2004 HONDA ELEMENT Steering Problems

Just like the same era's Honda CR-V (the Honda Element's sibling car with many of the same components), the undercarriage rust on my vehicle is excessive: as described in the same era Honda CR-V's NHTSA Recall (23V-228). Large sections of my car’s rear frame are completely missing, and as shown in the photographs even the rear bumper fell off because of all of the rust. Just like with the CR-V, a recall for the rear frame corrosion first occurred in Canada and then in the US: see NHTSA Recall 23V-228’s chronology. The Honda Element's Canadian recall is as follows: "Transport Canada Recall - 2021024 – HONDA". As of today, there is no NHTSA recall for rear frame corrosion for Honda Elements. I am submitting this complaint for this car now, and also contemporaneously am submitting complaints under different VINs for my other Elements with rust problems: every Honda Element that...

While driving down a city street, heard a very loud crack/bang, and lost control of the vehicle. Fortunately I was going slow, 20-30mph and was able to safely stop. Upon exiting the vehicle, the rear driver side wheel was hanging at a weird angle. Looking under the car, the entire trailing arm and wheel assembly has broken off of the frame. If I was going faster, or had been on the highway, this would have caused an accident/rollover and injury for sure. Looking online for more information, I see that this is a known issue, and Honda has already issued a recall, but only for Canada. Vehicle was towed to and inspected by a AAA certified auto shop; they have written it off as a total loss, and suggest to sell the vehicle for parts. I contacted Honda, and they have told me to take it to a dealership for...

I TOOK MY HONDA ELEMENT TO THE DEALER COMPLAINING OF A VIBRATION IN THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT MY COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS NEEDED REPLACED BUT AXLES WERE FINE. I PICKED UP MY CAR ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION, THE MECHANIC CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE RIGHT AXLE WAS BAD. I HAD THAT REPLACED STILL HAVE A VIBRATION. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD TO REPLACE THE LEFT AXLE. I CAME UPON AN INTERESTING THREAD ON A FORUM STATING THAT HONDA HELD EDUCATION MEETINGS ABOUT THE FRAME CAUSING THE AXLES TO WEAR INCORRECTLY. INNER JOINT BEARINGS ROLLING OUT OF JOINT, ABNORMAL WEAR. NOT OUTSIDE OF THE SURFACE OF THE BEARINGS BUT ACTUAL INSIDE BEARINGS OCTAGONED. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 68, 000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A HONDA SERVICE MANAGER THAT IT IS EXTREMELY RARE FOR ONE AXLE TO...

WHILE DRIVING DOWN EXPRESSWAY, STEERING WHEEL TILT LOCK CAME LOOSE ALLOWING STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE UP & DOWN. AFTER STOPPING & RAISING TILT LEVER TO UPWARD POSITION (LOCK), I CONTINUED ON AND IT DID IT AGAIN (LEVER FALLING DOWN). NOW LEVER WILL NOT REMAIN IN "UP" OR "LOCKED" POSITION. VERY UN-NERVING WHEN BRAKING OR TURNING. AWAITING RETURN CALL FROM OUT OF TOWN HONDA DEALER. LOCAL HONDA DEALER SAID THEY WANTED $90.00 UP FRONT AS A "DIAGNOSTIC FEE" BEFORE THEY WOULD EVEN LOOK AT IT........

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE'S STEERING LOCKED. THE VEHICLE'S TIRE VALVE WAS FAULTY AND RESULTED IN A FLAT TIRE. *NM WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY MALFUNCTION. *JB