Problems with 2004 Honda Element VISIBILITY

Dt: the contact stated the front windshield has cracked on the lower quarter of the passenger's side. the dealership stated something hit the windshield, and will not assist in the repair. the contact stated there was no evidence anything hit the windshield. the vehicle has not been repaired at this time. *ak updated 12/27/05. *jb

2004 honda element. cracked windshield x3 fixes.....cracked again by no fault of rocks. *jb

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. *nm

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

Honda element windshield failure-crack. *ak

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. *ak

Bought 2004 honda element ex in feb 2004. since then have had 2 stone chips and now have a crack along the lower passenger side edge of the windshield. the car only has 6,000 miles on it. i've had cars that have lasted 100,000 miles with less damage.*ak

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.*ak

Honda element windshield cracked spontaneously within a few months of purchase from the bottom edge of the windshield up. came out one morning and there was the crack. no rock impact as the dealer alleged! they jammed a sharp pen into the crack, and said, look, this was caused by a rock, & refused to repair it. criminal, if you ask me! many other element owners have reported this same problem to me. also, the windshield was prone to attracting rock & pebble off the roads, a separate issue from that common cracking problem. it's a dangerous flaw that honda needs to address and repair. a recall is in order!*ak

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. *jb

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. *jb

The other day i was leaving from work, and upon entering my honda element i noticed a 4"-6" crack on the passengers side of the windshield, stretching from just below the wiper blade to approximately 4" up the pillar. upon noticing this i immediately took my car to the dealership where i had purchased the element. the service manager came out and did the "pen test" and the "pen test found a small pit along the crack." the service manager explained to me that this pit was caused from possibly a rock that hit the windshield just on the edge of the weather striping. with this answer seeming a little strange to me i decided to investigate further. in searching the internet i found a large number of people complaining about the same problem. even my coworker had the same problem but he didn't think twice about the honda element, trusting that the service manager was correct he turned it into his insurance. i also came across a class action suit that was filed august. 04, 2004 against honda sitting the same problems. on top of this finding i also noticed that may 6th, 2003 (only several months after the element was on the market for the public) honda issued a service bulletin sitting the same problem in only a select few of the elements. i feel that honda should be backing there product whether it be a design flaw, weak glass, or a rock that damaged my windshield due to un unseen amount of stress. *ak

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. *tr

Cracked windshield

Driving on the road and again my windshield cracked. this will be my fourth windshield in 12k miles. obvious a design flaw since i have been driving for over 30 years and during that time only one windshield needed to be replace. honda states that the windshield is upright and cannot deflect road hazzard like a car can i gues i need to replace a windshield every 3k miles or not drive it on the highways. this is a dangerous situation and honda needs to take respsibilty for thier design flaw.*ak

Cracked windshield. no apparent impact occured.

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. *ak the consumer stated that both cracks where in her line of vision. *tc

Windshield damage. honda case number #n012004092702375 (complain filed 9/12/04). driving on the highway when my windshield got a ding bottom left then immediately the glass cracked about 12 inches. honda 2004 element with less than 3,700 miles. *ak

First day of our vacation, we made our first stop for gas. i went in to bathroom while my husband filed tank. when we got back in car, we noticed 5" crack coming up from under trim strip,left of center near wiper attachment. nothing had impacted windshield during 2hr drive from home to this point. the car was parked under a canapy & my husband or i were with car the entire time it was at the station. during the rest of our 5,000 mile trip, the crack spread slowly. we took it to the dealer we purchased it from. they say it was caused by impact of rock or bug. we searched internet & found a service bulletin from honda sent out in 2003 for on how to fix windshields in 03 models as they were having problems w/stress cracks in same place ours cracked. we informed our dealer of this-still no word on repair/repacement of ours.

I was driving on the parkway with no one in front of me, heard a pop and a 5" crack appeared on my windshield(drivers side). the crack has grown an additional 3-4 inches in the past week. there is "no evidence" of road or rock debris having hit it. *jb the dealership refused warranty coverage although a service bulletin was issued for this problem. *nm *tc

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.*ak

The windshield on my element cracked as i was driving down the street. as there were few cars on the road and none in front of me for perhaps a 1/4 mile, i am confident that there was no road debris or anything else which hit the windshield. over the course of the next 30 minutes i watched as the crack expanded an additional 3 inches, totalling about 7 inches. this is troubling since there are reports of this being a problem with honda elements and honda denies that there is a problem.*ak

Crack in windshield begins under driver's side windshield wiper grows upward and the flares off in direction of passenger wiper. no impact, crack appears while car is parked. car 3 weeks old with 1100 miles. after much discussion with service department, windshield replaced but said it would be a one time only replacemment basis as a good will gesture.

Today, i found an 8 inch crack on my windshield of my 2004 honda element. i don't recall anything hitting my windshield recently and there is no star or chipping on the windshield, indicating an impact. i have another car that had windshield damage, but that was due to a bolt that came flying at the car. the crack seems to start on the edge (under the rubber seal) about 6 inches above the bottom and extends up in a "j" shape. i believe this is due to the defective windshield problem i have read about. *ak

Honda element 2004 - had for about 3 weeks, crack developed under windshield wiper, driver side. started from bottom, came up about 3 inches, miniscule starburst, then another ten or so inches. honda dealer refused to repair under warranty or goodwill claim. *la

Windshield cracked (in 2 separate places!?!) with no apparent rock chip or damage. i have owned the car less than 6 months when this happens. apparently a defect that many others have complained about. no cooperation from the dealership i purchased at. won't make my next car a honda because of thier failure to acknowledge the problem.*ak

Recurring cracks and chips in windshield of honda element... had windshield replaced after 1 week of owning vehicle... multi-chips in windshield again... many element owners have reported the same... there is even a website called elementcracks.com where owners have reported the same problems. *la

Parked the car in the garage and there was no issue. i got in the car the next morning to find a 2" crack in the windshield starting at the top with no sign of impact. crack has since grown to almost the entire windshield height with no extreme changes in temperature or light (i have been out of the country for the last few weeks and the car has been in my garage. *ak

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

My windshield cracked on the lower passenger side area around the wiper. nothing hit the windshield and it appears to be a pressure crack. we only have around 1400 miles on the element. it is the 2004 model. *ak

The windshield of a 2004 honda element i've had for about a month developed a crack while parked in the driveway. the crack appears to have started at the base of the windshield. it goes up and then curves out toward the left side of the car (facing forward outside the car). *la

Crack in windshield originating at lower driver's side. small pit observed in blackened area of windshield - about 2" above bottom of windshield. crack developed while vehicle was parked. no impact noted that would cause small pit area, crack is 5" in length.*ak

Idrove the my new honda element home and watched the windshield crack as it sat in my driveway. there is no impact point. i believe it is due to a mfrs. defect in the windshield channel. a spur perhaps.*ak

Crack in windshield that starts at corner, passenger side, and continues at 45 degree angle (approx) 16". no identifiable impact point. obvious stress failure due to windshield or mounting flange defect. have not yet contacted purchaseing dealer. car is 3 months old with 12,000 miles. *ak

Windshield cracked on the lower driver's side close to where the windshield wiper is connected. crack started from under the plastic cover and grew to a length of over a foot within a week. car was sitting in a garage at the time crack occurred. dealer refused to replace under warranty claiming road debris caused the crack.*ak

Windshield cracked below passenger side wiper. just as everyone else. *nm

Woke up this morning and found crack just like many others before me under the passenger side wiper creeping up and then to the left. *jb

2004 honda element 4wd, a/t factory new vehicle developed a 10" crack in windshield originating from the passenger side lower left corner of vehicle. no impact to windshield. vehicle was entering a driveway when the crack was heard (approx 5 mph) vehicle has only 250 miles contacted dealer, they are willing to replace under honda warranty. but asked me to sign a waiver because "all of the glass received from honda has a 1.5" scratch in the center portion of the windshield above the rearview mirror" i refused to sign such an agreement. contacted honda customer support center 1.800.999.1009 in ca. zone manager assigned to my case. i feel very unsafe in this vehicle now!! i hope that no one is injured or hurt because of this ongoing (since 2003 model year) defect in the windshield frame/flange. dealer should have notified customers before purchase! *nm

Very small grain of salt like ping in windshield. proceeded to crack from just under the drivers windshield wiperand across. i had a new windshield put in and now less then 1 month later i now have a new small crack.*ak

Consumer had problem with the front windshield on cold weather it cracked. dealer replaced the front windshield about one month ago. once again the windshield cracked, but a this time dealer refused to replace the windshield.*ak

Crack appeared from base of windshield overnight, with no apparent impact. has grown to 15" and is an obstruction to vision. car less than one month old, dealer has stated cracks from little or no impact are frequent and can be expected with the element, and would not replace under warranty. *nm

Cracked '04 element windshield from no apparent cause. *ak

Crack in windshield beginning at the driver's a pillar of one month old element spontaneously appeared while car was parked and eventually snaked across driver's field of view to a length of approximately 18 inches over the next two weeks, while waiting for warranty vs. private insurance resolution and replacement. a second crack spontaneously appeared, again overnight, rising vertically from beneath the driver's windshield wiper and gradually growing to snake off to the right, running parallel to the original crack. *jb

Very small stone hit the windshield of my 2003 honda element, and the windshield cracked.*ak

Defect in winshield after 500 miles (cracked). *ak

Windshield on 2004 honda element spontaneously cracked. started below drivers side wiper blade and headed straight up. no rock or sand pits. the honda element owner club website has hundreds of people who are having this problem with mixed responses from honda and their dealers. even if covered by warranty what do we do when it expires? drive around with cracks all over our windshields? dealer said there are no tsbs on this but owners club website has them. dealer did say on phone that if a stress fracture they will replace but warned if there is any sign of a rock they won't and that it is obvious if it is a rock. no sign of any pit at all. if you read the owner's club website you see much discussion on what is a very obvious problem that honda has that thye aren't really dealing with very openly. thanks.*ak

Rattles coming from the right side of the windshield/dashboard when hitting small pot holes. creaking noises coming the right rear side of the vehicle at any speed. slight rattles coming from the left passenger door behind the driver seat. seatbelts do not retract completely. they're often get caught between doors causing pain and body damages. *ak

The front windshield developed a crack in the driver's side corner near the bottom. *ak the crack occurred spontaneously without an impact from an object. *sc

Service manager discredited consumer's claim that technical service bulletin or warranty to correct crack on the windshield. (nar) *la *cb

Structural defect with windshield. 17 day old element developed 16 inch crack in windshield overnight. started at gap in molding under wipers, continued up for 3" and then 13" towards driver side a-pillar. sales dealer said may have been caused by pebble and would have to pay out of pocket, ie, no warranty or goodwill. after complaint letter to dealer, service manager told me they might be able to replace it as goodwill one time only. went to glass experts who found "bubble and burr"/structural defect around windshield causing stress fracture. had them replace with honda glass. second windshield had hundreds of pits in glass. third honda windshield now installed. scared to have family drive in car due to "soft" honda windshields, as windshield is integral structural component in airbag deployment and rollover. i don't want to be the first plaintiff in a class action lawsuit ala ford/firestone. please help us element owners. *jb