In the past I have read many news paper and consumer advocate article on the internet where they will get involved so that they can write up a story. This sounds like something that would catch their attention.

I would recommend researching a few of these on the internet and sending them what you posted here. Good chance you might get the interest of someone who will pester Honda in your behalf.

Yesterday her car was parked in the driveway at her home in warm, sunny Florida. It was her day off from work, so she deemed it a fine time to pull some weeds from the flowerbed. She heard a noise, looked up and watched to her own dismay as the rear seat window and the fixed panel window literally imploded from the inside out. She walked over to the car to further investigate what was happening. The windows were falling out–there was no evidence of external forces such as a b-b gun or bird hitting the windows. She took many pictures of the car and its window crashing, and called the local Honda dealer.

Here is what is determined: the car is new and the seals are so good and tight that no air is able to escape (this from the Honda USA
corporate office). Because the windows were closed and the car locked and left in the sun, there was no place for the air to escape except through the glass. Apparently the windows should have been left open a bit for the air to escape (nevermind that we have had often violent thundershowers nearly every day, and no predictability of when the showers will happen–30 to 50% is our summertime pattern in central Florida). By not leaving the windows open to vent the car, this has created the spontaneous exploding windows.

To add insult to injury, the glass breakage is not covered by the Honda warranty for new cars. Again, the argument that this is similar to a tree falling on the car and then asking the warranty to pay for the damage. Somehow I don’t quite get that–a tree didn’t fall on the car. Heat trapped inside the car caused the window breakage.

After speaking with the dealer, the regional rep and the Honda national customer service, it is very much likely that my daughter and her insurance company ($500 deductible) will have to pay for the car’s damage. Honda suggested if we appealed to the corporate office we might get them to share in the cost.

What others might learn from our experience is

1. don’t close your car windows entirely (sorry, if it rains in and soaks the car or if someone breaks into the car because the window is down that will just be another risk you’ll have to absorb)
2. keep your car garaged when possible (sorry, we work for companies who don’t have garages on our day jobs. Florida gets real hot in the parking lot, so see #1)
3. Honda, who has a reputation for being a first class company, sees no problem with the car and this is strictly a consumer caused event. The liability is totally the owner’s to pay for and Honda has no responsibility.

4. Lower your deductible on your insurance.
The cost of glass replacement is $610 for the two pieces of glass and probably another $200 for installation.

5. Check around, this has never happened in the history of mankind. None of the dealers, their reps or corporate offices have seen this previously.

6. When you tell the truth and present the evidence, there is still a tendency to doubt your story. Apparently there are people who make this stuff up. They have time on their hands and money in their bank. Clearly that’s why they drive an Element.