2003 Honda Element Complaint Log

13" WINDSHIELD CRACK ON 2003 HONDA ELEMENT EX WITH ONLY 3000 MILES LOGGED. THERE WAS A PIN-HEAD SIZED PIT THAT EXPANDED TO A 13" (AND GROWING) CRACK. *NLM

CRACKED WINDSHIELD: CONSISTENT WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS, ON ONE PARTICULARLY COLD (BY CA STDS. ANYWAY) MORNING, I TURNED ON MY DEFROSTER AND THE WINDSHIELD STARTED CRACKING FROM THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER. THE CRACK HAS TRAVELED ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS IN A PATTERN THAT MIRRORS THAT OF THE DEFROSTER OUTLETS. *JB

WINDSHIELD CRACKED AT LOWER DRIVER SIDE CORNER, NO IMPACT OF ANY KIND CAN BE FOUND. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON STRESS CRACK ON CORNER FOR THE ONE I RECIEVED TODAY SO I WILL TAKE TO DEALER TOMORROW, HOPEFULLY THEY WILL REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. I ALSO HAD ANOTHER STAR TYPE CRACK 2 MONTHS PRIOR WHILE DRIVING BUT WHATEVER THAT HIT THE WINDSHIELD MUST HAVE BEEN A SPEC OF SAND. DEALER SAID AT TIME WOULD NOT REPAIR SINCE IT WAS A "IMPACT" CRACK. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WINDSHIELD AND DESIGN FOR IT TO PIT AND CRACK SO EASILY.*AK

STRESS CRACK IN WINDSHIELD. *AK

CRACKED WINDSHIELD, DRIVING ON A WIDELY DIVIDED INTERSTATE AT LAWFUL SPEED, IN HEAVY RAIN, NO AUTOMOBILES IN SIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, HEARD A "POP" SOUND, AND SAW A SMALL CRACK ABOUT 5 INCHES TO LEFT OF PASSENGER SIDE WIPER AXIS. DOUBTFUL IT WAS ROAD DEBRIS, AS THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. RESULTS OF DEALER CONTACT TO BE RESOLVED PENDING MEETING TOMORROW. THIS AUTOMOBILE HAS APPROXIMATELY 1800 MILES ON IT . HAS BEEN IN POSSESSION APPROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS. (SINCE OCT 10 2003) . *AK

THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK THAT STARTS ON THE BOTTOM PART OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AND GREW UP 6-8 INCHES OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WE BOUGHT IT FROM (BILL GATTON HONDA IN BRISTOL, TN) AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A CHIP IN IT AND IT WAS AN IMPACT DAMAGE AND THEY WOULD NOT CONSIDER IT FOR WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. WE TOLD THE DEALER THAT NOTHING HAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND WE WERE AWARE ON NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN. I WAS REFERRED TO THIS SITE (NHTSA) BY A FELLOW OWNER WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *LA

PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD, CD PLAYER, HORN AND ALARM.*MR THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AFTER A SMALL PIECE OF DEBRIS HIT IT. THE CD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING AFTER IT HAD BEEN PLAYING FOR 5 HOURS. THE RIGHT SIDE BUMPER FELL OFF. *NM

THE WINDSHIELD OF MY HONDA ELEMENT EX, 2003 HAS CRACK AFTER BEEN HIT BY A SMALL OBJECT FOR SECOND TIME. FOR THE FIRST TIME I PAY $50 FOR REPAIR. NOW I AM NOT SURE IT'S WORTH TO REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT IN VIEW OF SO MANY COMPLAINS BY OTHERS ELEMENTS OWNERS. *NLM

CRACKED WINDSHIELD AT 3700 MILES. *LA

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. WAS NOT FOLLOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO DEBRIS WAS SEEN HITTING THE WINDSHIELD BUT AFTER HEARING A LIGHT "CLICK" A STAR SHAPED CRACK APPEARED ON THE WINDSHIELD. IF THE WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BY DEBRIS, IT WAS EXTREMELY SMALL AND SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED A CRACK. *LA

WINDSHIELD POSSIBLY HIT BY A ROCK (ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T SEE ONE) AND LARGE STAR WITH CRACKS FORMING AT BASE OF WINDSHIELD ON DRIVER'S SIDE. I HEARD THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELEMENT BEFORE I PURCHASED, BUT WAS ASSURED THAT THIS WAS FIXED FOR LATER RELEASED MODELS. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR LESS THAN A MONTH AND IT HAS ONLY 600 MILES ON IT. *LA

HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON. *AK

HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT OF ANY TYPE. START TOP OF DRIVER'S SIDE, IS NOW ABOUT 20" LONG . *AK

HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKING. THERE IS A CRACK RUNNING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE GLASS UP 4 INCHES AND THEN RUNNING OUT TO THE EDGE OF PASSENGERS SIDE. THERE APPEARS TO BE A PIT (LIKE A PIECE OF SAND MADE IT) IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CRACK JUST BELOW THE PASSENGER WINDSHIELD WIPER. I AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS MADE BY OTHERS HERE THAT IF THERE IS UNDO STRESS ON THE WINDSHIELD THEN IT STANDS TO REASON THAT ANY IMPACTS, NO MATTER HOW SLIGHT, WILL CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER PITS THE SAME SIZE AT OTHER SPOTS ON THE WINDSHIELD WITH NO CRACKING. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE. *LA

I HAVE A BARELY 2 MONTH OLD 2003 HONDA ELEMENT AND AT ABOUT 2K MILES... HAVE SUFFERED A CRACKED WINDSHIELD FROM A VERY SMALL ROCK/PEBBLE THAT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED A 8 INCH CRACK. HONDA HAS EVEN ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (TSP #03-028) SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO STRESS AREAS WITHIN THE CORNER OF WINDSHIELD WHICH IN TURN WOULD MAKE GLASS VUNERABLE TO ANY OBJECT COMING IN CONTACT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER BLAMES THE CRACK ON THE DEBRIS AND REFUSES TO REPLACE VIA WARRANTY. NUMEROUS OTHER ELEMENT OWNERS THROUGHOUT COUNTRY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE NEW ELEMENT. *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT MATERIAL/ITS STRUCTURE OR BOTH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO HAVE SEVERE BACK PAINS. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE SEAT WAS POORLY STRUCTURED. CONSUMER SPOKE TO 5 OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE AND THEY ALL ARE EXPERIENCED THE SAME BACK PAINS. *AK *LA

CRACKED WINDSHIELD. PURCHASED MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT IN JANUARY 2004. 4TH WINDSHIELD WAS RECENTLY INSTALLED IN OCTOBER 2003. I CONTACTED HONDA IN OCTOBER AND I WAS TURNED AWAY STATING THAT MY WINDSHIELF WAS ANOTHER CASE OF A ROCK HIT.*AK

WHEN ENGINE IS COLD STARTED(NO MATTER WHAT TEMP OUTSIDE), THE ENGINE FAST IDLES AT ABOUT 1500 RPM. WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE THE ENGINE ACCELERATES TO 2500 RPM. HEAVY BRAKING AND LURCHING RESULTS. CAR WILL REACH SPEED OF 20MPH.*AK THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 6 MOS

2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN THE MIDDLE. CRACK APPEARED AFTER A LOUD POP WITH ~4,000 MILES. THE HONDA DEALER EXAMINED THE CRACK AND FOUND A SMALL CHIP FROM THE SURFACE OF THE GLASS. THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT HONDA HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS, INSTRUCTING THEM TO ROLL A BALL POINT PEN ALONG THE CRACK SEARCHING FOR INDENTATIONS. IF ONE IS FOUND, A ROCK STRIKE IS DEEMED TO HAVE CAUSED THE CRACK. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HONDA WILL NOT WARRANTY WINDSHIELDS THAT HAVE EVIDENCE OF A ROCK STRIKE (NO MATTER HOW MINOR). HONDA WILL FIX WINDSHIELDS THAT MEET TSB03-028 WHICH ADDRESSES CRACKS IN THE LOWER CORNERS. 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

HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACK STARTING FROM LOWER DRIVER SIDE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. HONDA HAS A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT RESOLVE IT - I AM A MEMBER OF HONDA SUV WHICH ALSO HAS SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THIS WAS CAUSED BY A 1 MM ROCK CHIP (WHICH THERE IS NO IMPLOSION) - READING THE HONDA TSB IT IS OBVIOUS THAT IF ONE EVEN SUSTAINS A ROCK CHIP THAT THE PRESSURE FROM THE INCORRECT MANUFACTURED WINDOW WILL CAUSE IT TO CRACK NOT GIVING THE OWNER A CHANCE TO FIX A CHIP. *LA

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK THAT STARTED AT THE BOTTOM /MIDDLE AND REACHED UPWARD. DEALERSHIP SAID THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY ROAD DEBRIS. *AK TSB 03-028 WHICH PERTAINS TO FAULTY WINDSHIELD CONSTRUCTION. *SC

LESS THAN A 1000 MILES ON THE CAR - CRACKED WINDSHIELD PASSENGER SIDE BOTTOM CORNER- DID NOT PASS THE "PEN" TEST DONE AT A DEALER. NO COVERAGE SO WE REPLACED WINDSHIELD AT OUR OWN COST- *AK

MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT HAS A SULPHUR SMELL THAT IS BEYOND ANNOYANCE. THE SMELL IS SO INTENSE THAT IT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY. MY DEALER IS UNABLE TO REPAIR AND HONDA SEEMS INDIFFERENT TO THE PROBLEM. WHILE NOT LIFE THREATENING, IT COULD, I BELIEVE BE DETRIMENTAL TO MY HEALTH AS WELL AS THE HEALTH OF MY PASSENGERS.*AK

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD A VERY SERIOUS CRACK CAUSED BY A VERY SMALL STONE. (NAR) *PH *CB

THE WINDSHIELDS ON THE 2003 HONDA ELEMENT'S ARE FAULTY, THEY CRACK WITH LITTE OR NO IMPACT, MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING. A PEBBLE, AND I MEAN "PEBBLE" TAPPED MY WINDSHIELD ON AUGUST 24TH AND INSTANTLY I HAD AN ELEVEN INCH CRACK. I'VE HAD 6 CARS DO DATE IN MY LIFE, AND WITH ALL 6 I'VE HAD ROCKS STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD AT ON TOIME OR ANOTHER LEAVING NOTHING, OR AT MOST A STAR THAT CAN BE FIXED BY A ROCK CHIP REPAIR FACILITY. THE WINDSHIELD APPEARS TO BE UNDER UNDO STRESS AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THESE CRACKS APPEAR TO BE,.. STRESS FRACTURES. HONDA ADDMITS TO HAVING A "TSB" ISSUED FOR THE WINDSHIELDS CLAIMING AN "UNEAVEN FLANGE SURFACE" CAUSING THE CRACKS, HOWEVER HONDA CLAIMS IF IT IS EVEDENT THAT SOMETHING HAS STRUCK YOUR WINDSHIELD LEAVING A "IMPACT POINT" REGARDLESS OF THAT IMPACTS SIZE YOU ARE AT FAULT. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS ANYTHING THAT HITS THIS GLASS CAN CAUSE IT TO BREAK REGARDLESS OF IT'S SIZE BECAUSE OF THIS "UNEAVEN FLANGE SURFACE" ! HONDA HAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLE AND THEY AREN'T OWNING UP TO THIS !

BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 264 MILES ON IT ON AUG. 15TH, 2003. ON AUG. 23RD, A NOISE BEGAN CONSISTANTLY FROM THE REAR PART OF THE VEHICLE EACH & EVERY TIME WHEN MAKING TURNS. *AK

WE HAVE A DEFECT IN THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION WHICH OCCURRED OVER NIGHT. MY HUSBAND WAS THE LAST TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT NOTICE ANY PIT OR STAR AT THE TIME HE PARKED THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE LESS THAN 1,000 MILES ON OUR NEW 2003 HONDA ELEMENT AND PURCHASED IT ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. WE CHECKED THE HONDA ELEMENT OWNER'S WEBSITE AND FOUND OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM A FORMER AUTO AND HOME DAMAGE INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND HAVE SOME EXPERTISE. NEW GLASS SHOULD NOT BE BRITTLE AND SHOULD WITHSTAND MOST HAIL DAMAGE I.E. GREENHOUSE GLASS AND WINDSHIELD GLASS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A NEW WINDSHIELD WITH SUCH PROBLEMS BEFORE. I'VE OWNED AND DRIVEN VEHICLES IN EXCESS OF 150,000 MILES WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS TO THE WINDSHIELD.*AK

WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF GETTING MY BRAND NEW 2003 HONDA ELEMENT, I HAD A CRACK AND STAR CHIP IN THE VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD. WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH, IT ACQUIRED YET ANOTHER CHIP. AS A RESULT OF THE ELEMENT'S WINDSHIELD'S UNPRECEDENTED VULNERABILITY, I QUESTION ITS SAFETY. AT THE VERY LEAST, IT REPRESENTS INFERIOR QUALITY OF MATERIALS AND/OR DESIGN, WHICH IS COSTING DRIVERS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR REPAIR COSTS. SO FAR, AMERICAN HONDA AND THE DEALERSHIP INSIST THAT THERE IS NO INHERENT FLAW IN MATERIALS, DESIGN, OR INSTALLATION, AND WANT TO ATTRIBUTE THE CHIPS AND CRACK TO BAD LUCK. HOWEVER, HONDA OWNERS ARE DOCUMENTING THIS PROBLEM IN DROVES ON WWW.HONDAELEMENT.ORG, AND ON WWW.EPINIONS. COM. HONDA MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS AT THEIR COST, AND RE-SPEC THE ELEMENT'S WINDSHIELD.*AK

WINDSHIELD ON 2003 HONDA ELEMENT CRACKED ON ITS OWN. *AK

CRACKED WINDSHIELD: I BOUGHT 6 DAYS AGO A BRAND NEW 2003 HONDA ELEMENT EX 2WD SUV. IT STILL HS LESS THAN 400 MILES ON IT. TODAY IT DEVELOPED A SPONTANESOUS 5 INCH CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK STARTS AT THE WINDOSHIELD EDGE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND EXTENDS TOWARDS THE CENTER AT ABOUT EYE LEVEL. TTHIS IS A PERSISTENT ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELDS. THERE ARE MANY POSTS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINT TO MINE ESPECIALLY AT THE HTTP://WWW.ELEMENTOWNERSCLUB.COM/FORUMS/INDEX.PHP "EXTERIOR" WEBSITE. A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST HONDA IS BEIMG CONSIDERED.

WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON ITS OWN WHILE PARKED.*AK

MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED AFTER 4000 MILES, THE CRACK STARTED BELOW THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND EXPANDED UPWARD, MOST LIKELY THE RESULT OF A SMALL ROCK IMPACT BUT NEVER HEARD ANY NOISE. TALKED TO HONDA AMERICA AND THE CSR SAID I SHOULD CONTACT LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND SEE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE HONDA OF LISLE (ILLINOIS) DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE ELEMENT FROM, AND SEVERAL SERVICE MANAGERS LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT CAN NOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS A ROCK CHIP. AT LEAST TWO SERVICE MANAGERS CLAIMED THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY WINDSHIELD PROBLEM WITH ELEMENT. PAYING $100 INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND CAN HAUNT THE CONSUMERS BY REPLACING WINDSHIELD ON A VERY FREQUENT BASIS. DOES HONDA AMERICA STANDS BY ITS PRODUCT AND WARRANTY RATHER THAN REPEATED DENIALS? DOES HONDA WANT TO SEE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS BEFORE ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITIES AND TAKING CONCRETE ACTIONS? THIS IS NOT THE HONDA I KNOW. I HAD A 84 HONDA CIVIC DX AND PUT 100+K ON IT WITH NO MAJOR PROBLEM WHATSOEVER. *LA

I'VE HAD MULTIPLE WINDSHIELD CRACKS ON MY HONDA ELEMENT. THESE CRACKS START AROUND THE LEFT CORNER AND BOTTOM PERIMETER. I TOOK THE ELEMENT IN TO TWO DEALERS AND THE CLAIM WERE FROM A ROCK IMPACT. THE POINTS OF IMPACTS ARE BARELY VISIBLE FROM THE NAKED EYE. THAT'S WHY THE SERVICE REP AT THE DEALER WILL RUN A PEN DOWN THE CRACK AND FIND THE TINY POINT OF IMPACT. THESE WINDSHIELDS ARE DEFECTIVE. 3 CRACKS AND TWO STARS IN LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. THIS IS NOT THE NORMAL. THE CRACKS ARE RIGHT IN THE LINE OF SITE AND ARE A SLIGHT SAFETY CONCERN. HONDA NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ON THE HONDA ELEMENTS AND NOT GIVE A PERSON THE RUN AROUND AT THE DEALER CLAIMING A ROCK HIT IT. *LA

WE BOUGHT OUR 2003 HONDA ELEMENT 7/03 NEW AND SINCE THEN WE'VE HAD CRACKS FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD IN 2003. RECENTLY 8/06 WE HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER REPLACEMENT AND HAD TO TAKE IT BACK FOR LEAKS AND THE REPAIR SHOP TRIED TO FIX IN 10/06. WINDSHIELD WAS STILL LEAKING SO THE SAME REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD 11/06 AGAIN AND NOW THERE ARE MORE LEAKAGE. I DON'T SEE HOW HONDA CAN JUSTIFY THIS WITH ANOTHER WINDSHIELD WHEN THE REAL PROBLEM EXISTS IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS VEHICLE FOR THE 2003-2004 MODELS. THE CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT THAT IS GOING ON ONLY STATES THE REPAIR AND REIMBURSEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD(S) NOT THE DEFECT ITSELF. SO WE HAVE A VEHICLE THAT LEAKS, NOT WORTH THE AMOUNT WE STILL OWE ON IT AND CANNOT SEE AN END TO THIS WINDSHIELD PROBLEM WITHOUT FIXING THE ORIGINAL DEFECT PROBLEM. *NM

FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN LOWER DRIVER SIDE CORNER AND CURVED UP AND OVER TOWARDS CENTER OF DRIVERS VIEW. DEALER SAYS ROCK IMPACT CAUSED COLLISION AND WILL NOT HONOR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 03-028 EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IS WITHIN THE TSB CALL OUT. *AK

LARGE CRACK IN LOWER-RIGHT CORNER OF WINDSHIELD 6 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE. NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF SIMILAR CRACKING ISSUES AMONG OWNERS OF SAME VEHICLE (2003 HONDA ELEMENT). *LA

FOUR WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN FRONT WHEELS SLIP OR SPIN. THE LEFT REAR WHEEL TURNED ONE ROTATION ON ONE INCIDENT. THAT IS THE ONLY MOVEMENT I'VE SEEN FROM THE REAR WHEELS. *NLM

LESS THAN 100 MILES A BANGING SOUND BEGAN INTERMITENTLY COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I GOT UNDER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE NUT WHICH HOLDS THE REAR TORSION BAR ON WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE A SELF LOCKING NUT BUT COULD EASILY TURN WITH MY FINGERS. PAINT OVERSPRAY CAN BE FOUND ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW INDICATING AN AFTER FACTORY PAINT JOB ON AT LEAST THIS SECTION OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

THIS IS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT, PURCHASED MAY 22ND, 2003. THE MILEAGE IS NOW 752 MILES.I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS AT 150 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. BOTH WERE BECAUSE OF DAMAGE FROM SMALL STONE CHIPS THAT WOULD NOT NORMALLY DAMAGE THE GLASS ON MOST OTHER VEHICLES. THE 733 MILES I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR WAS ON PAVED URBAN LOCAL ROADS AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35 AND 50 MPH. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT ONE OF, OR BOTH OF, THE FOLLOWING, COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FACTORS: A) THE WINDSHIELD GLASS IS POSSIBLY THINNER AND MOR FRAGILE THAN OTHERS. B) THE AERODYNAMICS OF THIS VEHICLE POSSIBLY CAUSES A HIGHER RATE OF DEBRIS HITS TO THE WINDSHIELD AREA THAN OTHER VEHICLES. WHATEVER THE CAUSE, I WOULD CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE WARRANTING INVESTIGATION. ADDITIONALLY, IF THE TREND WERE TO CONTINUE, REQUIRING WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS, WHO COULD AFFORD THE MAINTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE? *AK

DUE TO DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURER(HONDA) SAFETY RELATED PRODUCT, THIS NEW HONDA ELEMENT HAS HAD TWO WINDSHIELD FAILURES IN JUST 750 MILES ON THE ODOMETER DUE TO CRACKS BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE HONDA WINDSHIELD MATERIALS AND BASIC DEFECTIVE HONDA DESIGN & ENGINEERING OF THE WINDSHIELD MOUNTING AND INSTALLATION. THE WINDSHIELD FAILURES ON MY ELEMENT HAPPENED ON JUNE, 3, 2003, AT 140 ODOMETER MILEAGE, AND JULY 9, 2003 AT 748 ODOMETER READING. HONDA WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. TOTAL COST FOR BOTH ADDED UP TO $1047.00. HONDA IS BEING ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO PRODUCE AND SELL A VEHICLE, FOR WHICH THEY ARE AWARE CONTAINS A BASIC SAFETY RELATED DESIGN AND ENGINEERING FLAW, AND FOR WHICH THEY ARE MAKING CUSTOMERS PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS AND RELATED EXPENSES, IE, RENTAL CARS, BECAUSE THE HONDA WINDSHIELDS ARE IN SUCH DEMAND AND ARE BACKORDERED BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF FAILURES. IF ALL THE HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD FAILURES HAD FILED COMPLAINT FORMS WITH THE NHTSA, THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WOULD BE OVERWHELMING, SURELY IN THE THOUSANDS. THERE ARE MANY POSTS ON WEB SITES, IE, EDMUNDS.COM , ELEMENTOWNERSCLUB.COM, PLUS OTHERS. THE NHTSA HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO STOP HONDA FROM FURTHUR SALES OF THE HONDA ELEMENT TO UNSUSPECTING BUYERS, BECAUSE SUCH A SALE IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAWS GOVERNING SALE OF A PRODUCT WITH A DESIGNED-IN SAFETY DEFECT AND NOT INFORMING THE CUSTOMER OF THE DEFECT. SUCH A SALE ALSO CONSTITUTES FRAUD, FOR MISREPRESENTING A PRODUCT AS SAFE AND WITHOUT DEFECTS, WHEN THE MANUFACTURER AND SELLER ARE COMPLETELY AWARE OF THE DEFECTS. ADDITIONALLY, HONDA MUST BE MADE TO REIMBURSE ELEMENT OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS. HONDA IS PROFITING IN THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT CUSTOMER EXPENSE AND UNAWARENESS OF THE EXISTENSE OF THE WINDSHIELD DEFECTS. HONDA IS PROFITING NOT ONLY ON THE SALES OF THE ELEMENT, BUT ON THE SALES OF WINDSHIELDS, WINDSHIELD MOUNTING PARTS, WINDSHIELD INSTALLATIONS LABOR AND RENTAL CARS. *AK

LEASED THIS VEHICLE MAY 27, 2003. RATTLES, POPPING NOISES AT WINDSHIELD AREA. POPPING NOISE AT DRIVER'S SIDE PILLAR. HAD WINDSHIELD REPLACED, FRAMEWORK WELDED, DASHBOARD REMOVED TWICE, FOAM INSTALLED, AND WINDSHIELD MOLDING REPLACED. PILLAR ADJUSTED. NOISES CONTINUE. VERY FEARFUL WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE KNOWING THAT FRAME HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THE NOISES ARE DISTRACTING. HONDA SERVICE TECH, SERVICE MANAGER,AND FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE HEARD ALL SOUNDS. HONDA WILLING TO ATTEMPT PILLAR REPAIR ONLY. *LA

MY WINDSHIELD HAS A TINY 1MM SPOT WHERE A TINY PEBBLE MUST HAVE HIT IT AND FROM THAT I NOW HAVE A 18" CRACK STRETCHING FROM THE LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER TO THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. I'M CERTAIN THAT THE TINY SPOT WOULD NOT HAVE SPREAD INTO THAT SIZE OF A CRACK IF THERE WASN'T SO MUCH STRESS PLACED ON THE WINDSHIELD BY THE "UNEVEN WINDSHIELD FLANGE SURFACE" THAT HONDA ITSELF ADMITS TO ON THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN 03-028. MY ELEMENT VIN #FALLS INTO THE RANGE ON THE SERVICE BULLETIN BUT HONDA WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT THAT STARTED THE CRACK. I'VE HAD ROCKS HIT OTHER VEHICLES I'VE OWNED AND THEY HAVE NEVER SPREAD INTO A CRACK, MUCH LESS ONE THIS SIZE. IF HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS HAVE TO REPLACE THEIR WINDSHIELD EVERYTIME A PEBBLE HITS IT, OUR INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL END UP RAISING OUR RATES. HONDA NEEDS TO COME TO A RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED, ACCORDING TO A SERVICE RELEASE FROM HONDA CAUSE IS STRESS RELATED, BUT SERVICE REP AT DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS FROM IMPACT...NO CHIP...NO STAR.*AK

VERY SMALL ROCK CHIP CAUSED THE WINDOW TO CRACK ALL THE WAY UP. I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD BUT THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS A ROCK CHIP AND WOULDN'T FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. THE WINDOW CRACKED IMMEDIATELY - DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TIME TO SEE ABOUT GETTING THE CHIP FIXED. IF THE WINDOW CRACKS THIS EASILY I'M AFRAID TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN A CRASH!!! SEE HONDAELEMENT.ORG - LOTS AND LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD. HONDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM!!!! THIS IS THE FIRST HONDA I'VE OWNED. WOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT BUYING ANOTHER ONE.*AK

I HAVE HAD MY ELEMENT LESS THAN 1 YEAR, AT 1000 MI I DEVELOPED A STRESS CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT DEALER SAID WAS FROM A "ROCK", BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT IT - THEY DID AFTER PROTEST REPLACE IT "ONE" TIME. AT 10000 MI I NOW HAVE ANOTHER CRACK IN ALMOST THE SAME PLACE THAT SEEMED TO COME ON WITH OUT ANY IMPACT - WE ARE IN THE NEGOTIATING STAGES. *AK

A SIX-INCH CRACK SEEMED TO SPONTANEOUISLY APPEAR ONE MORNING IN THE WINDSHIELD OF OUR 2003 ELEMENT DX. WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND SPECIFIED THAT WE DIDN'T WANT IT FIXED UNLESS IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, WE SOON RECEIVED A CALL INFORMING US THAT THERE WAS A PEBBLE THAT HIT THE WINDSHIELD UNDER THE HOOD, AND SINCE THERE WAS AN IMPACT, IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER OUR WARRANTY. THE POINT OF IMPACT IS SO MINISCULE IT IS RIDICULOUS. WE STILL HAVEN'T HAD IT FIXED, IT'S NOT GROWING VERY MUCH, AND WE WON'T FIX IT UNTIL HONDA OWNS UP TO THE DEFECT AND REPLACES THE WINDSHIELD AT THEIR EXPENSE. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD HAS CHIPPED AND CRACKED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE 9 MONTHS WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. IT WAS BRAND NEW AND THERE IS A DEFECTIVE PART THAT THE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD CRACKED. WAS NOT FOLLOWING ANY TRAFFIC AT THE TIME. CRACK ORIGINATED FROM UNDER DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND RUNS VERTICALLY EIGHT INCHES AND THEN TURNS HORIZONTAL FOR ANOTHER EIGHT TO TEN INCHES. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKS EXTREMELY EASILY. I'VE REPLACED MINE TWICE IN THREE MONTHS, AND THE LATEST ONE HAS THREE CRACKS ON IT ALREADY.*AK

DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD IS NOW CRACKING. THE DEALER, CLASSIC HONDA, REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, STATING THAT THE MANUFACTURER, HONDA, DOES NOT WARRANTY GLASS. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, AMERICAN HONDA, CASE # N01200-06-0401190. THE VEHICLE IS A NEW 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE ODOMETER READING IS 147 MILES.*AK