2005 Honda Element LX from North America - Comments

Cracked windshield, no apparent reason. 20,000 miles.

Location: directly in front of the driver starting at about three inches from windshield wiper and stops at about on inch from top of window. Only noticed it because it started raining and the water collected along the invisable hairline crack. I got the car new in July 2005 and it has about 20,000 miles. I will head off to the dealership to see if they do me right. Since the dealership is sensitive to how I report my service satisfaction when Honda does their follow up survey, if they don't make it right (i.e. replace at no cost), I will politely decline having them replace it and let them know I plan to go directly to Honda. This is the third Honda in my family and 10th Honda among my extended family. So the count is 13 Honda cars, I would say it is in their best interest to make this right. Concerns I have with my plan are if I have a third party replace the windshield will it in anyway effect my warranty and second; from doing internet searches, it seeems like this design flaw was not effectively addressed and perhaps the 2005, like the 2003 and 2004 models should be addressed through a revision of the warranty to cover this issue. What do you folks think?

I test drove an Element and liked the vehicle, but after noticing so many reports of cracked windshields, I didn't buy one. I think this has to be a design problem. Maybe because it lacks a center pillar the body flexes too much causing cracks. Who know for sure, but Honda should come up with a repair for the problem.

I never thought about a design flaw, but I've had 2 cracks in my windshield of my 2005 Element.

I purchased a 2005 Element for snow birding to Florida. On the return home last week the windshield cracked. No other cars were around us at the time, and I had just washed the windshield 5 miles or so prior to the crack appearing. Waiting on my dealers action at this time. Crack started upper corner of passenger side and is now about 18 inches long.

Canada Toronto area. 2005 Honda Element (sept 2005). Early June 2006, heard something hit windshield, didn't see any cracks. 1 or 2 days later, discovered 5 inch crack starting about in the middle from the very top. 2 days after that became 6 inch crack. 1 day after that crack curves towards the passenger side, about 15 inch long total now.

Do I have anything to go on. Can I repair, or replace?

Anyone know the non-insurance and insurance rates for a replacement?

Can I just leave the crack, knowing that the Element has a possible flawed windshield design, and can expect more cracks? I don't mind looking at the crack so long as it doesn't hurt me?

Are there any liability issues on Honda's part? I mean, them knowing that the customer thinks it's hopeless and might start hurting people, perhaps Honda thinks it might be cheaper to actually offer (ahum) free repairs?

I don't own an Element, but I have had a cracked windshield in the past. You're going to have to replace the entire thing. If you don't the next time you take a good bump you could actually have it spiderweb on you while your driving. It won't shatter into a million pieces because it's saftey glass, but you wouldn't be able to see through it at all.

Most glass shops will even pay the insurance deductable (generally about $300) and repair it for "free".

I would welcome a broken windshield, then maybe I could see things to the left and right of me. Seriously the blind spots from the windshield pillers is really dangerous.

I bought a 2005 Honda Element in June 2005, and in that time I've replaced the windshield three times and have had to repair as many "spider" cracks. Even a small "ding" from a rock turns into a major horizontal crack in a matter of days if not filled. Most cracks seem to emanate from the bottom center area of the windshield. Dealer will not address the problem. Wish I had read more about the Element before I bought one. I like the roominess and versatility of my Element, but I'm getting fed up with the windshield problem. It's getting to the point where I dread having to drive on the highway. Highway driving = big bucks on windshield repairs.

All cracks have occurred while driving on the highway at appropriate speeds: no wind or other harsh conditions have been present. I now have over $1000 in windshield repairs in this car and it's not yet 2 years old. Does anyone know of a pending class action suit regarding the windshield problem for the 2005 Element?

19:29 Are you kidding? You want to sue Honda because you follow too closely and get hit with rocks? Rocks do in fact break glass. Honda engineering is good, but I don't think they're quite able to change the laws of physics yet.

I've had my 2005 Element since August of 2005. Had a major crack in windshield that happened on the highway... NO OTHER VEHICLES IN SIGHT, GREAT WEATHER, ETC... it just cracked without reason or cause, and continued to expand across the windshield. It is OBVIOUSLY a design flaw. Then after having it replaced with genuine Honda glass... it had problems with the sealing. No water leaked, but it screamed with intolerable wind noise as soon as I hit 45-50 mph. I love the Element in all respects except the windshield. It is so handy and easy to haul things and people. But if it costs me any more to fix the windshield, it is going to have to GO!

There is a class lawsuit against Honda for defective windshield mounts, pertaining to03 and 04 models. They claim to have fixed the problem! 05 models don't fall in the lawsuit.