Honda ELEMENT transmission problems
33 complaint narratives mention transmission 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.
Transmission and shifting evidence
33 of 1,279 complaints match this topic (2.6%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
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 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 10083094 · 2004-08-01 (August 1, 2004)
MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES WITH REGARDS TO THE SAME COMPLAINT. THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED A INTERNAL PART AND THE OTHER TIMES I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST A LOOSE CALBE. THIS HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING FOR US. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEB SITE I REALIZED THAT THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD WE HAVE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN DUE TO A STONE BUT THAT THE HONDA ELEMENT HAS A DEFECT PROBLEM WITH THEIR WINDSHIELDS. HOW INTERESTING THAT THEY DO NOT RESPOND TO THE CONSUMER! EVERYONE SHOULD CONTINUE T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10083094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142028 · 2005-11-08 (November 8, 2005)
ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 22, 2005 I STARTED MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT WHICH WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I QUICKLY REMEMBERED THAT I WANTED AN ITEM OUT OF THE GARAGE AND STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD NOT TOUCHED THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT AND THE E/R BRAKE WAS ON. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO REVERSE, DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE STREET, THE OPEN DOOR STRUCK THE NEIGHBORS MAIL BOX, VEHICLE PROCEEDED UP THE NEIGHBORS DRIVE WAY STRIKING THEIR PARKED VEHICLE, PUSHING IT 2 FEE UP THEIR DRIVEWAY. THEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO DRIVE, CAME …
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142028 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 ↗