2003 Honda Element Complaint Log

I PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT IN JUNE 2003 OF WHICH HAD MANY MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS/FAILURES. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF THESE FAILURES PROVED TO BE WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN MECHANISM SPECIFICALLY CV BOOTS AND STEERING FUNCTION. LOUD NOISES DEVELOPED WHEN TURNING WHICH GREW LOUDER OVER TIME AS WELL AS A "GRINDING" SOUND AND VIBRATION FROM UNDERNEATH APPROX. AT MID-ALE LOCATION. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP OUT OF REVERSE WHILE MOVING INTO NEUTRAL AT WILL. THESE ISSUES CULMINATED IN MY STEERING CEASING TO OPERATE AS THOUGH "FROZEN" WHILE I WAS MAKING A SLOW LEFT HAND TURN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A TREE ALONG SIDE OF A MAJOR STREET AND INTERSECTION. THE DRIVERSIDE AIR-BAG DID DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY IN-OPERABLE AND HAD TO BE FLAT BED TOWED DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF FRONT-END DAMAGE. I COMPLETED AND MAINTAINED ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE STOP REQUIREMENTS AND YET SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC DRIVE TRAIN FAILURE AT ONLY 82,000 MILES. MY RESEARCH ON THIS MAKE/MODEL FAILURES PROVED TO BE NUMEROUS IN NUMBER AS REPORTED ON VERIFIABLE/REPUTABLE WEBSITES. ONE OF WHICH WAS HONDA'S OWN - TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN'S SITE! *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOCK HAS NOT WORKED WELL FOR SOME TIME, AND NOW IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. THE KEY WON'T GO ALL THE WAY INTO THE LOCK. THE PASSENGER SIDE LOCK HAS THE SAME PROBLEM OFTEN, BUT NOT EVERY TIME. AS A RESULT, I CAN'T LOCK MY DOORS, BECAUSE I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THEM OPEN. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, BECAUSE I LEAVE MY CAR IN A PARKING GARAGE ALL DAY, AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE GETTING INTO AN UNLOCKED CAR EVERY NIGHT OR HAVING TO STRUGGLE TO GET INTO A PERMANENTLY LOCKED CAR. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ALL OVER THE INTERNET. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE LOCK DOES NOT WORK AND NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE LOCK IS STARTING TO EXHIBIT THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE OUTER LOCK AND AUTOMATIC LOCK FAILS ON THE CAR. PASSENGER MUST ENTER THROUGH PASSENGER SIDE ONLY. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURRING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAD NOT FAILED. ONE MONTH LATER, THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE SRS SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 40000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING UNDER DRY CONDITIONS AT 20 MPH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED THAT SHE HAD TO HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO MAKE THE AIR BAG DEPLOY. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BROWNS HONDA ,AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE REASON WHY THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK UPDATED 04/05/07 *JB

MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH NO APPARENT REASON. THE CRACK STARTS BELOW THE RUBBER STRIP NEAR THE PIVOT OF THE DRIVER WINDSHIELD WIPER. THE CRACK IS MIGRATING UPWARDS INTO MY VIEWING AREA. *JB

CRACKED WINDSHIELD...DRIVER'S SIDE...JUST SHOWED UP ONE AFTERNOON LIKE AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR...*JB

BRAKES ON 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHEN HAVING MY CAR SERVICED RECENTLY THEY SAID MY BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE ONE OF THE PADS HAD STUCK AND WORN DOWN TO THE POINT OF SLIGHTLY DAMAGING THE ROTOR. THE BRAKES WERE ADJUSTED ON A PREVIOUS SERVICE CALL BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. THIS SERVICE PROBABLY OCCURRED AROUND 20,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN ADMITTED THAT FOR SOME REASON THE ONE STUCK AFTER THAT SERVICE HAD BEEN DONE. I FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR THIS REPAIR AS OBVIOUSLY EITHER THE TECHNICIAN DIDN'T ADJUST THE BRAKES PROPERLY OR THE EQUIPMENT FAILED TO PERFORM PROPERLY. *NM

MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT EX DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH WHENEVER I STOP OR START MOVING FORWARD. IT TURNS OUT MANY OTHER HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. I FOUND MORE THAN 30 OWNERS ON WWW.ELEMENTOWNERSCLUB.COM, COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WHEN MY VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP, MY DRIVER SEAT ROCKS FORWARD BY ABOUT 0.5 INCH. WHEN I ACCELERATE, THE SEAT ROCKS BACKWARDS BY ANOTHER 0.5 INCH. MY DEALER TELLS ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, BUT I FEEL LIKE IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *NM

IN MY 2003 ELEMENT I HIT A 500 POUND COW IN THE ROAD AT BETWEEN 50-60 MPH FROM THE CENTER OF MY CAR TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE FRONT FENDER WHERE THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS LOCATED WAS DESTROYED, AS WAS THE HOOD AND BUMPER. THE POLICE WERE ALL SURPRISED THE AIRBAGS HADN'T DEPLOYED. I CONTACTED HONDA, THE INSURANCE COMPANY, AND THE BODY SHOP TO INFORM THEM OF THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY IN SUCH AN ACCIDENT, AND NO ONE SEEMED OVERLY CONCERNED OTHER THAN THE POLICE AND MYSELF. *JB

SEATBELT CATCHES UNDER SEAT-RECLINE LEVER

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S HORN DIED FOR THE FIFTH TIME. THE HORN WAS QUIETER IN SOUND UNTIL IT FINALLY DIES. THE SERVICE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW TYPE OF HORN IN THE VEHICLE IN APRIL 2005, HOWEVER THIS HORN HAD ALSO STOPPED FUNCTIONING. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - THE HORN HAS BEEN REPLACED/REPAIRED FIVE TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WAS KEEPS CAUSING THE HORN TO FAIL.*NM

DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR LOCK DOES NOT ACCEPT A KEY. THIS IS EXTREMELY PROBLEMATIC DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ELEMENT DID NOT INCLUDE AUTO LOCKS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN IN A PARALLEL PARKING SITUATION WHERE MY DRIVER DOOR WAS FACING A BUSY STREET. I WAS TRYING TO GET INTO THE CAR WHEN THE LIGHT BEHIND ME TURNED GREEN AND THE CARS CAME WHIPPING BY. IT IS ALSO SCARY AT NIGHT WALKING TO MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT AS I DON'T KNOW IF MY LOCK WILL WORK AND SOMEONE COULD EASILY FOLLOW ME OUT TO MY CAR AND HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO ATTACK ME. I HAVE A DAUGHTER AND HER SAFETY IS MOST IMPORTANT. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE FIXED NOT ONLY FOR CONVENIENCE BUT ALSO PEACE OF MIND. *TR

CRACKED WINDSHIELD IN MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT STEMMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE BOTTOM CORNER. BURNS HONDA IN CHERRY HILL, NJ SAYS IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND WILL NOT FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE. *JB

MY 2003 ELEMENT WITH 30,000 MILES WAS PARKED FOR 3 WEEKS IN AN INDOOR PARKING STRUCTURE NEAR THE AIRPORT. I RETURNED FROM MY TRIP TO FIND THE SAME KIND OF CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT OTHERS ON THIS SITE HAVE DESCRIBED. IT STARTED FROM THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AND WENT UP ABOUT 12 INCHES. I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION OF ANY STONES HAVING HIT THE WINDSHIELD PRIOR TO LEAVING. *JB

MY HONDA ELEMENT 2003 HAS NOW HAD 3 CRACKED WINDOWS UNDER A YEAR. THIS SEEMS VERY EXCESSIVE AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ONLINE. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS. *JB

2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHEILD. THIS WILL BE THE 3RD WINDSHIELD THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ON THE IS VEHICLE. EACH TIME IT CRACKS IN THE LOCATION THAT HONDA SAYS THERE IS A PROBLEM. I'VE HAD TO PAY FOR THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRS.

DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK IS INOPERABLE. LOCK PINS ARE JAMMED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND KEY WILL ONLY GO IN HALF WAY. *AK

2003 HONDA ELEMENT REAR BRAKES ARE TOTALLY SHOT NEEDING NEW PADS, ROTORS ETC. AND HONDA IS BLAMING "RUST BUILDUP," AND SAYING THAT IT IS OUR FAULT FOR NOT SERVICING THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED EACH TIME THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED OR TIRES ROTATED. HONDA'S CONTENTION THAT THE BRAKES SHOULD BE "TAKEN APART AND CLEANED DUE TO "SEVERE CONDITIONS" IS RIDICULOUS. WE DO LIVE IN NORTHEASTERN OHIO BUT EVEN THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS DRIVING IN SEVERE CONDITIONS OCCASIONALLY DOESN'T NECESSARILY PUT YOU IN THAT CATEGORY. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY VEHICLE THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE DISASSEMBLED AND CLEANED EVERY 10,000 MILES. COST TO REPAIR IS $450.00. IN ADDITION, MY WIFE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT BRAKE NOISE AND WAS TOLD BOTH TIMES TO GO OUT AND "JAM ON THE BRAKES HARD TO RELEASE DIRT BUILDUP ON THE BRAKES." AT NO TIME WAS SHE EVER ADVISED TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION. *NM

WHILE DRIVING WEST ON INTERSTATE 10 NEAR BROOKSHIRE TX I REACHED INTO THE TRAY ON THE RIGHT DRIVER SIDE (IN DASH NEXT TO STEERING COLUMN) AND APPARENTLY BRUSHED THE REMOTE (HANGING ON THE KEY RING) AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE TWO LANE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO DRIVE OFF THE EXIT WITH NO POWER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO RESTART.*JB

MY HONDA ELEMENT HAD A STRESS FRACTURE IN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE IT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT, A CRACK FORMED IN THE CORNER OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS PRESENT THAT CAUSED THE CRACK. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY STRESS FROM THE VEHICLE'S STRUCTURE. THERE WERE TWO TSB FOR THE WINDSHIELD, NHTSA ITEM NUMBERS 10009029 AND 10001628. THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER TSB BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELDS CRACKED TWICE. BOTH WINDSHIELDS CRACKED WITHIN THE SAME SPOT ON THE LOWER LEVEL PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT WINDOW. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THANKSGIVING OF 2005 AT 50000 MILES. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER IN JANUARY OF 2006. AND AT 4000 MILES AFTER THE REPLACEMENT IN APRIL OF 2006, THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD SUFFERED THE SAME DAMAGE. THE COLORADO REGIONAL DEALER MANAGER CAME OUT ON 06/21/06 AND INSPECTED THE WINDSHIELD. THE MANAGER DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD LOOKED LIKE A ROCK CRACK. THERE WERE NO TOOLS OR EQUIPMENT UTILIZED BY THE MANAGER TO DETERMINE THE FINAL DECISION. THE FINAL DECISION WAS THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WINDSHIELD. ON JUNE 12TH, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACK WAS WORSE. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THE WINDSHIELDS (FILED IN LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA SUPERIOR COURT CASE # BC319600, FILED IN 2004, NO VERDICT YET).

MY IGNITION ON MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT,WAS NO LONGER WORKING, NOT ONLY COULD YOU PULL OUT THE KEY WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AFTER AWHILE THE KEY WOULD NO LONGER EVEN TURN IN THE IGNITION EVEN IF YOU HAVE WARRANTY AND PAID EXTRA FOR APPARENTLY THE BEST COVERAGE, THEY FIND A WAY THE YOU HAVE TO PAY OUT OF YOUR POCKETS, MY IGNITION REPLACEMENT COST ME $1,000.00 AND NOW THERE IS A RECALL OUT ON IT , AND AGAIN APPARENTLY MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE DISC HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY 6 MONTH. THE SERVICE FOR HONDA IS THE [XXX] , I PERSONALLY WOULD NEVER BUY A HONDA AGAIN. MY WINDSHIELD ALSO CRACKED I HAVE BEEN A HONDA SERVICE DEPT OFTEN FOR FOLLOW UP ON THE TRUCK THEY SEEN MY WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED BUT WOULD NEVER TELL ME IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME EVER TO BUY A BRAND NEW VEHICLE I WANTED TO FEEL SAFE AND SECURITY, BEING STUCK IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT A NIGHT BECAUSE THE STUPID KEY WOULDN'T WORK DID NOT IMPRESS ME AT ALL, THERE WAS A LITTLE GARAGE CLOSE BUY BUT HE COULDN'T HELP ME BECAUSE APPARENTLY HONDA DOES NOT DELIVER THERE PARTS TO OTHER GARAGES, HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED AND STUCK WITH OUT A CAR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, BECAUSE HONDA DO NOT HAVE LOANERS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ONE MORNING I GOT INTO CAR AND WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED TOP CENTER. THE CAR IS ALWAYS GARAGED. *JB

WINDSHIELD ON 2003 HONDA ELEMENT DEVELOPED A CRACK (WITHOUT ANY IMPACT) WHICH ORIGINATED FROM LOWER EDGE (BELOW WIPER, DRIVERS SIDE) AND WITHIN 24 HOURS HAD SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE WINDSHIELD. *JB

2003 HONDA ELEMENT...FRONT WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER...WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A 2ND REPLACEMENT...BOUGHT THE CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2003...1ST WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT APRIL 2004...2ND REPLACEMENT DECEMBER 2005. *JB

ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 22, 2005 I STARTED MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WHICH WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I QUICKLY REMEMBERED THAT I WANTED AN ITEM OUT OF THE GARAGE AND STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD NOT TOUCHED THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT AND THE E/R BRAKE WAS ON. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO REVERSE, DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE STREET, THE OPEN DOOR STRUCK THE NEIGHBORS MAIL BOX, VEHICLE PROCEEDED UP THE NEIGHBORS DRIVE WAY STRIKING THEIR PARKED VEHICLE, PUSHING IT 2 FEE UP THEIR DRIVEWAY. THEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO DRIVE, CAME BACK DOWN THE NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE STREET, UP MY DRIVEWAY, INTO MY GARAGE STRIKING ITEMS IN THE REAR OF THE GARAGE BEFORE STOPPING. I REACHED IN TO SHUT THE CAR OFF THEN RAN INTO THE HOUSE. WHEN MY HUSBAND CAME OUT TO THE GARAGE AND GOT INTO THE VEHICLE HE SAID THAT THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND THE E/R BREAK WAS ON. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE NEIGHBORS VEHICLE AND APPROX $3500 DAMAGE TO THE HONDA ELEMENT. I BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION/GEAR BOX FAILED AND THE E/B FAILED RESULTING IN INJURY AND DAMAGE. VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED AT BODY SHOP AND I HAVE NOTIFIED HONDA AND WILL HAVE THEM CHECK OUT WHEN REPAIRS COMPLETED. *NM

2003 HONDA ELEMENT DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. EASILY CRACKS. *NM

CRACKED WINDSHIELD - PASSENGER SIDE - LOW AREA. *NM

MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS MULTIPLE ROLLOVER ACCIDENT IN OUR 2003 HONDA ELEMENT TWO DAYS AGO. THERE WAS NOT ONE PORTION OF THE VEHICLE (INCLUDING THE FRONT) THAT WAS NOT SEVERELY IMPACTED AND YET BOTH THE SHERIFF AND TOW TRUCK DRIVER WERE VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE NONE OF THE AIRBAGS EVER DEPLOYED. *NM

CAR WAS PARKED, ENGINE TURNED OFF, AND KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. AS I STEPPED OUT THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL, MY RIGHT LEG BECAME CAUGHT IN THE CAR, I WAS DRAGGED ABOUT 80 FEET DOWN MY DRIVEWAY UNTIL I FINALLY MANAGED TO FREE MY FOOT AND ROLL AWAY. I FRACTURED A FINGER, TORE LIGAMENTS IN THAT AND ANOTHER, INJURED MY RIGHT KNEE AND ANKLE, SCRAPED MY RIGHT ARM, AND BRUISED MY UPPER THIGH. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL OVER SOME LARGE ROCKS, ACROSS THE ROAD, AND INTO THE CORN FIELD. THE KEY SHOULD NOT HAVE COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT IN PARK. AFTER GETTING NO SATISFACTION FROM HONDA AMERICA, MY LOCAL DEALER FINALLY AGREED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE ENTIRE KEY INTERLOCK SYSTEM. *NM

2003 ELEMENT ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE AND KEYS IN HIS HANDS. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *JB

THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT CRACKED IN THE CENTER RISING UP FROM THE BOTTOM EDGE. THE CRASH IS 18" LONG APPROX. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS FROM A ROCK AND NOT COVERED. THE "ROCK" CHIP IS BARELY VISIBLE. IT'S MORE LIKE A TINY PIT FROM A PIECE OF SAND. I BELIEVE THE ELEMENT HAS A DESIGN FLAW WHICH CAUSES CRACKS FROM THE FLEXING OF THE FRAME OR CHEAP GLASS. *JB

HELLO, I PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD IN FEBRUARY, 2006. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND NOW IT IS CRACKED ONCE AGAIN IN PRETTY MUCH THE SAME PLACE. *JB

MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT DEVELOPED A CRACK BELOW THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER THAT GOES UP THREE INCHES THEN DOES A 90 DEGREE RIGHT TURN THEN TRAVELS APPROXIAMATELY TWO FEET HORIZONTALLY THEN DOES ANOTHER 90 DEGREE TURN DOWN INTO WINDOW BEAD. THERE IS A VERY VERY SLIGHT "DINK" IN THE WINDSHIELD ALONG THE CRACK BUT YOUR FINGERNAIL BARELY CATCHES IN IT. I BELIEVE AS DO MANY OTHER 2003 ELEMENT OWNERS THAT THERE IS UNDUE STRESS ON THE CORNERS OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLKAW THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY HONDA. *NM

1. HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED AND REPAIRED AT MY COST 2. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY IMPLODED ON 7/18/05. GLASS HIT MY SON THE DRIVER AND COVERED PASSENGER SEAT. 3. HONDA TELLS ME OVER $300.00 REPAIR BILL IS MY PROBLEM

MY REAR BRAKES WENT AT 29,000 MILES AND THEN AGAIN AT 50,000 MILES. HONDA REPLACED THE ROTORS AND PADS UNDER WARRANTY AT 29,000 MILES. I BROUGHT THE ELEMENT BACK SEVERAL TIMES AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE BRAKES AND THEY BLAMED IT ON DIRT BUILDUP. AT 50,000 MILES THE REAR BRAKES WENT AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY WEREN'T GOING TO COVER IT BUT AFTER COMPLAINING THEY COVERED THE ROTORS AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE PADS AND LABOR. I DON'T GO OFF ROAD OR TRAVEL ON DIRT ROADS. I HAD MY BRAKES CHECKED A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN I HAD MY TIRES ROTATED. I HAVE RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT MY FRIEND WHO ALSO OWNS AN ELEMENT HAD HIS REAR BRAKES REPLACED AT 18,000. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. MY FRONT BRAKES ARE STILL THE ORIGINALS. *NM

I OWN A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I HIT A PICKUP TRUCK AND BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTAL LOSSES. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT WHICH PUSHED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IN BY 24 INCHES AND BENT THE FRAME - THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DID DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH NO OTHER PASSENGERS WERE IN THE VEHICLE. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TWICE TO HONDA AMERICA BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM EXISTS. *NM

DT: CONSUMER SAYS THAT HE HAS A CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON HIS VEHICLE. CONSUMER SAYS THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT GOING ON FOR THIS SAME REASON. CONSUMER FOUND SUIT ON INTERNET. CONSUMER SAYS THAT WINDSHIELD CRACKED BY ITSELF. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT A PEBBLE OR ROCK HIT WINDOW AND CAUSED CRACK. CONSUMER SAYS THAT PLACE DEALER POINTED OUT ON WINDOW WAS THE SIZE OF A PIN HEAD. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT WINDSHIELD WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANYTHING. CONSUMER HAS NO IDEAL WHAT CAUSED THE CRACK. CONSUMER IS THE ONLY PERSON TO DRIVE VEHICLE AND HE IS NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING EVER STRIKING WINDOW. CONSUMER FIRST NOTICED CRACK AFTER ARRIVING AT WORK, GOING INTO OFFICE, AND A COWORKER WHO HAD ROAD TO WORK WITH CONSUMER, TOLD CONSUMER ABOUT NOTICING THE CRACK. THIS WAS MORNING JULY 9, 2005. OFFICE IS LOCATED IN VERONA, NEW JERSEY. CONSUMER HAS LOOKED ON INTERNET TO FIND THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING CRACKED WINDSHIELDS OF SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. CONSUMER IS NOT AWARE OF WHERE THE WINDSHIELD CRACK MAY HAVE HAPPENED. *NM

FOR THE SECOND TIME MY WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED ON MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CRACKS ARE CONSIDERED STRESS FRACTURES CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM BENEATH PASSENGER WIPER BLADE UP APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES AND THEN TURNS TOWARD DRIVER'S SIDE.

HONDA ELEMENT -- CRACK IN WINDSHIELD. STARTED AT BOTTOM PASSENGER SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A SMALL PIN SIZE HOLE AT THE BASE OF THE CRACK - ALMOST BELOW THE EDGE OF THE HOOD. THE CRACK WENT UP ABOUT 7 INCHES AND THEN STARTED SPREADING ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS DEFINITELY NOT FROM A ROCK CHIP. IT TOOK 2 FULL DAYS OF "NEGOTIATING" WITH AMERICAN HONDA TO GET THEM TO COVER THE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD UNDER WARRANTY.

I BOUGHT A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT EX SEPTEMBER 2004, HAVE ABOUT 30K ON IT, NO PROBLEMS UNTIL I CAME OUT TO THE PARKING LOT AND FOUND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED (THE NOW CLASSIC DESIGN, LOWER PASSENGER SIDE, NO IMPACT MARK, SPREADING FROM BLACK AREA, RIGHT NOW ABOUT TEN INCHES LONG AND MOVING STRAIGHT ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I AM HAVING CASCADE AUTO GLASS COME THIS MORNING TO REPLACE IT SINCE THE CRACK IS GROWING AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR.

DT: 2003, HONDA ELEMENT, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED OUT OF THE BLUE. NOTHING STRUCK THE GLASS, NO ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING, HEARD POPPING NOISE AND A 5-6 ROUND CIRCLE CRACK APPEARED ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER, AND THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

DT: CONSUMER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM AND THE CRACK MOVED UP ABOUT ONE FOOT. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A STARTING POINT TO THE CRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THAT THEY FOUND A DING THAT CONSUMER SAYS IS ABOUT AS BIG AS THE HEAD OF A PIN. DEALER SAYS THIS IS WHERE SOMETHING STRUCK VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER IS CONFIDENT THAT NOTHING STRUCK WINDOW, WINDOW CRACKED UNDER STRESS FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER SAYS THAT SHE BELIEVES THAT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN HER GARAGE. CONSUMER SAID SHE DID NOT NOTICE CRACK UNTIL SHE GOT VEHICLE OUT OF GARAGE IN THE MORNING. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT IS IN HER WORK PARKING LOT, IS THE SAME VEHICLE BUT DIFFERENT COLOR, THIS VEHICLE HAS SAME CRACK. CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE CRACK IS VERY CLOSE. IT ALSO STARTS IN THE SAME PLACE IN THE BOTTOM OF WINDOW. CONSUMER SAYS THAT SHE TAKES CARE OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE ONLY HAS 12,000 MILES, CONSUMER DRIVES 3 MILES TO WORK, CONSUMER MOSTLY DRIVES ON LOCAL ROADS, DOES NOT TRAVEL ON HIGHWAYS MUCH. *NM

AN OBJECT HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND WAS TOO SMALL TO SEE. THE OBJECT NICKED THE WINDSHIELD AND CRACKS FORMED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY, AND WAS BEING REPLACED AGAIN THE DAY THE CONSUMER SENT THIS LETTER. *AK *SC *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK CAME UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW BEAD. IT FIRST BEGAN AS A TINY CRACK AND IS NOW ABOUT TWO AND HALF FEET LONG. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED TO HIM THERE WERE NO OTHER RELATED PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NM UPDATED 12/7/2005. IN LATE NOVEMBER THE CONSUMER FOUND A HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN REFERENCING A WINDSHIELD DEFECT. ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FALLS WITH THE RANGE OF VINS THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. *NM

THIS IS THE THIRD THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY INSTALLED INTO CAR SINCE PURCHASE. THE FIRST ONE WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED WITH A NEW MODEL. THE SECOND WAS REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURES, AND THE LAST ONE WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE DVD/NAV SYSTEM INSTALLED WHICH WAS CAUSING ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE TO THE THROTTLE BODY, CAUSING IT TO FAIL. THE SYMPTOM STARTED WITH THE SHIFT NOT UNLOCKING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THEN IT WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS, CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN AT 4500 RPMS. THEN VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN ROAD, AND IT SHIFTED TO BETTER HIGHWAY SPEED. DEALER STATED THAT HE COULD NOT GET TROUBLE CODES FROM COMPUTER UNTIL ALL DVD/NAV WAS DISCONECTED. THEY REPLACED THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, AND TOLD US NOT TO HOOK DVD/NAV SYSTEM UP UNLESS IT HAD ITS OWN FUSEABLE LINK LINE FROM BATTERY, AND NOT TO USE WIRE HARNESS TO CONNECT.*AK