NHTSA Complaint #10025934 — 2003 HONDA ELEMENT

THIS IS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT, PURCHASED MAY 22ND, 2003. THE MILEAGE IS NOW 752 MILES.I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS AT 150 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. BOTH WERE BECAUSE OF DAMAGE FROM SMALL STONE CHIPS THAT WOULD NOT NORMALLY DAMAGE THE GLASS ON MOST OTHER VEHICLES. THE 733 MILES I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR WAS ON PAVED URBAN LOCAL ROADS AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35 AND 50 MPH. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT ONE OF, OR BOTH OF, THE FOLLOWING, COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FACTORS: A) THE WINDSHIELD GLASS IS POSSIBLY THINNER AND MOR FRAGILE THAN OTHERS. B) THE AERODYNAMICS OF THIS VEHICLE POSSIBLY CAUSES A HIGHER RATE OF DEBRIS HITS TO THE WINDSHIELD AREA THAN OTHER VEHICLES. WHATEVER THE CAUSE, I WOULD CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE WARRANTING INVESTIGATION. ADDITIONALLY, IF THE TREND WERE TO CONTINUE, REQUIRING WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS, WHO COULD AFFORD THE MAINTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE? *AK