This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
2004 Honda Element - driving on the highway (no gravel) in light-Sunday traffic and heard a "pop". next day, noticed a crack emerging from the bottom, passenger side of the windshield that arced about a foot across the windshield within two days. Joe marina Honda said it was an impact issue and refused to repair.
2004 Honda Element, after about 2 months of ownership a crack in window started from lower right corner. Dealer claimed a small pebble must have struck it and refused to replace it. Had insurance replace it. Next day a second pebble strikes windshield and a star crack forms non my new winshield. Two weeks later and I hear a noise and another crack starts at the top of the windshield and grows about 12 inches in an hour. How many windshields will I need in a year?
I own a 2004 Honda Element. As with thousands of others, I have a stress crack in the windshield with no discernible cause. Honda refuses to fix the problem. The vehicle was not in accident nor is there a road stone incident. The crack goes from just under the left side windshield wiper, up and to the left to the side of the windshield. It has a vertical component of approx. 6 inches and then a horizontal component of 3 inches. The crack cannot be felt on the inside or outside of the windshield.
I am an owner of a 2004 Honda Element. Like many other Element owners, I've just had my first cracked windshield, 3 months after purchase. I've also had my first experience trying to get Honda to admit that there is a problem with the windshield in this vehicle. There is no impact mark, but a crack running from under the rubber seal, up and across the windshield on the drivers side. The service manager was very sure that an impact must have caused this, even though he could not find a specific mark using the imfamous "pen test". I've read numerous other complaints on this site and others about this issue. When is the NHTSA going to force Honda to admit they have a design problem"!"
I have a 2004 Honda Element. It has less than 5000 miles on it. The windshield is cracked but nothing ever hit the windshield. The crack starts under the passenger side wiper goes up about 6-8 inches and then spreads toward the driver's side about 12 inches. This is a defect and Honda should step up and take care of it. This is a safety hazard as this crack was not there last night when I parked my car, but was there this morning when I got back in my car.
- North Tonawanda, NY, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Cracked windshield. Same complaint as everyone else. The vehicle was stationary in the garage and the windshield cracked from the seam half way up on the passenger side. The dealer insisted this was not a flaw of the vehicle and was due to a rock hitting the seam though there is absolutely no evidence of this. In the meantime, the left side has done the exact same thing. The windshield is on back order for over a month. After seeing all of the listings here I can see why there aren't any left. This is clearly a significant issue for many owners. Spoke to Honda customer service again today and they still deny this is a design flaw and claimed they've not heard of this being a common problem. Very disappointing. This is my 4th Honda and as a result of all the problems with this vehicle (this is minor in comparison) I won't be buying another Honda again and will be getting rid of this one.
I own a 2004 Honda Element. It was subject a cracked windshield due to the fact that Honda has a design flaw with its windshield installation. There are stress points which cause cracks in the bottom corners of the glass. This seems to be a common occurrence for the Element as Honda has released a service report for its dealers, but has not issued a recall.
2nd occurrence of windshield crack. 1st event on 12-05-04. Occurred while vehicle parked-vertical crack from under trim below driver side wiper; tee'd at 6" and went side to side horizontally. Dealer refused to even look at crack. Windshield replaced on 12-10-04. 2nd occurrence on 02-15-05 while vehicle parked in garage. Vertical crack from under trim below driver side wiper for 3" then tee'd and went from side to side horizontally. Contacted dealer by phone - again total lack of interest. Both events showed pinhead sized pit just below wiper.
The windshield cracked twice, driver drove to the dealer on the last incident, and mechanic determined that the cause of the problem could not be determined at this time.
2004 Honda Element. We have owned the car less than 1 year and already there are 2 impact cracks and one in-explicable crack which comes from the lower passenger side of the windshield and curves up about 12 inches. Dealership states that there is an impact on the crack running from lower passenger side (said that ran a razor over crack which tells them there is an impact). Am writing a letter to Honda and copying NHTSA.
Honda Element 2004 windshield cracked. Checked out hondaelementscrack.com to find others with same problem. Claimed was fixed on the 2004, but 3 other cars in the service bay with similar cracks while awaiting mine to be serviced. All 2004 Elements. They claimed indication of impact, but happened while garaged. Appeared perfectly consistent with stress fracture tsb from 2003. They agreed to pay for 1/2 and I was quoted 250 at the dealer for replacement. When they realized Honda agreed to pay 1/2, they insisted now we must use the Honda windshield to raise the price to 500 to drop it back to the original 250. What a joke. Although they insisted they must use Honda windshields for safety reasons, they couldn't explain why not a single Honda dealership in the country will deliver the labor. Its subbed out to god only knows who and I'm sure liability for future failures or injury during an accident is passed along as well. They did indicate if they changed tsb to include 2004, I would get my money back, but I presume I'd also have to pay 250 somehow else to get the 250 back and still have a fractured windshield.
On two separate occasions the front windshield cracked for no known reason. The dealer replaced it on the first occasion. Now it has crack again. The dealer has been notified.
While driving 10 mph consumer noticed that the windshield was cracked. This caused poor visibility. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic replaced the windshield twice. However, the problem recurred. The consumer stated that both cracks where in her line of vision.
I never heard anything actually hit my windshield. I did hear the crack, which begins at the bottom of the passenger side under the wiper. The crack moves upwards about 4 inches and over towards the driver side another 5-6 inches. I have opened a case with american Honda customer service trying to have it replaced under warranty since I understand this is a recurring problem with Elements.
Defective windshield in Honda Element. I had the Honda Element less than two weeks and developed my first chip in the windshield. I have now had it for 3 months and have already received another crack in the windshield. I am not the only Honda Element owner with this problem. I have owned my other cars for 8 and 11 years and have never had a problem like this with them. I really do believe this is a safety issue that Honda needs to address.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Jenks, OK, USA