Cracked windshield.....again. 2nd cracked windshield in two months. Told this was impact damage from dealer. Dealer pointed out microscopic "chip" at the seal line. 20+ years of driving never had a cracked windshield now have two.

- Dewitt, NY, USA

After a lot of complaining, to several dealers and Honda customer service, I finally had my windshield replaced after a 12" crack appeared from underneath the driver's side wiper blade one night in June 03. It took until December 03 to get this issue resolved. Honda customer service (800 number) was terrible and after a while they just kept repeating the same things over and over again. My dealership stepped up after I complained to the sales manager and let him know how many people ask about the car and exactly what I was going to start telling them-that we were getting treated poorly by Honda. They replaced it under "goodwill". a few weeks ago there was a small ding in the center of the windshield, no star, and we turned on the defrost and the windshield cracked from corner to corner before our eyes. Dealer claims this is totally normal behavior for a windshield. I let state farm know what was going on and they're looking into it. We are really disappointed--no, irate--with Honda, and not afraid to talk about it until the problem is taken care of for good.

- New Cumberland, PA, USA

A crack developed in the passenger's side lower corner at the base behind the windshield wiper that eventually spread up 8 inches and across 8 inches and back down to the base. There was never any type of evidence of any type of rock chipping or damage. I took the vehicle in to my local dealership, and they assured me that it would be covered under warranty to replace the windshield. The day it was to be replaced they called and said there was a problem. Now there is evidence of some magic "rock chip" and they went ahead and installed the new windshield anyway without my consent. Now they want their $553. Go figure. I also want to mention that this is the third such crack in under 7 months of owning my Honda Element. My VIN falls under the Honda service bulletin # 03-028 as having the defective windshield as well. It's all a scam! they want you to claim it on your insurance so they do not have to pay for all of these repairs. Then they try to hold your vehicle hostage if you don't pay them immediately. Something needs to be done about these gestapo tactics. They knowingly sold me a defective vehicle, and now they want to pass the buck to whomever will pay excluding themselves.

- Lancaster, OH, USA

Windshield on 2003 Honda Element found in garage with a crack near the bottom corner on the drivers side. The Honda dealer and regional service manager refused to replace the windshield under warranty even though there was no damage from any impact. This has become a growing problem with many of these vehicles which Honda has thusfar not taken care of.

- Lenexa, KS, USA

I purchased a 2003 Honda Element in Oct-03 and currently have 4400 miles on the vehicle. On 1-24-04 a very small pebble "nicked" my windshield ( no star) at the base ( just under the drivers side windshield wiper blade) causing a windshield crack that has grown to about 12 inches in length. I have driven vehicles over 35 years and have never had this experience with such a minor pebble hit. I checked the Honda website - see tech advisory( 03-028) but Honda authorizations are only for windshield cracked without any type of impact. I don't buy Honda's explanation. Glass stress is just that & stress on glass that is not properly installed, fitted, or designed will lead to cracks from minor impacts at a higher rate. I visited the www.hondaelement.org/showthread.php website and noted that 25 to 30 % of new Element owner complaints had to do with cracked windshields. In some cases owner had already replaced their windshields twice ($500 a pop). Honda's current policy is to side step the problem. This is unacceptable. This is a brand new vehicle and Honda has a responsibility to step up and work to solve the problem. I am also greatly concerned about having the windshield replaced before the problem is identified and solved. There are also a number of problems reported on the web site noted above regarding problems with improper installation/fit of new windshields (several attempts, persistent rattles, & cracks) after replacement. If Honda isn't going to step up - someone ( hopefully NHTSA) will. Accordingly, I am surprised at Honda's "head in the sand" attitude about this issue. I would like to receive feedback from NHTSA on the evolution of this problem if that is within your policy.

- Galdstone, OR, USA

12-inch crack in windshield originating from driver's side cowl branching upwards. A copy of Honda tsb 03-028, indicating that the windshield may crack in the lower corners, was shown to the dealer's service department. They were unaware of the tsb and stated that a grain-sized "pit" in the glass under the wiper blade was the cause of the crack. As my auto falls within the VIN # range of affected vehicles, this would indicate that my SUV is suceptible to windshield cracking. I can understand if a large rock caused the damage, but the "pit" in the windshield was no larger than the period at the end of this sentence. This windshield appears weaker than the industry norm and cannot handle even minute stresses. Honda needs to resolve this issue, not keep having their customers continually pay for new windshields.

- Foster City, CA, USA

On 1/24/04, I noticed a crack in my windshield while parked. The crack is in the lower right portion of the windshield, beginning approximately 4 inches from the bottom, extends 2 inches toward the center of the windshield, then makes a 90 degree bend straight down to the bottom. I took my vehicle to the dealer based on the tsb regarding the improper installation of windshields on '03 Honda Elements. The improper installation creates undue stress that results in cracking. The service manager identified a pinhead size impact mark under the side molding strip that he says caused the damage. Even with the tsb that I believe caused the crack to spread beyond repair, the dealer refuses to replace the glass and repair the defect under warranty.

- Dumfries, VA, USA

Spontaneous windshield crack.

- Sag Harbor, NY, USA

Less than a 1000 miles on the car - cracked windshield passenger side bottom corner- did not pass the "pen" test done at a dealer. No coverage so we replaced windshield at our own cost-

- Gypsum, CO, USA

Windshield cracked under wiper on right hand side. My dealer said they would not cover it under warrinty, said there is a small pit in crack from rock. The windshield is full of small pits. There is so many complaints on the Element message boards about cracked windshields more than any thing else there must be something wrong with the design.

- Woonsocket, RI, USA

Windshield has a stress crack in the bottom right corner. Manufacturer has agreed to fix the problem without cost to the owner. Due to malfunctioning and improperly finished rivets in the lower section of the window frame.

- Forest Grove, PA, USA

I have a 2003 Honda Element. It has approximately 2400 miles on it. My windshield has a crack, approximately 6 inches long, that began under the passenger side windshield wiper and curls to the right.

- Kent, WA, USA

Windshield crack of about 3-4 inches from bottom under passenger windshield wiper was "just there" in the morning after heavy snowfall and major defroster use. In two days, before I got to dealer to have it inspected, it had extended upwards about 6 more inches, in two more days, all the way across windshield to within 2 inched of windshield edge on driver's side. Now extended to lower driver's side corner. There was cold weather through out. Dealer pointed out miniscule pit on crack below passenger windshield wiper, said not covered under warranty because cause by rock chip, etc. There may have been a minor impact there, who is to say, but the "evidence" nearly requires magnifying glass to see&in fact I scraped ice away on windshield that very morning. In fact there are many other "pits on windshield, including others on crack. A piece of grit/tiny gravel may have impacted, near original area of crack, but should never have caused damage that ensued. There is a manufacturer's service bulletin for windshield cracks starting at lower corners caused by excessive stress due to design or installation of windshield/flanges, however my vehicle is outside the VIN range for that bulletin. My observation or belief is that excessive stress may still a factor, making windshield unacceptably susceptible to cracking during scraping ice of windshield and/or if there are chances of extremely minor impacts that would in other circumstances not cause problems.

- Caldwell, ID, USA

Windshield piys and cracks. I have 2 cracks in less that 1 month of ownership. The glass is easily pitted as I have driven mine on sanded roads briefly and have several hundred small pits, this is far in excess of any car or truck I have owned in over 30 years of thriving and ownership. These windshield are sticking poor!!!

- Laguna Niguel, CA, USA

Windshield cracked below both wipers. Started below plastic trim, both went vertical, and finally a horizontal crack connected them. Windshield has other "star" cracks that have remained static. Dealer is replacing is as "goodwill, " says its not the same as listed in the Honda tsb.

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

Crack on lower left side of windshield. Crack on lower right side of windshield. No objects hit the windshield. NHTSA bulletin showed problems with cracks on windshields of Honda Elements with no apparent cause. Windshields are apparently defective!

- Stateline, NV, USA

Problems with the windshield on a 2003 Honda Element. Cracks appeared in the windshield with no apparent trigger. (9 inch crack appeared on the lower left section of the windshield)

- Stateline, NV, USA

I just bought a Honda Element 2003 in October '03. The windshield has cracked twice. The crack goes from the bottom and spreads in the line of my driving vision. There is a flaw in the manufacturing; however, the dealer and Honda says that only the early models has this problem and mine doesn't. I disagree. I suggest no one buy a Honda Element 'cause they are not fixing this problem.

- Sunnyvale, CA, USA

Cracked windshield twice in 6 months time

- Brooklyn, CT, USA

Unexplained passenger side windshield cracked, no impact apparent. Was about 8" the first day, continues to grow.

- Crozet, VA, USA