2007 Honda Element brakes problems

Filed Nov 12, 2018 · Brakes, Engine · 10 miles · WA

I was just driving my 2007 honda element to work in the north end of seattle, and all of the sudden my vehicle started jerking and the check engine light, vsa and steering light came on the "triangle with a lightning bolt in it" it started running rough. When I would step on the gas it would cause the car to jerk and the speedometer would idle up and down. It was very intense. I would lift off the gas patel and try to let it smoothin out. It definitely is a safety issue. I looked online and saw a recall on the 2007 and 2008 honda element, over 68,000 of them. I went to honda of seattle and they told me there wasn't a recall, I then told him to look online and he tried to tell me that my car wasn't covered. He started to quote some numbers of what the diagnostic would cost and then they would go from there. I then told them to return my vehicle and brought it to my mechanic. The total cost to fix what honda wouldn't even though it is a recall is $450.00. This is unfair and honda needs to make this right!

Filed Dec 11, 2017 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 125,000 miles · CA

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.

Filed May 21, 2015 · Brakes · 14,000 miles · NY

We have had to replace our brakes & rotors every year,starting in year 3. (I drove only 3,000 miles a year) then gave it to my husband who drives to work. When the miles got up to 14,000 - that was the first brake & rotor replacement. Asked honda about this while under warranty and no word about problems, just their answer that it was from a 'street sweeper' or 'the way we drove.' several times the rotors were so bad, that the car screeched. 2 years ago, had to have them replaced twice in the same year-in march and again in october twice now our calipers had to be changed as well as the brakes & rotors. Have put a lot of $ out for all these repairs. Not happy with honda or their customer service anymore.

Filed Jun 16, 2014 · Brakes · 11,888 miles · WI

This vehicle was purchased new in 2007, since then we have had to replace the brakes every year. We had the vsa modulator recall repairs done in april 2010 and the soft brake, excessive brake wear continues. The brakes make noise, are soft, and have to be applied heavily to stop the vehicle. I have had repairs done by the dealer the first five years with no explanations to my complaints of excessive failure. We continue to have to have the brakes re-done every year. Each time shortly after having them re-done they begin to quickly degrade and do not stop the vehicle properly.

Filed Aug 14, 2012 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 70,000 miles · FL

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.

Filed Apr 4, 2012 · Brakes · 74,174 miles · NC

Brakes "repaired" in '11 at dealer after '07 element brake recall. No noticeable difference in brake softness, brakes are still soft and require a lot of muscle to stop the car. Scared, and refuse to drive '07 element with my children in the car for fear of not being able to stop on time. Own a 2011 accord, after driving the '07 element for a day or two, I am "slamming" on the brakes of the accord due to habit of having to "floor/mash" the brakes to stop at a stop sign. Thank goodness for good accord seat belts. :) please fix this issue. Many teenagers will be receiving this car as first time driving car. Very dangerous. Not safe with current corporate approved fix.

Filed Oct 15, 2011 · Airbags, Brakes · 20 miles · AL

I was traveling approximately 20 MPH, brakes were not applied before incident, and the driver and passenger side curtain airbags and the driver seat air bag deployed. When the airbags deployed I attempted to apply the brakes and they were not functioning for approximately 1/2 miles of travel.

Filed Aug 16, 2011 · Brakes · 58,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 honda element. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under the recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 10v098000 (services brakes, air). After the repairs, the malfunction indicator light and the check engine light began to illuminate on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the error codes were removed from the system. The dealer stated that the vehicle was not experiencing any other failures. The warning lights continued to illuminate. The contact felt that the recall repairs were responsible for the subsequent failures. The failure mileage was 58,000 and the current mileage was 58,380.

Filed Jun 7, 2011 · Brakes · 500 miles · NV

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 honda element. While driving approximately 5 MPH and depressing the brakes, the vehicle would not stop. The contact stated that extreme pressure had to be applied to the brake pedal in order for the vehicle to stop. There was a recall under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 10v098000 (service brakes, air) in which the vehicle was previously repaired. Approximately two weeks after the repairs were performed, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 500.

Filed Jan 4, 2011 · Brakes · 15,000 miles · MN

This complaint is about my 2007 honda element ex. In 2008 I started experiencing very soft brakes, and complained to the dealer. The dealer proceeded to replace the vsa modulator twice, and bleed the brakes over 12 times and it came back worse than when I took it in. Took it to another dealer who replaced the modulator again, bled brakes, felt better temporarily but the issue returned. Honda finally issued a recall for the soft brake pedal issue that involved simply gluing caps over vents on the vsa modulator (not redesigning a critical part of the vehicle's safety system mind you). I had the recall performed and my brakes have again become soft (sometime dangerously soft). This was all while my car was under warranty. My car is now no longer under warranty and honda of north america doesn't seem to have an issue with the fact their "fix" didn't fix anything. I've got a baby on the way and don't feel safe having my wife drive my car. This is a serious issue that honda isn't taking seriously, especially in light of other companies recent quality control issues and recalls.