NHTSA Complaint #10162183 — 2004 HONDA ELEMENT

MY WINDSHIELD HAS STARTED TO CRACK, VERY SIMILAR TO PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON THIS WEBSITE ABOUT EARLIER MODEL YEAR HONDA ELEMENTS. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH ABOUT 12 INCHES FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LEFT EDGE. THERE ARE NO, REPEAT NO CHIPS OR DINGS THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS EVENT. IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT HONDA IS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE ADDITIONAL MODEL YEAR ELEMENTS. THOSE PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED THAT THE WELDED SEAMS ALONG WHERE THE WINDSHIELD RESTS ON THE FRAME HAD HIGH SPOTS THAT WERE CAUSING THE STRESS CRACKS. CURRENTLY, THE CRACK IS ABOUT 12 INCHES LONG, BUT GROWS A LITTLE MORE EVERY WEEK. SURE, I COULD HAVE MY INSURANCE COMPANY REPLACE IT, AND I PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE, BUT THIS IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM THAT HONDA HAS BEEN HAVING AND I EXPECT HONDA TO FIX IT, ESPECIALLY SINCE ACCORDING TO THE STATE ON MARYLAND, CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ARE A SAFETY CONCERN, SO I EXPECT THIS AGENCY TO FORWARD THIS COMPLAINT TO HONDA. *JB