2003 Honda Element Complaint Log

CRACKED WINDSHIELD LOWER PASSENGER SIDE. *AK

THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IT TWICE SINCE JANUARY AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO CRACKS. I CHECKED AROUND AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT THE WINDSHIELD IN THE ELEMENT IS VERY SUSCEPTABLE TO CRACKS DUE TO THE FLANGE CREATING TOO MUCH STRESS WHICH RENDERS THE GLASS VERY PRONE TO CRACKING BY ROAD DEBRIS. I GOT HIT BY A TINY PEBBLE WHICH SHOULD NEVER HAVE CRACKED THE GLASS. AND IN MY 18 YEARS OF DRIVING VARIOUS VEHICLES, I HAVE NEVER, EVER HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM, SO I KNOW IT IS NOT JUST "BAD LUCK" AS THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME.

WE PURCHASED A HONDA ELEMENT AND WITHIN 6 HOURS I FOOLISHLY REAR-ENDED A VECHICLE FROM A COMPLETE STOP AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. IT WAS A VERY LOW SPEED (3-5 MPH MAXIMUM) COLLISION HOWEVER THE SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE WAS ASTOUNDING, MY ELEMENT BASICALLY DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANY FRONT BUMPER SUPPORT, RATHER APPEARS TO HAVE TWO BEAMS PROTRUDING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR, THAT LOOK LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING HORIZONTAL BETWEEN THEM BUT THEY DO NOT. ONE OF THE BEAMS IMPALED THE CAR AHEAD OF ME STABBING THRU ITS BUMPER INTO THE VEHICLE SLIGHTLY BENDING THE METAL BELOW THE BUMPER. MY ELEMENT ENDED UP WITH $1786.00 IN DAMAGE. THE PLASTIC BUMPER COVER (THAT HAS NO BUMPER SUPPORT BENEATH IT) SHATTERED AND THE SINGLE POINT IMPACT ALLOWED MY CAR TO SOMEHOW DESTROY THE CONDENSER, RADIATER, AND FRAME THAT SUPPORTS THE CONDENSER. I HAVE INVOLVED HONDA OF MY CONCERNS AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THE ELEMENT IS DESIGNED TO NOT HAVE A HORIZONTAL BUMPER SUPPORT IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR. MY QUESTION REMAINS HOW IS THE VEHICLE ENGINEERED TO BE SAFE IF THERE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ANYTHING THERE TO DISTRIBUTE THE FORCE IN THE CASE OF A HIGHER-THAN-3-5MPH COLLISION? I NOTICED THAT YOU HAVE RELEASED STELLER FRONT COLLISION RATINGS ON THIS VEHICLE, IT WOULD HELP ME TREMENDOSLY IF YOU COULD CONFIRM THAT THIS PARTICULAR DESIGN MAKES SENSE. I AM CURRENTLY TOO NERVOUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND HAVE LEFT IT (REPAIRED BACK TO IT'S ORIGINAL NO BUMPER SUPPORT FORM) AT THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE RESPOND SO WE CAN PUT THIS BEHIND US AND MOVE ON. WE DO HAVE PHOTOS ON DISC IF THAT WOULD HELP MY WORDS MAKE SENSE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIANE MUNIZZA GOODNIGHT. *JB

HONDA ELEMENT, MODEL 2003, PURCHASED APRIL 2003, HAS SEVERE WINDSHIELD ISSUES. IT CREEKS, POPS AND TAPS. MANY HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS REPORT CRACKED WINDSHIELDS DUE TO A DESIGN PROBLEM. I CANNOT GO ON ANY LONG TRIPS FOR FEAR OUR FAMILY WILL BE STRANDED. I HAVE CALLED HONDA'S DEALERS AND THEY PLAY AS IF THEY DON'T KNOW. I'VE CALLED HONDA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE AND, AT FIRST, THEY SAID THEY HADN'T EVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM, THEN AFTER DIGGING IN MY HEALS WITH THEM, THEY FOUND A HONDA TSB ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY WANT ME TO BRING MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT ADMIT THE DEALER MAY JUST TAKE IT APART AND CHARGE ME FOR IT. I WROTE HONDA CORPORATE A MONTH AGO AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED EVEN A FORM LETTER REPLY.*AK

I WANT TO REPORT A SUDDEN CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD OF MY HONDA ELEMENT. IT IS IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER. *LA

TRAVELING WEST ON RESIDENTIAL ROAD AT APROX. 15 MPH. WAS STRUCK IN REAR PASSENGER PANEL BY A 4 DOOR SEDAN WHO WAS STOPPED ON ROAD TO THE NORTH WAITING TO TURN EAST. MY HONDA ELEMENT SKID UNTIL FACING NORTH AND PROCEDED TO ROLL AND SLIDE ON DRIVERS SIDE, BECAME AIRBORN LANDED ON PASSENGER FRONT ROOF CORNER, THEN ONTO PASSENGER SIDE AND COMMING TO A REST IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. I WAS DRIVING. TWO YEAR OLD SON IN CAR SEAT BEHIND ME. SEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN REAR PASSANGER SEAT. ALL BUCKLED SAFELY. INJURIES CONSIST OF SOFT TISSUE/CONNECTIVE TISSUE DAMAGE THUS FAR. CHILDREN EXPERIENCED NAUSSEA AND VOMMITING FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER. THE ELEMENT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHER ELEMENT DRIVERS. *AK

CRACKED WINDSHIELD BY SMALL PEBBLES. WINDSHIELD HAS TO MUCH STRESS.

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITH 900 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. LOCATION OF CRACK: LEFT SIDE, MID-HEIGHT. SMALL PEBBLE STRUCK WINDSHEID WITH NO CHIP OR INDENTATION NOTED.*AK

WINDSHILED CRACK. ORIGION OF CRACK IS BOTTOM OF PASSENGER SIDE OF WINDSHILED. WINDSHIELD HAD BEEN REPLACED 2 MONTHS PRIOR DUE TO IDENTICAL CRACK IN IDENTICAL LOCATION.*AK

2003 HONDA ELEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED THREE TIMES WITHIN 12,000 MILES. FIRST CRACK APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, STARTING FROM THE LOWER EDGE APPROXIMATELY CENTERED WITH THE WIPER BLADE STRAIGHT UP SIX INCHES WITH A SHARP TURN OUTWARDS 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 THE WARRANTY. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF IMPACT. REPRESENTATIVE, UNDER VERY CLOSE INSPECTION FOUND THE SMALLEST SPECK WITHIN CRACK. IT IS TINY, I'D SAY THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF SALT. ABOUT THREE WEEKS LATER THE SECOND CRACK APPEARED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FROM THE LOWER EDGE CENTERED WITHIN 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 AND RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF ELEMENT OWNERS DESCRIBING THE SAME PROBLEM. 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 EYE LEVEL CONTINUING ACROSS ABOUT 18 INCHES. THE IMPACT WAS SLIGHT, LEAVING A ROUND MARK THE SIZE OF A PEA. I READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS, THERE ALL THE SAME. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. DOES HONDA EXPECT ME TO REPLACE MY 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 RECTIFY IT. EVERYONE WHO IS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT, NOT JUST READ ABOUT IT. *NM

DT: THE WINDSHIELD HAS 3 CRACKS, ONE WAS ON HE FIRST DAY OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. GOT IT ON SUNDAY AND HUGE CRACK WAS DOWN THE MIDDLE. THERE WAS CRACK ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE THAT STARTED ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO. HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER. THERE IS ANOTHER CRACK EYE LEVEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS STARTED ON DECEMBER 22, 2005. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE VEHICLE PARKED. DEALER SAID WINDSHIELD CRACK WAS "PROBABLY" FROM ROAD HAZARD. INITIALLY, SAID IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT COULD FIND NO MARK FROM DEBRIS IMPACT AND AGREED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. *LA

ADSFKJLAEWIR;ALKGJFA;LSDJFASFDIAJ;LWEFJDS;FLSADFDSAFDSF. NOT READABLE. *AK

2003 HONDA ELEMENT WITH BRAKES PROBLEMS. CONSUMER REQUESTS ISSUE TO BE FIXED , COST OF REPAIR AND COST OF REPLACEMENT. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO ABNORMAL BRAKE WEAR.

CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO UNLOCK AND OPEN THE BACK DOORS, UNLESS THE FRONT DOORS ARE UNLOCKED AND OPENED WHICH COULD CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE IF VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HAS ABOUT A HALF AN INCH OPENING BETWEEN THE RUBBER AND THE DOOR. THIS LETS AIR AND DEBRIS IN.*AK

COMPLAINT REGARDING HONDA AMERICAN MOTORS AND THE PURCHASE OF A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT.*MR CONSUMER STATED EXPERIENCE AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS LESS THAN GOOD. HIS VEHICLE WAS SPRAYED WITH "ARMOR OIL TYPE GREASE" ALL OVER THE DOOR PANEL WITH SPRAY SPRINKLES. ALL OVER THE FRONT AND BACK SEATS AND CONSOLE. THEY SPRAYED STUFF ALL OVER THE PLACE TO THE POINT WHERE HIS HAND SLIPPED OFF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SEATS WERE DESTROYED. DEALERSHIP PROMISED THE PERMA PLATE, LOW JACK AND KEYLESS ENTRY. CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE WOULDN'T RECEIVE HIS KEYLESS ENTRY DESPITE IT BEING PART OF THE DEAL. CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP JACKED UP HIS VEHICLE. *PH

WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE UNDERNEATH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER. *AK

VEHICLE'S RADIATOR IS EXPOSED IN THE FRONT END OF THE CAR.*MR THE VEHICLE'S RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO ROAD DEBRIS FLYING INTO IT AND PENETRATING IT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE IS FLAWED IN SOME WAY AND THAT THE RADIATOR AND A/C CONDENSER NEED SOME PROTECTION. *NM

THE STEEL WHEELS CAN'T BE BALANCED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE BOUNCES ALL OVER THE ROAD. *AK

VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD, AND CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES VERY HARD IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A WINDSHIELD PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAD AN AIR BUBBLE IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. WHEN ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD, SUCH AS A SMALL STONE, IT CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A WINDSHIELD PROBLEM. THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO IMPACT MARK ON THE WINDSHIELD. HOWEVER, DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS AN IMPACT MARK, AND REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. *AK