Honda ELEMENT steering problems
41 complaint narratives mention steering terms.
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.
Steering behavior evidence
41 of 1,279 complaints match this topic (3.2%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
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 10151187 · 2006-02-25 (February 25, 2006)
WHILE DRIVING WEST ON INTERSTATE 10 NEAR BROOKSHIRE TX I REACHED INTO THE TRAY ON THE RIGHT DRIVER SIDE (IN DASH NEXT TO STEERING COLUMN) AND APPARENTLY BRUSHED THE REMOTE (HANGING ON THE KEY RING) AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE TWO LANE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO DRIVE OFF THE EXIT WITH NO POWER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO RESTART.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151187 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 10269048 · 2009-05-18 (May 18, 2009)
MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2003 HONDA ELEMENT TO HIS INTERNSHIP AS HE HAS DONE MANY TIMES. AS HE BEGAN UP A HILL AND AROUND A CURVE THAT TURNS SHARPLY TO THE LEFT, HE HEARD A LOUD CRACK. THE CAR VEERED OFF OF THE ROAD SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT, LESS THAN AN INCH DROPOFF. WHEN HE TRIED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE THE CAR. AS THE CURVE IN THE ROAD BEGAN TO END, THE CAR MOVED QUICKLY TO THE LEFT BUT STILL WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE STEERING WHEEL. IT RAN OFF THE ROAD TO THE LEFT AND WENT INTO A DITCH ABOUT 18 INCHES …
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269048 at NHTSA ↗