Isnt there a recall for the E's front end. There's too much room for any road hazard to hit or puncture the AC condenser... speaking of which that is my current E-dilemma-to fix it. cost? 700$ R&R condenser. Any thoughts guys? still under warranty...any suggestions???

There are a couple of after market companies that make protection grills for the Honda Element. If you don't want to pay the price, you could always make your own from materials bought at Home Depot or Lowes.

http://app.infopia.com/Shop/Control/Product/fp/vpid/713278/vpcsid/0/SFV/14050

Was your condenser punctured, or have just some of the fins been bent?

If the condenser was actually damaged (punctured) during normal highway driving you should seek repair under warranty. If enough people need that kind of repair, then it would be wise for Honda to design some means of preventing it. If, on the other hand, such damage is rare (or no more so than on other cars), then there is little incentive for Honda to make any changes.

paulj

Honda IS NOT AWARE of this problem. I wrote a letter on February 10th and the woman I spoke to Caroline at 1800-999-1009 ext. 118051 stated that Honda does not have to cover this problem because it should be handled through the insurance company. She stated that the design is not a defect and the only way Honda would cover it is if the condenser itself was defected or if enough people actually complained that Honda would do something about it. Therefore if you all want to get something done about it you need to write Honda and file complaints.

My next step is to try the dealer to see if they will do anything and if nothing comes out of it then I will write letters to the magazines.

Here is my letter:

February 10, 2004



American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Honda Automobile Customer Service
1919 Torrance Boulevard
Mail Stop: 500 - 2N - 7D
Torrance, CA 90501-2746

Dear Honda Motor Co.:

I am now the proud owner of my very first Honda Vehicle, the 2003 Element EX AWD. The automobile industry is one of the most competitive retail markets in the U.S., with literally hundreds of makes and models to choose from, new and used. I looked around for three months considering several vehicles including the Toyota Matrix, the Saturn Vue, and the Chevy S-10. I weighed the pros and cons of each vehicle carefully, but Honda’s reputation for manufacturing quality, vehicle performance, and customer service, coupled with several positive test drives of the Element all led me to one conclusion. The Element was my best choice. That’s why I was surprised and very disappointed when after only one month and before my first car payment a chunk of snow and ice flew from a passing vehicle and smacked the front of my Element. I didn’t think much of it because it wasn’t anything more than what you might expect during a winter month. However, when I looked at the front of my vehicle the next day I noticed that the debris had damaged the AC condenser located on the front of the vehicle. Now the condenser is bent and damaged.

I hadn’t noticed before how poorly protected the front of the vehicle was. I began investigating several of the Element chat boards on the internet to see if other people had this same problem or if it was just me. I discovered too late that many people had similar anecdotes about this vulnerability in the front of the vehicle. Their recommendations seemed to be to buy a new grille in order to sufficiently protect this area of the vehicle. I would argue that after spending more than $20,000 dollars on a brand new Honda vehicle that this is not something to be expected and simply compensated for, this is clearly a flaw in the design of the Element. If people want to purchase after market parts for aesthetic reasons that is one thing, but for the design of the vehicle to virtually mandate this added expense is surprising from a company like Honda. I understand that 2003 was the first year for the Honda Element and that there are often unforeseen consequences of design that are impossible to predict. However, looking at the original grille on the Element it is clear that what is there would never be adequate for a vehicle marketed as an SUV. It should not be my responsibility to go out and purchase a grille to protect the AC condenser. I do feel that it is Honda’s responsibility to live up to their reputation and replace my condenser. I spent $20,300.00 on this vehicle and now it’s damaged because Honda did not properly protect such an important part as the condenser.

Again, in such a highly competitive but also highly lucrative retail market a manufacturer and it’s product cannot simply rely on the past reputation, it has to continually strive to live up to and surpass that reputation. If Honda chooses to ignore what is clearly a design flaw and fairly compensate me for this defect then I am forced to plead my case in the court of public opinion by editorializing the experience in the major trade publications of the industry such as Car and Driver and Motor Week.

MrA,

In your letter, I would have stressed less the bent/dented fins and more the issue of possible freon/coolant leak.

The first can be written off by honda as "cosmetic damage due to road debris". The second is harder to write off: they don't have the coolant hoses hanging out in the open, do they? No. Neither should they have thinwalled coolant pipes hanging out where rocks and ice impact the car.

Also: applause for writing the letter. :)

-brendan

This isn't unique to Honda. Look around a parking lot, many cars and trucks have large open lower cooling areas.

I guess they just don't think it's a problem.

[quote:48afe016a4=" "]This isn't unique to Honda. Look around a parking lot, many cars and trucks have large open lower cooling areas.

I guess they just don't think it's a problem.[/quote:48afe016a4]

I have looked and the Honda Element is probably the most vulnerable. It doesn't take much to for a nice sized rock or in my case a chunk of snow to fly up in there. I have never had a problem like this from previously owned vehicles.

Which is more of a problem?
- condenser fins can be hit by rocks

or

- you can easily see the bent fins

The condenser is certainly more visible than on most other cars. Whether it ends up sustaining more damage has not been demonstrated. The only reported puncture (that I have seen on these forums) was by the guy who hit someone else, and thinks the license plate mount hit the condenser.

paulj

There's been at least one other complaint about a puncture, unrelated to the license plates on the forums last year.

-brendan

My father drives an Acura RSX-S and on that forum there have been several reports of the condenser being punctured on that car as well.

This is a Honda-wide problem.

[quote:018bf13043=" "]My father drives an Acura RSX-S and on that forum there have been several reports of the condenser being punctured on that car as well.

This is a Honda-wide problem.[/quote:018bf13043]

Quick, Robin! We must let everyone know of the Home Depot lower grille! Let's jump in the E-mobile and spread the word!

Bill-man

Oh good grief. :roll:
Honda is responsible for making a car that isn't going to kill you. You're responsible for maintaining and driving it in an un-******* like manner. If the grill opening bothers you and you drive where there're a lot of sharp flying objects, then do something about it.

another tip:
don't tailgate,,,, them rocks need something to get them up in the air,, if your going fast and to close that puts them on your hood, in your windshield and thru your condenser