Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Honda Element owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The windshield of my Honda Element ex, 2003 has crack after been hit by a small object for second time. For the first time I pay $50 for repair. Now I am not sure it's worth to repair or replacement in view of so many complains by others elements owners.
Windshield crack of about 3-4 inches from bottom under passenger windshield wiper was "just there" in the morning after heavy snowfall and major defroster use. In two days, before I got to dealer to have it inspected, it had extended upwards about 6 more inches, in two more days, all the way across windshield to within 2 inched of windshield edge on driver's side. Now extended to lower driver's side corner. There was cold weather through out. Dealer pointed out miniscule pit on crack below passenger windshield wiper, said not covered under warranty because cause by rock chip, etc. There May have been a minor impact there, who is to say, but the "evidence" nearly requires magnifying glass to see&in fact I scraped ice away on windshield that very morning. In fact there are many other "pits on windshield, including others on crack. …
2003 Honda Element windshield cracked three times within 12,000 miles. First crack appeared on passenger's side, starting from lower edge approximately centered with wiper blade straight up six inches with a sharp turn to the right. Went to dealer for replacement (metro Honda, johnston ri) representative said crack was caused by stone or foreign object and was not covered by warranty. There was no sign of impact. Representative under close inspection found the smallest spec within crack. It is tiny, I'd say the size of a grain of salt. About three weeks later the second crack appeared starting from the lower edge of the drivers side, directly centered with the wiper blade. After close inspection, I found an identical salt grain size spec within the crack. This was not caused by impact! I knew this windshield was defected. …
While driving on hwy 1, no traffic anywhere, windshield on my 2003 Honda Element with 8000 plus miles on it cracked from under the windshield wiper on the driver's side up about 5 inches. Car has a bug/rock shield on it. No visible mark on windshield just this crack inside the glass. Dealer refuses to fix. Entire windshield needs to be replaced cannot just repair. I am in my sixties and have owned lots of cars. Had many things hit other windshields, never replaced a whole windshield before and never when no traffic around or anything to cause crack except what I believe is a defective windshield, design or something inherent in the car. Honda should come forward and admit there is a problem with its windshield and the stress that is placed on it causing it to be unfit for the purpose for which it was intended. We have a high deductible so must absorb the cost ourselves. …
My 2003 Honda Element has developed a stress crack in the lower right corner in that is similar that reported by hundreds of Element owners. This occured while the vehicle was parked and is consistent with the description of a Honda TSB addressing cracked windsheilds due to a manufacturing defect. Two Honda dealerships arrogantly dismissed it as being caused by a pebble chip; however the alleged "chip" was a small pit the size of a grain of sand. The first dealer indicated he located a small dicontinuity in the path of the crack that was pin sized. The second dealership alleged that he located six pinholes, none of which were visable to me or detected by the first dealerhip! The inspection technique and resulting dismissal of the claim appeared to be coached from some Honda factory issued directive to avoid documentation of this widespread defect. …
My car was parked at work during a snow storm and at the end of the day I came out to the car brushed the snow away and my windshield was cracked in the lower passenger side corner the car had 7300 miles on it. It was fine when I left in the morning . 2 days later I took the car to the dealer and they stated that it was due to a small pit in the windshield the size of a grain of sand and therefore Honda would not the repair. I have had cars (hondas) with large stone chips 1/4 inch in size not crack the windshield - the size of this pit is barely visible. I told my dealer that I felt this was a defect in the windshield or installation and he said that Honda would not address it since there was a pit in the windshield. He said my insurance would cover it. After checking on the web and the number of complaints my suspicions were verfiied. …
Windshield:tiny impact crack located right above the wiper blade on passenger side that has spread about 24" to the edge of the windshield caused by the slightest impact of a tiny pebble traveling ~45 MPH on 880 north in fremont ,california during rush hour morning traffic. Tiny chip would not have spread if there wasn't so much stress placed on the windshield by the "uneven windshield flange surface" that is stated in Honda service bulletin 03-028 which my VIN falls within. Honda dealership will not replace the windshield because the they said the impact started the crack. I contacted Honda customer service directly as stated in the warranty manual and they said they could do nothing based on the dealership findings. …
My 2003 Honda Element windshield cracked after 4000 miles, the crack started below the driver side windshield wiper and expanded upward, most likely the result of a small rock impact but never heard any noise. Talked to Honda America and the csr said I should contact local dealership and see. Took the car to the Honda of lisle (illinois) dealership where I purchased the Element from, and several service managers looked at it and said it can not be covered by warranty because it was a rock chip. At least two service managers claimed they have no knowledge of any windshield problem with Element. Paying $100 insurance deductible is a small price to pay, but this seems to be an obvious manufacturer defect and can haunt the consumers by replacing windshield on a very frequent basis. Does Honda America stands by its product and warranty rather than repeated denials? …
I am in the process of requesting replacement of the windshield in my Honda Element (purchased at majestic/Lincoln on 08/08/03). It is obvious that no impact to the windshield has occurred and the crack (lower right, passenger side beneath the wiper) was first noticed on the morning of 12/18/03 when I got in the car. Originally about five inches in length, and crawling up from the base of the windshield and then over to the right corner, the crack actually grew another three inches in the ten minutes we were in the car. I have done extensive research and discovered by way of the Honda service bulletin dated May 6, 2003 ("TSB 03-028: windshield is cracked at the lower corners" found at the following url: http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2212 that this is a widespread problem affecting the Element windshields and replacement would be covered by Honda. …
Dt: consumer stated that her vehicle's windshield cracked from the bottom and the crack moved up about one foot. The consumer indicated that there did not appear to be a starting point to the crack. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who said that they found a ding that consumer says is about as big as the head of a pin. Dealer says this is where something struck vehicle. The consumer is confident that nothing struck window, window cracked under stress from vehicle. Consumer says that she believes that windshield cracked while vehicle was in her garage. Consumer said she did not notice crack until she got vehicle out of garage in the morning. Consumer also states that another vehicle that is in her work parking lot, is the same vehicle but different color, this vehicle has same crack. Consumer says that the crack is very close. It also starts in the same place in the bottom of window. …
Window & Wiper complaints in other Element years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2003 Honda Element?
NHTSA has 225 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2003 Honda Element, 53% of the model year's 423 complaints. The component named most often is windshield (217 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Honda Element window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for the 2003 Honda Element, though it has 10 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Honda Element window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 9,000 miles, and 79% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to windows, wipers & sunroof problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.