Honda Element problems by model year

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

NHTSA has 124 owner complaints and 14 recalls on file for the Honda Element (2005–2011). The 2008 Element has the most serious complaints, most often about suspension.

Complaints
124
Recalls
14
Model years
7
Worst year
2008

Complaints by model year

2320052020062220073620081320099201012011
NHTSA complaints per Honda Element model year. Click a bar for details.

Newer model years have had less time on the road, so they naturally have fewer complaints. Compare a year against its neighbors rather than against brand-new models.

Worst Honda Element years to buy

Ranked by our severity-weighted complaint score (crashes, fires and injuries count extra — how it works).

  1. 2008 Honda Element — 36 complaints, 1 crash; top problem: Suspension
  2. 2006 Honda Element — 20 complaints, 2 crashes; top problem: Suspension
  3. 2005 Honda Element — 23 complaints, 1 crash; top problem: Suspension
  4. 2007 Honda Element — 22 complaints, 2 crashes; top problem: Suspension
  5. 2009 Honda Element — 13 complaints; top problem: Suspension

Fewest serious complaints among years at least 3 years old: 2011 (1 complaints).

Every Honda Element model year

YearComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuriesRecallsTop problem
2011 Element110010Seats & Seat Belts
2010 Element900010Suspension
2009 Element130008Suspension
2008 Element3610011Suspension
2007 Element2220010Suspension
2006 Element202018Suspension
2005 Element231017Suspension

Most common Honda Element problem areas (all years)

  • Suspension
    65 complaints
  • Body & Structure
    28 complaints
  • Airbags
    17 complaints
  • Wheels & Tires
    7 complaints
  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    6 complaints
  • Electrical System
    5 complaints
  • Seats & Seat Belts
    5 complaints
  • Steering
    5 complaints
  • Brakes
    5 complaints
  • Acceleration & Cruise Control
    3 complaints

Complaint trend

2020202120222023202420252026
Complaints about the Honda Element received by NHTSA each month.

Honda Element recalls

  • Recall 19V501000Jun 27, 20191,657,752 vehiclesModel years 2005–2011

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 19V499000Jun 27, 20193,947 vehiclesModel years 2005–2011

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 19V182000Mar 6, 20191,101,534 vehiclesModel years 2005–2011

    Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 18V662000Sep 27, 201857,095 vehiclesModel years 2010–2011

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 18V268000Apr 26, 20181,335 vehiclesModel years 2006–2011

    Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

  • Recall 18V041000Jan 9, 201824,945 vehiclesModel years 2009–2011

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 17V029000Jan 10, 2017308,884 vehiclesModel years 2005–2011

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 16V344000May 23, 20161,790,894 vehiclesModel years 2005–2011

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 15V320000May 28, 20156,281,043 vehiclesModel years 2005–2011

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  • Recall 12V436000Sep 5, 20125,216 vehiclesModel years 2007–2011

    Risk: Without trailer turn signal illumination, the driver's intent is not communicated, potentially increasing the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 11V395000Aug 4, 20111,512,107 vehiclesModel years 2005–2008

    Risk: This could result in a short circuit causing the engine to stall. Additionally, broken pieces of the outer race or ball bearing from the secondary shaft may become lodged in the parking pawl resulting in the vehicle rolling after the driver has placed the gear selector in the park position. Engine stall and unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash or personal injury to persons within the path of a rolling vehicle.

  • Recall 10V361000Aug 4, 2010585 vehiclesModel years 2010

    Risk: This can cause the key to be stuck in the ignition switch, an inability to shift into or out of park, or an inability to shift into reverse, increasing the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 10V271000Jun 15, 201013 vehiclesModel years 2008

    Risk: The seat occupant may be injured if the seat base pin were to break.

  • Recall 10V098000Mar 16, 2010412,000 vehiclesModel years 2007–2008

    Risk: If the owner does not have any brake service or maintenance performed over a period of months or years, the system can continue to accumulate enough air to affect braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Other Honda models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. Methodology