2008 Honda ELEMENT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
111 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
26,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 66 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 111 complaints (20.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 36 | 32.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.7% |
| Steering behavior | 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 23 |
| Suspension | 23 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 22 |
| Structure:Body | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
Air Bags: 23; Suspension: 23; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 22; Structure:Body: 10; Service Brakes: 7; Electrical System: 5; Unknown Or Other: 4; Power Train: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 33 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 33; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 7
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 45 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 12 |
| 2010 | 20 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 12; 2010: 20; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 8; 2016: 13; 2017: 5; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 7; 2023: 11; 2024: 9; 2025: 2; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10257807 · 2009-02-07 (February 7, 2009)
I HAVE A 2008 HONDA ELEMENT WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE CAR TO ONE DEALER IN SOUTH HILL VIRGINIA WHO TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS AND NEEDED A NEW MASTER CYLINDER. SOMEONE ELSE PICKED THE CAR UP FOR ME AFTER THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED. I DROVE THE CAR AND THOUGHT THEY WERE STILL "SOFT", SO A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER IN DANVILLE VIRGINIA AND ASKED THAT THEY TEST DRIVE THE CAR. THEY SAID , YOU BETTER NOT DRIVE THIS CAR , IT IS DANGEROUS, AND ORDERED ANOTHER MASTER CYLINDER. I POCKET THE CAR UP …
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10257807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10268193 · 2009-05-08 (May 8, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE AT NO MORE THAN 8 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB AND INTO A LAWN. SHE HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS AIR IN THE BRAKE LINES. THEY DRAINED AND REPLACED ALL THE FLUID FROM THE BRAKES AND PRESSURIZED THE BRAKE LINES. THE DEALER COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE FAILURE OCCURRED…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10268193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10511617 · 2013-05-13 (May 13, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLEANED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,883 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 86,883 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10648378 · 2014-10-17 (October 17, 2014)
HEARD CLUNKING NOISE FROM UNDER CARRIAGE OF VEHICLE. BROUGHT INTO HONDA DEALERSHIP. THEIR INSPECTION REVEALED WORN BALL JOINTS(PREMATURELY). BALL JOINTS COULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE VEHICLE SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE. THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 58,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10648378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10209215 · 2007-11-17 (November 17, 2007)
ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. VEHICLE ONLY SLID BACKWARDS UNTIL PLACED IN PARK. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. DEALER PUT IN TRANSMISSION FLUID, CHECKED PRESSURE AND RETURNED TO OWNER. IN 5-7 DAYS VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK BACKWARDS FORCEFULLY. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR 4 DAYS NOW. DEALER FIRST REPLACED SOLENOID SWITCH. HONDA WOULD NOT RELEASE TO DEALER NEW TRANSMISSION UNTIL SOLENOID WAS REPLACED. NOW DEALER HAS TO KEEP CAR LONGER TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209215 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10692998 · 2015-03-09 (March 9, 2015)
HEAVY SNOW CONDITIONS (CT FEB. 6, 2015) CAR TRANSMISSION LIGHT APPEARED, PULLED OVER, READ MANUAL WHICH INSTRUCTED DRIVER TO PROCEED MODERATELY, WITHOUT RAPID ACCELERATION, TO EITHER A SERVICE GARAGE OR SAFE PLACE. DROVE HOME (4.5 MILES) BUT DRIVE IS STEEP. SOME WHEEL SLIPPAGE THEN CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. TOWED FEBRUARY 6 TO CHAMPAGNE MOTORS OF MANSFIELD, CT. RESEARCHED PROBLEM ON LINE AND DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR TCM THAT WAS NOT PERFORMED ON CAR. CHAMPAGNE COULD NOT DO REPAIRS AND CAR ENDED UP AT HONDA OF MANCHESTER,CT. AFTER 4 WEE…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10692998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10968787 · 2017-03-27 (March 27, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE. THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE FAILURE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10968787 at NHTSA ↗