2003 HONDA ELEMENT Complaints

MY 2003 ELEMENT WITH 30,000 MILES WAS PARKED FOR 3 WEEKS IN AN INDOOR PARKING STRUCTURE NEAR THE AIRPORT. I RETURNED FROM MY TRIP TO FIND THE SAME KIND OF CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT OTHERS ON THIS SITE HAVE DESCRIBED. IT STARTED FROM THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AND WENT UP ABOUT 12 INCHES. I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION OF ANY STONES HAVING HIT THE WINDSHIELD PRIOR TO LEAVING. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELDS CRACKED TWICE. BOTH WINDSHIELDS CRACKED WITHIN THE SAME SPOT ON THE LOWER LEVEL PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT WINDOW. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THANKSGIVING OF 2005 AT 50000 MILES. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER IN JANUARY OF 2006. AND AT 4000 MILES AFTER THE REPLACEMENT IN APRIL OF 2006, THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD SUFFERED THE SAME DAMAGE. THE COLORADO REGIONAL DEALER MANAGER CAME OUT ON 06/21/06 AND INSPECTED THE WINDSHIELD. THE MANAGER DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD LOOKED LIKE A ROCK CRACK. THERE WERE NO TOOLS OR EQUIPMENT UTILIZED BY THE MANAGER TO DETERMINE THE FINAL DECISION. THE FINAL DECISION WAS THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WINDSHIELD. ON JUNE 12TH, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACK WAS WORSE. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THE WINDSHIELDS (FILED IN LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA SUPERIOR COURT CASE # BC319600, FILED IN 2004, NO VERDICT YET).

MY HONDA ELEMENT 2003 HAS NOW HAD 3 CRACKED WINDOWS UNDER A YEAR. THIS SEEMS VERY EXCESSIVE AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ONLINE. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS. *JB

HELLO, I PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD IN FEBRUARY, 2006. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND NOW IT IS CRACKED ONCE AGAIN IN PRETTY MUCH THE SAME PLACE. *JB

2003 HONDA ELEMENT REAR BRAKES ARE TOTALLY SHOT NEEDING NEW PADS, ROTORS ETC. AND HONDA IS BLAMING "RUST BUILDUP," AND SAYING THAT IT IS OUR FAULT FOR NOT SERVICING THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED EACH TIME THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED OR TIRES ROTATED. HONDA'S CONTENTION THAT THE BRAKES SHOULD BE "TAKEN APART AND CLEANED DUE TO "SEVERE CONDITIONS" IS RIDICULOUS. WE DO LIVE IN NORTHEASTERN OHIO BUT EVEN THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS DRIVING IN SEVERE CONDITIONS OCCASIONALLY DOESN'T NECESSARILY PUT YOU IN THAT CATEGORY. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY VEHICLE THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE DISASSEMBLED AND CLEANED EVERY 10,000 MILES. COST TO REPAIR IS $450.00. IN ADDITION, MY WIFE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT BRAKE NOISE AND WAS TOLD BOTH TIMES TO GO OUT AND "JAM ON THE BRAKES HARD TO RELEASE DIRT BUILDUP ON THE BRAKES." AT NO TIME WAS SHE EVER ADVISED TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION. *NM

WHILE DRIVING WEST ON INTERSTATE 10 NEAR BROOKSHIRE TX I REACHED INTO THE TRAY ON THE RIGHT DRIVER SIDE (IN DASH NEXT TO STEERING COLUMN) AND APPARENTLY BRUSHED THE REMOTE (HANGING ON THE KEY RING) AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE TWO LANE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO DRIVE OFF THE EXIT WITH NO POWER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO RESTART.*JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT, A CRACK FORMED IN THE CORNER OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS PRESENT THAT CAUSED THE CRACK. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY STRESS FROM THE VEHICLE'S STRUCTURE. THERE WERE TWO TSB FOR THE WINDSHIELD, NHTSA ITEM NUMBERS 10009029 AND 10001628. THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER TSB BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE.

ONE MORNING I GOT INTO CAR AND WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED TOP CENTER. THE CAR IS ALWAYS GARAGED. *JB

2003 HONDA ELEMENT...FRONT WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER...WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A 2ND REPLACEMENT...BOUGHT THE CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2003...1ST WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT APRIL 2004...2ND REPLACEMENT DECEMBER 2005. *JB

WINDSHIELD ON 2003 HONDA ELEMENT DEVELOPED A CRACK (WITHOUT ANY IMPACT) WHICH ORIGINATED FROM LOWER EDGE (BELOW WIPER, DRIVERS SIDE) AND WITHIN 24 HOURS HAD SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE WINDSHIELD. *JB