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 2004 Honda Element owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The other day I was leaving from work, and upon entering my Honda Element I noticed a 4"-6" crack on the passengers side of the windshield, stretching from just below the wiper blade to approximately 4" up the pillar. Upon noticing this I immediately took my car to the dealership where I had purchased the Element. The service manager came out and did the "pen test" and the "pen test found a small pit along the crack." the service manager explained to me that this pit was caused from possibly a rock that hit the windshield just on the edge of the weather striping. With this answer seeming a little strange to me I decided to investigate further. In searching the internet I found a large number of people complaining about the same problem. …
2004 Honda Element : 2nd windshield replacement in 6 months . The cracks always start in the black area from below the windshield wiper blades. Honda denies any known problem with the design of the windshield frame . Honda replaced first winshield approx. 6 months ago . The 2nd replacement Honda refused to cover/warranty. I have a signed statement from the window technichian that came out and replaced my 2nd windshield stating; the crack in my winshield was caused by stress and that the bottom corners of the pinchweld on both sides are broke away from the welds and are loose . My insurance policy covered the 2nd replacement however, I feel Honda should have. After researching my vehicle today on line, I have learned that there is a pending class action lawsuit against American Honda and an alarming number sites with Honda Element owners or leasers sharing my same concerns . …
I own a 2004 Honda Element. A little over a month ago my windshield cracked. The crack started under my wiper blade and spread up very quickly. I had the windshield replaced, not knowing that this was a known common problem on 03-04 Honda elements. Last night I went out to my car and noticed another crack in my windshield, with the crack occurring while the car was not in motion. This is the second time in two months I have to replace the windshield, though this time I will do it through a Honda dealer as a class action lawsuit has caused them to cover all windshields up to 60,000 miles on the car. Which leads me to the cause for my complaint. Honda is covering a known design flaw up to 60,000 miles, but not after. My car is currently at 48K miles, leaving me with 12K miles of coverage. …
My windshield has started to crack, very similar to problems that have been reported on this website about earlier model year Honda elements. The crack started at the bottom of the front of the driver's side dash about 12 inches from the left side of the left edge. There are no, repeat no chips or dings that May have contributed to this event. It is very clear that Honda is having similar problems on the additional model year elements. Those problems were reported that the welded seams along where the windshield rests on the frame had high spots that were causing the stress cracks. Currently, the crack is about 12 inches long, but grows a little more every week. …
Structural defect with windshield. 17 day old Element developed 16 inch crack in windshield overnight. Started at gap in molding under wipers, continued up for 3" and then 13" towards driver side a-pillar. Sales dealer said May have been caused by pebble and would have to pay out of pocket, ie, no warranty or goodwill. After complaint letter to dealer, service manager told me they might be able to replace it as goodwill one time only. Went to glass experts who found "bubble and burr"/structural defect around windshield causing stress fracture. Had them replace with Honda glass. Second windshield had hundreds of pits in glass. Third Honda windshield now installed. Scared to have family drive in car due to "soft" Honda windshields, as windshield is integral structural component in airbag deployment and rollover. …
2004 Honda Element 4wd, a/t factory new vehicle developed a 10" crack in windshield originating from the passenger side lower left corner of vehicle. No impact to windshield. Vehicle was entering a driveway when the crack was heard (approx 5 MPH) vehicle has only 250 miles contacted dealer, they are willing to replace under Honda warranty. But asked me to sign a waiver because "all of the glass received from Honda has a 1.5" scratch in the center portion of the windshield above the rearview mirror" I refused to sign such an agreement. Contacted Honda customer support center [phone] in ca. Zone manager assigned to my case. I feel very unsafe in this vehicle now!! I hope that no one is injured or hurt because of this ongoing (since 2003 model year) defect in the windshield frame/flange. Dealer should have notified customers before purchase!
First day of our vacation, we made our first stop for gas. I went in to bathroom while my husband filed tank. When we got back in car, we noticed 5" crack coming up from under trim strip,left of center near wiper attachment. Nothing had impacted windshield during 2hr drive from home to this point. The car was parked under a canapy & my husband or I were with car the entire time it was at the station. During the rest of our 5,000 mile trip, the crack spread slowly. We took it to the dealer we purchased it from. They say it was caused by impact of rock or bug. We searched internet & found a service bulletin from Honda sent out in 2003 for on how to fix windshields in 03 models as they were having problems w/stress cracks in same place ours cracked. We informed our dealer of this-still no word on repair/repacement of ours.
Windshield on 2004 Honda Element spontaneously cracked. Started below drivers side wiper blade and headed straight up. No rock or sand pits. The Honda Element owner club website has hundreds of people who are having this problem with mixed responses from Honda and their dealers. Even if covered by warranty what do we do when it expires? Drive around with cracks all over our windshields? Dealer said there are no tsbs on this but owners club website has them. Dealer did say on phone that if a stress fracture they will replace but warned if there is any sign of a rock they won't and that it is obvious if it is a rock. No sign of any pit at all. If you read the owner's club website you see much discussion on what is a very obvious problem that Honda has that thye aren't really dealing with very openly. Thanks.
A stress crack appeared in the windshield of my 2004 Honda Element. Crack began from below the plastic molding and below the left windshield wiper. There was no impact point from a rock or other object. Dealer attempted to blame it on a small chip in the area of the crack--chip was 1/2 mm in diameter and 1/4 of a mm in depth. I have numerous small chips like this and none have caused a crack. The dealer at first claimed the crack was caused by the small chip. After I pointed out other chips and also talked about the 2003 service bulletin and current lawsuit, the manager called the Honda rep. The Honda rep said they would replace it as a one time good will gesture--thus, relieving themselves of any liability.
I am an owner of a 2004 Honda Element. Like many other Element owners, I've just had my first cracked windshield, 3 months after purchase. I've also had my first experience trying to get Honda to admit that there is a problem with the windshield in this vehicle. There is no impact mark, but a crack running from under the rubber seal , up and across the windshield on the drivers side. The service manager was very sure that an impact must have caused this, even though he could not find a specific mark using the imfamous "pen test". I've read numerous other complaints on this site and others about this issue. When is the NHTSA going to force Honda to admit they have a design problem?!?
Window & Wiper complaints in other Element years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2004 Honda Element?
NHTSA has 105 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2004 Honda Element, 37% of the model year's 281 complaints. The component named most often is windshield (100 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Honda Element window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for the 2004 Honda Element, though it has 9 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 2004 Honda Element window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 10,000 miles, and 82% before 25,000 miles.
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.