Windshield Problems of Honda Element - part 2

The contact owns a 2005 Honda Element. While driving 65 mph,the contact observed a crack in the front windshield 7 or 8 months after the vehicle was purchased. The vehicle was purchased in 10/2005. The current mileage was 35,000 ,and the failure mileage was 15,000. The windshield has not been repaired.

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A stress crack appeared in the windshield of my 2004 Honda Element. Crack began from below the plastic molding and below the left windshield wiper. There was no impact point from a rock or other object. Dealer attempted to blame it on a small chip in the area of the crack--chip was 1/2 mm in diameter and 1/4 of a mm in depth. I have numerous small chips like this and none have caused a crack. The dealer at first claimed the crack was caused by the small chip. After I pointed out other chips and also talked about the 2003 service bulletin and current lawsuit, the manager called the Honda rep. The Honda rep said they would replace it as a one time good will gesture--thus, relieving themselves of any liability.

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My Honda Element had a stress fracture in the windshield and the dealership refused to replace it.

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Stress crack(s) in windshield . Honda replaced one, refused to do more. Now on 4th windshield. Second Element has picked up 4 cracks in 6 months.

: the contact stated while the vehicle was pulling out, a crack formed in the corner of the front windshield. There was no debris present that caused the crack. The dealership determined the crack was caused by stress from the vehicle's structure. There were two TSB for the windshield, NHTSA item numbers 10009029 and 10001628. The vehicle is not included in either TSB because of the mileage.

Bought a new 2004 Honda Element in may 2004 and have had to replace windshield due to crack once plus repaired two stone chips. Paid for the replacement windshield out of own pocket as dealer would not replace after examining with pen. Once again received another cracked windshield yesterday after being hit by a rock on the highway on the way home.

: the contact stated the windshields cracked twice. Both windshields cracked within the same spot on the lower level passenger side of the front window. The first incident occurred on thanksgiving of 2005 at 50000 miles. The windshield was replaced at the dealer in January of 2006. And at 4000 miles after the replacement in April of 2006, the replacement windshield suffered the same damage. The colorado regional dealer manager came out on 06/21/06 and inspected the windshield. The manager determined the windshield looked like a rock crack. There were no tools or equipment utilized by the manager to determine the final decision. The final decision was the manufacturer will not be responsible for the windshield. On June 12th, the vehicle was taken into the dealership for an oil change and the windshield crack was worse. There was a class action lawsuit regarding the windshields (filed in los angeles California superior court case # bc319600, filed in 2004, no verdict yet).

Cracked windshield on the passenger side, broken driver's side visor and a horn that has one broken pitch, leaving the pitch very low, almost not noticeable. It has been that way for a year, but did not find this site until now. Too expensive to repair.

I have a 2004 Honda Element, I had to replace the windshield within the first 6 months of ownership. . . Fortunately the dealer considered it a "stress crack" & replaced the windshield at no cost to me. Within a few months, I noticed another crack, I have chosen not to repair it as it was in a non-critical area. It has now been about 1 year & there are now 3 cracks in the "new" windshield. . . Clearly this is a design flaw. I have owned several other vehicles & have never had to replace windshields like this?.

I was driving south on highway 395 in califronia coming back from mammoth mountain in my 04 Honda Element when I heard a loud crack from my windshield and discovered an l shape crack from the passenger side, there was not a car in front of me. After I got home the crack grew 4 inches upward. Went to two different dealers both told me it is cause by a rock hit. I called Honda customer service, they will not repair it under warranty since it was cause by a rock, I did a search on google, this seem to be a common problem for Honda Element. I finally have the windshield replace, old windshield was destroyed by the repair shop.

One morning I got into car and windshield was cracked top center. The car is always garaged.

Cracked windshield on lower passenger side of vehicle. Not caused by flying debris. According to other Honda Element owners online, this is a common occurrence and is happening in the same general location on windshield. A stress fracture seems to be the common conclusion as to the cause.

I own a 2004 Honda Element ex. In approximately December 2004, the windshield suffered three linear cracks within a two week period of time. I did not observe or hear any road debris struck the windshield or cause these cracks. One crack emanated from the lower corner on the passenger side, one from approximately mid-point on a-pillar on the passenger side, and one from the lower driver's side corner. A service manager reviewed the cracks and determined that two of the cracks were caused by road debris because of a minute pit in each of the two cracks. He did not observe a pit in the third crack and replaced the windshield under warranty. In approximately December 2005 the windshield suffered four cracks within a three week period of time. The cracks occurred at separate times and at different locations. Three of the four cracks were starburst cracks and have not spread. One of the starburst cracks occurred on the driver's side and I observed what appeared to be small stone cause the crack. I heard the subsequent two starburst cracks occur on the passenger side. The fourth crack is a linear crack emanating from the upper corner on the driver's side. It increases in size by approximately 1/4 inch overnight, as it is longer each morning when I get in the car. The crack has traveled into the driver's line of vision. There is a Honda TSB for 2003 Honda Elements noting possible stress fractures in the windshield due to manufacturing defect. I am not aware of a similar notice for 2004 model year, nor am I aware of any recall notice for any model year. I am concerned that there a defect in the mounting surface of the windshield that may result in such stress fractures. I am also concerned that quality of glass used for the windshield not sufficient for road use. The inherent risk caused by this apparent defect warrants investigation and/or remedy.

Windshield on 2003 Honda Element developed a crack (without any impact) which originated from lower edge (below wiper, drivers side) and within 24 hours had spread across the entire width of the windshield.

2003 Honda Element. . . Front windshield is cracked from one side to the other. . . Will have to pay for a 2nd replacement. . . Bought the car in September 2003. . . 1st windshield replacement April 2004. . . 2nd replacement December 2005.

Honda Element defective windshield has stress cracks at both ends. Honda has refused to admit there is a problem with the windshield design or installation. Both cracks happened while vehicle was parked in a garage, there is no road damage from rocks or other impacts related to the cracks. The vehicle is now unsafe to drive until the windshield is replaced.

Windshield developed a crack starting from below the right wiper blade and goes up 4 inches and then toward the right pillar 12 inches no visible "hit" mark crack just appeared.

Windshield cracked without an impact by flying object.

I have owned my Honda Element for two weeks now. . . . First time on the freeway going around 65-70 miles per hour. At a substantial following distance recieved one chip and one large ding/crack in my windshield from oncoming debris--all within the space of one half hour. Researched internet only to find that among other complaints there is a class action lawsuit pending right now about this very design flaw in the Honda Element--many suggest it can be fixed by Honda simply reinforcing the glass and flattening the flanges around the windshield to prevent the inordinate amount of dings and cracking. I contacted my dealer and they said it was my problem--but ive done more research only to find that Honda has sent TSB's out to many dealers advising them to fix this problem for the 2003-2004 models. My dealer tells me they can't help me.

2003 Honda Element defective windshield. Easily cracks.

Cracked windshield - passenger side - low area.

Windshield on my 2 month old Honda Element has a crack and we do not think it was hit by a rock.

Pulled out of a parking lot onto a major street. When pulling out it is across a very uneven spot in the road putting the vehicle in a bind. At this time the windshield "popped" and cracked in the lower right hand corner. Windshield is now broken and needs to be replaced. Unsafe for highway usage. Dealership flatly said it was not their problem and sent me on my way.

Windshield has cracked 3 times over a 6 month period.

The windshield on my 2003 Honda Element cracked in the center rising up from the bottom edge. The crash is 18" long approx. The dealer said it was from a rock and not covered. The "rock" chip is barely visible. It's more like a tiny pit from a piece of sand. I believe the Element has a design flaw which causes cracks from the flexing of the frame or cheap glass.

Hello, I purchased a 2003 Honda Element with a cracked windshield in February, 2006. I had the windshield replaced and now it is cracked once again in pretty much the same place.

My 2003 Honda Element developed a crack below the driver side wiper that goes up three inches then does a 90 degree right turn then travels approxiamately two feet horizontally then does another 90 degree turn down into window bead. There is a very very slight "dink" in the windshield along the crack but your fingernail barely catches in it. I believe as do many other 2003 Element owners that there is undue stress on the corners of the windshield and this is what caused the damage. I believe this is a design flkaw that should be covered by Honda.

I was waiting to cross over the bay bridge and a crack surfaced out of nowhere from the lower driver side of the windshield. It was extremely hot that day, temperature in excess of 90f.

Windshield cracked started from below passenger side wiper and spreading toward middle and upward. Just as everyone else.

Walked out to vehicle in the afternoon, noticed windshield was cracked. Crack grew over the next few hours to about 9". Started in lower part of windshield (near VIN marker)went vertical for about 3" then ran horizontal for 6".

Consumer says that he has a cracked windshield on his vehicle. Consumer says that there is a class action suit going on for this same reason. Consumer found suit on internet. Consumer says that windshield cracked by itself. Consumer took vehicle to dealer and dealer told consumer that a pebble or rock hit window and caused crack. Consumer says that place dealer pointed out on window was the size of a pin head. Consumer believes that windshield was not struck by anything. Consumer has no ideal what caused the crack. Consumer is the only person to drive vehicle and he is not aware of anything ever striking window. Consumer first noticed crack after arriving at work, going into office, and a coworker who had road to work with consumer, told consumer about noticing the crack. This was morning July 9, 2005. Office is located in verona, new jersey. Consumer has looked on internet to find that there are many complaints regarding cracked windshields of same make and model vehicle. Consumer is not aware of where the windshield crack may have happened.

Windsheild on 2005 Element has 14 in crack.

I have had two window glass issues with my Honda Element. (1) in dec04 while driving 30 miles to work, 5 windsheld cracks appeared. All started at edges of glass and moved inward. They were located at the bottom and side edges. (2) in july05 I left work to discover that my right rear window had exploded. Police officer reported that this was not a criminal act, but more likely an error with glass installation. I reported the later incident to Honda and they refuse to repair/replace under my warrenty. And will not take any responablity for this faulty glass.

Honda needs to admit fault on their windshields and recall their Elements. My windshield cracked and dealer will not make good on their defects.

For the second time my windshield has cracked on my 2003 Honda Element. The cracks are considered stress fractures caused by a manufacturing defect.