10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
37,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #5

Aug 092023

Element

  • miles
These cars have severe issues with their frames and they rot. There are TONS of recalls in Canada and I am wondering why the same recalls are not in the US - this is equally dangerous regardless of location - especially upstate NY where the climate is extremely similar to Canada. I have had TWO LIFE THREATENING INCIDENTS recently - one with the front axel completely breaking several months ago, and yesterday when the frame and rear axel fell apart. Fortunately both times, I was barely moving or I would likely not be here to be typing this. My frame is so rusted, it is disintegrating and beyond repair. I was advised by my local Sheriff to check on the recalls in Canada and there are so many, basically the whole frame is recalled - I am writing to report that I am in several Honda Element groups here in the US, and there are hundreds of life threatening posts in these groups regularly. This should absolutely be addressed. It is clearly a problem. As you can see in my attachments, otherwise the vehicle is in amazing condition. This is really devastating - and I have a vehicle that I cannot sell or trade-in. There is no value whatsoever and it is beyond repair.

- Malta Ridge , NY, USA

problem #4

Apr 202023

Element

  • miles
Left rear (driver side) trailing control arm came out of the mounting bracket causing the tire assembly to fall off while driving on the highway. Lost control of vehicle and narrowly escaped a major accident. This defect has a recall notice in Canada but not usa. I noticed similiar complaints on the internet about this problem which is a design defect by Honda with no good remediation. This could have caused a serious injury to myself and granchildren in the car.

- Kingsley, MI, USA

problem #3

Jan 032021

Element

  • 163,000 miles
I am located in Ohio and the rear trailing arm has rusted out to the point that it is on the verge of breaking off on the passenger side. This was found out because I was driving and the car would sway back and forth in the rear every time I hit a bump in the road. I went to my nearest tire shop thinking it could be a wheel alignment issue and they brought me to the back and showed me the issue. It is being held by about 4-5 inches of the frame. They advised me to have the car towed as it was not safe for me to drive home. I have since not been driving the vehicle and have it parked in my garage. I'm aware that this is a recall by Honda in Canada which is a neighboring border to my state and a very common issue with a lot of us northern states in the U.S. please advise what can be done as I love this vehicle but it is unsafe to drive on the road.

- Hamilton, OH, USA

problem #2

Jul 102018

Element

  • miles
We got a letter in the mail about the recall on the airbags. Air bag light always on. We have a knocking sound in the engine, the driver door gets stuck, we have no A/C, one fan under the hood work, shocks missing up tires, battery die all the time, and have had problems with the car just cutting off at lights or when stoped by itself.

- Cayce, SC, USA

problem #1

Sep 182008

Element

  • 22,000 miles
Our car, traveling at 40 mph was hit from the side at the left front, airbags deployed, significant damage to the left front. The tire and part of the axle were detached and about 10 feet from the car. The sheriff told us that he has seen this type of car in similar accidents where the tire and axel have detached from the car and found it unusual in this type of crash.

- Fall City, WA, USA