2004 Honda Element: windshield wiper failure

Filed Apr 28, 2008 · Visibility · 47,000 miles · RI

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.

Filed Mar 11, 2006 · Body, Visibility · 10,000 miles · OH

2004 honda element : 2nd windshield replacement in 6 months . The cracks always start in the black area from below the windshield wiper blades. *jb 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 .

Filed Mar 8, 2006 · Visibility · 26,850 miles · CA

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.

Filed Nov 29, 2005 · Visibility · CA

Windshield developed a crack starting from below the right wiper blade and goes up 4 inches and then toward the right pillar 12 inches no visible "hit" mark crack just appeared.

Filed Sep 25, 2005 · Visibility · CA

Windshield cracked started from below passenger side wiper and spreading toward middle and upward. Just as everyone else. *ca

Filed Apr 23, 2005 · Visibility · 9,500 miles · CA

About a month ago, I noticed a crack in the windshield of my honda element. The crack in the windshield is about 4 weeks old; it had started overnight - it wasn't there when I parked it, but was there the next morning. I thought that I would just have to deal with a small crack, but decided to do some research on problems with the honda element and found several incidences of a crack in the window starting in the same place. I even found a honda service bulletin (tsb 03-028) that addressed this exact problem. I purchased my 04 honda element in mid-december of 2004, and at the time of the crack the car had less than 10,000 miles. I have read that if there was an impact point that caused the crack, that impact points always have a star crack pattern around them. Mine has no crack pattern except the larger crack that moved upward and then towards the middle of my windshield - no star shape. I have also read about the surface of the windshield being uneven and that a high spot applies uneven pressure to the glass causing a stress crack. Further, that a stress crack is identified by a horizontal cracks originating in the lower corners of the and radiating toward the middle of the windshield. This is exactly my problem. I repeat, the pit was smaller than the size of a grain of salt and located directly under the wiper blade. I was told that it was under warranty, and was turned away when I tried to have my window repaired. This situation is not unique to my honda element. There are many other element owners that have encountered the same problem with the windshield cracking under the windshield wiper on the passenger side of the car. Honda has systematically ?found? That these cracks were caused by rocks, although admitting in a service bulletin to its dealers that this is a symptom of honda elements, and that it is probably caused by the windshield flange surface being uneven.

Filed Mar 1, 2005 · Visibility · 22,500 miles · PA

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.

Filed Feb 24, 2005 · Visibility · 4,800 miles · NY

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.

Filed Feb 17, 2005 · Visibility · AK

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. Jb

Filed Dec 17, 2004 · Visibility · GA

The windshield cracked under the driver side wiper while driving on freeway. I heard no impact. The dealer said rock hit it.

Filed Dec 7, 2004 · Visibility · 350 miles · SC

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.

Filed Dec 3, 2004 · Visibility · 6,058 miles · MO

Windshield cracked below driver's side wiper with no impact noted.