Ticking in windshield as soon as drove off lot. Dealer replaced within weeks. Now window makes ticking noise only after driving extended distances. Windshield cracked early december 2003.
2003 Honda Element visibility complaints
Page 8 of 9: complaints 191 to 220 of 226, newest first, as owners wrote them.
While traveling 65 MPH windshield cracked on the passenger's side underneath the windshield wiper.
13" windshield crack on 2003 honda element ex with only 3000 miles logged. There was a pin-head sized pit that expanded to a 13" (and growing) crack.
The windshield of my honda element ex, 2003 has crack after been hit by a small object for second time. For the first time I pay $50 for repair. Now I am not sure it's worth to repair or replacement in view of so many complains by others elements owners.
Honda element windshield cracked for no reason.
Windshield cracked at lower driver side corner, no impact of any kind can be found. There is a service bulletin on stress crack on corner for the one I recieved today so I will take to dealer tomorrow, hopefully they will repair under warranty. I also had another star type crack 2 months prior while driving but whatever that hit the windshield must have been a spec of sand. Dealer said at time would not repair since it was a "impact" crack. There is obviously something wrong with the windshield and design for it to pit and crack so easily.
Cracked windshield, driving on a widely divided interstate at lawful speed, in heavy rain, no automobiles in sight in front of me, heard a "pop" sound, and saw a small crack about 5 inches to left of passenger side wiper axis. Doubtful it was road debris, as there were no vehicles in front of me. Results of dealer contact to be resolved pending meeting tomorrow. This automobile has approximately 1800 miles on it . Has been in possession approximately 6 weeks. (since oct 10 2003) .
Honda element windshield cracked without any impact of any type. Start top of driver's side, is now about 20" long .
Windshield cracked with 900 miles on the odometer. Location of crack: left side, mid-height. Small pebble struck windsheid with no chip or indentation noted.
Stress crack in windshield.
The windshield on my 2003 honda element has developed a crack that starts on the bottom part of the passenger side and grew up 6-8 inches over the last few days. We took it to the dealer we bought it from (bill gatton honda in bristol, tn) and they said there was a chip in it and it was an impact damage and they would not consider it for warranty replacement. We told the dealer that nothing had hit the windshield and we were aware on numerous people who have had the same problem but they would not listen. I was referred to this site (the federal safety agency) by a fellow owner who had the same problem.
Honda element windshield crack starting from lower driver side across the windshield. Honda has a tsb on this problem but will not resolve it - I am a member of honda SUV which also has several complaints. The service representative stated this was caused by a 1 mm rock chip (which there is no implosion) - reading the honda tsb it is obvious that if one even sustains a rock chip that the pressure from the incorrect manufactured window will cause it to crack not giving the owner a chance to fix a chip.
Windshield possibly hit by a rock (although I didn't see one) and large star with cracks forming at base of windshield on driver's side. I heard this was a problem with the element before I purchased, but was assured that this was fixed for later released models. I have had this car less than a month and it has only 600 miles on it.
Large crack in lower-right corner of windshield 6 days after purchasing vehicle. Numerous accounts of similar cracking issues among owners of same vehicle (2003 honda element).
My 2003 honda element windshield cracked after 4000 miles, the crack started below the driver side windshield wiper and expanded upward, most likely the result of a small rock impact but never heard any noise. Talked to honda america and the csr said I should contact local dealership and see. Took the car to the honda of lisle (illinois) dealership where I purchased the element from, and several service managers looked at it and said it can not be covered by warranty because it was a rock chip. At least two service managers claimed they have no knowledge of any windshield problem with element. Paying $100 insurance deductible is a small price to pay, but this seems to be an obvious manufacturer defect and can haunt the consumers by replacing windshield on a very frequent basis. Does honda america stands by its product and warranty rather than repeated denials? Does honda want to see hundreds and hundreds of consumer complaints before accepting responsibilities and taking concrete actions? This is not the honda I know. I had a 84 honda civic dx and put 100+k on it with no major problem whatsoever.
Honda element windshield cracking. There is a crack running from the bottom of the passenger's side of the glass up 4 inches and then running out to the edge of passengers side. There appears to be a pit (like a piece of sand made it) in the middle of the crack just below the passenger windshield wiper. I agree with the comments made by others here that if there is undo stress on the windshield then it stands to reason that any impacts, no matter how slight, will cause the windshield to crack. There are plenty of other pits the same size at other spots on the windshield with no cracking. Dealer will not replace.
Windshield cracked while driving on highway. Was not following another vehicle. No debris was seen hitting the windshield but after hearing a light "click" a star shaped crack appeared on the windshield. If the windshield was hit by debris, it was extremely small and should not have caused a crack.
I've had multiple windshield cracks on my honda element. These cracks start around the left corner and bottom perimeter. I took the element in to two dealers and the claim were from a rock impact. The points of impacts are barely visible from the naked eye. That's why the service rep at the dealer will run a pen down the crack and find the tiny point of impact. These windshields are defective. 3 cracks and two stars in less than 10,000 miles. This is not the normal. The cracks are right in the line of site and are a slight safety concern. Honda needs to fix this problem on the honda elements and not give a person the run around at the dealer claiming a rock hit it.
Windshield cracked while vehicle parked. Dealer said windshield crack was "probably" from road hazard. Initially, said it would not be covered under warranty, but could find no mark from debris impact and agreed to replace under warranty.
Leased this vehicle may 27, 2003. Rattles, popping noises at windshield area. Popping noise at driver's side pillar. Had windshield replaced, framework welded, dashboard removed twice, foam installed, and windshield molding replaced. Pillar adjusted. Noises continue. Very fearful when driving this vehicle knowing that frame has been repaired and there are problems with the windshield. The noises are distracting. Honda service tech, service manager,and factory representative heard all sounds. Honda willing to attempt pillar repair only.
I have a barely 2 month old 2003 honda element and at about 2k miles... Have suffered a cracked windshield from a very small rock/pebble that should have caused a 8 inch crack. Honda has even issued a service bulletin (tsp #03-028) specifically referring to stress areas within the corner of windshield which in turn would make glass vunerable to any object coming in contact while driving. The dealer blames the crack on the debris and refuses to replace via warranty. Numerous other element owners throughout country are experiencing the same problem with the new element.
We have a defect in the driver's field of vision which occurred over night. My husband was the last to drive the vehicle and did not notice any pit or star at the time he parked the vehicle. We have less than 1,000 miles on our new 2003 honda element and purchased it about two weeks ago. We checked the honda element owner's website and found others having the same problem. I am a former auto and home damage insurance adjuster and have some expertise. New glass should not be brittle and should withstand most hail damage I.e. Greenhouse glass and windshield glass. I have never had a new windshield with such problems before. I've owned and driven vehicles in excess of 150,000 miles without any problems to the windshield.
Windshield on 2003 honda element cracked on its own.
Front windshield cracked in lower driver side corner and curved up and over towards center of drivers view. Dealer says rock impact caused collision and will not honor technical service bulletin 03-028 even though my vehicle's identification number is within the tsb call out.
Honda element, model 2003, purchased april 2003, has severe windshield issues. It creeks, pops and taps. Many honda element owners report cracked windshields due to a design problem. I cannot go on any long trips for fear our family will be stranded. I have called honda's dealers and they play as if they don't know. I've called honda's customer service hotline and, at first, they said they hadn't ever heard of the problem, then after digging in my heals with them, they found a honda tsb about the problem. They want me to bring my car into the dealership, but admit the dealer may just take it apart and charge me for it. I wrote honda corporate a month ago and have not received even a form letter reply.
Very small rock chip caused the window to crack all the way up. I didn't hear anything hit the windshield but the dealer said that it was a rock chip and wouldn't fix it under warranty. The window cracked immediately - didn't even have time to see about getting the chip fixed. If the window cracks this easily I'm afraid to see what would happen in a crash!!! See hondaelement.org - lots and lots of complaints about the windshield. Honda needs to address this problem!!!! This is the first honda I've owned. Would think twice about buying another one.
Windshield cracked on its own while parked.
A six-inch crack seemed to spontaneouisly appear one morning in the windshield of our 2003 element dx. We made an appointment and specified that we didn't want it fixed unless it was covered under warranty, we soon received a call informing us that there was a pebble that hit the windshield under the hood, and since there was an impact, it was not covered under our warranty. The point of impact is so miniscule it is ridiculous. We still haven't had it fixed, it's not growing very much, and we won't fix it until honda owns up to the defect and replaces the windshield at their expense.
Due to defective manufacturer(honda) safety related product, this new honda element has had two windshield failures in just 750 miles on the odometer due to cracks because of defective honda windshield materials and basic defective honda design & engineering of the windshield mounting and installation. The windshield failures on my element happened on june, 3, 2003, at 140 odometer mileage, and july 9, 2003 at 748 odometer reading. Honda will not pay for the repairs. Total cost for both added up to $1047.00. Honda is being allowed to continue to produce and sell a vehicle, for which they are aware contains a basic safety related design and engineering flaw, and for which they are making customers pay for all repairs and related expenses, ie, rental cars, because the honda windshields are in such demand and are backordered because of the number of failures. If all the honda element owners who have had defective windshield failures had filed complaint forms with the federal safety agency, the number of complaints would be overwhelming, surely in the thousands. There are many posts on web sites, ie, edmunds.com , elementownersclub.com, plus others. The federal safety agency has a responsibility to stop honda from furthur sales of the honda element to unsuspecting buyers, because such a sale is a violation of federal laws governing sale of a product with a designed-in safety defect and not informing the customer of the defect. Such a sale also constitutes fraud, for misrepresenting a product as safe and without defects, when the manufacturer and seller are completely aware of the defects. Additionally, honda must be made to reimburse element owners who have had to pay for windshield replacements. Honda is profiting in the billions of dollars at customer expense and unawareness of the existense of the windshield defects. Honda is profiting not only on the sales of the element, but on the sales of windshields, windshield mounting parts, windshield installations labor and rental cars.
Windshield cracks extremely easily. I've replaced mine twice in three months, and the latest one has three cracks on it already.
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