NHTSA Complaint #10028380 — 2003 HONDA ELEMENT

MY WINDSHIELD HAS A TINY 1MM SPOT WHERE A TINY PEBBLE MUST HAVE HIT IT AND FROM THAT I NOW HAVE A 18" CRACK STRETCHING FROM THE LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER TO THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. I'M CERTAIN THAT THE TINY SPOT WOULD NOT HAVE SPREAD INTO THAT SIZE OF A CRACK IF THERE WASN'T SO MUCH STRESS PLACED ON THE WINDSHIELD BY THE "UNEVEN WINDSHIELD FLANGE SURFACE" THAT HONDA ITSELF ADMITS TO ON THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN 03-028. MY ELEMENT VIN #FALLS INTO THE RANGE ON THE SERVICE BULLETIN BUT HONDA WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT THAT STARTED THE CRACK. I'VE HAD ROCKS HIT OTHER VEHICLES I'VE OWNED AND THEY HAVE NEVER SPREAD INTO A CRACK, MUCH LESS ONE THIS SIZE. IF HONDA ELEMENT OWNERS HAVE TO REPLACE THEIR WINDSHIELD EVERYTIME A PEBBLE HITS IT, OUR INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL END UP RAISING OUR RATES. HONDA NEEDS TO COME TO A RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. *AK