Vsa light comes on and turns off intermittently..and at times it happens on the highway which causes the car to jerk and not run right when going above 2500rpm..then the light will go away but the cel indicator will stay on...at my wits end and dont know what to

- Cranston, RI, USA

While the vehicle moving slowly, suddenly the ABS, vsa (vehicle stability assist) and traction control lights all came on at the same time and stayed on. A Honda dealership later diagnosed the issue as a faulty vsa modulator, an expensive part which controls the ABS and traction control systems. The fault our vehicle experienced prevents all these systems from functioning. I contacted other Honda Element owners and found several who had the exact same issue with 2007 and 2008 Elements - all three lights illuminated with no apparent cause and then dealer diagnosis turned up a faulty vsa modulator. In several cases, these people contacted Honda of America and Honda offered to pay for the vsa modulator replacement (even outside of warranty), presumably due to the safety issue of having this critical part fail that disables the ABS and vehicle stability systems. I contacted Honda of America and they would not replace provide assistance in the replacement of the part on my vehicle. Before this incident, I had not experienced any issues with the vsa modulator and had very rarely been in a low-traction environment where either the vsa or ABS systems would engage. Interestingly, a few months before this incident a Honda dealership performed a vsa modulator-related recall to remove air that could accumulate in the modulator (recall #10V098000); the dealership insisted that work and this failure were unrelated. This is a major safety issue for braking and vehicle stability on a sealed part with other open recalls against it. This part should last the life of the vehicle, and yet it is failing spontaneously without any external mechanism of failure. Honda should replace faulty vsa modulators at no charge.

- Dunsmuir, CA, USA

Vsa come on when traveling on the highway, check engine light also comes on at the same time. Does not happen at slow speeds and when driving slow after it has come on, it will go off by itself as well as the check engine light. The code is not stored.

- New London, NH, USA

Vsa light has been on indicating vsa safety system is inoperative. Honda service unable to fix it recomending replacement of the entire system costing over $1,000. Took the car to Honda service over the life but got no where. I paid the car and all safety systems installed. After researching this problem in internet observed that there are hundreds of same vsa problems from Honda owners and Honda seems to ignore this safety problem.

- Temecula, CA, USA

The Honda Element has a recall for a soft, spongy brake pedal that has to be pushed to the floor to get the brakes to engage. There is a recall for this symptom, related to the vehicle stability assist module. The recall work was done, and the pedal feel improved, but after time, the issue returns. My brakes are soft and spongy and I get no brakes unless the pedal goes most of the way to the floor. It feels as if the car is not going to stop each time I brake.

- Winter Haven, FL, USA