2004 Honda ELEMENT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
281 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
47,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 177 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield is the most frequently named component, appearing in 100 of 281 complaints (35.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 3.9% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 2.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 1.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 1.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.4% |
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 | 100 |
| Air Bags | 59 |
| Seats | 26 |
| Seat Belts | 14 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Suspension | 12 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 8 |
| Structure:Body | 7 |
Visibility:Windshield: 100; Air Bags: 59; Seats: 26; Seat Belts: 14; Electrical System: 12; Suspension: 12; Air Bags:Side/Window: 8; Structure:Body: 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 | 68 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 32 |
| 150,000 and above | 23 |
Under 25,000: 68; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 32; 150,000 and above: 23
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (68). 104 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 55 |
| 2005 | 39 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 13 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 16 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 18 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2004: 55; 2005: 39; 2006: 18; 2007: 11; 2008: 13; 2009: 9; 2010: 15; 2011: 16; 2012: 6; 2013: 1; 2014: 10; 2015: 18; 2016: 14; 2017: 13; 2018: 6; 2019: 8; 2020: 4; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 8; 2024: 7; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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 10150721 · 2006-02-21 (February 21, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A SCREECHING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR BRAKES WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT SPEEDS OF 2 MPH AND ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR AN INSPECTION DUE TO THE NOISE. THE INSPECTOR DETERMINED THE BRAKE PADS WERE WORN AND THE ROTORS WERE SCORED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE REAR BRAKE PAD AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THE TIRES WERE WORN AROUND THE TREAD ALTHOUGH, NO INCIDENTS OR PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED ABOUT THE TIRES PREVIOUSLY. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINE…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150721 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10321643 · 2010-03-23 (March 23, 2010)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN EXPRESSWAY, STEERING WHEEL TILT LOCK CAME LOOSE ALLOWING STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE UP & DOWN. AFTER STOPPING & RAISING TILT LEVER TO UPWARD POSITION (LOCK), I CONTINUED ON AND IT DID IT AGAIN (LEVER FALLING DOWN). NOW LEVER WILL NOT REMAIN IN "UP" OR "LOCKED" POSITION. VERY UN-NERVING WHEN BRAKING OR TURNING. AWAITING RETURN CALL FROM OUT OF TOWN HONDA DEALER. LOCAL HONDA DEALER SAID THEY WANTED $90.00 UP FRONT AS A "DIAGNOSTIC FEE" BEFORE THEY WOULD EVEN LOOK AT IT........
Owner-reported narrative. 75,830 miles reported. Look up ODI 10321643 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10092609 · 2004-09-14 (September 14, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE'S STEERING LOCKED. THE VEHICLE'S TIRE VALVE WAS FAULTY AND RESULTED IN A FLAT TIRE. *NM WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY MALFUNCTION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 6,846 miles reported. Look up ODI 10092609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10217432 · 2008-02-08 (February 8, 2008)
AIR BAGS AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. AIR BAGS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND BROUGHT TO DEALER. CABLE REEL ASSEMBLY IN STEERING COLUMN WAS BAD. DEALER SAID I HAD TO PAY FOR NEW ASSEMBLY AND LABOR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217432 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054894 · 2004-01-26 (January 26, 2004)
04 HONDA ELEMENT EX WITH SIDE AIRBAGS AND 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WINDSHIELD CRACKED OVERNIGHT WHILE PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 2 WEEKS OLD WITH ONLY 450 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WHEN IT OCCURRED. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112109 · 2005-02-24 (February 24, 2005)
WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM THE DEALER. IT BEGAN TO LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WITH THE COMPLAINT. THEY SAID THEY'D TAKE A LOOK AT IT, BUT IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME. THEY CLAIMED IT COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE LEAKING AND ANY FLUID I SAW WAS CONDENSATION FROM THE AC. THE GAVE IT BACK TO ME IN A FEW HOURS CLAIMING IT WAS FINE AND AGAIN SAID THE FLUID WAS CONDENSATION. I ARGUED AND SAID IT WAS OILY. THEY CLAIMED THIS WAS BECAUSE MY GARAGE FLOOR WAS OILY. THE RESPONSE TO ME WAS: "I'M SO CONFIDENT IT IS WATER I'LL …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10112109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10415226 · 2011-07-26 (July 26, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE NOTICED THE IGNITION KEY WAS LOOSE WHILE POSITIONED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE RECURRED THREE YEARS LATER. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V364000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10415226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11032917 · 2017-10-11 (October 11, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE KEY FAILED TO TURN TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NALLEY HONDA BRUNSWICK (178 ALTAMA CONNECTOR, BRUNSWICK, GA 31525 [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAULTY IGNITION THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11032917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11243430 · 2019-08-12 (August 12, 2019)
ENGINE STALLS AT 3000RPM
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11243430 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250035 · 2008-11-28 (November 28, 2008)
I HAVE A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. I NOTICED FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS EVERY TIME THAT I FILL THE TANK COMPLETELY, I SMELL STRONG GASOLINE FUMES UNTIL I USE ABOUT 4 OR 5 GALLONS. I FAILED A CHATTANOOGA, TN EMISSIONS CHECK. THEY SAID THAT I HAVE A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK. I NOTICED THE WEB THAT OTHERS HAVE REPORTED LEAKS AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE FILLER CAP FOR THE SAME MODEL YEAR. CAN YOU ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL? THE VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS RELATIVELY CLEAN, AND CORROSION DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A FACTOR THAT CAUSED …
Owner-reported narrative. 52,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250035 at NHTSA ↗