1st May 2006, 06:41

I purchased a 2005 Element for snow birding to Florida. On the return home last week the windshield cracked. No other cars were around us at the time, and I had just washed the windshield 5 miles or so prior to the crack appearing. Waiting on my dealers action at this time. Crack started upper corner of passenger side and is now about 18 inches long.

12th Jun 2006, 17:31

Canada Toronto area. 2005 Honda Element (sept 2005). Early June 2006, heard something hit windshield, didn't see any cracks. 1 or 2 days later, discovered 5 inch crack starting about in the middle from the very top. 2 days after that became 6 inch crack. 1 day after that crack curves towards the passenger side, about 15 inch long total now.

Do I have anything to go on. Can I repair, or replace?

Anyone know the non-insurance and insurance rates for a replacement?

Can I just leave the crack, knowing that the Element has a possible flawed windshield design, and can expect more cracks? I don't mind looking at the crack so long as it doesn't hurt me?

Are there any liability issues on Honda's part? I mean, them knowing that the customer thinks it's hopeless and might start hurting people, perhaps Honda thinks it might be cheaper to actually offer (ahum) free repairs?

13th Jun 2006, 05:07

I don't own an Element, but I have had a cracked windshield in the past. You're going to have to replace the entire thing. If you don't the next time you take a good bump you could actually have it spiderweb on you while your driving. It won't shatter into a million pieces because it's saftey glass, but you wouldn't be able to see through it at all.

Most glass shops will even pay the insurance deductable (generally about $300) and repair it for "free".

1st Jul 2006, 21:32

I would welcome a broken windshield, then maybe I could see things to the left and right of me. Seriously the blind spots from the windshield pillers is really dangerous.

29th Mar 2007, 19:29

I bought a 2005 Honda Element in June 2005, and in that time I've replaced the windshield three times and have had to repair as many "spider" cracks. Even a small "ding" from a rock turns into a major horizontal crack in a matter of days if not filled. Most cracks seem to emanate from the bottom center area of the windshield. Dealer will not address the problem. Wish I had read more about the Element before I bought one. I like the roominess and versatility of my Element, but I'm getting fed up with the windshield problem. It's getting to the point where I dread having to drive on the highway. Highway driving = big bucks on windshield repairs.

All cracks have occurred while driving on the highway at appropriate speeds: no wind or other harsh conditions have been present. I now have over $1000 in windshield repairs in this car and it's not yet 2 years old. Does anyone know of a pending class action suit regarding the windshield problem for the 2005 Element?

30th Mar 2007, 05:02

19:29 Are you kidding? You want to sue Honda because you follow too closely and get hit with rocks? Rocks do in fact break glass. Honda engineering is good, but I don't think they're quite able to change the laws of physics yet.

16th Jun 2007, 11:32

I've had my 2005 Element since August of 2005. Had a major crack in windshield that happened on the highway... NO OTHER VEHICLES IN SIGHT, GREAT WEATHER, ETC... it just cracked without reason or cause, and continued to expand across the windshield. It is OBVIOUSLY a design flaw. Then after having it replaced with genuine Honda glass... it had problems with the sealing. No water leaked, but it screamed with intolerable wind noise as soon as I hit 45-50 mph. I love the Element in all respects except the windshield. It is so handy and easy to haul things and people. But if it costs me any more to fix the windshield, it is going to have to GO!

8th Feb 2008, 19:48

There is a class lawsuit against Honda for defective windshield mounts, pertaining to03 and 04 models. They claim to have fixed the problem! 05 models don't fall in the lawsuit.

15th Feb 2010, 18:55

We bought our 2005 Element new and now have had it for nearly 5 years. I was worried about the windshield crack problems I read about here, but we have not had a problem. In fact, in 2006 a small rock flew off a truck and hit my windshield going about 45 mph. It left a crack about 1/2 inch long and I have never had it repaired - the crack has stayed the same size for four years.