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U.S. public vehicle records

Honda ELEMENT problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,279 owner complaints analyzed

20 distinct recall campaigns

44,025 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 to 2011 model years. Data snapshot: . 822 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Visibility:Windshield is the most frequently named component, appearing in 335 of 1,279 complaints (26.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1249.7%
Electrical and battery issues423.3%
Steering behavior413.2%
Transmission and shifting332.6%
Engine operation191.5%
Fuel system concerns40.3%

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.

Visibility:Windshield
335
Air Bags
261
Suspension
107
Electrical System
81
Seats
56
Structure:Body
53
Unknown Or Other
47
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
46
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Visibility:Windshield335
Air Bags261
Suspension107
Electrical System81
Seats56
Structure:Body53
Unknown Or Other47
Service Brakes, Hydraulic46

Visibility:Windshield: 335; Air Bags: 261; Suspension: 107; Electrical System: 81; Seats: 56; Structure:Body: 53; Unknown Or Other: 47; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 46

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
320
25,000 to 49,999
109
50,000 to 74,999
87
75,000 to 99,999
75
100,000 to 149,999
122
150,000 and above
109
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000320
25,000 to 49,999109
50,000 to 74,99987
75,000 to 99,99975
100,000 to 149,999122
150,000 and above109

Under 25,000: 320; 25,000 to 49,999: 109; 50,000 to 74,999: 87; 75,000 to 99,999: 75; 100,000 to 149,999: 122; 150,000 and above: 109

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (320). 457 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.

2003
54
2004
176
2005
111
2006
52
2007
49
2008
37
2009
51
2010
85
2011
61
2012
37
2013
20
2014
70
2015
90
2016
85
2017
52
2018
41
2019
26
2020
23
2021
24
2022
18
2023
45
2024
36
2025
26
2026
10
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200354
2004176
2005111
200652
200749
200837
200951
201085
201161
201237
201320
201470
201590
201685
201752
201841
201926
202023
202124
202218
202345
202436
202526
202610

2003: 54; 2004: 176; 2005: 111; 2006: 52; 2007: 49; 2008: 37; 2009: 51; 2010: 85; 2011: 61; 2012: 37; 2013: 20; 2014: 70; 2015: 90; 2016: 85; 2017: 52; 2018: 41; 2019: 26; 2020: 23; 2021: 24; 2022: 18; 2023: 45; 2024: 36; 2025: 26; 2026: 10

Pattern summary

Visibility:Windshield leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 124 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 42 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 41 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 10059125 · 2004-02-13 (February 13, 2004)

VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD, AND CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES VERY HARD IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059125 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10062142 · 2004-03-14 (March 14, 2004)

WHEN ENGINE IS COLD STARTED(NO MATTER WHAT TEMP OUTSIDE), THE ENGINE FAST IDLES AT ABOUT 1500 RPM. WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE THE ENGINE ACCELERATES TO 2500 RPM. HEAVY BRAKING AND LURCHING RESULTS. CAR WILL REACH SPEED OF 20MPH.*AK THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 6 MOS

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062142 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10117918 · 2005-04-15 (April 15, 2005)

THIS IS THE THIRD THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY INSTALLED INTO CAR SINCE PURCHASE. THE FIRST ONE WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED WITH A NEW MODEL. THE SECOND WAS REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURES, AND THE LAST ONE WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE DVD/NAV SYSTEM INSTALLED WHICH WAS CAUSING ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE TO THE THROTTLE BODY, CAUSING IT TO FAIL. THE SYMPTOM STARTED WITH THE SHIFT NOT UNLOCKING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THEN IT WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS, CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN AT 4500 RPMS. THEN VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN ROAD, AND IT SHIFTED TO BETTER HIGH…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117918 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10220065 · 2008-03-04 (March 4, 2008)

I PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT IN JUNE 2003 OF WHICH HAD MANY MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS/FAILURES. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF THESE FAILURES PROVED TO BE WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN MECHANISM SPECIFICALLY CV BOOTS AND STEERING FUNCTION. LOUD NOISES DEVELOPED WHEN TURNING WHICH GREW LOUDER OVER TIME AS WELL AS A "GRINDING" SOUND AND VIBRATION FROM UNDERNEATH APPROX. AT MID-ALE LOCATION. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP OUT OF REVERSE WHILE MOVING INTO NEUTRAL AT WILL. THESE ISSUES CULMINATED IN MY STEERING CEASING TO OPERATE AS THOUG…

Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220065 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10044498 · 2003-10-21 (October 21, 2003)

COMPLAINT REGARDING HONDA AMERICAN MOTORS AND THE PURCHASE OF A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT.*MR CONSUMER STATED EXPERIENCE AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS LESS THAN GOOD. HIS VEHICLE WAS SPRAYED WITH "ARMOR OIL TYPE GREASE" ALL OVER THE DOOR PANEL WITH SPRAY SPRINKLES. ALL OVER THE FRONT AND BACK SEATS AND CONSOLE. THEY SPRAYED STUFF ALL OVER THE PLACE TO THE POINT WHERE HIS HAND SLIPPED OFF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SEATS WERE DESTROYED. DEALERSHIP PROMISED THE PERMA PLATE, LOW JACK AND KEYLESS ENTRY. CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE WOULDN'T RECEIVE HIS KEYLESS ENTRY D…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044498 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10100040 · 2004-11-16 (November 16, 2004)

2003 HONDA ELEMENT, FRONT WINDOW CRACKED UNDER THE SEAL UP ON THE RIGHT HAND PASSENGER SIDE. POPPING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN DEVELOPED AFTER APPROX 15K MILES. POWER STEERING ROD REPLACED IN AUG 04. RETURNED TO DEALER IN SEPTEMBER. WAS TOLD THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE; HOWEVER, SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO HEAR IT AND SAID IT SOUNDED AS IF THE AIRBAG SPRING WERE LOOSE. WAS NOT FIXED, REPORT CLAIMED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. RETURNED TO DEALER THE FOLLOWING WEEK. HAD TWO SERVICE TECHNICIANS RIDE IN THE VEHICLE, THEY BOTH HEAR…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100040 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10061833 · 2004-03-10 (March 10, 2004)

ABLE TO REMOVE IGNITION KEY WHEN TRANSMISSION IN GEAR.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061833 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10478056 · 2012-10-01 (October 1, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND AS THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS SMOKE SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKES SEIZING WHEN THEY WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT …

Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478056 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 10372098 · 2010-12-22 (December 22, 2010)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS ADVISED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A GASOLINE FUEL LEAK AND THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,362. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10372098 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 ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2003
10
2004
9
2005
7
2006
9
2007
10
2008
12
2009
8
2010
10
2011
10
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
200310
20049
20057
20069
200710
200812
20098
201010
201110

2003: 10; 2004: 9; 2005: 7; 2006: 9; 2007: 10; 2008: 12; 2009: 8; 2010: 10; 2011: 10

Year-by-year records

Honda ELEMENT model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
200342310Not available
20042819-1
20051597-2
20061229+2
200711210+1
200811112+2
2009308-4
20103010+2
201111100