2008 Honda Element: soft or spongy brake pedal

Filed Mar 2, 2022 · Brakes · VA

No incident, Soft Brake Pedal all the time

Filed Feb 25, 2017 · Brakes · 75,000 miles · PA

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.

Filed Dec 2, 2015 · Brakes · 140,000 miles · IL

Recently became second owner of vehicle. Noticed it had a soft brake pedal. Recall performed by first owners dealer, but, the problem still exists.

Filed Oct 19, 2011 · Brakes · 2,015 miles · OH

Since purchasing this vehicle new in june 2008, I have experienced a soft brake pedal after driving the vehicle approximately 2000-5000 miles. Bleeding the brakes seems to correct the soft brake pedal. However, after driving for approximately another 2000-5000 miles the pedal is again soft and continues to get softer. I have been back to the dealer repeatedly and they have replaced the master cylinder and modulator which did not correct my soft pedal. I went through several trips to the dealer where they told me "no problem found" and basically told me that it was my imagination. Finally, honda came out with the recall for exactly the issue I have been complaining about. Honda performed the recall "safety recall: brake pedal may be soft or low" and it did not correct my soft pedal. After driving approximately 2000-5000 miles the pedal is once again soft and continuing to get softer. I have opened a case ([xxx]) with american honda complaining about my brakes in an effort to get them to correct my brake issue. The dealer has rechecked the brakes and states "no problem found" since there is not a brake "failure". I am still experiencing a very soft brake pedal and cannot get anyone at honda to correct the situation. I am afraid that if the pedal continues to get softer that I will experience a brake failure resulting in a collision. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Oct 18, 2010 · Brakes · 29,000 miles · IA

Purchased a 2008 honda element in september 2010. Car had 29k miles on it. Brake pedal was soft during initial test drive (went to floor). Dealer bled brakes. Dealer replaced master cylinder on 10/14 due to soft pedal (goes to floor). Note that dealer confirmed the recall work had already been performed on this vehicle and did not work. This car is a safety hazard. I never know if it will stop.

Filed Sep 2, 2010 · Brakes · 10 miles · TN

My 2008 honda element had the recall work done in june 2010 re; soft brake pedal. Back to dealer on august 24 for recurring soft pedal issue. Diagnosis was air in brake system. System bled again. Brake pedal firm for now. Service manager could not offer an explanation other than maybe we did not get all the air out during the recall work. Honda has known about this safety defect in certain models since 2003. I have no confidence in the fix.

Filed Aug 2, 2010 · Brakes · 10 miles · TN

Previously filed a complaint (odi # 10321852) via email with the federal safety agency regarding the "soft brake pedal" issue with my 2008 honda element. A recall was issued in 2010, the work was performed in june 2010, a positive improvement. Brakes are slowly but surely returning to their previous soft pedal defect. I am having to pump the brake pedal one time to get a firm pedal. This defect on certain honda models has been going on since 2003. Honda re- issued a service bulletin # 07-045 on march 5, 2009 regarding "brake pedal is low and feels soft" covering certain models from 2003-2008. Apparently there were previous service bulletins issued as early as 2007, the 07 in the above referenced service bulletin (07-045) indicates 2007 issue. I am a retired career police officer who spent over half of my 25 year career in the traffic division investigating traffic collisions including those involving fatalities. I consider this brake problem a serious safety defect, that could ultimately lead to serious injury or loss of life unless a permanent repair or total recall of the affected honda vehicles is required by the federal safety agency. Honda has known about the problem for years and has not found a permanent repair. I have researched the internet and found many reports regarding this defect. There are hundreds of posts regarding the soft brake issue @http://www.elementownersclub.com under the thread titled recalls, tsb's and notices. Thank you

Filed May 1, 2010 · Brakes · 16,000 miles · NY

2008 honda element has had very soft brake pedal from day one. Dealer replaced vsa modulator per tsb with no change in pedal feel. Dealer did a recall placing caps on plugs in ABS unit and bled brakes with no change in pedal feel. Pedal will still go almost to the floor with very little pressure applied.

Filed Mar 24, 2010 · Brakes · 262 miles · TN

Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) I purchased a new 2008 honda element ex all wheel drive [xxx] on april 24, 2009. From dobbs honda, 2785 mendenhall, memphis tn. I returned to service dept immediately after stopping at 2nd traffic light because the brake pedal was soft and went completely to floor. Service rep advised me the soft pedal was normal. Returned to the dealership a couple weeks later on another issue and complained about the softness of the brake pedal, again was told it was normal. Returned to the dealership on july 20, 2009 and presented the service rep with a copy of honda service bulletin 07-045 titled " brake pedal is low and feels soft" (exact symptoms I had described 3 times). My element falls in the VIN #'s covered. I asked that the service mgr road test my element. The work order # 368081 written narrative states "service manager test drove the veh and found veh operating to factory spec at this time). Commencing on the first day I purchased the element I have been compelled to pump the brake pedal at least once to feel comfortable stopping, when I depress the pedal and it falls to the floor a sense of panic is felt. I recently learned from the honda element owners club web site that a recall had been issued for late april along with an immediate stop sell order on 07 and 08 elements. Apparently honda has been aware of this brake defect since 2007 (sb 07 indicates 2007 issue date). Between april 09 and july 09 the dealership on 3 separate occasions denied any problems with the soft pedal and pedal hitting the floor although the service bulletin clearly states the necessary part #'s and steps required to correct this defect. What has taken honda so long to admit to and issue a recall to correct this known unsafe brake defect?

Filed Mar 19, 2010 · Brakes · 23,000 miles · UT

I am an owner of a 2008 honda element which recently came out with a media release from honda that there was a problem with brake failure. One year ago I filed a complaint with you regarding brake failure on my element. The dealer at that time found that I had very spongy brakes and air bubbles in the line but could not give me an answer of why this would happen and not guarantee that it could not happen again. I have worried constantly about this and so I still continued to feel the spongy brakes so I took it to a different dealer that checked out and said that is just the way honda element brakes are. So 2 months ago the brakes went completely to the floor again ( I have to pump them quickly several times and they finally grab) I called the dealer and they once again checked it and found nothing, well since this media release came out that there was going to be a recall on 410,000 honda vehicles I immediately called the dealer service manager he was very apologetic and said that was exactly my vehicle, and agreed with me that it is not safe to drive until they get the parts to repair it; he had me call honda an they treated me very very rudely they told me just to take it to the dealership, I told them I already had and that it is not safe to drive since I've already experienced this problem, they told me that they won't give me a rental car and just kept repeating to take it to the dealer. They said that I could not be certain that my vehicle had this malfunction. I'm very frustrated this car is not safe on the road and even the dealer agrees with me ,it is still under warranty but honda basically just does not care and they treated me like I'm making a big deal about this. Please help!