NHTSA Complaint #10296685 — 2008 HONDA ELEMENT

WHILE STANDING NEXT TO OUR 2008 HONDA ELEMENT, WHICH WAS PARKED BESIDE OUR HOUSE UNDER THE CARPORT, THE REAR SIDE WINDOW OF THE CAR SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED AND STRUCK BOTH MY WIFE AND I WITH GLASS. WE WERE NOT INJURED BY THE SAFETY GLASS. THE WINDOW SEEMED TO EXPLODE, FROM THE INSIDE OUT, AND GLASS PIECES FLEW OVER A WIDE AREA. NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR, AND THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHADE, UNDER THE CARPORT, AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 40 DEGREES. THERE IS NO CHANCE THAT ANYTHING COULD HAVE STRUCK THE WINDOW SINCE IT WAS FAR OFF THE STREET IN OUR DRIVEWAY BEHIND OUR IRON GATE. THE SHATTERED WINDOW WAS PROTECTED FROM THE POSSIBILITY OR FLYING OBJECTS BY OUR HOUSE. WE HAVE READ REPORTS ONLINE WHERE THIS SAME SITUATION HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER HONDA ELEMENTS. NO PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED EXCEPT THE WINDOW, WHICH MUST BE REPLACED. HAD THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WE THINK THE SURPRISE AND VIOLENCE OF THE EXPLODING WINDOW COULD HAVE CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION, INCLUDING A CRASH. IF WE HAD A PASSENGER OR CHILD IN THE REAR SEAT, THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK WITH GLASS. APPROXIMATELY 20 PERCENT OF THE GLASS PIECES WERE IN THE VEHICLE, WITH THE REST FALLING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. *TR