2003 Honda Element Body & Structure Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Element. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact discovered that the rear trailing arm was severely corroded. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rear trailing arm had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Element. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, the independent mechanic informed him that the trailing arm mount was corroded, and that the subframe needed to be replaced. The mechanic advised the contact that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Element. The contact stated that while the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the trailing arm fractured. In addition, the rear of the vehicle dropped to the ground and the driver's rear side of the vehicle was dragging on the ground. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

THE DOOR LOCK CYLINDERS FOR THE DRIVER/PASSENGER/TAILGATE WILL NOT ACCEPT A KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE LOCKS ARE IMMOVABLE FROM THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE, REQUIRING A LOCKSMITH TO OPEN THE DOORS OR COMPLETE REMOVAL OF THE DOORS TO SAFELY ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE KEY, WHEN INSERTED INTO THE LOCK IN ATTEMPT TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, OFTEN WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE SEIZED LOCK CYLINDER RESULTING IN THE KEY FIRMLY LODGED IN THE LOCK OF THE DOOR, RENDERING IT IMPOSSIBLE THEN TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE ABOVE MENTIONED CYLINDER LOCKS ARE SAFETY HAZARDS FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: CHILDREN AND ADULTS ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE MAY BE PRONE TO INJURY FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC DUE TO DOOR CYLINDER LOCKS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY AND CAUSING THE DOOR TO JAM REQUIRING FORCEFUL PRESSURE TO BE APPLIED FROM THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE DOOR TO OPEN. INFANTS AND ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS INCAPABLE OF THE MOTOR SKILLS NECESSARY TO OPEN DOORS AND LOCKS MAY BE LOCKED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH UNCONTROLLABLE IN CABIN TEMPERATURES RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE HEAT/COLD FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH. QUICK AND SAFE ENTRY AND EXIT TO AND FROM THE VEHICLE IS IMPOSSIBLE, RESULTING IN AN INCREASE OF THE PROBABLE INSTANCES OF THEFT OR DAMAGE TO PERSONS/PROPERTY ATTEMPTING TO ENTER/EXIT THE VEHICLE IN LESS THAN PERFECTLY SAFE CONDITIONS. THE FEE INVOLVED WITH SERVICING THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS DOOR LOCK CYLINDER IS EXORBITANT. A QUOTE FROM THE DEALERSHIP PUT ME AT $200.00 JUST FOR THEM TO OPEN THE DOOR PANEL AND LOOK AT IT. TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER AND RE-KEY IT WOULD COST UPWARDS OF $400.00 MORE. $600.00 TO REPLACE A CYLINDER LOCK ON A CAR DOOR. THERE ARE MANY OTHER 2003 HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AS WELL, OFTEN PAYING THE MONEY TO HAVE THE CYLINDERS REPLACED, ONLY TO HAVE THEM FAIL AGAIN A YEAR LATER.

BOTH DOOR LOCKS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER) ARE JAMMED. AT TIMES THE KEY GOES IN AND OTHERS IT DOESN'T BUT DO NOT TURN. I HAVE TWO KEYS AND NEITHER OF THEM OPEN EITHER DOOR. I HAVE TO ENTER THROUGH THE BACK DOOR, CLIMB OVER THE BACK SEATS TO GET TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH MANY HONDA ELEMENTS MADE IN 2003. I HAVE READ MANY REVIEWS AND SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. I HAVE BACK PROBLEMS AND CANNOT BE CLIMBING IN THROUGH THE BACK OF MY CAR TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO ENTER MY CAR. I THINK HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THESE LOCKS. *TR

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

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

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 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.

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

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

I HAVE A HONDA ELEMENT WITH WINDSHIELD THAT CONSISTENTLY CRACKS. I HAVE THE 5TH CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON MY CAR AND IVE HAD THIS CAR JUST 2 YEARS NOW. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I HAVE HAD MANY OTHER CARS THAT COULD SUSTAIN ROAD CONDITIONS AND HAVE NEVER RAPLACED A WINDSHIELD THIS OFTEN. THIS WINDSHIELD CRACKS UPON AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT OF A ROCK, AND ALWAYS COMES OUT OF ONE OF THE LOWER CORNERS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS DEFECT IN THE FRAMING OF THE WINDSHIELD AND HONDA AS WELL AS THE DEALERSHIPS WONT DO ANYTHING FOR ME UNLESS I PAY. I HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELDS 4 TIMES THROUGH INSURANCE BECAUSE HONDA WILL NOT ACCEPT INSURANCE CLAIMS. DUE TO THAT FACT I HAVE TO USE THE COMPANY THAT MY INSURANCE CO. SENDS TO ME. I ASSUME GEICO INS. CO. DOES NOT USE GLASS COMPANYS THAT USE FAULTY GLASS, AS I WAS TOLD BY THE HONDA DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE THAT HONDA SHOULD ASSESS THE FRAMING OF THE WINDSHIELD FREE OF CHARGE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN WINDSHIELD RECALS FRO 2003 ELEMENTS AND HONDA STATES THAT MY 2003 VEHICLE IS NOT ONE OF THEM. I FIND IT TOO COINCIDENTAL THAT I AM HAVING SUCH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE INCIDENT DATE LISTED BELOW JUST INDICATTES THE DATE OF THE MOST RECENT CRACK AFTER JUST BEING REPLACED TO PASS NYS INSPECTION ON 2-23-05.*AK

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

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

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