[RichE]

I urge everyone who is affiliated with this site, and has a complaint regarding the shoddy windsheilds that Honda has installed in the Element, to file a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This can be done by going to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems.

My Element has less than 7000 miles and the winshield is so chipped and pitted that the visibility has been seriously diminished. I have had 2 chips repaired thus far, out of pocket. Honda refuses to acknowledge that the condition of my winshield is abnormal for a car with this mileage. My question to them was "How is it that my windshield is chipped to hell and back,but there is not one mar on the hood or roof?" I would think that the finish on the hood, at least, would be damaged if my driving conditions were causing the problem with the windshield.

I want to make it clear that I love my Element. This problem however has left serious doubts in my mind about Honda's craftsmanship and product integrity.

AGAIN, I URGE ALL THOSE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS TO BAN TOGETHER. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT HONDA WILL FINALLY RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!!!!

 

[dkitchen]

:x I agree. I have ben driving for 35 years, not a single chip even though things did hit the windshield. I have had my Element 5 months and have 3 serious chips that are starting to crack. Love the car but the windshield stinks.

Duane

 

[igo2slo]

Well, with just 700 miles on our new E, a cracked windshield while it sat in the garage. Service rep and Service Manager (Schack Findlay Honda - Henderson, NV) said they had to see it, and true to the other posts in this forum, told my wife and I that a rock had caused the damage. We both resent being treated like idiots but that was their final answer. Glass shop has confirmed that it was stress on the windshield and no impact.
If there are some Dealer people reading this, I have a Question. If Honda is picking up the tab for this kind of work, why do the Service people insist on losing customers for the dealerships? They all act as if they are paying out of their own pockets. Most have graduated from the "School for Weasels".
We are going to have Honda pay for this after all the letters and calls. I just do not understand the rationale. We were looking to replace our 94 Civic with a new one, but after this experience we are going to be buying a Toyata!

 

[aristoBrat]

[quote:b135e2dc2c="igo2slo"]I have a Question. If Honda is picking up the tab for this kind of work, why do the Service people insist on losing customers for the dealerships?[/quote:b135e2dc2c]
I don't understand that either! Honda pays for the whole thing, and it's a local glass company that does the install -- all the dealer has to do is order the flipping windshield.

I had the same experience as above with the first dealer I took my "stress cracked" E too, but the second dealer was more than apologetic and is fixing the problem (no hassle at all!) Apparently E windshields are back-ordered now because of this problem, so I'll have to wait a few more days, but...

 

[Slowhand]

I don't have a crack yet, but in cleaning my windshield today, I noticed a small pit. Seems the glass may be a little soft. I'm going to have to keep an eye on it.

 

[eMass]

[quote:a9859ac2e5="igo2slo"]If Honda is picking up the tab for this kind of work, why do the Service people insist on losing customers for the dealerships?[/quote:a9859ac2e5]

Maybe because their service bays are busy and they'd rather fill them with jobs that pay more money?

Just a thought.

 

[Einstein]

NHTSA? I don't think a cracked windshield is a "safety-related" problem. Typically you can see through the windshield just fine until it's fixed.

[quote:283f7f7790="RichE"]I urge everyone who is affiliated with this site, and has a complaint regarding the shoddy windsheilds that Honda has installed in the Element, to file a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This can be done by going to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems.[/quote:283f7f7790]

 

[cbradsh1]

:twisted: Driving in to work today don't know what it was but heard a loud bang from something hitting my E, possibly from another vehicle, low and behold star chip on the passenger side Called insurance company imediatly and I am going to have it replaced via glass company soon as a replacement is in, I requested factory glass because I want everything to stay original. This was my only wory when purchasing this vehicle the windshield is so open for damage.

 

[sparky472]

I had something strike my windshield while on the highway this weekend. Left a star, which has turned into a couple big cracks before the repair guys could come out. So, now I need to replace the damn thing.

Anyone know how much this costs? I'm not really sure how it works. Do I go to the dealer? Do I go to a glass place? Do they order from Honda or is it a third-party?

 

[gyuris]

Yes the NTHSA considers an easily cracked windshield a safety hazard issue. When I filled out their complaint form online, one of the choices was specifically WINDSHIELD.

I hade my stress cracked windshield (which was outside of the Service Bulletin VIN range and denied by my dealer) replaced for free by American Honda Motor Co. after I called their Customer Relations number (it's in your Owner's Manual) and explained my case. Be prepared to explain your case in detail and give reasons, offer photos, etc. ... Just like if you were in Small Claims Court. You get one chance to be heard.

Good luck!

 

[aristoBrat]

[quote:e41b21c14e="sparky472"]Anyone know how much this costs? I'm not really sure how it works. Do I go to the dealer? Do I go to a glass place? Do they order from Honda or is it a third-party?[/quote:e41b21c14e]
Safelite (www.safelite.com) quoted me $275 (parts + labor) to come out to where I work and replace the windshield with their own brand, which they swore met Honda's specs in every way. (Seeing as how crappy the Honda windshield is, maybe that's something Safelite might not want to advertise!)

 

[aristoBrat]

[quote:b0afdefd47="gyuris"]I hade my stress cracked windshield (which was outside of the Service Bulletin VIN range and denied by my dealer) replaced for free by American Honda Motor Co. after I called their Customer Relations number (it's in your Owner's Manual) and explained my case. Be prepared to explain your case in detail and give reasons, offer photos, etc. ... Just like if you were in Small Claims Court. You get one chance to be heard.[/quote:b0afdefd47]
To be fair, the folks at Customer Relations aren't always helpful.

My dealer said "NO" to my stress cracked windshield as well, so I called Customer Relations to ask what my recourse was. They insisted that there was no reason for the dealer to say "NO" unless it wasn't a stress crack, and that they stand behind their dealers. When I offered to send/email/fax some pictures of the windshield, the lovely Customer Relations lady let me know that they were in California (???!!! still haven't figure the point of that out), and were not mechanics, so it wouldn't mean anything to them. <grrrrrrrr> She suggested I take it to a second dealer (which I did, and that dealer is replacing it without any hassle).

:: insert frustrated sigh here ::

 

[igo2slo]

To follow up on earlier post. Service Dept denied fix on windshield. Said it was rock. Was not a rock according to Glass Company. Sent many letters to many people, along with an estimate for replacing windshield from local glass co.($311.91). Promptly received check for $311.91 from Shack-Findlay Honda in Nevada.
Glass co. is replacing with PPG glass, not Honda OEM. I think I may be better off than OEM after reading about the ongoing windshied problems with Honda glass.
Bottom Line: Don't let the a__holes get away with it! They reley on most people just going away and letting their insurance company take care of it!

 

[firetruck41]

[quote:e8f70139fe="igo2slo"]Glass co. is replacing with PPG glass, not Honda OEM. I think I may be better off than OEM after reading about the ongoing windshied problems with Honda glass.
[/quote:e8f70139fe]

It's not the glass that's the problem, at least according to Honda, it is the metal flange to which the windshield mounts, it creates a stress point. I would suspect the aftermarket glass company does not know about this and does not bend the flange as mentioned in the Honda TSB. If they do not fix this you may be in for the same stress cracks even with a new windshield. Get a copy of the TSB off of the internet (one of the element sites has it), and have it handy when they are replacing it.

 

[aristoBrat]

[quote:216b5c443a="igo2slo"]Bottom Line: Don't let the a__holes get away with it! They reley on most people just going away and letting their insurance company take care of it![/quote:216b5c443a]
.. which I don't get

The Customer Service center says that Honda pays the dealers for the glass, and it's a glass company that comes out and actually does the work, so "there is no reason for a dealer to deny the claim." Whatever! <argh>

 

[E-Rich]

(in California, at least) it's Cal Trans (the freeway cleanup people, who use county jail prisoners to police the freeways for litter, etc.) I traded in my old '91 Caravan for the E. My Caravan got hit several times by rocks on the best freeways in Calif. In less than 6 months I had TWO broken windshields from rocks. Now my E already got clobbered and has a tiny (so far) etch from the rock.

And when I get hit, I look around. Sometimes it's just a late model passenger car anywhere near me. Go figure. At least now i know I'm not the only one jinxed with this problem.

 

[NewEman]

I just bought my E about 3 weeks ago. I do a lot of driving for work (about 20k per year). So far so good with around 800 miles on it, but after reading all of the the posts about windshield complaints I became nervous. I checked out the Honda recall VIN numbers for this possible (likely) problem and my car happens to fall under the numbers. Should I go to my dealer and request a new windshield immediately, or should I wait it out and see what happens?

 

[aristoBrat]

I'd wait it out.

My feeling is that the more time passes, the more information Honda is going to get to apply towards fixing the problem.

And who knows -- you may never have the problem. Mine only showed up after it got SUPER hot out here and I started running the A/C on full-blast, which I guess puts a lot of stress on the glass. FWIW, my E's NOT in the VIN range. ???

I'm bummed that there is a potential windshield issue, but I'm still pretty stoked about my E.

 

[thejuryisout]

I have replaced my windshield 4 times on my 2003 Element. Glad to see it's not just me. I actually got windshield replacement insurance. I'll file my complaint.

 

[jdiane]

I have an 03 E, got hit by a big rock off a truck last February, the chip (right in my line of sight, so I see it everyday) hasnt grown a centimeter in 10 months. the first two posters sounded like trolls, but my troll meter has been off lately :twisted: