2003 Honda Element Complaint Log

FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. DEALER STATED THAT A ROCK CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE FOUND LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB PERTAINING TO THIS DEFECT.*AK

THERE IS A TEN INCH CRACK GOING ACROSS THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE SEATAC AIRPORT, I HAD HEARD MY DASH CREAKING ON AND OFF FOR A WHILE AND JUST FIGURED IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, HOWEVER THIS TIME AFTER THE CREAK I NOTICED A VERY SMALL HAIRLINE CRACK THE CRACK CAME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER PART OF W/SHIELD STARTING BY THE COWL VENT PANEL AND THE CRACK WENT TO THE LT. AFTER THE CRACK APPEARED THE CREAKING STOPPED FOR A WHILE, NOW IT HAS STARTED AGAIN. I COULD NOT AFFORD A NEW WINDSHIELD, AND AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS -HTTP://WWW.ELEMENTOWNERSCLUB.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=4189&PAGE=5&PP=10 HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS CLUB > HONDA ELEMENT > *PROBLEMS & ISSUES RELOAD THIS PAGE WINDSHIELD ISSUES- I WAS NOT EXPECTING MUCH HELP FROM THE DEALER. I WILL CALL THEEALER TODAY AND REQUEST A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD AND TAKE COPIES OF YOPUR REPORTS. *NM

CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON HONDA ELEMENT, IT STARTED LAST SUMMER AT EDGE OF WINDSHIELD AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GONE STRAIGHT ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD TO POINT WHERE IT NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL BUT BECAUSE MY VIN # DOES NOT MATCH THE RECALL HONDA WILL NOT NECESSARILY COVER. THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING $85.00 JUST CHECK TO SEE IF THEY WILL COVER. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELDS CRACKING. I HAVE LIVED IN AK FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD BEFORE. *NM

CRACKED WINDSHIELD. DEALERSHIP UNWILLING TO HELP.*AK

CRACKED WINDSHIELD, DRIVER DID NOT HEAR/SEE ANYTHING HIT WINDSHIELD, CRACK IS BELOW WIPER BLADE, MANY OTHER DRIVERS OF HONDA ELEMENT 2003 HAVE SIMILAR CRACKED WINDSHIELD STORIES. *AK

2003 HONDA ELEMENT, FRONT WINDOW CRACKED UNDER THE SEAL UP ON THE RIGHT HAND PASSENGER SIDE. POPPING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN DEVELOPED AFTER APPROX 15K MILES. POWER STEERING ROD REPLACED IN AUG 04. RETURNED TO DEALER IN SEPTEMBER. WAS TOLD THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE; HOWEVER, SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO HEAR IT AND SAID IT SOUNDED AS IF THE AIRBAG SPRING WERE LOOSE. WAS NOT FIXED, REPORT CLAIMED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. RETURNED TO DEALER THE FOLLOWING WEEK. HAD TWO SERVICE TECHNICIANS RIDE IN THE VEHICLE, THEY BOTH HEARD THE NOISE AND REPLACED A TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. POPPING NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS IN EITHER DIRECTION AND AT TIMES EVEN WHEN DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE!*AK

I PURCHASED MY CAR IN AUGUST 2003, AND THIS HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACK OCCURRED IN AUGUST OF 2004 FROM NO OBVIOUS REASONS SUCH AS SOMETHING HITTING MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS HAVING OTHER ISSUES WITH THE ELEMENT AND I ASKED MY HONDA ADVISOR ABOUT THE CRACK AND SHE TOLD ME THAT HONDA WOULD NOT REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND THAT IT WOULD BE OUT OF POCKET FOR ME. NOW I HAVE FOUND A HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN FROM MAY 6, 2003 CONCERNING THE WINDSHIELD AND IT WAS TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR IS 118,000 MILES NOW AND I AM SO LIVID THAT MY HONDA ADVISOR REFUSED TO FIX THIS CRACK WHICH HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 4 INCHES. PLEASE HELP. *JB

WINDSHIELD CREAKING REPAIRED PER HONDA TSB 03-028 MAINTENANCE BULLETIN. 2 BULLS-EYE CHIPS REPAIRED, BUT WERE SOON FOLLOWED BY 3 MORE IN 4 MONTHS TIME. ALL WERE FROM SMALL PEBBLES. TODAY, A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE EDGE OF THE WINDOW WHICH GREW TO 8-10 INCHES OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY. REPLACEMENT ESTIMATES RANGE FROM $550 - $800, BUT I DON'T WANT ANOTHER HONDA WINDSHIELD IF IT'S PREDISPOSED TO CRACKING. *JB

THERE IS A DEFINITE BREAKDOWN WITH THE BRAKE CALIPERS. I AM NOT A MECHANIC BUT REALIZED THE FAST DETERIORATION OF THE CALIPERS AND HAVE NOT HEARD OF THAT PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS AND I HAVE SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE BRAKES WERE NEVER THE SAME. THE VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE STOPPING WITH NEW BRAKES. I FLUSHED THE BRAKE FLUID WITH OFFICIAL HONDA BRAKE FLUID AND RECENTLY NOTICED THE ISSUE IS WITH THE CALIPERS. THEY ARE RUSTY AND THE METAL FLAKES OFF AND THE PISTONS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY ON ANY OF THE BRAKES. SOME BRAKES DON'T FULLY BRAKE AND ONE REAR CALIPER IS STUCK WHILE DRIVING SO THE PADS ARE ON THE ROTOR WHILE DRIVING. I HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE, THE CALIPERS ARE TO SQUEEZE AND RELEASE AND THEY NEVER HAVE SOON AFTER I GOT THE VEHICLE NEW. I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH THE HONDA DEALERS I HAVE TAKEN IT TO, BEFORE KNOWING THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH DETERIORATED CALIPERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN A FLOOD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I CAN'T IMAGINE I'M THE ONLY OWNER WITH THAT PROBLEM AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO FILE A COMPLAINT EARLIER OR WHAT A CALIPER WAS. I WOULD LIKE IT INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED IF NECESSARY. THANK YOU. *TR

HONDA HAS A TSB FOR THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT. THE ISSUE IS THE SEAT ROCKS AS YOU ACCELERATE OR BRAKE LIKE A ROCKING CHAIR. I HAD MY LOCAL DEALER FIX THE SEAT UNDER THE TSB, HOWEVER SOON AFTER IT WAS FIXED THE ROCKING RETURNED AND I WAS TOLD THE WORK IS NO LONGER COVERED. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT WHERE YOU SIT ALONG THE LEFT SIDE IS WORN AND THE FABRIC IS CRACKED. I REALIZED THE WEAR AND TEAR IS ABOVE THE SEAT BASE WHERE THE TSB REPAIR WAS MADE. THE WEAR AND TEAR IS FROM THE INSIDE OF THE SEAT, NOT FROM THE DRIVER. I WAS TOLD THAT IT ISN'T COVERED AND I TRIED TO EXPLAIN HOW IT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE SEAT ROCKING. NONE OF THE OTHER SEATS HAVE A PROBLEM AND THIS IS ALONG THE SEAT FROM THE FRONT TO BACK, SAME AS THE BASE OF THE SEAT WHERE THE ROCKING TAKES PLACE. I WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED AND THE BASE OF THE SEAT RECALLED. THANK YOU. *TR

I WAS DRIVING WEST ON VA. STATE ROUTE 33 WHEN I NOTICED A SMALL DEER IN THE ROAD. AS I MANUVERED TO AVOID THE DEER, THE CAR WENT COMPLETETLY OUT OF CONTROL. CAR STRUCK EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER. CAR LANDED RIGHT SIDE UP. ALL REAR WINDOWS BROKEN OUT.VEHICLE IS TOTAL LOST. I HAVE HAD TO AVOID DEER IN TWO OTHER VEHICLES AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. IF THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF CAR, DRIVERS NEED TO BE NOTIFED.*AK

MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN BROKEN 3 TIMES. IT WAS HIT BY ROCKS ALL 3 TIMES. I WATCHED THE 2ND CRACK SPLINTER UP THE WINDSHIELD AS I DROVE TO THE DEALER. IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND HAD TO PAY $400 TO REPLACE. I'M 52 AND HAVE HAD MANY, MANY CARS AND HAVEN'T HAD 3 BROKEN WINDSHIELDS IN THE LOT. I FEEL THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW OR SUB-STANDARD GLASS IS USED. *NM

2003 HONDA ELEMENT CRACKED WINDSHIELD. SAME AS MANY OTHER OWNERS. DEFINITE DESIGN DEFECT, HONDA MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS EXPENSIVE, TROUBLING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THEY CREATED. THEY JUST BLOW OFF MOST CONSUMERS SAYING "ROCK HIT IT." HOWEVER, MOST CRACKS ARE IN SAME SPOTS AND NO STAR BURST EVIDENCING A ROCK IMPACT. WAY TOO MANY COMPLAINTS TO CHALK UP TO ROAD DEBRIS IMPACT. DON'T JUST SIT ON YOUR DUFFS AND DO NOTHING. YOU HAVE OVER 100 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON A NEW VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR LESS THAN 2 YEARS. STATISTICALLY THAT IS HUGE. SO, DON'T JUST IGNORE THIS, SIT BACK AND DO THE TYPICAL GOVERNMENT THING, WORRY ABOUT YOUR TIME OFF, SICK DAYS, AND DO THE BEUROCRATIC IGNORANCE DANCE. COME DOWN ON HONDA WITH ALL YOUR MUSCLE AND PROTECT THE COMSUMER WHO HAS NO POWER AGAINST THIS HUGELY PROFITABLE GOLIATH.*AK

CRACK APPERED ON THE WINDSHIELD, BEGINNING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD, BELOW THE WIPER BLADE.

WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CRACK IS NOT IMPACT RELATED. HONDA REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK

2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CRACK IS ABOUT 7 INCHES LONG COMING UP FROM THE LOWER CORNER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND CURVING TO THE SIDE. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO TELL ME THAT A ROCK HAD TO HAVE HIT THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE "THESE WINDSHIELDS DON'T CRACK." THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A PLACE WHERE THE ROCK HIT JUST BELOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPER THAT, WHILE YOU CAN'T SEE IT, YOU CAN FEEL IF YOUR RUN A PEN ALONG THE CRACK. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT (THAT I'VE HAD A PRIOR BAD EXPERIENCE WITH) SAID THE WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER IT BUT MY INSURANCE SHOULD. I LEARNED VIA THE INTERNET THAT HONDA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS PROBLEM. I PURCHASED A FULL EXTENDED WARRANTEE, AND HONDA SHOULD BE FIXING THIS PROBLEM.*AK

2003 HONDA ELEMENT EXPERIENCE A SECOND WINDSHIELD FAILURE AT ~15000 MILES. FIRST FAILURE WAS REPORTED UNDER COMPLAINT 10078841. SIMILAR TO THE FIRST FAILURE, THE DEALER IDENTIFIED A SMALL ROCK STRIKE AND DENIED COVERAGE UNDER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY. THE CRACK IS 12 INCHES LONG, RUNNING DIAGONALLY FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE UPPER CORNER TOWARD THE DRIVER SIDE CORNER. THE FRAGILITY OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE HONDA ELEMENT IS UNUSUAL AND ABNORMAL. HONDA MOTOR CO. IS IN DENIAL AND IS COSTING CONSUMERS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES. IN 30 YRS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED WINDSHIELD FAILURES LIKE THIS. THE BODY OF THIS VEHICLE IS QUITE FLEXIBLE. WARRANTY WORK HAS BEEN REQUIRED ON THE BODY TO ELIMINATE SQUEAKS CAUSED BY A RUBBING AT A WELDED SEAM UNDER THE WINDSHIELD COWLING. THE DEALER SPREAD THE SEAM (BETWEEN EACH WELD POINT) WITH A SCREWDRIVER AND FILLED THE CAVITY WITH A FLEXIBLE COMPOUND. THE SQUEAKS STOPPED, BUT, THERE APPEARS TO BE A BIGGER PROBLEM. IS THIS WINDSHIELD GOING TO WITHSTAND AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND KEEP THE BAG IN THE VEHICLE TO CUSHION OCCUPANTS? CONSIDERING THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SEEN IN FORUMS, HONDA MOTOR CO. NEEDS TO COME OUT OF DENIAL AND START ADDRESSING THE DESIGN FLAW IN THIS VEHICLE THAT CAUSES WINDSHIELDS TO FRACTURE UNDER NORMAL USE. *JB

DURING THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, THE WINDSHIELD ON MY HONDA ELEMENT 2003 (PURCHASED NEW ON 8/28/03)) HAS BEEN PITTED THREE TIMES AND HAS BEGINNING N 6/17/04 DEVELOPED A HAIRLINE CRACK BEGINNING ONTHE PASSENGER SIDE AND EXTENDING FIFTEEN INCHES TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE. AS OF 7/2/04, I HAVE MADE CONTACT WITRH THE DEALER (BARON HONDA IN PATCHOGUE, NY) AND AMERICAN HONDA MOTORS BY PHONE AND CERTIFIED MAIL. THE CONDITION IS STILL BEING DISPUTED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE WARRANTY APPLIES. *AK

MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT HAS BEEN VICTIM OF 2 CRACKED WINDSHIELDS WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD OF 1 YEAR. THE FIRST CRACK OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY CONTRIBUTING FORCE. THE SECOND CRACK OCCURRED 2 WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND INSTANTLY CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS BOTH A DESIGN FLAW AND LACK OF QUALITY WITH HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELDS.*AK

MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES WITH REGARDS TO THE SAME COMPLAINT. THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED A INTERNAL PART AND THE OTHER TIMES I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST A LOOSE CALBE. THIS HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING FOR US. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEB SITE I REALIZED THAT THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD WE HAVE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN DUE TO A STONE BUT THAT THE HONDA ELEMENT HAS A DEFECT PROBLEM WITH THEIR WINDSHIELDS. HOW INTERESTING THAT THEY DO NOT RESPOND TO THE CONSUMER! EVERYONE SHOULD CONTINUE TO WRITE IN ABOUT THEIR PROBLEMS.*AK

THE DOOR LOCKS ON THE HONDA ELEMENT ARE FAULTY. SO FAULTY IN FACT THAT A YEAR AFTER THE ELEMENTS WERE ADVERTISED, A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (06-068) WAS ISSUED FOR "DOOR LOCK CYLINDER BINDS". THIS TSB APPLIED TO 2003-2004 CIVICS, 2002-2003 CR-V, 2003 ELEMENTS. THE TSB INCLUDES THE AFFECTED VIN NUMBERS. ONCE THE DOOR CYLINDER STOPS WORKING YOU CANNOT GAIN ENTRY INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AFFECTED DOOR. FOR ME IT WAS THE DRIVERS DOOR AND I WAS FORCED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE VIA THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE HONDA SITE STATED THAT YOU SHOULD CONTACT THE DEALER AND ASK FOR RE NUMERATION AS THIS WAS A KNOWN FAILURE. THE HONDA DEALER LOCAL TO ME STATED THAT SINCE IT WASN'T A RECALL THEY WOULDN'T "GIVE ME A BREAK" ON THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HONDA SHOULD BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE SINCE THEY KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM. THE SAFETY ISSUE HERE LIES IN THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T ENTER YOUR VEHICLE QUICKLY IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. CLIMBING OVER SEATS IS CERTAINLY NOT A SAFE THING TO DO EITHER.

1) UNDER NORMAL DRIVING WINDSHIELD IN VEHICLE CRACKED..IMPACT QUESTIONABLE...LOOKS STRESS RELATED 2) CAUSED VISIBILITY PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING 3) HONDA HAS NOT OFFERED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM AS OF YET. *JB

1.SMALL PEBBLEW HIT WINDSHIELD 2.WINDSHIELD MOSTLY CHIPS, EXCEPT FOR CHIPS AT EDGE OF WINDSHIELD WHICH CRACKS PROPERGATE QUICKLY. 3.WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. *AK

WHILE ATTENDING A CONFERENCE LAST MAY, MY HONDA ELEMENT WAS PARKED IN A PUBLIC GARAGE. WHEN I RETRIEVED IT THERE WAS A CRACK STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM CENTER EDGE. OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS IT CONTINUED TO CRACK VERTICALLY AND THEN HORIZONALLY ACROSS IN FRONT THE THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAD THE WINDOW REPLACED BY A WINDHSIELD REPAIR SHOP THAT IS USED BY MY HONDA DEALER. MY INSURANCE PAID FOR IT AS THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

MY 2003 ELEMENT DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT IT NEW (I CAN'T REMEMBER THE DATE EXACTLY). *JB

I BOUGHT A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT IN DECEMBER OF 2003. A FEW DAYS AFTER PICKING UP THE BRAND NEW CAR, I DISCOVERED A 4" CRACK ON MY WINDSHIELD. THE CRACKED STARTED FROM A VERY SMALL PINPOINT SPECK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE BLACK AREA. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT THEY SAID IT'S NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY SINCE THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY ROAD DEBRIS, REGARDLESS OF HOW SMALL THAT DEBRIS MAY BE. TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT, I DISCOVERED A 3" CRACK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. AGAIN, THE CRACKED STARTED WITH A PINPOINT ON THE BLACK AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD. I CALLED THE WINDSHIELD EXPERTS IN MY AREA, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THEY'VE BEEN REPLACING AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF WINDSHIELDS ON HONDA ELEMENTS. ARMED WITH THIS INFORMATION, I CONTACTED HONDA CUSTOMER RELATIONS. THE REPRESENTATIVE DENIED ANY ISSUES WITH WINDSHIELDS ON THE ELEMENTS AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON WHETHER THEY HAVE RECEIVED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. THE MOST SHE COULD DO WAS SUBMIT A COMPLAINT ON MY BEHALF (COMPLAINT NUMBER N012004-04-2100773). WINDSHIELDS ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND HONDA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELDS ON THE ELEMENTS. THEY NEED TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION.*AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE THE DAY IT HAPPEN I HAD BEEN IN MY CAR ALL DAY LONG. I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD OR ANYTHING. WHEN I DISCOVERED THE CRACK, I WAS TOTALLY SURPRISE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD PINPOINT THAT CAUSE IT TO CRACK. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED IT YET B/C I AM HOPING HONDA WILL DO A RECALL OF THESE WINDSHIELDS!! *AK

STRESS CRACK APPEARED AFTER NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD. CRACK STARTS BELOW THE DRIVERS SIDE WINSHIELD WIPER AND CURVES TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD, STOPPING ABOUT 15" LATER. SERVICE MANAGER AT HONDA CALLS A HOLE THE SIZE OF A PIN HEAD JUST ABOVE THE WIPER A "POINT OF IMPACT." HOW CAN A ROCK EVER HIT THERE?

A CRACK APPEARED ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, AT THE TOP DRIVER SIDE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

2003 HONDA ELEMENT - WINDSHIELD CRACKS DUE TO APPARENT DESIGN FLAW. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT AN IMPACT IN IT'S LOWER PART. KNOWING THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT RESOLVED, SINCE THIS IS A REALLY NICE VEHICLE OTHERWISE.*AK

MORNING: PARKED VEHICLE OUTSIDE IN LOW TEMPERATURES. SUN CAME OUT DURING DAY AND WHEN I RETURNED TO VEHICLE IN THE AFTERNOON THERE WAS A 5 INCH CRACK THAT STARTED IN LOWER PASSENGER SIDE OF FRONT WINDSHIELD. NO IMPACT TO WINDSHIELD.

WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN TWO SPOT ON DRIVER SIDE DURING HIGH WINDS. HAD A GLASS REPAIR SHOP FIX THE CRACKS, BUT ONE HAS CONTINUED TO SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. DESIGN/ANGLE OF WINDSHIELD IS AT ISSUE AS THE WINDSHIELD HAS 4 "STAR" FRACTURES AS WELL AS THE CRACKS IN THE 16 MONTHS WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. *JB

DRIVING 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE 65 DEGREE CLEAR CONDIDITONS DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED

CRACK IN WINDSHIELD ON 2003 HONDA ELEMENT AFTER OWNING FOR ONLY 1 MONTH. RACK ONLY APPEARED NO OBVIOUS IMPACT FROM ROCK OR OTHER OBJECTS. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED AT 6901 MILES WHEN THERE WERE NO OTHER AUTOMOBILES ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN IT OCCURRED. NOW AT 7101 MILES WE HAVE A 12 INCH CRACK STARTING FROM THE SIDE OF THE WINDSCREEN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. APPEARS TO BE DUE TO THE WINDSHIELD DESIGN AND STRESS ON THE GLASS. *JB

LESS THAN THREE THOUSAND MILES INTO OWNING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER INSISTED THAT THE CRACK CAME FROM A ROCK, AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY COULD NOT CONFIRM THE ALLEGATION. DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD, BUT THE NEW WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK ALSO. *AK

THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. NOTHING HAD HIT THE WINDOW. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO MECHANIC FOR REPLACEMENT.*AK

ON FRIDAY MARCH 12, 2004 I WENT TO LUNCH AND RETURNED TO MY CAR THREE HOURS LATER TO GO HOME FOR THE DAY. UPON ENTERING MY HONDA ELEMENT I NOTICED A CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD THAT WAS NOT THERE THREE HOURS EARLIER WHEN I HAD GONE TO LUNCH. HONDA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN BACK IN MAY 2003 FOR THE 2003 ELEMENT IN CERTIAN VIN #'S (OF WHICH MY ELEMENT FALLS IN) ABOUT STRESS FROM THE FLANGE ON THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING IT TO CRACK. UPON TAKING MY ELEMENT TO STEPHEN VINCEL HONDA IN ELLISVILLE, MO FOR INSPECTION THEY HAVE CLAIMED THAT IT WAS HIT BY A ROCK THAT CAUSED IT TO CRACK. THIS IS THE SECOND WINDSHIELD I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IN AN 8 MONTH TIME FRAME. THE FIRST WAS CAUSED BY A ROCK THROWN FROM A SEMI, THE SECOND WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A ROCK (ACCORDING TO HONDA). I AM DISSAPOINTED AND ANGERED THAT HONDA HAS ADMITTED A PROBLEM AND ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, YET REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I AM ANGRED THAT DUE TO EITHER POOR QUALITY MATERIALS OR POOR DESIGN I AM FORCED TO PRESENT ANOTHER CLAIM TO MY INSURANCE WHEN HONDA SHOULD BE CORRECTING THEIR OWN MISTAKES. *AK

SPONTANEOUS STREES CRACK IN LOWER RIGHT CORNER OF WINDSHEILD. NO CHIPPING OR OTHER DAMAGE FROM ROAD DEBRIS.

PIN-PRICK SIZE ROCK IMPACT RESULTED IN A 12 INCH CRACK IN 24 HOURS. OTHER HONDA MODELS AS WELL AS OTHER MANUFACTURES DO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. COMPARE THE NUMBER OF VISIBLITY COMPLAINTS WITH THE ELEMENT TO OTHER MAKES AND MODELS. *AK *TR

WINDSHIELD CRACKS VERY EASILY. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY (NO SURROUNDING TRAFFIC) WE HEARD A POP AN A CRACK APPEARED JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR, ORIGINATING FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK HAS NOW GROWN TO ABOUT 6".*AK UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I CANNOT LOCATE ANY POINT OF IMPACT. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS SIMPLY A STRESS CRACK.

2003 HONDA ELEMENT EX 4WD - WINDSHEILD CRACKED AT APPROX 6000 MILES. NO SIGN OF IMPACT. CRACK ORIGINATED ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACK NUMBER 2. *LA

CRACKED WINDSHIELD ORIGNIATING FROM BOTTOM OF PASSENGER SIDE. APPROXIMATELY 10 INCHES FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SMALL PIT (SAND SIZE) VISIBLE.*AK

DROVE VEHICLE HOME SATURDAY NIGHT NO PROBLEM. SUNDAY MORNING DISCOVERED 8 INCH CRACK IN WINDSHIELD ORIGINATING UNDER DRIVER SIDE WINDSHILD WIPER AND TRAVELING UPWARDS TO THE LEFT. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS AN IMPACT CRACK NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY, BUT I AM SURE THERE WAS NO IMPACT SATURDAY NIGHT. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET OF OTHERS HAVING THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM.*AK

STARTING BACK IN FEBRUARY 2004, MY WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN CRACKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ON 4/3/04, I HAD MY 5TH WINDSHIELD INSTALLED DUE TO A MICROSCOPIC 'IMPACT' RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE WIPER BLADE. FOUR CRACKS IN THE EXACT SAME LOCATION IS FAR MORE THEN COINCIDENCE. *JB

2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED THREE TIMES WITHIN 12,000 MILES. FIRST CRACK APPEARED ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, STARTING FROM LOWER EDGE APPROXIMATELY CENTERED WITH WIPER BLADE STRAIGHT UP SIX INCHES WITH A SHARP TURN TO THE RIGHT. WENT TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT (METRO HONDA, JOHNSTON RI) REPRESENTATIVE SAID CRACK WAS CAUSED BY STONE OR FOREIGN OBJECT AND WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF IMPACT. REPRESENTATIVE UNDER CLOSE INSPECTION FOUND THE SMALLEST SPEC WITHIN CRACK. IT IS TINY, I'D SAY THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF SALT. ABOUT THREE WEEKS LATER THE SECOND CRACK APPEARED STARTING FROM THE LOWER EDGE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE, DIRECTLY CENTERED WITH THE WIPER BLADE. AFTER CLOSE INSPECTION, I FOUND AN IDENTICAL SALT GRAIN SIZE SPEC WITHIN THE CRACK. THIS WAS NOT CAUSED BY IMPACT! I KNEW THIS WINDSHIELD WAS DEFECTED. THAT'S WHEN I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH MANY IF NOT THOUSANDS OF ELEMENT OWNERS. THE THIRD CRACK APPEARED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER THE SECOND, THIS TIME IT APPEARS A ROCK DID CAUSE THE CRACK. LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE LEFT EDGE CONTINUING STRAIGHT ACROSS TO THE RIGHT. THE IMPACT WAS SLIGHT, LEAVING A ROUND MARK THE SIZE OF A PEA. I READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS, THERE ALL THE SAME. THERE' S HUGE PROBLEM AND SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. DOES HONDA EXPECT ME TO GET A NEW WINDSHIELD WITH EVERY OIL CHANGE? PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IT'S WRONG AND HONDA NEEDS TO NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, BUT TO RECTIFY IT. PEOPLE, DON'T JUST READ ABOUT IT, SUBMIT A COMPLAINT. *JB

DEFECT IN WINDSHIELD ON 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. CRACK APPEARS IN BOTTOM MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD AND THEN MOVES UPWARD AND THE ACROSS TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE.*AK HONDA DEALER SAID IT WAS A ROCK IMPACT, HOWEVER, IT IS NOT PITTED.