Has anyone had a problem with the front windshield cracking or stones/rocks hitting the windshield of the element :?:

Please provide feedback, everybody benefits from the experience of others!

If you check out the other threads on this board, you will see that there is an on going talk about the windshield. :D

Winshield chipped on my first road trip :(

The stone was only 3-4mm wide.

I hope this doesn't become a problem...

No problem at 600 miles.

We should put up an actual poll to see how many windshields have been cracked. Maybe chips, cracks, and total. Then we can get a percentage of owners with problems. Just a thought. 8)

Will see what I can do.....

No problems yet, but I will say that when something hits it on the highway, it is more obvious to me than my other car, i.e. I can hear it.

but isn't this a problem with any car? my civics windshield looked like a teenager with acne... so i don't think this is an inherant E problem... :?

Have lived in Phoenix for 6 years, driven 5 different cars and NEVER had a cracked windshield. Only have 700 miles on my beautiful new Element and it has a crack from the base to the center of the windshield! Definitely seems like an Element problem - will report to both Honda NA & my dealer.

:x Windshield shattered by bird at 4300 miles. Windshield on backorder. May never get to drive again.

I must say I am very concerned. Just joined this club and immediately noticed many complaints about cracked windshields. Mine cracked at 1400 Miles. This sounds like it may be a serious problem.

lost the first one to something so small it would be embarassing to call it a stone. that was @ 1500 mi. . turned into big crack and had to be replaced.
second windshield was hit by a small stone and put a one half in. star crack in upper left side. not spreading, so not replacing till this mess gets sorted out.

yes..stress crack within 4 days ...still waiting to hear if warranty will cover it.

21 days, 1500 miles, so far all is well with the windshield.

i hope this is not going to be a major problem with windshields, I just dumped a 2001 vw jetta with windows spontainiously dropping into the doors and that was a known very bad problem

Windshield cracked due to a rock thrown from an 18 wheeler. It was a month and 1/2 since purchase, and I am still waiting for the replacement to come in.

Have never had a windshield crack in the 9 years I have been driving.

Have had my Element for 15 days with less than 500 miles. Driving home last night, I noticed a window crack!

I addressed the winshield issue with my dealer prior to buying the vehicle, so we'll see if he actually comes through on fixing it. ESPECIALLY since my VIN is outside the service bulletin!

NOT FIXING IT!!! Big freakin surprise. I hope they are ready to be cc:ed on every memo and letter I send to Consumer Reports, JD Power, etc.

Had small crack the day I drove it home for dealership and already has another. 2 small cracks total so far. 4500 miles I had a civic for 4 years and not one?

484 miles on my element, no evidence of a rock but a 6 inch crack in the windshield. The dealer told me my insurance would probably cover it. Could it be defective? How can you determine that? Bummer.

AAA

Look up the service bulletin (it's in the forum in a couple of places) and see if your VIN falls within those covered by the bulletin. If it is, and there is no sign of an impact, Honda should fix it.

on my third one.

Hey all- just hauled my E in to get a new windsheild. I received a small ding from a piece of gravel on the road courtesy of the car infront of me- Anyway- the ding was near the edge of the windsheild and next thing I know- CCeeeerrrrrraaaaaCK! a really cool swooping crack fanned out from the EDGE of the windsheild ( not originating with the rock ding )

So- I take the car in, and they point out the rock ding as being the culpruit- at first they acted like they'd never heard of the cracking windsheild problem- Kind of hard to do when there is an Element in the garage at THAT same moment getting IT'S windsheild replaced- So I showed them the handy print out of Honda's repair notice.... " Ohh THAT!!!!!!" says the Service manager....

Any way- we go "Have a look at the crack" and as he is getting into the car.... what do you think happens?

CCCcccceeeeeeerrraAAAAACK!!!!!!

ANOTHER crack happens!!!!!! this one from the middle bottom of the windsheild- starting off the edge and swoops into the center of the windsheild.

"So, " I said, " I guess a rock didn't cause THAT one."

So they are blaming the second crack on the first crack - as the FIRST one probably placed "undue stress" on the windshield resulting in the second crack.

Results- I have to pay for the new windsheild (since it was caused by a ROCK and not the DESIGN FLAW) BUT- I am making them FIX the faulty windshield frame that causes the windsheilds to crack.

SUCKS major. I'm waiting on the cost.

:x

[quote:c500b4d676="foxtail"]Look up the service bulletin (it's in the forum in a couple of places) and see if your VIN falls within those covered by the bulletin. If it is, and there is no sign of an impact, Honda should fix it.[/quote:c500b4d676]
FWIW, my VIN's nowhere near the range in the bulletin, and the crack isn't in a corner, but it had no sign of an impact, so Honda's replacing it.

1500 miles and no crack yet. These postings have me nervous. I've had 2 other cars (Hondas) that both had rock chips that turned into cracks. The roads where I lived seemed to have lots of rocks. I'm wondering if this windshield issue with the Element is really a design flaw?

I found a small chip when I cleaned my windows. I've got 2500 miles (since July 2nd).

Would the bug deflector help with this problem?

Randy

I don't know if it's as much a design flaw as a quality issue that's not going away -- even after the TSB.

Driving down the interstate yesterday, a/c on, CRACK! Rock hits my windshield and stars it pretty good -- right above steering wheel where I see out. DANG, dang, dang!

My E is brand new (1 mo.) and outside of the tsb -- it will be interesting to see what the dealer says.

Mine is a little over a month old with about 1500 miles on it. I was cleaning it and notice a small chip in the windshield. I've been driving back and forth from NYC to Philly at least once a week...so i'm thinking it had to happen on one of those trips.

First road trip from Indianapolis, IN to Orlando, FL. On the return trip a rock that I couldn't see but heard hit the windshield just above the VIN plate and put a star about the size of a nickle. I since got it fixed and you can't tell it even happened. Cost was $35.00 with a lifetime on it. This occured in July. My wife was on the I yesterday and another hit it same spot on the opposite side but did no damage. Blessed! I plan to buy the hood protector this week in hopes that will give enough wind current to force things up and over the car. Don't know though, from what I've seen the the hood deflector doesn't look like it has enough forward pitch to give some wind resistance for the job but I'll get it anyway.