NHTSA Complaint #10435849 — 2003 HONDA ELEMENT

THE DOOR LOCKS ON THE HONDA ELEMENT ARE FAULTY. SO FAULTY IN FACT THAT A YEAR AFTER THE ELEMENTS WERE ADVERTISED, A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (06-068) WAS ISSUED FOR "DOOR LOCK CYLINDER BINDS". THIS TSB APPLIED TO 2003-2004 CIVICS, 2002-2003 CR-V, 2003 ELEMENTS. THE TSB INCLUDES THE AFFECTED VIN NUMBERS. ONCE THE DOOR CYLINDER STOPS WORKING YOU CANNOT GAIN ENTRY INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AFFECTED DOOR. FOR ME IT WAS THE DRIVERS DOOR AND I WAS FORCED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE VIA THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE HONDA SITE STATED THAT YOU SHOULD CONTACT THE DEALER AND ASK FOR RE NUMERATION AS THIS WAS A KNOWN FAILURE. THE HONDA DEALER LOCAL TO ME STATED THAT SINCE IT WASN'T A RECALL THEY WOULDN'T "GIVE ME A BREAK" ON THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HONDA SHOULD BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE SINCE THEY KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM. THE SAFETY ISSUE HERE LIES IN THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T ENTER YOUR VEHICLE QUICKLY IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. CLIMBING OVER SEATS IS CERTAINLY NOT A SAFE THING TO DO EITHER.