2003 Honda Element EX review from North America

I've replaced the Element windshield 3 times. Every replacement made loud wind noises and rattled.

The first windshield broke from a small rock on the freeway. It chipped the glass and a large crack developed. I went to the auto glass vendor a total of 8 times and 2 times to the Honda dealership trying to get the noise fixed. The auto vendor replaced the 2nd windshield free, but the windshield still rattled and the whistling noise continued.

Then while driving on the freeway another rock hit the windshield and cracked the glass again! Right away a a long horizontal crack developed, but the noise went away. I drove with the huge crack for over a year. Last week I finally replaced the windshield again because the crack was almost completely across the windshield. I went to a different glass vendor. I did't tell the new glass vendor anything about the trouble I had with the other windshields. After he did the work, he told me he replaced the windshield on one Element 5 times because of the noise!

My newest windshield is whistling and rattling. I called the Honda dealership I bought the vehicle from. I spoke to the service manager and the assistant manager. Then I called the Honda corporate headquarters. No one seems to have heard of this problem before.

I like the vehicle, the seats are comfortable and the interior is roomy. I feel pretty safe in it while driving. It's not a car to drive too fast as it doesn't seem to grip the road as much as I'd like it too. I was by a semi truck on the freeway and the front end seemed to lift up, not leaving me with much control as it's a front wheel drive.

The radio/cd player is great!