2005 Honda ELEMENT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
159 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 111 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 55 of 159 complaints (34.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 8.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 7.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 5.0% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 5.0% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 55 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 14 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Seats | 12 |
| Suspension | 12 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Seat Belts | 7 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 7 |
Air Bags: 55; Air Bags:Side/Window: 14; Electrical System: 12; Seats: 12; Suspension: 12; Power Train: 7; Seat Belts: 7; Visibility:Windshield: 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 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 22 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 21
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 48 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 15 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2005: 10; 2006: 7; 2007: 10; 2008: 6; 2009: 15; 2010: 13; 2011: 10; 2012: 3; 2013: 8; 2014: 8; 2015: 10; 2016: 15; 2017: 8; 2018: 9; 2019: 4; 2020: 5; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2025: 2; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 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 10151151 · 2006-02-24 (February 24, 2006)
I WAS DRIVING MY HONDA ELEMENT DOWN A FAIRLY BUSY STREET AT 45 MILES AN HOUR. A MAN PULLED OUT OF A STRIP MALL PARKING LOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. ALTHOUGH I HONKED MY HORN AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, I COULD NOT AVOID HITTING HIM. MY CAR HAS EXTREME FRONT END DAMAGE AND IT WAS A HIGH IMPACT CRASH, HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR IF IT WILL BE DETERMINED TO BE TOTALED, BUT IF IT ISN'T, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR IN THE FUTURE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151151 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10278531 · 2009-07-28 (July 28, 2009)
DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS WHEN ACCELERATING OR BRAKING. HONDA HAS ISSUED TSB BUT REFUSES TO COVER COST OF FIX IF VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MY CAR IS A 2005 BUT THE TSB COVERS ALL VEHICLES FROM 2003-2006. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10278531 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176172 · 2006-12-14 (December 14, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE BATTERY WAS RECHARGED, AND AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,470 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176172 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10301784 · 2010-01-21 (January 21, 2010)
I HAVE A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD IT DIES ON A REGULAR BASIS. I CAN START THE CAR AND LET IT WARM UP BUT IT IS VERY ROUGH AND STILL HAS A TENDENCY TO DIE WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG BUT I HAVE LOOKED AT MANY HONDA ELEMENT OWNER FORUMS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON AND DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH THE ELEMENT. ONCE THE ENGINE DIES, THERE IS STILL BATTERY POWER, BUT LIMITED STEERING CONTROL. IT HAPPENS NEARLY EVERY MORNING 2-3 TIMES AND I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA WHERE IT DOESN'T GE…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10301784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10321649 · 2010-03-23 (March 23, 2010)
I BOUGHT THE 2005 HONDA ELEMENT IN OCTOBER 2006, AS A NEW 4 WHEEL DRIVE, STANDARD TRANSMISSION. AFTER USING IT FOR A SHORT PERIOD I NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE LIKE PUTTY. THEY PRESSED NEARLY TO THE FLOOR, AND NOT TOO EFFECTIVE. THE DEALER FIXED THE BRAKES FOR FREE, THEY TOLD ME AT THE SAME TIME ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAD THEIR HONDA ELEMENT THERE FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS, THE BRAKES WERE LIKE PUTTY AGAIN. I DROVE IT TILL THE BRAKES SQUEALED. ( I LEARNED TO DRIVE WITH LITTLE USE OF BRAKES, SHIFTING DOWN AND SLOWING DOWN AT STOPS AND …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10321649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10334427 · 2010-06-03 (June 3, 2010)
HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR THIS FORUM, JUST BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER AN 05 HONDA ELEMENT FOR HER GRADUATION, WITH A LITTLE OVER 100K MILES. SHE LOVES IT, AND THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING A STRAIGHT DEAL FROM THE SELLERS, BUT NOT THE CASE. WHEN WE DROVE THE CAR, UNFORTUNATLY, AFTER BUYING, WE NOTICED A RUMBLING NOISE IN THE CAR, SO DROVE TO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT THE SOURCE. WE NAILED IT TO THE REAR END BY ONE DRIVING AND ONE WALKING OUTSIDE THE CAR. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY AND WAS IMMEDIATLY DIAGNOSED WITH THE 4WD REAR DIFFE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10334427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10183906 · 2007-03-01 (March 1, 2007)
A WEEK AGO I WAS IN A PARKING LOT GOING 5-7 MPH I HAD TO SWERVE TO THE LEFT TO AVOID A COLLISION AND WHEN I DID MY LEFT FRONT TIRE HIT A CEMENT POLE AT WHICH TIME MY STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG AND PASSENGER (I HAD 0 PASSENGERS) AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON AND IT THREW ME TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SEAT CAUSING BACK PAIN AND IT BURNED MY ARM SO BAD IT WAS BLEEDING. IT IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW GETTING THE FRONT END FIXED AND THE AIR BAGS ARE COSTING $1500.00 TO REPAIR. I CONTACTED THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND I …
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10183906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130827 · 2005-08-01 (August 1, 2005)
THERE ARE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE.. NO WARNING AT ALL... THE CAR, A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT STALLS WHILE DRIVING... IN ONE WEEKEND IT DID IT THREE TIMES ONCE AT 62 MPH, ONCE ON A RAMP BETWEEN TWO HIGH SPEED ROADS, AND ONCE IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEAVILY TRAFFIC AND BUSY ROAD IN THE MIDDLE LANE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. IT IS THERE YET, THEY ARE TRYING TO DUPLICATE IT AND CANNOT.. IT IS DANGEROUS... TO ME AND TO PEOPLE IN MY CAR WITH ME AND TO OTHERS AROUND ME IN OTHER CARS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274124 · 2009-06-17 (June 17, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 68,800.
Owner-reported narrative. 68,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274124 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11183507 · 2019-03-01 (March 1, 2019)
THIS OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING FUELED AT GAS PUMP. WHENEVER THE GAS TANK IS FILLED COMPLETELY BY AUTO-SHUT OFF AT PUMP, GASOLINE LEAKS FROM VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A REPEATED FAILURE MODE FOR THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VENT SYSTEM FAILURE REQUIRING A REPLACEMENT OF FUEL TANK SYSTEM BY DEALER TO RENDER SAFE. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES EXTANT UNDER 15 YEARS, BELIEVE SOME SORT OF SAFETY NOTICE IS WARRANTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 195,372 miles reported. Look up ODI 11183507 at NHTSA ↗