3.8

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
32,000 miles

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problem #3

Apr 092024

Element

  • miles
I took my very well maintained Honda Element into the shop for routine maintenance and a pre-spring/summer driving check. They indicated that the driver's side subframe where it meets the rear trailing arm has a dangerous hole and that I should not drive this car any more. We live in Michigan where snow/salt are factors. This specific area has been known to fail in Elements and CR-V's and there was a recall on this specific issue for Honda Elements in Canada and CR-V owners in the US and Canada: "The 2007-2011 Honda CR-V is being recalled because the rear trailing arm can fall off due to excessive corrosion, the NHTSA disclosed Thursday. In some cases, the rear frame may be so corroded that Honda will offer to buy the vehicle back from owners to get the safety hazards off the road." Why have the US Elements not been recalled when this is a known safety hazard and the exact same issue as the CR-V's? I am in numerous online forums of Element owners and have seen photographs where this caused life-threatening issues while people were driving. Thankfully, we caught it before that happened to us, but now my loved daily driver is out of commission for a known safety hazard. No one in our family was harmed, but this could have been life threatening if it had not been discovered. The area has not been inspected by police or insurance. Only by our mechanic who specializes in servicing Hondas, Toyotas and Subarus. There were no warning lamps or other warning signs. It just happened to be discovered during routine inspection/service.

- Traverse City, MI, USA

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problem #2

Feb 242017

Element

  • 75,000 miles
Honda Element 2008 began experiencing soft pedal when applying brakes, 2 lights came on vsa and ABS!. I continued to drive that particular day and when I tuned off engine and turned it back on lights disappeared for a smal amount of time. Brakes felt as though I would be unable to stop because of such play in them. I was driving on highway for approx 15 miles and also city driving for about 10 miles.

- Verona, PA, USA

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problem #1

Mar 102015

Element

  • 21,000 miles
I pressed door unlock button. The unlock button rose up, but door remained locked. I tried this a few times more. Then I tried my remote several times by pressing the lock and unlock buttons several times. The only way I could unlock the door was by opening the window, and using the handle to open the door.

- Portland, OR, USA

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