7.3

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
7,478 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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 windows / windshield problems

windows / windshield problem

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2004 Honda Element Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #100

Mar 222011

Element

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My Honda Element has had two windshields replaced and now a crack again at the base moving up. Stress cracks not foreign material hitting the car. I simply cannot afford a 500 deductible to get another windshield.....

- Pleasant Hill, MO, USA

problem #99

Mar 122008

Element 4-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
Windshield has cracked 3 times while driving down to road. Insurance has replaced the windshield.

- Charleston, SC, USA

problem #98

Apr 272008

Element 4-cyl

  • 47,000 miles
I own a 2004 Honda Element. A little over a month ago my windshield cracked. The crack started under my wiper blade and spread up very quickly. I had the windshield replaced, not knowing that this was a known common problem on 03-04 Honda Elements. Last night I went out to my car and noticed another crack in my windshield, with the crack occurring while the car was not in motion. This is the second time in two months I have to replace the windshield, though this time I will do it through a Honda dealer as a class action lawsuit has caused them to cover all windshields up to 60,000 miles on the car. Which leads me to the cause for my complaint. Honda is covering a known design flaw up to 60,000 miles, but not after. My car is currently at 48K miles, leaving me with 12K miles of coverage. Once I reach 60K miles I will have to pay for the costs out of pocket, and with the replacement being $250-300 each time, that is not something I can afford. Now I must trade in my car, a car known to have a faulty design by Honda, for far less than a 05 model would be worth with similar mileage. Honda put a band aid on a gaping financial wound for a consumer. Their shady business practice will cause me further financial loss, hence the reason for this complaint.

- Tiverton, RI, USA

problem #97

Mar 282008

Element

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Multiple windshield replacements.

- Quincy, MA, USA

problem #96

Jul 102005

Element 4WD 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,000 miles
Walked out to vehicle in the afternoon, noticed windshield was cracked. Crack grew over the next few hours to about 9". started in lower part of windshield (near VIN marker)went vertical for about 3" then ran horizontal for 6".

- Wale Forest, NC, USA

problem #95

Jan 012006

Element 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 30,000 miles
Cracked windshield on the passenger side, broken driver's side visor and a horn that has one broken pitch, leaving the pitch very low, almost not noticeable. It has been that way for a year, but did not find this site until now. Too expensive to repair.

- Wendell, NC, USA

problem #94

Oct 202004

Element

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My windshield has cracked about 4 times-we have given up-brought it to 2 Honda dealers-acted as if they knew nothing about the problems.

- East Yaphank, NY, USA

problem #93

May 022007

Element

  • miles
Went into shopping mall, came out and found windshield cracked in lower left corner on driver's side. I had received a recall letter from Honda concerning windshield cracking resulting from little or no impact". a few months earlier I took it to dealer. They said it was from an unknown impact, and was my responsibility. I showed them the letter and asked them to define"little or no impact which was in the letter - they declined and said they wouldn't fix it.

- Mercedes, TX, USA

problem #92

May 122007

Element 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11,790 miles
2004 Honda Element windshield cracking in front of driver.

- Juneau, AK, USA

problem #91

Feb 282007

Element

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Windshield cracked while in the garage overnight!

- Warwick, RI, USA

problem #90

Sep 282006

Element 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My front windshield chipped for no apparent reason. The Honda dealer acknowledged that 2003 and 2004 Honda Elements are prone to this problem but claimed he has no authority to make the repair. I have now found this to be a widespread problem. Honda even sent a service bulletin to its dealers (03-028 dated May 6, 2003) detailing how to correct the uneven windshield flange surface causing the windshields to crack. The uneven windshield flange surface and upright angle of the windshield cause stresses in the windshield that make it unnecessarily likely to chip or crack. This design flaw is Honda's responsibility and should have been corrected.

- White Lake, MI, USA

problem #89

Feb 102006

Element 4WD 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles
Stress crack(s) in windshield. Honda replaced one, refused to do more. Now on 4th windshield. Second Element has picked up 4 cracks in 6 months.

- Gloucester, MA, USA

problem #88

Jun 202006

Element 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 39,500 miles
My windshield has started to crack, very similar to problems that have been reported on this website about earlier model year Honda Elements. The crack started at the bottom of the front of the driver's side dash about 12 inches from the left side of the left edge. There are no, repeat no chips or dings that may have contributed to this event. It is very clear that Honda is having similar problems on the additional model year Elements. Those problems were reported that the welded seams along where the windshield rests on the frame had high spots that were causing the stress cracks. Currently, the crack is about 12 inches long, but grows a little more every week. Sure, I could have my insurance company replace it, and I pay the deductible, but this is a documented problem that Honda has been having and I expect Honda to fix it, especially since according to the state on Maryland, cracked windshields are a safety concern, so I expect this Agency to forward this complaint to Honda.

- Mt. Airy, MD, USA

problem #87

May 012006

Element

  • miles
2004 Honda Element windshield cracked while sitting in parking lot behind my home. Vehicle was not being driven at the time the crack occurred. Crack begins at top of the windshield on the driver's side and curves toward the outside of the car.

- Evanston, IL, USA

problem #86

Jan 102005

Element

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
2004 Honda Element. Cracked windshield X3 fixes.....cracked again by no fault of rocks.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #85

Mar 112006

Element 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles
2004 Honda Element : 2nd windshield replacement in 6 months. The cracks always start in the black area from below the windshield wiper blades. Honda denies any known problem with the design of the windshield frame. Honda replaced first winshield approx. 6 months ago. The 2nd replacement Honda refused to cover/warranty. I have a signed statement from the window technichian that came out and replaced my 2nd windshield stating; the crack in my winshield was caused by stress and that the bottom corners of the pinchweld on both sides are broke away from the welds and are loose. My insurance policy covered the 2nd replacement however, I feel Honda should have. After researching my vehicle today on line, I have learned that there is a pending class action lawsuit against american Honda and an alarming number sites with Honda Element owners or leasers sharing my same concerns. I want Honda in writting, assure me that this defect in design or, the way they will attempt to fix it will not cause injury to me or my passengers or loss of life to myself or my passengers in the event of a vehicle accident. I would also like them to waranty the windshield for the life of the vehicle.

- Maumee, OH, USA

problem #84

Feb 162006

Element 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,850 miles
A stress crack appeared in the windshield of my 2004 Honda Element. Crack began from below the plastic molding and below the left windshield wiper. There was no impact point from a rock or other object. Dealer attempted to blame it on a small chip in the area of the crack--chip was 1/2 mm in diameter and 1/4 of a mm in depth. I have numerous small chips like this and none have caused a crack. The dealer at first claimed the crack was caused by the small chip. After I pointed out other chips and also talked about the 2003 service bulletin and current lawsuit, the manager called the Honda rep. The Honda rep said they would replace it as a one time good will gesture--thus, relieving themselves of any liability.

- Carpinteria, CA, USA

problem #83

Jul 042005

Element

  • miles
Honda needs to admit fault on their windshields and recall their Elements. My windshield cracked and dealer will not make good on their defects.

- Irvine, CA, USA

problem #82

Feb 072006

Element 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Bought a new 2004 Honda Element in May 2004 and have had to replace windshield due to crack once plus repaired two stone chips. Paid for the replacement windshield out of own pocket as dealer would not replace after examining with pen. Once again received another cracked windshield yesterday after being hit by a rock on the highway on the way home.

- Ange Gardien, 00, USA

problem #81

Jan 012006

Element

  • miles
I have a 2004 Honda Element, I had to replace the windshield within the first 6 months of ownership...fortunately the dealer considered it a "stress crack" & replaced the windshield at no cost to me. Within a few months, I noticed another crack, I have chosen not to repair it as it was in a non-critical area. It has now been about 1 year & there are now 3 cracks in the "new" windshield...clearly this is a design flaw. I have owned several other vehicles & have never had to replace windshields like this?.

- Slc, UT, USA

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