U.S. public vehicle records

2007 Honda ELEMENT problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

112 owner complaints analyzed

10 distinct recall campaigns

71,400 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 69 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 112 complaints (24.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	25	22.3%
Electrical and battery issues	5	4.5%
Steering behavior	5	4.5%
Transmission and shifting	2	1.8%
Engine operation	2	1.8%

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.

Air Bags

Electrical System

Suspension

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Engine

Unknown Or Other

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Air Bags	27
Electrical System	17
Suspension	13
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	11
Engine	7
Unknown Or Other	7
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel	5
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)	5

Air Bags: 27; Electrical System: 17; Suspension: 13; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 11; Engine: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 8

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 43 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.

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2007: 6; 2008: 2; 2009: 4; 2010: 7; 2011: 10; 2012: 8; 2014: 10; 2015: 17; 2016: 11; 2017: 8; 2018: 4; 2019: 3; 2020: 3; 2021: 5; 2022: 3; 2023: 6; 2024: 4; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10194778 · 2007-06-27 (June 27, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS POOR ON HIS VEHICLE. THE BRAKES ONLY WORK FOR THE FRONT WHEELS. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DEALERS AND THEY HAVE CHANGED THE REAR BRAKE PADS, FRONT BRAKE PADS, AND THE MASTER BRAKE PUMP. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BRAKE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE ELECTRONIC POWER BRAKE SYSTEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4,700. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10194778 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10265228 · 2009-04-14 (April 14, 2009)

BRAKING SYSTEM PREMATURE WEAR AND SOFT, "MUSHY" BRAKE PEDAL. THIS ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED BY ME WITH 5 HONDA DEALERSHIPS, ALL CLAIMING NO MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY. THEIR STATEMENT: "USER VARIANCES; DRIVER SENSITIVE" DATES, NAMES AND PARTS, AS WELL AS PHOTOGRAPHS, ARE AVAILABLE. SPECIFICS: 2007 HONDA ELEMENT SC. AT 30K MILES, REAR BRAKES NEEDED COMPLETE RE-DO, INCLUDING ROTOR TURN. AT 23K MILES, SAME, TO FRONTS. ON REAR, MARCH, 2009, ON REAR SYSTEM, 1 PAD OF 4 PADS FOUND TO BE SEIZED TO CALIPER HOUSING BY CORROSION; LACK OF LUBRICANT. IN…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265228 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10748108 · 2015-08-12 (August 12, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS) AND 12V436000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, TRAILER HITCHES); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE F…

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10748108 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10808520 · 2015-12-04 (December 4, 2015)

2007 HONDA ELEMENT ELECTRICAL DASHBOARD EQUIPMENT FAILURE. TACHOMETER GAUGE FELL OFF TACHOMETER, TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SOME OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AND THE ELECTRICAL PLUG FOR THE CHARGERS DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10808520 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10332630 · 2010-05-28 (May 28, 2010)

HONDA'S RECALL SERVICE FOR SOFT BRAKES WAS NOT PERFORMED PROPERLY BY THE HONDA DEALER. STEPS 13 AND 14 ON SERVICE BULLETIN, PERTAINING TO INSTALLATION OF THE CAPS WHERE THE AIR INTRUSION IS BELIEVED TO COME FROM CALLS FOR A CONTINUOUS BEAD OF WHITE SILICONE TO BE SPREAD AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF REPLACEMENT CAPS USING A SPECIAL TOOL. THE WHITE SILICONE SHOULD BE VISIBLE AROUND BOTH CAPS ON THE MODULATOR. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND TECH THEY PUT JUST ENOUGH SILICONE TO AFFIX THE CAP AND DIDN'T SEE A NEED FOR ANY MORE. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10332630 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10679252 · 2015-01-27 (January 27, 2015)

I FIRST HEARD A METALLIC RUMBLING SOUND, THE STEERING FELT UNEVEN. AFTER ONE LOUDER "CLUNK" THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND I HAD TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO CONTROL THE CAR IN A LOW-SPEED TURN. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING, SHE WOULD HAVE GONE INTO THE DITCH. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD I SAW THAT THE PULLEY FOR THE POWER STEERING (WHICH I LATER LEARNED ALSO CONTROLLED THE WATER PUMP AND THE ALTERNATOR) HAD COME COMPLETELY OFF AND WAS LYING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE BELT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ATTACHED TO IT WAS ALSO SITTING THERE, UNATTACHED. *…

Owner-reported narrative. 71,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679252 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10435934 · 2011-11-17 (November 17, 2011)

2007 HONDA ELEMENT. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE TO INCLUDE TRANSMISSION FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FIRST FAILED AT 15,000. THE DEFECT THE DEALER APPARENTLY REPAIRED BETWEEN MARCH 22-26 AND APRIL 2008 HAS RETURNED. RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUDDER ONCE MORE UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION BETWEEN 30-35 MPH. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A PERSISTENT CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IN ADDITION, A MALFUNCTIONING RADIO CONSOLE WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM RETURNED WITH THE FRONT …

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435934 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10649042 · 2014-10-21 (October 21, 2014)

VEHICLE SHUTTERS BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 20MPH TO 40MPH. FEELS LIKE ITS THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SHUTTER AT SPEEDS INDICATED. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO DEALER AND THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10649042 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10780995 · 2015-10-09 (October 9, 2015)

ENGINE WILL STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. HONDA HAS A RECALL FOR THE 2007 ELEMENTS WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM, HOWEVER THEY CLAIM THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES BUT MOST RECENTLY I WAS PROVIDED MORE INFORMATION ON OCCURRENCE.

Owner-reported narrative. 220,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10780995 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10960350 · 2017-03-13 (March 13, 2017)

WHEN STOPPING OR SLOWING TO UNDER 30 MPH, THE CAR WANTS TO STALL OR STOP. THE ENGINE LITE COMES ON AND WHEN YOU START DRIVING IT WILL NOT GO OVER 55 MPH. THIS 55 MPH IS VERY DANGEROUS ON THE INTERSTATE ! THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT NO RECALL, WHY ? THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN MY CAR. THE LATEST ISSUE STARTED 03.02.2017

Owner-reported narrative. 137,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10960350 at NHTSA ↗