2005 Honda Element Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS COLLAPSED INTO THE DOOR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

WHILE WAITING FOR OVER 9 MONTHS FOR THE PARTS FOR MY AIRBAG TO BE FIXED, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD BY HONDA THIS WOULD BE FIXED WHEN THE AIRBAG WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE LIGHT SENSOR WAS A SEPARATE ISSUE AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I DO NOT HAVE $800 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THE AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK AS LONG AS THE LIGHT IS ON. WHAT WAS THE POINT IN FIXING MY AIRBAG IF IT DOES NOT WORK ANYWAYS. IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE?

THE CAR WILL STALL WHEN IN MOTION AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A TURN. THE CAR WILL STALL AT A STOP SIGN , THE CAR WILL STALL AND BRAKE, FUEL AND BRAKE LIGHTS WIL COME ON BUT BATTERY IS FINE AND LIGHTS STAY ON. THIS IS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM HONDA WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE 2005 STALLING AUTO TRANSIMISSION THEY HAVE REPLACED THE AIC , THE THROTTLE , THE CRUISE CONTROL , O2 SENSOR. THE PROBLEM IS GOING OVER A YEAR SINCE 2014 NOW WORSE.

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS WILL COME ON FOR NO REASON SAYING PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF AND IT IS NOT OFF. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. THIS HAPPENS AT VARIOUS TIMES, CRANKING VEHICLE, DRIVING VEHICLE, THERE IS REALLY NO SPECIFIC SITUATION . IT'S SPORADIC. HEADLIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DIM. SOMETIMES I CAN'T EVEN TELL IF THEY ARE ON. THE CARGO LIGHTS, FRONT MIDDLE AND BACK WORK SOMETIMES AND MOST TIMES THEY DON'T. ALSO BRAKE LIGHTS SEEM TO HAVE A MIND OF THERE OWN AND WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO BUT DEFINITELY NOT WHEN I WANT THEM TO. IN FACT I AM PRETTY SURE THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE SOMEWHERE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000.

I DO NOT HAVE THIS VEHICLE ANY LONGER. IT WAS TOTALLED IN 2015 AND SOLD TO A SALVAGE COMPANY IN JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN. I HAVE TRIED MANY, MANY TIMES TO REPORT THIS TO VARIOUS ENTITIES IN VARIETY OF WAYS, BUT I KEEP GETTING NOTICES. IT HAS BEEN 4 YEARS, AND I KEEP GETTING THESE LETTERS/NOTICES. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT I CAN DO ABOUT IT. STOP THE MAILINGS, I NO LONGER OWN THE VEHICLE.

DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK HAS BROKEN AT AROUND 83,000 MILES. I WAS HAVING TO UNLOCK AND GO THROUGH PASSENGER'S DOOR. NOW AT 150,000 MILES THE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK HAS BROKEN. DOOR LOCKS SHOULD NEVER BREAK AND NOW I FACE EITHER CLIMBING THROUGH THE BACK OF THE CAR OR LEAVING IT UNLOCKED, WHICH IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V351000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FELT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

WHILE I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT I CUT THE TURN TOO SHORT AND WENT OVER THE CURB. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. NO DAMAGE. I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING. JUST WENT OVER THE CURB AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I THINK THIS IS A DEFECT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. I DON'T FEEL THE AIRBAG SHOULD DEPLOY JUST FOR GOING OVER A CURB. MY ARM WAS INJURED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I SENT IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND THEY SAID I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. OF COURSE I KNEW THEY WOULDN'T SAY IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS FOR NO GOOD REASON.

AIR BAGS: RECALL 2005 HONDA ELEMENT, ANNOUNCED: JUNE 20 2014 HONDA: A MESSAGE TO OUR CUSTOMERS ABOUT TAKATA AIRBAGS 10/28/2014 REVISED 02/11/2015 ON TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015, NHTSA CONVENED A ONE-DAY WORKSHOP. APPEARING ON BEHALF OF HONDA WAS [XXX] SMITH, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, PARTS, SERVICE AND TECHNICAL DIVISION. FOLLOWING IS SMITH'??S STATEMENT. GETTING TO 100% RECALL COMPLETION RATES: INCENTIVES AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS "DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE CAMPAIGNS TO REPLACE TAKATA INFLATORS, WE ALSO WORKED TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF REPLACEMENT PARTS, AND SUCCEEDED IN SECURING THREE ADDITIONAL SUPPLIERS -- TRW, [XXX] AND AUTOLIV -- THAT ARE NOW SUPPLYING US WITH INFLATORS. THIS WILL HELP ACCELERATE THE PACE OF REPAIRS IN THE COMING MONTHS." I RECEIVED MY RECALL NOTICE IN APRIL 2015. THE DEALERSHIP SET AN APPOINTMENT 3 WEEKS LATER, MAY 4, 2015. I RECEIVED THREE EMAILS, AND ONE VOICEMAIL, TO REMIND ME OF THE APPOINTMENT. 43 MINUTES AFTER I BROUGHT THE CAR, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE NEW AIRBAG. I GOT THEM TO PROVIDE ME WITH A RENTAL CAR. THEY OFFERED NO TIME-FRAME FOR WHEN THE PART WILL ARRIVE OR WHEN I WILL GET MY ELEMENT BACK. [XXX], HOW CAN YOU GET TO 100% RECALL COMPLETION RATES IF YOU CANNOT PROVIDE THE REPLACEMENT PART? TO QUOTE YOU FROM THE ABOVE STATEMENT, "COMPLETION RATES OF ABOUT 33 PERCENT IN THE 9TH AND 10TH YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. TO AMPLIFY THIS POINT, LET ME EXPLAIN THAT WE HAVE ENLISTED A SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE FIRM AS PART OF OUR EFFORT TO CONTACT HARD-TO-REACH OWNERS OF OLDER MODEL VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE TAKATA AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL. ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, THE INVESTIGATORS SUCCEEDED IN LOCATING THE OWNER, BUT DESPITE BEST EFFORTS TO PERSUADE THEM, THE CUSTOMER REFUSED TO BRING IN THEIR CAR FOR REPAIR." I BROUGHT YOU MY CAR SEVEN MONTHS AFTER THE START OF RECALL. NOW WHAT? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, IT INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO LOCK THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. UPDATED 7/14/15*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V351000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

WE BROUGHT OUR 2005 ELEMENT INTO THE DEALER ON NOV 3D IN UKIAH CAL FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAGS PER THE RECALL OF OCTOBER 28TH, 2014. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVER TAKATA AIRBAG BUT TOLD US THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS NOT MADE BY TAKATA AND THEREFORE THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT UNDER THE RECALL, BUT WOULD CHARGE US. I ENTERED THE VIN IN THE HONDA RECALL WEB SITE. IT DID GAVE NO INFORMATION ON LINE ABOUT THE RECALL BUT TOLD ME TO CALL THEM AT 800 999 1009. WAS A RECALL ISSUED ON THE 28TH OF OCT THAT ALSO APPLIES TO THE PASSENGER SIDE? *TR

CAR KEEPS STALLING. IN 2011 CAR NOTED TO BE RECALLED NEVER REVIVED NOTICE CAR DOING EXACTLY WHAT RECALLS SAYS PARTS REPLACED SO FAR BY DEALER O2 SENSOR PCV VALVE AND BEARING I HAD TO PAY FOR . *TR

THE BOLTS TO THE EXHAUST FLANGES AND FLANGES BEFORE AND AFTER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ARE TOTALLY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ACCORDING TO THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THE BOLTS BREAK THIS MAY CAUSE THE REAR OF THE CAR TO BECOME AIRBORNE . FURTHERMORE THE RUSTING OF THE BOLTS AND FLANGES SHOULD HAVE BEEN PICKED UP BY THE HONDA TECHS LONG BEFORE THE BOLTS AND FLANGES GOT TO THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V351000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT WOULD EXCESSIVELY MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,238.

FRONT PASSAGER SIDE (RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT) AIR BAG DEPLOYED ITSELF WHILE DRIVING AROUND 15-20 MPH ON CITY STREET

I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY STREET, QUITE SLOW (ABOUT 20-25 MPH) AND SMOKE STARTED TO BILLOW OUT OF MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE SWITCHES WHICH CONTROL MY WINDOWS. THE SMOKE GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME (30 SECONDS - 1 MINUTE). I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN MY WINDOWS TO LET THE BLACK SMOKE OUT. I OPENED MY CAR DOOR WHILE I DROVE INTO THE FIRST PARKING LOT I SAW. AS SOON AS I PARKED, I COULD SEE FLAMES UNDER THE WINDOW SWITCHES, WHICH MELTED THE PLASTIC AND CAUSED THE FLAMES TO GET LARGER. I WAS ABLE TO SMOLDER THE FIRE WITH A JACKET WHILE WAITING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A FIRE CLAIM WAS FILED. MY CAR WAS TOWED, SINCE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE IT. I AM NOW AWAITING WORD FROM THE MECHANIC IT WAS TOWED TO. I WORK FOR A HOME HEALTH CARE AGENCY, AND HAVE TO TRANSPORT SMALL OXYGEN TANKS ON OCCASION. I HAD ONE IN MY CAR AT THE TIME AND THIS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH PARKING LOT APPROACHING EXIT, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON. LOUD BANG, RINGING EARS, AND CRYING KIDS. NO BUMPS, POTHOLES, CURBS OR ACCIDENT. SO FAR EVERYONE FROM HONDA, THE DEALER AND INSURANCE ARE ALL POINTING THE FINGER AT EACH OTHER. AS SEEN ON THIS AND OTHER SITES THIS SEEMS COMMON HOWEVER EVERYONE ACTS LIKE IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE HEARD OF SUCH A THING. *TR

THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF A TWO MONTH TIME FRAME. ON COLD MORNINGS, WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR, THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF, LEAVING ME WITHOUT BRAKES, STEERING, OR ACCELERATION. THIS WOULD REQUIRE ME TO TAKE OUT THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE. NO ERROR CODES ARE BEING GENERATED AND THE AIR/HEAT AS WELL AS RADIO CONTINUES TO WORK. THIS HAS BECOME QUITE A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE THE OTHER VEHICLES ARE UNAWARE I CANNOT MOVE THE CAR AND THE RANDOMNESS OF WHEN THIS OCCURS. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO IT, ALTHOUGH IT WILL ONLY HAPPEN WITHIN THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR AND IT WILL HAPPEN WHEN IN ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION. MY DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO RECREATE THIS ISSUE EVEN AFTER KEEPING IT A COUPLE DAYS. I HOPE THIS ISSUE CAN BE FIGURED OUT, FIXED, AND RECALLED SO THAT I CAN FEEL SAFE AGAIN WHEN DRIVING MY CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BRACKETS BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH. THE FAILURE WAS PROGRESSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE BUSHINGS AND THE BRACKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

I PURCHASE FOUR YOKOHAMA ASCEND TIRES AT TOWN FAIR TIRE IN SALEM, NH ON 07-10-12 . ON 5/09/13 MY TIRE BLEW I WAS PULLING INTO A GAS STATION AND MY TIRE BRUSHED THE CURB AND IT ACTUALLY SPLIT. I HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAVE MY CAR TOWED AND PUT A DONUT ON IT. I WENT BACK TO TOWN FAIR TIRE THE NEXT DAY AND BOUGHT ANOTHER TIRE BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE A WARRANTY. (REASON BEING- THEY WERE 30 DAY RETURNS - SO NO WARRANTY. SO I HAD TO BUY ANOTHER TIRE. TODAY 5/28/13 IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THE TIRE BLEW AND RIPPED OPEN. I ONCE AGAIN CALLED TOWN FAIR TIRE AND THEY SAID BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE TIRE NEW THEY WOULD REPLACE IT FOR FREE. I DON'T TRUST THESE TIRES AND I WOULD LIKE THEM ALL REPLACED. *TR

THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON. I'VE DETERMINED THE CAUSE FOR THE LIGHT IS A DEFECTIVE CLOCK-SPRING. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY HONDA. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, RESET AND CHECKED CODES. IT IS TELLING ME THAT THE DRIVERS AIRBAG IS FAULTY. THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

MY SON ROLLED OUR 2005 HONDA ELEMENT IN A RELATIVELY LOW SPEED CRASH, ABOUT 30 MPH. ALTHOUGH THE ROOF WAS SMASHED IN AND WINDSHIELD BROKEN, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. LUCKILY HE WAS WEARING A SEATBELT AND ESCAPED HARM, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IN A WRECK IN WHICH THE CAR ENDED UP RESTING ON ITS ROOF, THAT THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT 40 MPH ON PAVED CITY STREETS, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SUDDENLY FELL INTO THE DOOR CAVITY AND WAS LEFT INOPERABLE. HAD TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN COLD WEATHER WITHOUT A SIDE WINDOW. TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIR OF WINDOW REGULATOR. DEALER HAD VEHICLE FOR 24 HOURS. REPAIR WAS IT APPEARS THIS PREMATURE FAILURE COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME, LEAVING THE CAR VULNERABLE TO WEATHER AND BREAK INS. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR OF THIS AGE. REPAIR WAS $244.32. *TR

DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE SWITCH FOR SRS AIR BAG SYSTEM SHUTS OFF SRS SYSTEM - RED WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER RESETTING, SYSTEM MAY WORK OKAY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. REPAIR SHOP SAYS COMMON PROBLEM SEEN MAY TIMES . COST TO FIX $350+. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AROUND 12:15 IN AM, A VEHICLE FROM RIGHT CAME OUT OF STREET AND I COULD NOT AVOID HITTING THE CAR. MY HONDA HIT THE CAR, DESCRIBED AS A T BONE HIT. I HAD NO PASSENGERS,AND WAS WEARING SEAT BELT. MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG ACTIVATED, MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT ACTIVATE. MY HONDA CAR HAD SEVERE DAMAGE ON THE LEFT DRIVER SIDE, LESS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. MY HEAD LIGHT WAS GONE FROM THE LEFT SIDE AND RIGHT SIDE WAS INTACT. MY CAR WAS TOTALED AS A LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE SENSOR LOCATED ON MY DRIVER SIDE DID NOT REACT TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG. THE FRAME BAR WAS BENT AND DAMAGE RIGHT NEXT TO THE SENSOR. I RECEIVED NECK BRUISES, SWELLING AND NECK PAIN. MY KNEE WAS CUT AND SWOLLEN. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT BREAKS IN THE PLASTIC ON BOTH SIDES OF THE INTERIOR STEERING COLUMN, PROVING THE INTENSE OF THE FORCE OF THE HIT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. MY QUESTIONS WERE NOT ANSWERED BY HONDA AS TO WHY MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT EMPLOY. I SPOKE TO HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE, WITH NO SATISFACTORY RESULTS. THANK YOU, WITH MUCH APPRECIATION. *TR

MY HONDA 2005 ELEMENT'S SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. I WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT AND PARTIALLY DROVE OVER A CURB WITH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. AS THE TIRE ROLLED OFF THE CURB THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND AND WAS COMPLETELY FREAKED OUT. I LOOKED TO MY LEFT SIDE AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG HAD EXPLODED OUT. IT WASN'T EVEN INFLATED. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT INJURED. *TR

2005 HONDA ELEMENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY A $100 DIAGNOSTIC TEST FEE. IN ADDITION TO THAT CHARGE, SHE WAS INFORMED THERE COULD BE AN ADDITIONAL FEE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AFTER DIAGNOSING IT.

2005 HONDA ELEMENT (2 WD) HAS NO HEAT AT ALL WHILE A/C SYSTEM IS WORKING FINE.. COME TO FIND OUT, HONDA RELEASED AN ORIGINAL TSB OF 07-076, AND SINCE THEN REPLACED IT WITH TSB 08-097 WHICH WAS "FAILED HEATER CORE". IT SEEMS THE MANUFACTURER USED WRONG COOLANT AND SO IT CLOGGS UP HEATER CORE. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN LOCAL DEALER FOR 5 DAYS AND THEY TRIED TO BLAME ON EVERYTHING OUTSIDE OF THE HEATER CORE AND ALSO CHANGED EVERYTHING EXCEPT HEATER CORE, AND STILL NO HEAT. FINALLY, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE HEATER CORE IS PLUGGED UP AND IT HAS TO BE CHANGED OUT; HOWEVER; THEY NOW TELL ME THAT MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT FIT INTO THEIR TSB AND THEREFORE, THEY WON'T HONOR THE TSB. CALLED HONDA AMERICA AND SPOKE TO 1ST LEVEL, 2ND, AND UP TO 3RD WHICH [XXX] AND EVENTHOUGH THIS IS A COMMON MANUFACTURER DEFECT (ALSO CANNOT BE INTRODUCE FAILURE BY THE CONSUMER), THEY STILL WON'T HONOR THE REPAIRS. TSB CALLS FOR 10 HRS AND PARTS WHICH COULD RUN INTO THOUSANDS FOR COMMON IDENTIFIED AND CONFIRMED BY HONDA. IT'S ABSOLUTELY ABSORB THAT THEY USED WRONG PRODUCTS AND NOW CAUSING PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD WHICH THEY ARE MAKING CONSUMER TO PAY THEM FOR REPAIRS. THIS CLOGGED HEATER CORE NOT ONLY GIVES NO HEAT BUT ALSO COULD CAUSING CAR OVER-HEATING PROBLEM WHICH CAN DAMAGE THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION AT THE SAME TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

I WAS DRIVING INTO THE BANK DRIVE IN TELLER AND MY LEFT SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 11/23/11*BF

ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2011, UPON STARTING THE IGNITION OF MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT, I NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. AFTER HEARING SOME CRACKLING NOISES FROM THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH, IT SOON POPPED INTO A SMALL FIRE WHICH WENT OUT ON IT'S OWN, PROCEEDED BY MORE CONTINUOUS SMOKE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION ON AND NOTICED SMOKE AND HEARD A CRACKING SOUND COMING FROM THE MASTER POWER WINDOW SWITCH ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE SMOKE WAS FOLLOWED BY A SMALL FLAME. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN AND CAUSED THE DOOR PANEL TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FIRE AND STATED THE WIRING HARNESS AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,962.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COASTING IN TRAFFIC WHEN HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE METAL WHICH HELD THE CLUTCH SPRINGS IN PLACE FRACTURED, JAMMING THE CLUTCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. UPDATED 09/27/11 *BF UPDATED 12/02/11

CAR DIES WHEN DRIVING. NO PRIOR WARNING BEFORE IT DIES (SUCH AS ILLUMINATION ON PANEL). CAR RPM'S REV UP AND DOWN WHILE IN PARK. WINDSHIELD CRACKS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON MARCH 26, 2011 ON THE FREEWAY AND IT WAS EARLY AND A CLEAR DAY. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND OUT OF NO WHERE I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND AND WAS COMPLETELY FREAKED OUT. MY RIGHT EAR WAS RINGING AND I STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE. I LOOKED TO MY RIGHT SIDE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HAD EXPLODED OUT. IT WASN'T EVEN INFLATED AND THERE WAS NO ONE SITTING ON THE SEAT THANKFULLY. BUT SINCE NO ONE WAS ON THE SEAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN OFF, THE HONDA ELEMENT HAS A SENSOR ON THE SEAT. I CALLED THE HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM. THAT I SHOULD TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP AND REPORT IT TO MY INSURANCE SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF IT FOR ME. *TR

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY '06 HONDA ELEMENT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WIT MY FOOT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN I GO TO APPLY THE BRAKE. ADD HEAVY BOOTS AND A BIT OF WINTER ICE AND IT ALL ADDED UP TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND SLIDING INTO THE FRONT GATE ON MY PROPERTY WHILE I WAS TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKE CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND MY PROPERTY. THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR ARE TOO CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER!!! I KNEW SOME DAY THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN, GUESS I SHOULD BE THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN PROBLEM. *TR

I PUT ON MY BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING. MADE RUBBING SOUND AND THEN CONTINUED TO RUB ALL THE WAY TO MY DAUGHTERS. MINIMAL 2 HOURS IN TRAFFIC IN CHICAGO AT RUSH HOUR. AFRAID TO DRIVE BUT NO WAY TO GET OFF AND NOWHERE TO GO. TOOK TO MIDAS ON FRI. OVER $500.00 NOW MY BACK BRAKES ARE DOING THE SAME THING. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW 52,0000. THE DEALER HAD TOLD ME AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

DRIVING TO WORK AT 6:20AM ON 08/27/2010, WHILE EXITING THE 91 FREEWAY (GOING EASTBOUND) AND ENTERING THE 71N TOWARDS CHINO HILLS, MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED OUT OF NOWHERE. THE DEPLOYMENT (OR BETTER, THE EXPLOSION) HIT THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE, MY LEFT ARM AND JERKED MY HEAD TOWARDS THE OTHER SIDE (TO THE RIGHT/PASSENGER SEAT). FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND WAS PARTIALLY DEAF FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. NOW MY FACE AND ARM STING A LITTLE, MY NECK IS A LITTLE STIFF AND I'M STILL HEARING A LITTLE RING IN MY LEFT EAR. I CONTACTED HONDA'S CORPORATE OFFICE IN TORRANCE, CA AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS VERY LIKELY HONDA WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN SINCE MY CAR IS A 2005 ELEMENT, PAST THE WARRANTY. TO THAT, ALL I HAVE TO SAY (OR ASK) IS: ONCE THE CAR IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY, DOES THE MANUFACTURER CEASE TO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE OVERALL SAFETY OF IT'S VEHICLES? TO ME IT SEEMS THAT IS THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, MY CAR WASN'T HIT OR IT DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING, THAT MY AIRBAG SHOULDN'T DEPLOY. NOBODY HAS EVER TOLD ME THERE IS AN EXPIRATION DATE ON AN AIRBAG AND MY SEATS ARE IN GREAT CONDITION (AS IS THE REST OF MY CAR). ULTIMATELY, THIS DEPLOYMENT COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE, AND I AM NOT EXAGGERATING. I WAS BLOWN IN THE FACE ON A MAJOR FREEWAY, IF I HAD LOST CONTROL DUE TO THE EXPLOSION I COULD HAVE SLAMMED MY CAR INTO A WALL OR ANOTHER CAR. *TR

HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR THIS FORUM, JUST BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER AN 05 HONDA ELEMENT FOR HER GRADUATION, WITH A LITTLE OVER 100K MILES. SHE LOVES IT, AND THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING A STRAIGHT DEAL FROM THE SELLERS, BUT NOT THE CASE. WHEN WE DROVE THE CAR, UNFORTUNATLY, AFTER BUYING, WE NOTICED A RUMBLING NOISE IN THE CAR, SO DROVE TO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT THE SOURCE. WE NAILED IT TO THE REAR END BY ONE DRIVING AND ONE WALKING OUTSIDE THE CAR. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY AND WAS IMMEDIATLY DIAGNOSED WITH THE 4WD REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEING THE SOURCE. HE CALLED HIS TRANSMISSION CONTACT WHO IMMEDIATLY CONFIRMED THAT THE PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON FOR THE HONDA 4WD AND THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BECAUSE HIS BUSINESS HAS FIXED MANY OF THESE 'UNSAFE' GEAR BOXES THAT TRANSER POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS. BEING A CONCERNED FATHER, I'M NOT GOING TO WAIT FOR THE RIGHT THING TO BE DONE BY HONDA, BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER AND ANY CARS ON THE ROAD AROUND HER, NEED TO BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED BY MYSELF AND THE OTHER 431 POSTS I BRIEFLY SCANNED THROUGH REGARDING THIS DEFECT WITH THE HONDA CR-V AND THE ELEMENT. THANK YOU *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING AT 62 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE WHEN IT DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,300.

2005 HONDA ELEMENT. FRONT SEAT LOOSE. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT A PART WAS HOLDING THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT THAT IS WELDED HAS SOME PROBLEM WHERE IT CAME LOOSE. THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT LITERALLY ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. WHEN DISCUSSED WITH DEALERSHIP, THEY DID SAY "IT IS NOT WEAR AND TEAR" AND THAT IT WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS LEAVING WORK, DRIVING ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR AND WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS A HUGE BOOM IN MY EAR, POWDER WAS IN THE AIR, THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE WAS NUMB (LATER, RED FROM HEATED AIR), MY LEFT SIDE WAS SHOVED FORWARD AND MY LEFT EAR WAS RINGING. MY SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG WENT OFF AS I WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN! I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN HIT BY A CAR...EXCEPT THERE WAS NO OTHER CARS AROUND. I PULLED OVER AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED UNTIL I OPENED MY DOOR, STEPPED OUT AND SAW THE AIRBAG HANGING OUT OF THE SEAT. SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME! I AM GLAD I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY AT A FASTER SPEED, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CRASHED! VERY SORE NOW THOUGH. LEFT SIDE IS SORE, NECK IS VERY SORE! I DROVE TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AFTERWARD AND SPOKE TO THE MANAGER (NEFF) OF THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT. THEY HAD A TECHNICIAN (TIM) HOOK UP SOME DATA MACHINE TO MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT 4WD - EX. I WAS ADVISED TO COME BACK ON MONDAY AND DROP THE CAR OFF SO THEY COULD CONTACT HONDA CORPORATE HQ AND GET A DIRECTION TO PROCEED. THE TECHNICIAN (TIM), AND MANAGER (NEFF) ADVISED ME THAT UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED, MY OTHER AIRBAGS WOULD NOT WORK. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN SOMETHING HAPPEN LIKE THIS. AFTER A GOOGLE SEARCH OF 'HONDA ELEMENT AIRBAG DEFECTS' IT APPEARS THAT IT IS A PRETTY PREVALENT PROBLEM. I HAVE TEMPORARILY PARKED THE CAR AT MY HOUSE UNTIL MONDAY'S MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENT.

MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT BRAKE PEDAL FEELS SOFT. THEY HAVE FELT THIS WAY FOR THE LAST YEAR. PLEASE HAVE HONDA INCLUDE 2005 ELEMENTS IN THEIR RECALL. *TR

I WAS THE DRIVER OF A HONDA ELEMENT THAT WAS REAR ENDED WHILE I WAS STATIONARY WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE IMPACT FROM THE OTHER CAR HAD BROKEN THE DRIVERS SEAT AND REPOSITIONED MY HEAD JUST A FEW INCHES FROM THE FLOOR AND BY THEN THE SPARE TIRE SECURING MECHANISM HAD BROKEN AND THE SPARE TIRE FLEW FORWARD HITTING ME IN THE HEAD AND EVENTUALLY COMING TO A REST IN THE PASSENGERS SEAT. WITH THE BACK IMPACT FROM THE OTHER CAR AND THEN THE FRONT IMPACT HITTING THE TREES ALONG SIDE OF THE ROAD DID NOT RELEASE THE AIRBAGS WHEN THE OTHER CAR THAT HIT THE ELEMENT HAD ITS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR