2006 Honda ELEMENT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
122 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
69,786 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 81 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 122 complaints (32.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 6.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 6.6% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 5.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 4.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
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 | 39 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 11 |
| Suspension | 10 |
| Seats | 9 |
| Structure:Body | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 |
Air Bags: 39; Air Bags:Side/Window: 11; Suspension: 10; Seats: 9; Structure:Body: 8; Electrical System: 7; Unknown Or Other: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 5
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 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 17 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 17
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 41 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2006: 10; 2007: 11; 2008: 5; 2009: 6; 2010: 10; 2011: 6; 2012: 6; 2013: 3; 2014: 11; 2015: 8; 2016: 8; 2017: 6; 2018: 8; 2019: 4; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2023: 3; 2024: 3; 2025: 6; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 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 10378343 · 2011-01-23 (January 23, 2011)
CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AFTER PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR WITH BRAKE, STOP AND TURN OFF THE CAR. HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE. *LN
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10378343 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454873 · 2012-04-11 (April 11, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE REPEATED THREE TIMES AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,300. UPDATED 06/05/12*LJ UPDATED 06/06/12 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10395219 · 2011-04-07 (April 7, 2011)
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FAILURE - THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS 2006 HONDA ELEMENT FAILED IN MUCH THE SAME MANNER AS DESCRIBED IN THE 2007 HONDA FIT RECALL AND THE 2002-2003 HONDA CIVIC RECALL. THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR IS BURNT ON THE SECOND PIN FROM THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, ON THE TOP OF THE CONNECTOR, IF ONE LOOKED AT IT AS IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE SWITCH. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10395219 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10504048 · 2013-03-26 (March 26, 2013)
2006 HONDA ELEMENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT COMBINATION SWITCH WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER HEADLIGHTS AS NOTED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED DUE TO THE VERY LOW FAILURE RATE IN THE ELEMENTS, THEY WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM CREATES OVERHEATING ON THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF LOW BEAM FUNCTIONALITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10504048 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171794 · 2006-10-25 (October 25, 2006)
DRIVER RAN INTO STOPPED CAR IN FRONT OF HIM. SPEED WAS SUFFICIENT TO FLATTEN THE CAR UP TO THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE - LITTLE DAMAGE BEHIND THAT. CAR IS 2006 HONDA ELEMENT. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SAFETY BELT DID NOT LOCK UP QUICKLY - DRIVER STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL, AND CHEST WAS BRUISED BY TOP OF STEERING WHEEL. PASSENGER SEAT MOVED TO THE FULL FORWARD POSITION, ALMOST TOUCHING THE DASHBOARD. NO SIGNIFICANT INJURIES RESULTED, BUT SAFETY SYSTEMS DID NOT WORK AS EXPECTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259856 · 2009-02-24 (February 24, 2009)
WHILE SITTING BEHIND A CAR WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN 2006 HONDA ELEMENT WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A CAR TRAVELING APPROX. 45 MPH. 2006 ELEMENT THEN STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, NOR DID THE SEAT BELT GRAB, RESULTING IN DRIVER SMASHING FACE AND RIBS AGAINST STEERING WHEEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 21,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259856 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10433348 · 2011-10-27 (October 27, 2011)
2006 HONDA ELEMENT. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TRANSMISSION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE IS SUBMITTING A COMPLAINT AGAINST HONDA, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT PROVIDE A REASONABLE EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE SAME MODULE SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN RECALL 11V395000. IN NOVEMBER 2009, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO CHECK A RATTLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE DEALER FOUND A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION CARRIER BEARING AND QUOTED A PRICE OF $3,300. AFTER COMPLAINING, HONDA AGREED TO R…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10433348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10627753 · 2014-08-23 (August 23, 2014)
ABOUT 3 - 4 TIMES PER YEAR, THE CAR ENGINE RACES WITHOUT ANY REASON WHY. IT IS NECESSARY TO STAND ON THE BRAKE & SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL; AND THEN WAIT TIL THE ENGINE STOPS RACING (USUALLY 15 - 25 SECONDS). UNTIL 2 DAYS AGO (8/21/2014), IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN BEING ALONE IN THE CAR. HOWEVER, ON THIS OCCASION MY WIFE WAS A PASSENGER. SHE WAS QUITE UPSET OVER THIS THERE IS USUALLY NO INDICATION WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT ON THIS OCCASION, THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING PROPERLY WHEN I PULLED INTO A STORE PARKING LOT. CAME TO A STOP …
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10627753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429166 · 2011-10-08 (October 8, 2011)
IN COLD WEATHER AND COLD STARTS. ENGINE STALLS AT STOPS. SLOWING DOWN BETWEEN 15 MPH AND 0 MPH ENGINE STALLS. SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN ENGINE WILL STALL DURING TURN. LOSE STEERING ABILITY WHEN ENGINE STOPS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 97,410 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10474186 · 2012-09-07 (September 7, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH OR ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST SIX TIMES WHO RAN SEVERAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10474186 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10616547 · 2014-07-26 (July 26, 2014)
MY CARS HAS BEEN HESITATING WHEN DRIVEN AND STALLING, I REPLACED THE BATTERY, THEN IT STALLED TWO MORE TIMES. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE CASEY DEALERSHIP THEY PUT IN ON THE COMPUTER AND TEST DROVE THE CAR THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND INFORMED ME IT MAY BE MY FUEL PUMP BUT THE ENGINE IS NOT THROWING A CODE SO I WAS BASICALLY TOLD TO WAIT UNTIL THE CAR WILL NO LONGER START THEN THEY CAN DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. 7-27-14 THE CAR HAS STALLED ON ME THREE TIMES TODAY I SENT FOR TOW TRUCK TO TOW IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER J…
Owner-reported narrative. 136,824 miles reported. Look up ODI 10616547 at NHTSA ↗