I have yet to have my wife drive while I sit in the back seat to figure this thing out, but I have had a relatively loud rattle that seems to be coming from the tailgate/hatch when I hit bumps (doesn't need to be the big bumps either).

I've checked the latches and hinges for wiggles and sways, but I can't figure out where the clatter is coming from. Also haven't taken it into the dealer just yet, as they've not been particularly helpful in the past. Has anyone seen/heard of "TSBs" for tailgate problems?

Having a car be quiet on the inside is important, and I've noticed just about every squeak and creak noted in the other described owner problem posts - so, I'm becoming a grumpy Element owner. The car is only 2 months old and it makes more noise than my old 87 Accord did....and almost as much as my 2000 Accord.

Thanks!

-DK

I am sorry to hear of your troubles. I dont have a fix for them either, but you could turn that stereo up a bit to drown out the rattles.

Some folks were actually talking about spot-welds on the tailgate hinges not being resilient enough to take the beating an off-road vehicle may be subjected to (not that this car has had a chance to take to the trails yet). Apparently, some dealers have been approached and have fixed the problem, but I will have to see.....

-DK

I am sure I will take a beating for this, but I dont see this vehicle as an Off Roader. I dont see that it was built for it.

Ehh....a Hummer it ain't. :? No debate on that one, but if I could pick my way up firetrails in my old Accord, I'm certain that this little number could do a fair bit better! Providing the rattles aren't an indication that something is about to fall off the poor thing.

Yeah I once took a 1987 Grand Am through a freshly irrigated orchard - guess all i am saying is I would have bought a jeep if i was going off roading.

I am hearing a noise coming from the rear of the Element, the sound is made sometimes when going over bumps, it sounds like two metal pieces hitting each other. It does not happen every time so it is hard to reproduce for the dealer to fix. Has anyone had any luck with this issue?

[quote:743cb4c420=" "]I am hearing a noise coming from the rear of the Element, the sound is made sometimes when going over bumps, it sounds like two metal pieces hitting each other. It does not happen every time so it is hard to reproduce for the dealer to fix. Has anyone had any luck with this issue?[/quote:743cb4c420]

Search the forums for recent threads that include the words "strut" or "struts".

-brendan

New discovery

I discovered that the noise does not happen when the back window part of the door is opened. So it is happening in the tailgate area as the guy who entered this issues thought.

I think this rules out a strut issue.

Also I have not taken it to Honda yet so I not sure if they will be able to fix it.

I had a loud popping noise coming from the rear tailgate when hitting bumps or making sharp turns.The dealer tried two times to fix the problem but was not any better.The third time they asked if they could keep the car for a couple of days to see if they could find the problem.The dealer decided it was the right rear tailgate latch.They said there was little bit of rust in it and that it was not the at same level as the other latch.So they built it up a little and resealed it.However,they scratched the paint around the inside of the tailgate.So they had that area repainted and the noise has disappeared 99% of the time.Occasionly when going over a hard bump I can hear the popping noise very faintly but it is much better than it was to start with.

[quote:ecb936f18b=" "]I had a loud popping noise coming from the rear tailgate when hitting bumps or making sharp turns.The dealer tried two times to fix the problem but was not any better.The third time they asked if they could keep the car for a couple of days to see if they could find the problem.The dealer decided it was the right rear tailgate latch.They said there was little bit of rust in it and that it was not the at same level as the other latch.So they built it up a little and resealed it.However,they scratched the paint around the inside of the tailgate.So they had that area repainted and the noise has disappeared 99% of the time.Occasionly when going over a hard bump I can hear the popping noise very faintly but it is much better than it was to start with.[/quote:ecb936f18b]

Are you absolutely sure it is the tailgate? I have popping noises on both sides of the Elements suicide doors. It never stops now. Anytime I go over a bump or turn into a parking lot I hear it. When the body of the Element flexes on a turn or goes over bumps it pops. I have so many rattles and pops going on I can't keep track of them all. The dash rattles too :roll: That is the worst rattle of all. The truck only has 4500 miles on it and it sounds like it has a 100,000 on it. I have been very disappointed in this vehicle as far as this is concerned and as to date no one has been able to repair it.

LittleDogBox
Arlington, Va.

LittleDogBox,

Have you tried adjusting the strikers on the rear side doors? I saw in another thread where someone seemed to have the same problem you mention, and it fixed it right away. Basically the strikers had to be moved so thet the seal on the door had more compression on it when the back door was closed.

Sorry you are so disappointed with the car.

Bill

Try opening the glass upper part of you tailgate & then go over the bumps with the back window open, if it does not pop anymore it may be in your tailgate area. This is how I determined that the popping noise was coming from my tailgate.

Sorry about the issue you’re having with your Element, I know how you feel, it sucks to pay 20Gs for a SUV & have so many issues. If I could take mine back & get a refund for the full amount I would.

Amazing I had the same problem too till I took the stupid jack and secured it to the back of the car instead of letting it flop around. :) KISS meathod.

Yes it is the tailgate that was causing the noise.I also have had noise from the between the doors but after a few adjustments they are gone.I too removed the the jack but it did not help.Also,removed frame around license plate but again that was not it.I too am unhappy with the noises but I still enjoy the vehicle.I am hoping Honda will take care of all of the issues related to quality in the Element. :)

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5527
hope this helps

I have a 2006 Atomic Blue Element. Have had less than 3 months and only have 1600 miles on it ( been rotating 3 cars between my wife and myself ). After the first 30 days or so, it developed a "popping" sound inside the cabin somewhere in the rear. Didn't happen all the time. 2-3 "pops", especially when backing down my driveway and making 10-15 mph turns. Gradually started getting more of these "pops". I sat in the back seat while my wife drove and it sounded like it was coming from the part with the glass that flips upward. I tried simple things up to this point ( moved latches, taped cables, lubed hinges, etc. ) and I was convinced now that it was due to stress.

I went to the dealer, Victory Honda in Plymouth, Mi. and the advisor drove with me to confirm what I was talking about. As soon as we made our first turn in the lot, "pop". They took my car and gave me a loaner. Two days later as I was about to call to check on it, they called and said they found the problem. Long story shortened, he drove while a Honda Tech was in the back. Initially they contacted Honda and they were told to lubricate the hinges. They did and the problem was still there.

They then removed one piece of trim on the rear hatch ( upper and lower ) at a time until the noise went away. Come to find out, two sided foam tape was used underneath the passenger side of the interior gate trim ( on the part that folds downward). The Tech drove the car for 20-30 minutes and was convinced the problem was solved. The advisor drove for over 60 minutes after that ( in a parking lot near them that has inclines and several areas where the car pitched left and right ) and claimed to not have heard a sound since. They put a total of 80 miles on the car and even filled my tank. So far so good. It has only been 2 days, but quiet as can be! I will make another post in a month or two ( or if the problem comes back ). :D

I, too, have the mysterious, random "popping" noise coming from the rear of my 2006 Element. After a month of diagnosis, I found if I removed the passenger-side window strut, the noise went completely away. Dealer installed new struts, noise was worse than ever. It seems to be in the upper (window) strut mount, but I can't duplicate the noise unless the strut is installed and I'm driving it. I can't afford to leave it at a dealer to figure out (60 miles away), so I live with it. Otherwise, I love the thing!!! (I'm a former Ford-only owner of 25 long years).

Follow up: I am still diagnosing the noise in the tailgate area. I found one of the flange mounting bolts for the upper passenger strut ball was very loose (1-1/2 turns). I tightened it, but it's still randomly making noise. Once again, though, when I completely remove the strut, the noise goes away!

Well my popping / rattle noise in the rear hatch / tailgate came back. It has been several months since I have taken it to the deaker for this same issue.

Since I am busy at the moment and didn't want to take my car back to the dealer, I deciced to find the issue myself. I didn't believe the noise was coming from the latches since I tried this first in the past.

I first removed the panel on the door that drops down, which is where the dealer said the noise was coming from the first time several months ago, thinking the foam piece they applied came loose or wore through.

I then drove to work and the noise was still there. Currently after work I have been going to the hospital to see my dad. I park in a parking structure that is several levels high and this has proved to be an excellent way to test for this noise. The bumps test up / down and the turns while going up/down a level apply forces that make the body flex ( for lack of a better description ). Before I drove home I removed the panel on the door that swings upward. The noise was still there.

I then seen the post by Calgary Chris about greasing the connections for the struts that hold the door upward. I removed them at all four points at work on my lunch and used a Mobil bearing grease. The noise was STILL there. :-(

I then removed the plastic piece that has the small door the bridges the gap between the inside of the car to the door that drops downward. The noise was still there.

While deciding what to remove / check next, I read this post:
http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1526&highlight=rear+tailgate+noises

I decide first to remove both strut assemblies. I did this ( carefully since the door is fully supported by these two struts! ). While doing this and supporting the door on my back / shoulders, I bent down slightly to get the other strut that i had laid down in thw back of my vehicle, I heard a small POP / CLICK. Since I had a can of spray white lithium grease I decided to spray the hinges on the upper AND lower doors. I worked the grease in by moving each door back and forth over 100 times then closed the back.

I drove to work, to the hospital, up and down in the parking structure and back home and I didn't hear a thing. The only thing I did hear was the door over the tire that moved when I hit a rather large bump since the trim piece with the little door that bridges the gap helps keep that in place was still removed.

So far so good. I will now install one piece at at time while leaving the struts off since I believe the Struts and the hinges are the sources of these noises. I will make an update in the future when I have a final resolution.