2003 Honda Element 4wd EX review from North America

Back seats that are supposed to drop down have webbing that releases each seat from the upright position. The left seat has the webbing completely missing, so I cannot put the seat upright. The dealer wants close to $300 to fix the webbing.

The right seat has a webbing problem also, this webbing is the webbing that releases the seat from the floor so that you can put the seat up out of the way or take the seat out. That webbing just sheared when I pulled on it. Also an approx quote of $300.

Now for a car that suggests 64 ways to configure the seats and the fact that we really don't raise and drop the seats all that often, shouldn't the webbing be much stronger and durable if it is an actual selling point for use of the car seating (64 ways)?

We love the car, but currently cannot take out one seat, and cannot have a 4th rider in the car due to the fact that the other back seat cannot be put in the upright seated position. Seems awfully expensive to pay nearly $600 or so dollars to get those seats fixed when they advertise so heavily about the multiple ways of configuring them, with unsuspecting folks finding out that the webbing is not very strong or durable.

We just want what is promised -a durable car with durable inner parts. Not webbing that breaks after very few uses.