NHTSA Complaint #10055198 — 2003 HONDA ELEMENT

12-INCH CRACK IN WINDSHIELD ORIGINATING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE COWL BRANCHING UPWARDS. A COPY OF HONDA TSB 03-028, INDICATING THAT THE WINDSHIELD MAY CRACK IN THE LOWER CORNERS, WAS SHOWN TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE TSB AND STATED THAT A GRAIN-SIZED "PIT" IN THE GLASS UNDER THE WIPER BLADE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CRACK. AS MY AUTO FALLS WITHIN THE VIN # RANGE OF AFFECTED VEHICLES, THIS WOULD INDICATE THAT MY SUV IS SUCEPTIBLE TO WINDSHIELD CRACKING. I CAN UNDERSTAND IF A LARGE ROCK CAUSED THE DAMAGE, BUT THE "PIT" IN THE WINDSHIELD WAS NO LARGER THAN THE PERIOD AT THE END OF THIS SENTENCE. THIS WINDSHIELD APPEARS WEAKER THAN THE INDUSTRY NORM AND CANNOT HANDLE EVEN MINUTE STRESSES. HONDA NEEDS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, NOT KEEP HAVING THEIR CUSTOMERS CONTINUALLY PAY FOR NEW WINDSHIELDS.*AK