Honda Element Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the Honda Element across 9 model years. The 2003 model year has the most (25). The words owners use most often: “trailing arm” (46% of reports).
- 117suspension complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 7%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Trailing arm: mentioned in 54 of 117 complaints (46%)
- Rear driver: mentioned in 15 of 117 complaints (13%)
- Drivers side: mentioned in 11 of 117 complaints (9%)
- Recalled canada: mentioned in 7 of 117 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 38 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 117 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 2 an injury.
Honda Element suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Element | 1 | 9% | 25,000 |
| 2010 Element | 6 | 20% | — |
| 2009 Element | 8 | 26% | 125,000 |
| 2008 Element | 24 | 21% | 130,000 |
| 2007 Element | 14 | 13% | 102,000 |
| 2006 Element | 10 | 8% | 92,500 |
| 2005 Element | 13 | 8% | 86,000 |
| 2004 Element | 16 | 6% | 91,738 |
| 2003 Element | 25 | 6% | 174,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Suspension:rear
Model years: 2008
Problem: Honda is recalling 241 my 2008 element vehicles. The front bushing bracket of the left trailing arm of the rear suspension may have been improperly welded and could separate from the trailing arm.
Risk: A separated bushing bracket could cause the suspension to release the lower portion of the wheel hub, causing a loss of control and damage to the brake system which could lead to a crash.
Fix: Owners will be contacted by phone and advised to stop driving their vehicles until they have taken their vehicle to a dealer for inspection. Dealers will inspect the left rear trailing arm and, if necessary, replace it free of charge. The recall began on july 25, 2008. Owners may contact honda at 1-800-999-1009.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The frame rusted and separated where the rear trail arm connects to the vehicle, so it cannot move.
The front bushing bracket on the left (driver's side) rear trailing arm may have an improper weld and could separate from the arm. I am noticing some rust in this area. I have rustproofed the vehicle to help prolong the life and to avoid a separated bracket which can release the lower portion of…
The car is extremely rusty, so much so that the driver side trailing arm detached from the rest of the frame. The driver side rear suspension components are detached from the car. The car has been garage-kept since new, yet is extremely rusty. This is just like what the Canadian Honda Element…
Left rear trailing arm mount has rusted and trailing arm is not intact.
Rotted and rusted out trailing arms
Frequently asked questions
Do all Honda Elements have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 117 owner complaints about suspension for the Honda Element. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Honda Element suspension?
Yes: 1 safety recall list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the Honda Element?
The most frequent phrase is “trailing arm”, in 54 of 117 complaints, followed by “rear driver” (15).
Other Honda Element problems
- Visibility problems (374)
- Air Bags problems (322)
- Electrical System problems (111)
See all Honda Element problems.