2003 Honda Element Reviews from North America - Page 9 of 12

The windshield has cracked three times.

The windshield cracking 3 times has seriously started to annoy me, especially since I've only owned the car for 1.5 years.

Aside from the windshield, my only other complaint would be the lack of air flow in the vehicle. The back windows should open up more, not just crack open an inch.

The design is perfect and quite comfortable for cross-country trips.

I haven't it owned this car long enough to experience problems.

So far I have had this car three weeks.

I bought it used with 19k. I wasn't worried though, I know Honda reliability having owned two Civics.

It is very spacious. I have two big dogs, and they look small in the back with the chairs removed.

I have read that the rear chairs were hard to move, and I thought it was easy.

MPG is great 24 - 28 with A/C on 90% of the time.

I am only 5'6" and I feel small in it. I had three people with me and they couldn't believe how spacious it was. They all had to take turns sitting in front seat.

I the turning radius is a big thumbs up.

My previous car was horrible, and it was considered compact. That was the first thing I noticed when I test drove it.

I have had 4 windshield cracks in the last 12 months for a total of $1000 extra, paid into owning the car. I really do love the car and its versatility, but unless the windshield stops being a problem, I will have to sell the vehicle and get a different one.

All of the windshield cracks have happened in the same general circumstances - highway driving at speeds between 55 and 75 miles per hour. I don't get cracked windshields every time I get on the highway, but I'm starting to get the feeling that I should only drive on back roads at slow speeds.

The Element seems to be prone to getting cracks in the windshield.

Original windshield cracked after 2300 miles - dealer claimed it was a rock chip that was located under the passenger windshield wiper, but ended up replacing it as a "good will" gesture because I had bought several vehicles there. Original windshield had also suffered numerous micro-rock chips, as I had done most of the miles on the highway. After having the new windshield 4 weeks, there were multiple rock chips in it also after making several road trips. Either the glass used is not strong enough or the angle of the windshield is causing a problem. Honda really needs to address this problem or they are going to lose a lot of customers over this.

Other than the windshield problems, the car is a real treat to drive, is comfortable on long trips, and is basically ideal for me and the way I use it. Unfortunately if I have to keep replacing windshields on it I don't know if it's going to be worth keeping. If they ever do get the windshield problem fixed, I would probably get another one, I like it that much.