NHTSA Complaint #10078843 — 2003 HONDA ELEMENT

2003 HONDA ELEMENT EXPERIENCE A SECOND WINDSHIELD FAILURE AT ~15000 MILES. FIRST FAILURE WAS REPORTED UNDER COMPLAINT 10078841. SIMILAR TO THE FIRST FAILURE, THE DEALER IDENTIFIED A SMALL ROCK STRIKE AND DENIED COVERAGE UNDER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY. THE CRACK IS 12 INCHES LONG, RUNNING DIAGONALLY FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE UPPER CORNER TOWARD THE DRIVER SIDE CORNER. THE FRAGILITY OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE HONDA ELEMENT IS UNUSUAL AND ABNORMAL. HONDA MOTOR CO. IS IN DENIAL AND IS COSTING CONSUMERS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES. IN 30 YRS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED WINDSHIELD FAILURES LIKE THIS. THE BODY OF THIS VEHICLE IS QUITE FLEXIBLE. WARRANTY WORK HAS BEEN REQUIRED ON THE BODY TO ELIMINATE SQUEAKS CAUSED BY A RUBBING AT A WELDED SEAM UNDER THE WINDSHIELD COWLING. THE DEALER SPREAD THE SEAM (BETWEEN EACH WELD POINT) WITH A SCREWDRIVER AND FILLED THE CAVITY WITH A FLEXIBLE COMPOUND. THE SQUEAKS STOPPED, BUT, THERE APPEARS TO BE A BIGGER PROBLEM. IS THIS WINDSHIELD GOING TO WITHSTAND AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND KEEP THE BAG IN THE VEHICLE TO CUSHION OCCUPANTS? CONSIDERING THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SEEN IN FORUMS, HONDA MOTOR CO. NEEDS TO COME OUT OF DENIAL AND START ADDRESSING THE DESIGN FLAW IN THIS VEHICLE THAT CAUSES WINDSHIELDS TO FRACTURE UNDER NORMAL USE. *JB