2.2

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,584 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 #19

Jun 232024

Element

  • 225,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Element. The contact stated while driving 20-30 MPH over a bump, the vehicle started fish tailing. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated that he noticed that the rear driver's side tire was sideways. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V349000 (Suspension) because the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 225,000.

- Columbia Heights, MN, USA

problem #18

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

problem #17

Apr 072024

Element

  • 127,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Element. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle and pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the rear driver-??s side tire was leaning outward from the vehicle. The contact called a friend with a trailer and had the vehicle towed to a friend's residence. Upon further inspection, it was discovered that the front mounting bracket on the rear trailer arm had become severely corroded which led to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle, but offered no further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

- Lone Rock, WI, USA

problem #16

Feb 162024

Element

  • miles
Was just about to drive on a 55mph road when the drivers side rear trailing arm fell off from the frame, no prior indication of failure as it passed inspection the previous year. Had checked by my mechanic and says it is not repairable. Excessive corrosion into frame. Searched internet and found recall in Canada for this specific issue. We are lucky it happened when it did otherwise it would have been fatal.

- Berlin, NH, USA

problem #15

Feb 012024

Element

  • miles
The rear trailing arms are rusting faster than anything else on my beloved Honda. Honda has recalled the Elements of similar model years in Canada for this problem, and the CRV of similar model years in US for this exact problem. This suspension issue could cause a catastrophic failure if left unrepaired. My family and I need this vehicle, but it feels unsafe to operate. Why hasn't Honda recalled the Honda Element for this known issue?

- Eau Claire, WI, USA

problem #14

Nov 052023

Element

  • miles
The drivers side rear trailing arm mounting point on my Honda Element has completely rotted out, making my car a seriously unsafe vehicle to drive. This is a well known issue to both Honda and the NHTSA as Honda has already recalled both the Element and CR-V in Canada, and the CR-V here in the USA, but not the Element. NHTSA # 23v-228, Transport Canada Recall - 2021024 - HONDA

- Circle Pines, MN, USA

problem #13

Oct 102023

Element

  • miles
My Honda Element unibody has rusted out resulting in the real axle trailing arm separating from the vehicle. This happened while my daughter was driving - luckily she was not injured. This is a known issue at Honda. Honda Elements years 2003-2011 have already been recalled for a repair or reimbursement in Canada (see recall # 2021024) and all Honda CR-Vs in the United States model years 2007-2011 have also been recalled in the Unites States for the same issue (NHTSA # 23V-228). This issue represents an extremely hazardous risk in the Honda Elements, as well as the potential complete loss of the vehcile. The recall for the Elements should be extended to the United States immediately.

- Vestal, NY, USA

problem #12

Aug 102023

Element

  • miles
Rear wheel suspension broke while driving. Wheel forced into wheel well. ( Rear Trailing arm Broke?)

- Chardon, OH, USA

problem #11

May 312023

Element

  • miles
Left rear lower control arm frame rusted. Lower control arm detached from the vehicle. Appears to be a recall in Canada on element and CRV but only CRV in USA.

- Tecumseh, MI, USA

problem #10

May 232023

Element

  • 197,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Element. The contact stated while changing the rear driver-??s side tire, the contact became aware that the trailing arm link rail on the rear driver-??s side had separated from the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that they were aware of the failure but there was no recall for the failure. The failure mileage was 197,000.

- Loomis, CA, USA

problem #9

Apr 212023

Element

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Element. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the rear driver-??s side trailing arm had detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 170,000.

- Brewerton, NY, USA

problem #8

Mar 222023

Element

  • 170,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Element. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal rubbing underneath the vehicle. The contact was able to park the vehicle. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the rear driver-??s side trailing arm had detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 170,000.

- Unicoi, TN, USA

problem #7

May 012021

Element

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Element. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for an inspection, it was discovered that the rear suspension front bushing bracket trailing arm was rusted. The vehicle failed the inspection due to the failure. The contact was informed by the mechanic that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the same failure had been recalled in Canada but not in the United States. No further information was available. The local dealer was not notified. The failure mileage was 200,000.

- Ellsworth, ME, USA

problem #6

May 282022

Element

  • miles
The rear trailing arm mounts rust right off the car and the entire piece falls off out of nowhere. I was lucky to be going about 10 mph when this happened to me and it slide the car sideways.I have no doubt I would have flipped at highway speeds. I-??ve seen hundreds of other elements with the same issues on forums it-??s bad enough that in Canada they have a buyback. The police where there quickly and saw it and said the same but. Insurance won-??t do anything cause it-??s a part that broke. Away from the body and I was going slow enough. No warning even had tires installed a few days prior and they didn-??t see anything that was scary.

- Frederic, WI, USA

problem #5

Apr 112021

Element

  • 200,000 miles
While traveling at approximately 20mph on a city street, suspension parts failed causing the vehicle to come to an abrupt stop. Upon inspection, frame rust caused the rear-trailing arm to separate from the vehicle's frame. At higher speeds this may have been catastrophic. This is a common problem in areas that salt their roads. Honda Canada has a recall and buyback program for this exact issue.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #4

Jan 112009

Element

  • 200 miles
Brake system needs replacement constantly. Calipers get stuck causing brakes and rotors to get stuck and freeze up. Also brakes are on when driving

- Milford, MA, USA

problem #3

Feb 182018

Element

  • 111,890 miles
Recall never done on recall no 08V349000

- Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

problem #2

Aug 182014

Element 4-cyl

  • 58,600 miles
Heard clunking noise from under carriage of vehicle. Brought into Honda dealership. Their inspection revealed worn ball joints(prematurely). Ball joints could separate causing the vehicle suspension to collapse. This condition would result in vehicle deceleration and a sudden loss of power, also steering controllability would be reduced.

- Belmar, NJ, USA

problem #1

Feb 272010

Element

  • 70,400 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Element. The contact stated the vehicle has improperly welded a front bushing bracket on the left trailing arm of the rear suspension. Recall#08V349000, suspension:rear but his VIN was not included. The contact called the manufacturer and was told that his VIN was not included; therefore, he would have to pay for the repairs. The failure mileage was 70,400.

- Glendale , AZ, USA