Honda Element years to avoid
More than twice the Element's typical complaint count for a model year.
Best Honda Element years
Fewest owner complaints among the last 20 model years, counting only those with at least four years on the road.
Honda Element complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common Honda Element problems
All model years combined.
- Visibility378
- Airbags323
- Suspension117
- Electrical111
- Body92
- Brakes89
- Seats56
- Transmission49
- Engine47
- Seat belts36
- Locks32
- Steering27
Most reported problems on the Honda Element
Honda Element problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 89 | 11 | Airbags | 60,200 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 83 | 30 | Airbags | 46,400 | 10 | 2 | Fewest complaints |
| 2009 | 84 | 31 | Brakes | 40,000 | 8 | 4 | Fewest complaints |
| 2008 | 69 | 113 | Brakes | 29,000 | 12 | 5 | |
| 2007 | 69 | 112 | Airbags | 71,400 | 10 | 6 | Fewest complaints |
| 2006 | 62 | 122 | Airbags | 69,786 | 9 | 17 | |
| 2005 | 55 | 159 | Airbags | 70,000 | 7 | 13 | |
| 2004 | 36 | 282 | Visibility | 47,000 | 9 | 17 | Avoid |
| 2003 | 21 | 424 | Visibility | 25,000 | 10 | 28 | Avoid |
Recalls 20
Questions about the Honda Element
What years of the Honda Element should you avoid?
2003 and 2004. Each has more than twice the Honda Element's typical number of owner complaints for a model year; 2003 alone has 424, mostly about visibility and airbags.
What is the best year for a used Honda Element?
2010, 2009 and 2007 have the fewest owner complaints among model years that have been on the road for at least four years (30, 31 and 112).
What is the most common problem with the Honda Element?
Visibility, with 378 complaints across all years, followed by airbags (323) and suspension (117).
How many recalls does the Honda Element have?
20 recalls between 2003 and 2011. The 2008 model year has the most, with 12.
VIN decoder
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Buying a used Honda Element?
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