NHTSA Data Explorer
Honda Element
Data refreshed August 27, 2026
Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Honda Element.
Complaints
1,278
Active records
Recalls
24
Active records
TSBs
231
Active records
Filing history
Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.
Reported severity
Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.
Deaths
0
Injuries
92
Crashes
92
Fires
13
Top reported issues — Honda Element
Click a category to expand its values.
Condition issue
Safety restraint issue
Operating state
Safety restraint behavior
Reporting mechanism
Braking behavior
Access/entry issue
Noise
Engine behavior
Transmission/drivetrain behavior
Lighting behavior
Vibration/harshness
Thermal issue
Driver assistance issue
Steering behavior
Recent change
Fluid issue
Performance issue
Starting behavior
Electrical issue
Ride/handling behavior
HVAC behavior
Powering on/off behavior
Infotainment behavior
Smell
Charging behavior
Electrified system issue
Wiper/washer behavior
Recent filings
The 10 most recent filings for each type.
2009 HONDA ELEMENT
Filed Aug 10, 2026
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 recall was all about. The local dealership refused to do anything and said the car was out of warranty.
2008 HONDA ELEMENT
Filed Aug 7, 2026
I was driving on a 65 mph highway when another vehicle forced me off the road causing my vehicle to spin out and hit a guardrail pretty much head on at about 60-65mph. Should my airbags have gone off? My safety could have been at risk because of how my vehicle went from highway speed into a guardrail, my car bounced off of the guardrail and spun so I was facing traffic coming towards me. I have sent a message to Honda asking about the airbags but I have not received a response, no the vehicle…
2006 HONDA ELEMENT
Filed Jul 19, 2026
Chest clip won’t pull tight and tethered to pull on lower anchor malfunctions when you pull it is difficult to get tight
2005 HONDA ELEMENT
Filed Jul 11, 2026
Left rear trailing arm mount has rusted and trailing arm is not intact.
2008 HONDA ELEMENT
Filed Apr 4, 2026
Rotted and rusted out trailing arms
2005 HONDA ELEMENT
Filed Mar 3, 2026
Reporting a Material Compound Failure on a set of 4 Falken Wildpeak AT Trails tires (size 215/70/16) sold as 'new' but manufactured in 2021 (DOT 3921). Despite 8/32 tread remaining (75% life), from there original 10/32'' tread the rubber is failing with severe dry rot/cracking through the sidewall and markings on all 4 tireson the outside,and inside of the tire walls. This is a safety hazard involving undisclosed 'New Old Stock' this is premature failure ,and was confirmed by Mavis Tire,and…
2006 HONDA ELEMENT
Filed Feb 1, 2026
Vehicle (2-owner, all svc records), involved in a head-on collision, with approximately 75% of impact/damage to the Driver’s front (see photos). The passenger front (25% of impact) airbag deployed, the DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG did NOT deploy. The Takata airbag recall service/replacement (see invoice) was performed by a local Honda dealership on 01/08/2018. (Factory recall: 16-047; Kit Inflator: 06999). The vehicle is in my (owner’s) private possession since the time of the incident, I have…
2004 HONDA ELEMENT
Filed Jan 16, 2026
On 722 2024 dealer try to replace a defective seatbelt buckle could not do the repair could not get a replacement from Honda SRS light stays on so that if the vehicle is in an accident, the airbags will not deploy. Have been waiting on this partfor a very long time. Have no information from Honda when this will be available.
2010 HONDA ELEMENT
Filed Jan 12, 2026
Rear trailing arm attachment point to frame is rusting out and will cause the trailing arm to detatch from the frame. Vert little rust anywhere else on the car. This is a wide spread issue and very common with this model. Why is honda not taking this serious?
2006 HONDA ELEMENT
Filed Dec 18, 2025
Honda Canada recognized the safety risks from salt damage to the frames and rear suspension of Honda Elements and recalled all years of the Element for warranty repairs, or if the damage was too severe, buy back of the vehicles. Yet they have not in the USA in rust belt states where salt damage is prevalent. As you will note from the attached photos, severe injury or death could occur in a major collision, which falls into the scope of your agency. All Elements in areas where corrosive salty…