NHTSA Complaint #10111820 — 2003 HONDA ELEMENT

MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT HAS DEVELOPED A STRESS CRACK IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER IN THAT IS SIMILAR THAT REPORTED BY HUNDREDS OF ELEMENT OWNERS. THIS OCCURED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IS CONSISTENT WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A HONDA TSB ADDRESSING CRACKED WINDSHEILDS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. TWO HONDA DEALERSHIPS ARROGANTLY DISMISSED IT AS BEING CAUSED BY A PEBBLE CHIP; HOWEVER THE ALLEGED "CHIP" WAS A SMALL PIT THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF SAND. THE FIRST DEALER INDICATED HE LOCATED A SMALL DICONTINUITY IN THE PATH OF THE CRACK THAT WAS PIN SIZED. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP ALLEGED THAT HE LOCATED SIX PINHOLES, NONE OF WHICH WERE VISABLE TO ME OR DETECTED BY THE FIRST DEALERHIP! THE INSPECTION TECHNIQUE AND RESULTING DISMISSAL OF THE CLAIM APPEARED TO BE COACHED FROM SOME HONDA FACTORY ISSUED DIRECTIVE TO AVOID DOCUMENTATION OF THIS WIDESPREAD DEFECT. DOZENS OF WEBSITE POSTINGS ARE AVAILABLE WHICH DOCUMENTS SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH MANY ALSO DESCRIBING THE ALLEGED DETECTION OF A PINHEAD SIZE PIT ON THE SURFACE OF THE CRACK DIRECTLY UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT HONDA IS ATTEMPTING TO COVER UP THIS DEFECT TO AVOID A RECALL OR A"SECRET WARRANTY" SITUATION.*AK