGAGE THE SEATBELT AND LOWER HIMSELF DOWN ONTO THE ROOF AND GET OUT OF THE SHATTERED DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. HE WAS UNINJURED EXCEPT FOR SOME SMALL SHARDS OF GLASS IN HIS RIGHT HAND AND FOREARM. WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR, WE SAW THAT THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE WAS SNAPPED IN TWO AT THE TRANSMISSION. BOTH THE WHEEL AND THE ROTOR WERE BROKEN IN HALF. THE CAR WAS DECLARED "TOTALED." MY CONCERN IS THAT WHATEVER SNAPPED OR CRACKED INITIALLY RENDERED THE CAR UNSTEERABLE. I WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION THAT MIGHT PERHAPS PREVENT SUCH A THING HAPPENING TO ANYONE ELSE. *TR

WE INITIALLY HAD PROBLEMS OPENING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WITH THE KEY AND FOR A LONG TIME HAD TO OPEN THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND REACH OVER TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THIS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE WHEN WE WERE UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR ALSO AND SO HAD TO START LEAVING THE CAR UNLOCKED FROM FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET BACK IN. WE HAD TO PAY TO GET WIRELESS ENTRY INSTALLED IN THE CAR SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE A HABITUAL PROBLEM WITH THE ELEMENT AND WE WOULD JUST END UP IN THE SAME SITUATION AGAIN DOWN THE ROAD IF WE HAD CHOSEN TO GET THE CAR RE KEYED. SO FAR WE ARE STILL ABLE TO USE THE ORIGINAL KEY FOR THE IGNITION BUT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH ONE OF THE KEYS WORKING AND NOW ONLY HAVE ONE.

MY CAR RAN OVER AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD, MAKING A LOUD NOISE BUT NOT CAUSING THE CAR TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO ASSESS THE SITUATION, I SAW THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SIDE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED. NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AT THE TIME AND THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO SIDE IMPACT TO THE CAR AT ALL. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR, OTHER THAN THE MALFUNCTIONING DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. *TR

DOOR LOCK WILL NOT OPEN. STARTING IN 2007, THE DRIVER'S SIDE (MOST USED DOOR) DOOR LOCK BECAME DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. BY MARCH 2009 THE KEY NO LONGER FUNCTIONED AT ALL. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO LEAVE THE CAR LOCKED. *TR

SAT. 11/1/08 -HONDA ELEMENT WAS PARKED, BUT RUNNING, IN FRONT OF OUR HOME. MY KIDS WERE IN THE BACK, MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. AFTER STRAPPING MY CHILD INTO THE CARSEAT, I CLOSED THE BACK DOOR AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED! NO ONE WAS HURT, JUST SCARED. I CONTACTED HONDA DEALER & TOOK IT IN ON MON 11/3/08 & WAS TOLD THAT HONDA REP WOULD HAVE TO INSPECT. SERVICE MEN AT DEALERSHIP WERE VERY NICE & FELT IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. I WAITED FOR CALL FOR APPT W/ HONDA REP. I WASN'T GIVEN AN APPT UNTIL WED. 12/17. HONDA REP REFUSES TO PAY SAYING IT IS NOT HONDA'S FAULT. SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY & NOT A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. REP SAID IT MIGHT BE THE SENSOR BUT THAT I COULD HAVE HIT A POTHOLE OR SOMETHING CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME. WE HIT NOTHING! THE AIR BAG JUST DEPLOYED! HONDA REP TOLD ME TO FILE WITH MY INSURANCE. STATE FARM DENIES CLAIM AND SAYS IT WILL NOT PAY BECAUSE THIS IS "CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT." THE HONDA REP ALSO SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENING BEFORE. SO DID THE HONDA CUSTOMER RELATIONS HEADQTRS IN CA THAT I CALLED TODAY. BUT I HAVE GOOGLED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND OTHER ELEMENT OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOY FOR NO REASON. AT LEAST ONE WHILE HE WAS DRIVING! PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND LET ME KNOW IF OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THIS TO YOU. I WOULD LIKE HONDA TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND HOPEFULLY CORRECT IT SO NO ONE WILL GET HURT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT! CLOSING THE BACKDOOR SHOULD NOT DEPLOY THE AIRBAG!! *TR

CAR DOOR LOCK NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TW

STRESS CRACKS ON FRONT WINDSHIELD ON 2003 HONDA ELEMENT AS DESCRIBED BY OTHER HONDA OWNERS. *TR

CRACK FORMED ON THE LOWER DRIVER SIDE OF MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WITH NO SIGN OF IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *TR

MY PARKED VEHICLE DEPLOYED PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WITHOUT COLLISION TO VEHICLE, ACCORDING TO INSURANCE COMPANY THERE WAS NO SIGN OF FORCED ENTRY TO THE VEHICLE (WHICH HONDA CLAIMS "COULD" BE THE CAUSE OF THE DEPLOYMENT). *TR

AFTER AN ACCIDENT ON 4/24/08 IN WHICH MY VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AFTER COMING TO COMPLETE STOP FOR AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AT 50 MPH. MY VEHICLE'S REAR END WAS LIFTED OFF THE GROUND PLACING ALL THE WEIGHT ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION BEFORE THE REAR CAME BACK DOWN ON THE GROUND. NOW MY VEHICLE HAS HAD FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS NOT LIMITED TO BALL JOINT FAILURE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY USAA HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON WHO HIT ME WAS CONVICTED IN COURT OF THE ACCIDENT AND HER INSURANCE COMPANY AMICA ACCEPTED 100 PERCENT LIABILITY FOR THE CLIENTS ACTION. *TR

DRIVING DOWN SMOOTH ROAD AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON .... DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REFUSED TO FIX. CAR UNDER WARRANTY. CAR IS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. *TR

FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT IS LOOSE AND IT ROCKS. DEALER FIXED IT ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW WANTS $ 130 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NO INJURY YET, BUT WHY WANT UNTIL ONE OCCURS. THERE IS A WEBSITE OF OTHER HONDA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. YOU DO NOT LIST THE HONDA ELEMENT IN YOUR COMPLAINT SYSTEM FOR 2003. SHAME ON YOU. *TR

2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED AT BOTTOM OF PASSENGER SIDE WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY SO I HAD IT REPLACED. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER CRACKED SAME LOCATION AND EVENTUALLY SPLIT ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD BLOCKING VIEW. CALLED MFG AND WAS TOLD DUE TO BEING OVER 60,000 MILES I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. WHAT DOES THE MILEAGE HAVE TO DO WITH THE WINDSHIELD. MY VEHICLE HAD 63,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME, WHICH WAS 2008. NOW I FIND THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO BEING WITHIN THE 6 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES BUT THEY WITHHELD THAT INFORMATION. HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THESE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS!! WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WHY IS HONDA NOT GIVING ALL THE DETAILS? DO WE NEED TO HIRE A LAWYER TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION? *TR

POOR HEATING DUE TO RESTRICTED HEATER CORE. AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE 2004,AND 2005 ELEMENT (REF. HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 07-076 DATED 11/28/2007) AND THE HEATER CORE IS THUS REPLACED UNDER THE NORMAL WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM BEGAN ON MY 2003 ELEMENT IN 2006 AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, HONDA SERVICE PERSONNEL REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE THE TROUBLE AS A FACTORY DEFECT AND WILL CHARGE IN EXCESS OF $1,500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED REGARDING CONTAMINATION OF THE ENGINE COOLANT WHICH COULD CAUSE RESTRICTIONS IN THE HEATER CORE AND RADIATOR AND SOMETIMES CORROSION. UPDATED 03/05/09. *JB

HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE WINDSHEILD ONCE. IT CURRENTLY HAS 3 SEPERATE CRACKS AT THE MOMENT THAT WERE NOT FROM ANYTHING HITTING PLUS ONE THAT IS. THAT IS A TOTAL OF 4. *TR