2003 Honda Element EX AWD from North America - Comments

I am on windshield number 6 for my 2003 Element. The dealer says they know there is a problem, but Honda Inc. will not admit it. It will be my last Honda.

I purchased a used 2003 Honda Element in March of this year (2005) Before purchase I called a family friend who owned the same model for his review. He too loved the Element and advised the only problem he had experienced was a cracked Windshield. He advised that it was addressed by Honda and they did in fact cover the repair. Yesterday I saw a 8 inch crack starting at the bottom right of my windshield running across, just as he described. I can only hope that I will get the same service from Honda. I plan on taking these comments with me to the dealer. This many reports cannot be ignored. I'll post again once I talk to my dealer.

I purchased a 2004 Element in July of 2004. In December, I experienced my first broken windshield which the dealer promptly took out there ball point pen to find the chip. I called Honda customer service and after a few weeks I had the windshield replaced as "Good Will". In beginning of April, I got my second broken windshield. After being informed of this problem from websites like this one and others, I decided to trade in the Element and bought a 2005 Civic. Better gas mileage, but it is much smaller. Still, I think its better than paying $1000 a year in broken windshields. I also had a 2002 Accord, which I had absolutely no problem with.

I have owned an element since 2004 and have NOT experienced any cracks in the windshield. Due to the nature of the slope of the windshield, it makes sense that rocks will hit it due to the air stream. I just usually try and be a little more careful when I see a dump truck or gravel truck. I owned a Jeep Cherokee prior to this vehicle and replaced four windshields so the problem is not just with the Element, but any vehicle with a more vertical type of windshield.

Hi Elementees-

My husband and I bought our Element in 2004 (a 2003 model). We had to replace our windshield in November after a rock chip that soon became a full windshield crack. The rock chip happened the first year we had it, but we failed to replace it quickly. We had it fixed only to reach December and a NEW crack! There is a definite problem here.

We have not yet replaced our windshield because we don't have the money to be continually replacing it.

We loved the idea of an Element as our family car since we are non-mini-van people- but this has been a little too much.

Has anyone had the problem where their driver's side door lock no longer works? We can't unlock or lock the door from the outside of the driver's side! We have to key open the door from the passenger's side and then reach over inside the car and unlock all the doors! UGH!

I'll tell you though- it is a hard car to give up. I can pile both of the kids and all of our gear into it and still have room.

I had my 2004 Element 10 days, when while following a large dual wheeled pickup truck--- POW! I saw it coming, a large piece of gravel struck my windshield just under the drivers side wiper blade. It left a whitish, crusty crater, also about the size of a ballpoint pen tip. 2 months later- POW! did not see this one coming, it made the crater and 2 small cracks radiating from the crater, looks like a tiny bird is flying in the left edge of the windshield at that impact point. I also found a chip in the paint, right on the front edge of the hood, no doubt another stone. I have not replaced the windshield, even tho my state's insurance covers them 100%.

I have a few sound theories about windshields and rocks--- you are much more likely to be hit after a heavy rain- the stones that collect along the shoulders of the road and along the curbs get washed out into the road, where it is much more likely to be cast up by wheels of other cars. Also, the grooves on modern tires are much wider than they used to be. This is so they can funnel more water out from underneath themselves where the tread contacts the road, lessening the chance of hydroplaning, a definite plus. The larger grooves also trap larger stones, which cause more damage when flung off of the tire by inertia and strike something, like your windshield. Windshield glass is also thinner than it used to be, and so are side glasses and rear glasses. Primarily they are thinner to save weight which translates into better fuel economy.

My 2003 (only have 21k miles on it) windshield cracked from top to bottom yesterday for no reason - I didn't notice any rocks hitting or anything.

The passenger side door lock has always been stubborn, and now the drivers side is next to impossible to get in. Sometimes I have to crawl in from the back (!) and open the door from inside.

I love the car for it's utility space, great sound system, and all wheel drive/ anti lock brakes etc.. But, I almost drove into some pedestrians one day because of the blind spot from huge front pillar (s). I added some stick on mirror thingie's 'cause I never feel like I can see other cars on my left corner. Weird - I use to have a Civic Wagon and avoided potential accidents a few times because of the great visibility, but that car was a slug compared to the Element and it's V-tech 4 banger.

I'm 6-2 and love the roominess and headroom - I thought it was the ugliest car I'd ever seen when checking it out for the first time, but the interior sold me (I haul a lot of musical equipment around).

Now the outside doesn't look so bad at all - there's a lot of other ugly cars out there now that draw attention away from the Element I guess. (Scion, Aztec, The Mercedes SUV, the new Toyota Suv - NOW THAT'S UGLY!)

2004 Element.

We had the windshield replaced after 3 months due to wind coming into the poorly sealed bead. About a year later, we had a small rock hit the windshield and it caused a large crack given the small size and relatively light impact. I have had rocks that sounded like gunshots hit my other cars with just a chip, but no crackage (or starring). Several other issues regarding the electrical system were experienced.

If you're considering this car and looking for fuel economy, look elsewhere. Despite the Civic motor, you'll most likely see about 20-22 mpg in this type of vehicle.

I have a 2003 Honda Element EX 2WD: The drivers side key lock cylinder went bad to the point of not accepting the key - so I began entering through the passenger side. Then the passenger side lock did the same, and I had to unlock the back door and crawl through. Recently I brought it in and they couldn't fix the locks, so I ended up installing key-less entry because it was cheaper than buying new lock cylinders. Though, I'm considerably bummed because having the problem isn't cheap either.

For all of those who own 03 and 04 Honda Elements with cracked windshields. A class action lawsuit has been brought against Honda and settled where Honda is extending the warranty on the vehicle to 6 years or 60,000 miles and is replacing the cracked windshields at no cost WITHOUT the "pen-test". Which is where they would normally run a ball point pen along the crack until they find a small divot then tell you it was caused by an impact and therefore not covered. You can find the details at this site:

Http://www.gilardi.com/pdf/hdel1exten.pdf.

I have 2004 Honda Element and I have the same problem. I bought it used about a year ago, and it happened twice. Is there any recall from Honda on this matter?

I've had exactly the same problem (August 6, 2007 comment) with my Element's drivers-side key lock cylinder going bad to the point of not accepting the key. I installed a new one and now it's going bad! How widespread is this problem?

How does your key look? I wore down the key on my Honda Accord and it would not accept anything.

A number of websites (carsurvey, elementownersclub, consumerguideauto) document similar experiences with the door lock. I tried your suggestion of using a new key (the old one did look worn) but it worked for only about a week before the problem started again. Something tells me I'll be getting rid of this car rather than buy a second door lock. What a shame Honda hasn't assumed responsibility for correcting the problem.

I had the door lock cylinder replaced on April 2005. Purchased the Element May of 2003. On Nov. 3rd 2007 I had to climb into the car from the trunk end (since neither of the doors can be opened with my key). Since I have no warranty there will be a charge. I am still getting into the car through the trunk end because the quote I got for the repair of the two door locks was about $600.00. So now I've called customer relations. I hope I get a call back as promised. I really think the door lock cylinders are just defective. Any one have any info? PS I too have had windshield windows replaced. I am up to three replacements. Good to hear about the law suit unfortunately I have over 75,000 miles. Oh well.