[dynapoints]

Praise God you are ok!!

 

[WellesBart]

This happened to mine yesterday after going over a pothole. What has everyone else done? Scrapped it? Other than that the car is basically pristine and runs great. Somehow passed inspection in Nov even when I asked about undercarriage rust.

 

[07lmnt]

This happened to mine yesterday after going over a pothole. What has everyone else done? Scrapped it? Other than that the car is basically pristine and runs great. Somehow passed inspection in Nov even when I asked about undercarriage rust. View attachment 225597

What is really messed up is...Somebody inspected this and passed it. We don't do state inspections here, but if that was on my lift for any type of work, I would refuse the job. I'm not getting myself into a lawsuit.

 

[WellesBart]

What is really messed up is...Somebody inspected this and passed it. We don't do state inspections here, but if that was on my lift for any type of work, I would refuse the job. I'm not getting myself into a lawsuit.

My mechanic, same one who did safety inspection, also re-did my entire front suspension & wheel bearings a couple months prior and I mentioned several times that I noticed the undercarriage is rusty, particularly in the back and at what point do I need to just cut my losses and stop putting money into this one. He just said the rust was typical of a car that age and basically fine. I think my intuition said otherwise but I don't work on cars all day, so I just trusted him.

Most of my driving is highway driving in NYC with co-workers, so I feel lucky this happened when I was back in my neighborhood alone just looking for a parking spot. Should I confront my mechanic about this? I dumped a ton of money into the car last fall: suspension, tires, wheels, brakes...I feel like someone should have noticed that was a safety issue during any one of those repairs, and at the very least, the safety inspection. There's no notation of it on the report.

 

[07lmnt]

My mechanic, same one who did safety inspection, also re-did my entire front suspension & wheel bearings a couple months prior and I mentioned several times that I noticed the undercarriage is rusty, particularly in the back and at what point do I need to just cut my losses and stop putting money into this one. He just said the rust was typical of a car that age and basically fine. I think my intuition said otherwise but I don't work on cars all day, so I just trusted him.

Most of my driving is highway driving in NYC with co-workers, so I feel lucky this happened when I was back in my neighborhood alone just looking for a parking spot. Should I confront my mechanic about this? I dumped a ton of money into the car last fall: suspension, tires, wheels, brakes...I feel like someone should have noticed that was a safety issue during any one of those repairs, and at the very least, the safety inspection. There's no notation of it on the report.

I would find a more trust worthy mechanic. If there was an accident with bodily harm, he would would be up to his neck in legal troubles. You lucky this time.

 

[JungleJane]

My 2008 Element has corrosion on the rear trailing arm of the suspension of the driver's side. The car is unsafe to drive and can't be repaired. The vehicle is a total loss. I noticed several owners on this forum with the same problem posted a couple of years ago.

Honda recalled Elements in Canada for this problem. The attached file describes the Canada recall. Honda has recalled CRVs in the US for this problem if the vehicle was used in northern states that use salt on roads during winter months (NTSB Campaign # 23V-22800). CRVs and Elements share the same suspension parts. In particular, the rear trailing arms of the suspension are identical parts.

This part of the suspension has the ability to trap mud, moisture and road salt, resulting in catastrophic corrosion. Honda acknowledges, via the recalls mentioned above, that the corrosion problems can be so severe that the trailing arm could separate from the body, causing loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of an accident.

I called Honda's corporate office first and opened a complaint with Customer Service. I was informed that the recall did not include Elements used in the United States. There was nothing else Customer Service could do, they said.

Next, I called Honda's legal department (310-781-4961). I requested Honda to expand the current recall of CRVs to include Elements for the model years that are affected. The legal department representative told me they will investigate and get back to me by the end of the week.

I also called the NTSB and lodged a complaint. The number for the Vehicle Safety Hotline is 888-327-4236, Monday-Friday 8am-8pm ET. The email is vsh@dot.gov. My complaint is being investigated by the NTSB now.

I will let this forum know what happens with my problem. Have any other Element owners experienced this corrosion problem?

If so:
1. Please reply to this forum
2. Call Honda's legal department
3. Lodge a complaint with the NTSB.

Cash buy outs are included in the recall details for CRVs and Canadian Elements that are deemed to be a total loss, like mine. I am holding out some hope but I also understand this struggle will be like climbing a mountain.

Thank you,

Mike Evenson
La Crosse, Wisconsin

Currently dealing with this and Honda is doing nothing, in fact ignoring all issues. Would love to start a large class action law suit. And would like to further this conversation with you via email.

 

[JungleJane]

I just found this thread after posting about the imminent death by rust of my 03 Element as I found this exact problem. I assume this qualifies as rusted out:
View attachment 224060

I'm willing to call the hotline- what type of info will they need?

Rear trailing arm failure from corrosion. VIN #

 

[babock]

When someone states that you need to contact the NTSB for an automotive issue, that person loses any credibility.

 

[coolcat]

I just fixed mine.

 

[te1966]

I just fixed mine.

Thanks for posting.

It is a bit hard to follow the progression. Could you explain each step in further detail?

A Video would be great too!

This is a repair needed by many here.

Thanks again!

 

[dc99]

Somebody should make those parts as a kit for everybody. I do understand you have to cut till you find solid metal to weld to but it could be made oversized to trim to fit

 

[07lmnt]

Somebody should make those parts as a kit for everybody. I do understand you have to cut till you find solid metal to weld to but it could be made oversized to trim to fit

Problem with rust, it's everywhere. Doubtful that a patch kit would be one size fits all. The pics of the ones on here, the rest of the body is rusty crusty, not worth the expense.

 

[dc99]

Problem with rust, it's everywhere. Doubtful that a patch kit would be one size fits all. The pics of the ones on here, the rest of the body is rusty crusty, not worth the expense.

Agreed. Just seems a few could be saved with a weld in kit. Thats why I said "trim to fit". Probably for most would just be an extension to what will eventually just be to far gone

 

[coolcat]

I will attempt to put together a better write up, or maybe a video, of my step by step. That'll take me some time though so please be patient. I've never been great at documenting what I'm working on (or I'd probably have been a YouTube sensation by now, lol) but I did end up taking quite a few photos of this project. As for the expense, I used about $8 in steel on this. I'm not great at welding but I do own a welder (which I actually bought a couple years ago when my Element's cat was stolen), a grinder, a band saw, a drill press and a hammer. I've got more moxie than money, so this was my solution.

 

[coolcat]

Thanks for posting.

It is a bit hard to follow the progression. Could you explain each step in further detail?

A Video would be great too!

This is a repair needed by many here.

Thanks again!

I made a video. I think it’s the only video on YouTube of someone fixing this on an Element. It’s not very good but here it is.
2004 Honda Element Trailing Arm Mount Rust Repair

 

[AudioWorkshop]

From what I understand from what others have said with CRVs, and Canadian Element owners Honda is not really taking the best care if it’s customers through this, and they are not receiving enough money to facilitate a replacement vehicle.

It’s also, a sad situation as if cared for properly, and the underbody being sprayed off regularly in the winter this issue will not occur. Extra precautions like rust protection can also help. Honda really should have painted the underside better, and the problem would have been mitigated.

That being said, I’ve come up with a solution that would fix the problem, and improve the Element in many aspects. Removing the crossmembers front, and rear along with all of the suspension. All of the rusted areas would be removed, sections of the structure removed in preparation to be mated to a modified Suzuki Samurai frame that would have a Trail Tough Trail Slayer coil suspension system installed mating up with Toyota straight axles front, and rear matching up to the Element’s wheelbase, and providing lift, and support for 35” tires. The K24 would be longitudinal mounted to the Samurai frame, using an adapter to mate it to several transmission options that would adapt to a Toyota transfer case, that would then attach to driveshafts connecting to the axles. An exocage would be added to strengthen the body, and increase rollover protection.

I’m actually looking for a good candidate to build the first one of these. Not only would the modification save rusted Elements from certain death. It would truly transform them into an ultimate version of the Element. Depending on how crazy the customer wants to get with it, the conversion would start at $15,000.

I was looking for the April 1st date on your post...

 

[BoxMan]

I was looking for the April 1st date on your post...

I’m not kidding at all. I even currently have a parts donor vehicle I am dismantling, and the more I work on it, the more it seems like it would really take these modifications well. I got it cheap with a rusted trailing arm mount. Sadly the seller couldn’t get me a title so I won’t be solid axle swapping this one.

Also, the more I have thought about this, and after looking at current price, and availability of Toyota axles. I think a better idea is Ford 05+ SuperDuty axles. You can find full trucks with blown engine pretty cheap. Shorten the frame mate it to an Element body, and install the drivetrain of your choice. I will build a solid axle Element at some point, and maybe even several if people enjoy the idea as much as I think they might.

 

[pfunder]

Did you ever create a step by step? Mine is hanging on by a thread.

 

[KatLei]

I just found this thread after posting a question about the possibility to buy a part to replace the rusted portion where the control arm attaches to the frame. @coolcat, these pictures are super helpful and it certainly seems like the answer to my question is "no, there is no part" and we'll have to make it and build it up ourselves. Thank you for posting them, and if you ever have a chance to make a video I too am in line to view it.

 

[Atomic.YH1]

I just found this thread after posting a question about the possibility to buy a part to replace the rusted portion where the control arm attaches to the frame. @coolcat, these pictures are super helpful and it certainly seems like the answer to my question is "no, there is no part" and we'll have to make it and build it up ourselves. Thank you for posting them, and if you ever have a chance to make a video I too am in line to view it.

He did make a video! Here it is