2003 Honda ELEMENT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
423 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
24,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 278 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield is the most frequently named component, appearing in 217 of 423 complaints (51.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 18 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 2.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 2.4% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 1.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield | 217 |
| Air Bags | 40 |
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 24 |
| Suspension | 23 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
| Structure:Body | 14 |
| Structure | 7 |
Visibility:Windshield: 217; Air Bags: 40; Electrical System: 25; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 24; Suspension: 23; Unknown Or Other: 16; Structure:Body: 14; Structure: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 139 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 38 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 25 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 24 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 24 |
| 150,000 and above | 28 |
Under 25,000: 139; 25,000 to 49,999: 38; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 24; 100,000 to 149,999: 24; 150,000 and above: 28
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (139). 145 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 54 |
| 2004 | 121 |
| 2005 | 62 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 7 |
2003: 54; 2004: 121; 2005: 62; 2006: 17; 2007: 9; 2008: 10; 2009: 5; 2010: 15; 2011: 10; 2012: 12; 2013: 6; 2014: 19; 2015: 22; 2016: 17; 2017: 4; 2018: 5; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 7; 2022: 4; 2023: 8; 2024: 5; 2025: 7
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10059125 · 2004-02-13 (February 13, 2004)
VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD, AND CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES VERY HARD IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059125 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062142 · 2004-03-14 (March 14, 2004)
WHEN ENGINE IS COLD STARTED(NO MATTER WHAT TEMP OUTSIDE), THE ENGINE FAST IDLES AT ABOUT 1500 RPM. WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE THE ENGINE ACCELERATES TO 2500 RPM. HEAVY BRAKING AND LURCHING RESULTS. CAR WILL REACH SPEED OF 20MPH.*AK THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 6 MOS
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062142 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117918 · 2005-04-15 (April 15, 2005)
THIS IS THE THIRD THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY INSTALLED INTO CAR SINCE PURCHASE. THE FIRST ONE WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED WITH A NEW MODEL. THE SECOND WAS REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURES, AND THE LAST ONE WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE DVD/NAV SYSTEM INSTALLED WHICH WAS CAUSING ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE TO THE THROTTLE BODY, CAUSING IT TO FAIL. THE SYMPTOM STARTED WITH THE SHIFT NOT UNLOCKING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THEN IT WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS, CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN AT 4500 RPMS. THEN VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN ROAD, AND IT SHIFTED TO BETTER HIGH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117918 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220065 · 2008-03-04 (March 4, 2008)
I PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT IN JUNE 2003 OF WHICH HAD MANY MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS/FAILURES. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF THESE FAILURES PROVED TO BE WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN MECHANISM SPECIFICALLY CV BOOTS AND STEERING FUNCTION. LOUD NOISES DEVELOPED WHEN TURNING WHICH GREW LOUDER OVER TIME AS WELL AS A "GRINDING" SOUND AND VIBRATION FROM UNDERNEATH APPROX. AT MID-ALE LOCATION. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP OUT OF REVERSE WHILE MOVING INTO NEUTRAL AT WILL. THESE ISSUES CULMINATED IN MY STEERING CEASING TO OPERATE AS THOUG…
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061833 · 2004-03-10 (March 10, 2004)
ABLE TO REMOVE IGNITION KEY WHEN TRANSMISSION IN GEAR.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061833 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044498 · 2003-10-21 (October 21, 2003)
COMPLAINT REGARDING HONDA AMERICAN MOTORS AND THE PURCHASE OF A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT.*MR CONSUMER STATED EXPERIENCE AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS LESS THAN GOOD. HIS VEHICLE WAS SPRAYED WITH "ARMOR OIL TYPE GREASE" ALL OVER THE DOOR PANEL WITH SPRAY SPRINKLES. ALL OVER THE FRONT AND BACK SEATS AND CONSOLE. THEY SPRAYED STUFF ALL OVER THE PLACE TO THE POINT WHERE HIS HAND SLIPPED OFF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SEATS WERE DESTROYED. DEALERSHIP PROMISED THE PERMA PLATE, LOW JACK AND KEYLESS ENTRY. CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE WOULDN'T RECEIVE HIS KEYLESS ENTRY D…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100040 · 2004-11-16 (November 16, 2004)
2003 HONDA ELEMENT, FRONT WINDOW CRACKED UNDER THE SEAL UP ON THE RIGHT HAND PASSENGER SIDE. POPPING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN DEVELOPED AFTER APPROX 15K MILES. POWER STEERING ROD REPLACED IN AUG 04. RETURNED TO DEALER IN SEPTEMBER. WAS TOLD THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE; HOWEVER, SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO HEAR IT AND SAID IT SOUNDED AS IF THE AIRBAG SPRING WERE LOOSE. WAS NOT FIXED, REPORT CLAIMED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. RETURNED TO DEALER THE FOLLOWING WEEK. HAD TWO SERVICE TECHNICIANS RIDE IN THE VEHICLE, THEY BOTH HEAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100040 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10478056 · 2012-10-01 (October 1, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND AS THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS SMOKE SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKES SEIZING WHEN THEY WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10372098 · 2010-12-22 (December 22, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS ADVISED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A GASOLINE FUEL LEAK AND THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,362. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10372098 at NHTSA ↗