Honda Element Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,282 owner complaints and 20 safety recalls on file for the Honda Element, across 9 model years (2003–2011). The 2003 model year has the most complaints (423). The most reported problem area overall is visibility.
Honda Element years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Element year: 2003, 2004. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2003 Element: 423 complaints, 10 recalls
- 2004 Element: 281 complaints, 9 recalls
- 2005 Element: 159 complaints, 7 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2011 Element: 11 complaints, 10 recalls
- 2010 Element: 30 complaints, 10 recalls
- 2009 Element: 31 complaints, 8 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Honda Element problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility problems | 374 | 9 | 3 |
| Air Bags problems | 322 | 9 | 58 |
| Suspension problems | 117 | 9 | 7 |
| Electrical System problems | 111 | 8 | 3 |
| Structure | 91 | 8 | 11 |
| Seats | 56 | 6 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 50 | 7 | 5 |
| Power Train | 49 | 9 | 8 |
| Seat Belts | 36 | 7 | 6 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 32 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 30 | 8 | 0 |
| Steering | 27 | 9 | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 | 8 | 3 |
| Engine | 26 | 7 | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 22 | 7 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 21 | 5 | 1 |
| Tires | 17 | 8 | 0 |
| Equipment | 14 | 6 | 0 |
| Wheels | 13 | 8 | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tether, Lower Anchor (on Car Seat or Vehicle) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Honda Element problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2006: air bags (55)
- 2005: air bags (76)
- 2004: visibility (106) · air bags (73)
- 2003: visibility (226)
All Honda Element model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Element | 11 | 10 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2010 Element | 30 | 10 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 Element | 31 | 8 | — | Suspension | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 Element | 113 | 12 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2007 Element | 112 | 10 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2006 Element | 122 | 9 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2005 Element | 159 | 7 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2004 Element | 281 | 9 | — | Visibility | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 Element | 423 | 10 | — | Visibility | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Honda: all Honda models · Honda VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Honda Element years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2003 (423), 2004 (281) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Element year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Honda Element?
Visibility, with 374 complaints across 9 model years.
How many recalls does the Honda Element have?
20 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.