2005 Honda Element Complaint Log

I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A HONDA ELEMENT VIN# [XXX]. NOT UNTIL LAST WEEK DID I OR A PASSENGER SIT IN THE BACK SEAT. WE BECAME AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER THAT THE DOOR DESIGN PRESENTS. YOU CAN NOT OPEN THE BACK DOOR UNLESS THE FRONT DOOR IS OPENED FIRST.THE "SUICIDE DOORS" DO NOT ALLOW EXIT FROM THE BACK SEATS (NOT THE ORIGINAL "SUICIDE DOOR" DESIGN). THIS DESIGN FLAW IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. ...SCROLL DOWN....THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY... 1. HOW COULD ANYONE GET OUT OF THE BACK SEAT IN AN EMERGENCY? 2. WHAT WOULD A CHILD DO IN CASE OF DRIVER INCAPACITATION? AN ADULT MIGHT BE ABLE TO CRAWL OVER THE DRIVER TO THE FRONT DOOR, BUT A CHILD WOULD BE AT A DISADVANTAGE IN THE BACK. 3. THERE IS NO EMERGENCY RELEASE HANDLE ON THE BACK HATCH DOOR TO ACCESS FROM THE INSIDE. 4. THE LITTLE WING WINDOWS ON THE BACK DOORS COULD BE KICKED OUT IN AN EMERGENCY, BUT A CHILD WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO DO SO. 5.WHAT WOULD PASSENGERS DO IF THE CAR WERE TO PLUMMET INTO A WATERWAY? HOW COULD ANYONE ESCAPE FROM THE BACK....WHICH IS WHAT IS LEFT FLOATING... 6. THERE IS NO WARNING SIGN IN THE CAR INDICATING THAT THE BACK DOORS DO NOT OPEN UNLESS THE FRONT DOOR IS OPEN. HOW MUCH TIME, VALUABLE TIME MIGHT BE LOST AS A PASSER-BY ATTEMPTS A RESCUE AND DOES NOT KNOW THE DOORS DO NOT OPEN? PERHAPS THEN, A SIGN, LIKE IN AIRPLANES, COULD BE POSTED BOTH INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE INDICATING THAT THERE IS NO EXIT THROUGH THE BACK DOORS. OR, A RECAL PUT INPLACE TO PUT IN A QUICK RELEASE EMERGENCY ACCESS WINDOW. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS CONCERN TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO A REPLY. THANK YOU, [XXX] *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 68,800.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS) AND 05E035000 (EQUIPMENT). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

HAVE A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT COVERED UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN #05E035000. TRAILER HITCH WAS INSTALLED BY THE DEALER ON A NEW VEHICLE. WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL THROUGH CONSUMERS REPORTS MAGAZINE. CHECKED THE NHTSA WEB SITE TO LEARN MORE. CALLED HONDA DEALER WHO DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL. CALLED AMERICAN HONDA NUMBER FROM THE NHTSA RECALL NOTICE, THEY SAID MY ELEMENT WAS NOT COVERED AS THE TRAILER HITCH WAS NOT FACTORY INSTALLED BUT DEALER INSTALLED. HONDA DOESN'T MENTION ANY FACTORY INSTALLED OPTIONS IN THE CATALOG, JUST DEALER INSTALLED ACCESSORIES. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT HONDA DIDN'T NOTIFY ME OR ANYBODY ELSE WITH A DEALER INSTALLED TRAILER HITCH OF THE RECALL. AS FAR AS THEIR CONCERNED, I DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR EXHIBITED ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS THE RECALL NOTICE DESCRIBED. WHAT'S THE POINT OF A RECALL IF THEY DON'T NOTIFY ANYBODY? *NM

STEERING AND/OR VSA SYSTEM I BOUGHT A NEW HONDA ELEMENT FEBRUARY 12TH, 2005. BETWEEN THEN AND NEAR THE END OF 2006, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING ON AT LEAST 8 OCCASIONS. THE CAR WOULD CONTINUE IN THE DIRECTION THAT IT WAS HEADED. THERE WAS NO STEERING AT ALL. THE OCCURRENCES ONLY LASTED FOR SECONDS BUT FELT LIKE MINUTES. THIS OCCURRED MOST OFTEN IN THE EARLY MORNINGS (6-7AM) AND BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MINUTES AFTER LEAVING HOME. THERE WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING DURING THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME. IN SPECIFIC SITUATIONS, IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL AND FELT AS THOUGH THE REAL TIME FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD KICK-IN. THIS HAPPENED MOSTLY BEHIND SEMI-TRUCKS. AFTER THE LAST OCCURRENCE OVER THREE YEARS AGO WHEN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL HEADED ME IN THE DIRECTION OF THE MEDIAN AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC, I BECAME SO FEARFUL OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE THAT I PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE. AFTER TAKING IN THE ELEMENT ON 8 OCCASIONS AND NOT HAVING BEEN SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF ROEBUCK HONDA, I BEGAN TO EXPLORE SOLUTIONS WITH OTHER LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIPS AND WITH AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY. THE DEALERSHIPS' SERVICE CENTERS COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE STEERING FAILURE. I HAVE BEEN TO DEALERSHIPS' OVER 11 TIMES WITH THIS PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION. AMERICAN HONDA WOULD NOT TAKE ACTIONS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND OTHER REPORTS ON STEERING ISSUES WITH THE ELEMENT. FRIENDS AND RELATIVES HAVE SUGGESTED THAT I TRADE THE CAR IN, BUT I CANNOT IN CLEAR CONSCIENCE DO THIS. I COULD NOT LIVE WITH MYSELF KNOWING I HAD PUT AN UNSAFE VEHICLE IN SOMEONE ELSE'S HANDS. HOWEVER, I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE SEAT BELTS FOR THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER IN THE 2005 HONDA ELEMENT ARE ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE REAR DOOR, THEREFORE THE REAR DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED UNLESS THE FRONT DOORS ARE OPENED. *NM *JB

LTR FWD FM RE 2005 HONDA ELEMENT STEERING COLUMN DEFECT, REPLY TO BIRMINGHAM, AL OFC. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS LOST STEERING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. WHEN THE STEERING FAILED THE LAST TIME, THE CONSUMER ENDED UP FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND NONE OF THEM COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB