Body Problems of Honda Element - part 1

Rust corrosion.

See all problems of the 2003 Honda Element 🔎.

My control arm mount and frame of my Element is rusted out, it is an ongoing problem with the Honda Element as I am seeing a lot of people online with similar issues. If this fails, it could put people at risk, I also see other Elements on the road with a camber'd out back tire on the driver side. I believe these wheels would fall into the car causing an accident. There are no warning lights that pop on, this is hard to get a look at until you get under the vehicle. They have done recalls on this exact problem in canada already, we need it here as well in the USA. The crv has also had the same issues and was given a recall in USA. I am very concerned with the amount of these cars on the road that many do not know the danger they are in.

See all problems of the 2004 Honda Element 🔎.

There is a massive rust spot under the driver side seating position where your feet would rest while driving. Seems as there isn't significant drainage holes in this area.

See all problems of the 2008 Honda Element 🔎.

The check engine light indicated a "gas cap" code, and the "side airbag off" light was illuminated. Upon diagnosis, the technician identified significant rust and cracked transmission components, resulting in fluid leakage. The service department assessed the vehicle as unsafe for operation, waived the diagnostic fees, and replenished the transmission fluid to prevent the risk of being stranded due to a lack of fluid on the return trip. Honda service department took the attached photos and documented the vehicle's safety violations.

See all problems of the 2006 Honda Element 🔎.

My mechanic informed me that this car will no longer pass nys inspection due to body rust/corrosion holes where the rear trailing arms attach to the car's body. Honda has issued a recall for the same model year cr-v, which has a nearly identical trailing arm attachment design, due to the risk of losing control of the vehicle if the trailing arm mount separates from the body.

The driver side rear trail arm broke off bending the strut with the tire hanging, it happened in my apartment parking lot, I could have lost my life if this had happened at high speeds or killed somebody else. I’m very lucky to be alive!! currently it is not inspectable due to the damage. The problem has not been reproduced by a dealer or an independent service centre. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone or manufacturer. No warning light were present before the failure.

Vehicle has extreme corrosion of the frame near the rear trailing arm which is nearing catastrophic failure. Trailing arm is in danger of separating from the frame. This is similar to ntsb campaign # 23v-22800 for the cr-v which shares suspension parts with the Element on these model years. If the trailing arm separates at highway speeds it could be fatal. This is a pre-emptive report of failure/loss, as I just attempted to jack up my vehicle on the drivers' side in the rear and had a great deal of the rusted frame detach near the point of the trailing arm attachment. I fear that it won't be long before the rest of the frame rusts through and if this occurs, that it may occur at highway speed and cause injury or death.

I just purchased a 2008 Honda Element and took it for inspection and the entire undercarriage is rusted. I know Honda of canada will fix or buy back the vehicle. However as I am in the USA my understanding is that for now only the crv’s are affected. The car cannot be driven as it is a very dangerous concern. Please help.

I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding a serious safety concern involving the Honda Element model years 2003 through 2011. Specifically, this issue pertains to the rear trailing arm mounting area, which has been observed to rust through on numerous vehicles, including my own 2008 Honda Element. The rusting of the rear trailing arm mounting area poses a significant safety risk, as it can compromise the structural integrity of the vehicle's suspension system. This deterioration can lead to potential failure of the rear trailing arm, resulting in loss of control of the vehicle, particularly at higher speeds or during emergency maneuvers. The prevalence of this issue across multiple model years suggests a systemic problem that warrants investigation and potential recall. My vehicle, like many others, has experienced this issue despite regular maintenance and care. The rusting has occurred in a manner that is not typical of normal wear and tear, indicating a possible manufacturing or design defect. Given the safety implications of this problem, I urge the NHTSA to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the root cause and ensure the safety of all affected Honda Element owners. I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your prompt response and action.

The rear left trailing arm mounting point is completely corroded through, making the car unsafe to drive. If it were to fall off during driving the chances of it creating an accident are high. There are many other Elements with this specific spot rusting through.

While driving the left rear wheel went sideway. . . Looking underneath the unibody had corroded to the point the left control arm separated from the car making it undrivable. . . . Was told to not drive the car as it is not safe. . .

See all problems of the 2009 Honda Element 🔎.

? the area of the body that serves as the forward mounting point for the rear driver-side trailing arm has completely rusted though. At this mounting point, the trailing arm mounting bracket has become entirely separated from the body leaving only one bolt securing the trailing arm to the body. This is the same issue for which these vehicles have been recalled in canada. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. ? continuing to operate the vehicle in this condition presents the possibility of catastrophic failure of the trailing arm mount, resulting in loss of control of the vehicle, endangering the lives of those in and outside of the vehicle. ? no, I have not taken the vehicle to a dealer or service center. ? no the vehicle/component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representative. ? no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the appearance of the problem on 5/12/2024.

Rear unibody rust through allowing the drivers side rear trailing arm to become detached. Pulling up to stop sign very slowly luckily. At speed this failure would have assuredly led to a crash from loss of control. Calls have been placed to local Honda dealer as well as american Honda where I was informed there was no recall for this problem in the USA.

See all problems of the 2005 Honda Element 🔎.

There is a corrosion recall on 2003-2014 Honda Elements in canada because, from salted roads, the frame rusts and extremely important safety parts can break and cause death to the driver. Seeing as these Elements are made in the same factories and are in the same region (mine is in detroit michigan, only 10 minutes from canada) this recall needs to be extended to the USA or at least the regions where salted roads and snow are prevalent. My Honda Element suffers from this extract problem but I can do nothing about it.

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.

Inspection of the underbody revealed complete rusting away of the frame mount point for the passenger side lower control arm. The mounting has not failed yet, but the metal surrounding the bolt point is no longer providing any structure. I would not ordinarily have thought inform the NHTSA of this failure, but internet searching has turned up many other owners of Elements experiencing this same failure and Honda has issued a recall in canada for Elements for this problem. Cr-vs in the us that use the same chassis have had a recall for the same problem. Why has the recall not been extended to us Elements that are exposed to road salt? I have not yet contacted Honda regarding this issue.

Brought vehicle (2007 Honda Element) to have new brakes and tires put on vehicle. Discovered rusted through rear frame. Declined to finish work of vehicle upgrades due to being unsafe to further drive vehicle. Mechanic said he didn't feel comfortable working on vehicle in the condition. Suggested taking to body shop to attempt replacing but would cost more than vehicle was worth. Suggested taking to dealer and seeing if they would offer recall since one was issued in canada a couple years ago. He wouldn't recommend driving vehicle due to potential break and loss of control of vehicle rear control arms.

See all problems of the 2007 Honda Element 🔎.

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.

Same as the recalls for Honda Element of canada and american Honda crv of America in Honda’s words: summary: american Honda motor CO. , inc. (Honda) is recalling certain 2007-2011 model year cr-v vehicles. In salt-belt states where DE-icing agents are used to maintain the roadway, the DE-icing agents, along with mud and water, could enter the rear frame through drainage/positioning holes when the vehicle is driven through flooded areas or puddles at high speeds. Over time, the accumulated DE-icing agents/mud/water mixture could cause corrosion to the frame's internal structure. If this occurs, the rear trailing arm can fall off. Safety risk: the corrosion to the frame's internal structure can cause the rear trailing arm to fall off, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

These cars have severe issues with their frames and they rot. There are tons of recalls in canada and I am wondering why the same recalls are not in the us - this is equally dangerous regardless of location - especially upstate NY where the climate is extremely similar to canada. I have had two life threatening incidents recently - one with the front axel completely breaking several months ago, and yesterday when the frame and rear axel fell apart. Fortunately both times, I was barely moving or I would likely not be here to be typing this. My frame is so rusted, it is disintegrating and beyond repair. I was advised by my local sheriff to check on the recalls in canada and there are so many, basically the whole frame is recalled - I am writing to report that I am in several Honda Element groups here in the us, and there are hundreds of life threatening posts in these groups regularly. This should absolutely be addressed. It is clearly a problem. As you can see in my attachments, otherwise the vehicle is in amazing condition. This is really devastating - and I have a vehicle that I cannot sell or trade-in. There is no value whatsoever and it is beyond repair.

While driving down a city street, heard a very loud crack/bang, and lost control of the vehicle. Fortunately I was going slow, 20-30mph and was able to safely stop. Upon exiting the vehicle, the rear driver side wheel was hanging at a weird angle. Looking under the car, the entire trailing arm and wheel assembly has broken off of the frame. If I was going faster, or had been on the highway, this would have caused an accident/rollover and injury for sure. Looking online for more information, I see that this is a known issue, and Honda has already issued a recall, but only for canada. Vehicle was towed to and inspected by a aaa certified auto shop; they have written it off as a total loss, and suggest to sell the vehicle for parts. I contacted Honda, and they have told me to take it to a dealership for additional inspection by them.

Defect where rear controller arm connects to frame is rusted out. This would cause the rear tires to fall off. The rest of the car isn’t that bad. Canada there is a recall for this but not in the USA.

I've been informed by my mechanic of excessive rust on the rear suspension. The car will not pass state inspection due to safety issues related to this. An appointment has been made with the Honda dealership to confirm. Honda has put out a recall/buy back for the same issue on the Element and the crv in canada, where there are areas of high salt usage. Honda has done the same for the crv in northern 'high salt use' states but not yet the Element. I first heard knocking in the rear about 6 months ago but have generally been ignoring it. After an inspection following an unrelated issue is when I was alerted that the knocking was due to this. These are the details for the canada recall: Honda is recalling all 2003-2011 Element suvs, warning of rusting rear frames that could result in the complete separation of the rear trailing arm. According to transport canada, this recall applies to vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in areas of heavy road salt usage. This includes, but is not limited to ontario, quebec, new brunswick, nova scotia, prince edward island and newfoundland and labrador. Signs of a worn rear trailing arm include difficulty to maintain a straight line, thudding noises coming from the rear and the appearance of the vehicle having been lifted. In a worst case scenario, the vehicle may lose control. Transport canada elaborates that owners will be notified by mail to send their vehicle to dealers, who will inspect the vehicle for corrosion in the rear trailing arm front mount bolts. If passed, corrosion protection and support braces will be installed. If failed, Honda will offer to repurchase the vehicle. However, secondary inspections and body shop repairs are also possible. For more information on recall number 2021024, visit transport canada.

See all problems of the 2010 Honda Element 🔎.

I have a 2005 Honda Element, undercarriage and suspension components have severe rust. I tried to get an inspection from virginia and it failed immediately due to the rust. The mechanic lowered the vehicle as quickly as he could because of it falling off the lift. Ultimately he told it is unsafe to drive. After doing some research I found out that Honda canada has done a recall on Honda Elements from 2003-2010 due to this common issue and here is what they wrote. Issue: on certain vehicles, the rear frame could rust. In extreme cases, this could result in a rear trailing arm separating from the vehicle. This recall applies to vehicles originally sold or currently registered in areas of heavy road salt usage (ontario, quebec, new brunswick, nova scotia, prince edward island, and newfoundland & labrador). Safety risk: a rear trailing arm that separates could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective actions: Honda will notify owners by mail. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer for an inspection of the rear trailing arm front mount bolts. If the vehicle passes the inspection, the dealer will apply corrosion protection and install support braces. Honda will offer to repurchase vehicles that do not pass the inspection. In the event the repurchase is declined by an owner, a secondary inspection and body shop repair method may be possible.

Seems Honda is hiding specific VIN needing recal replacement of airbag fue to fact it's deployed. Attempt to cover up recall regarding this specific VIN possibly aware that damage is done and if airbag deployed, VIN check results "no current recalls" for vehicle. 2003 Honda Element had first recall replacement done. At that time Honda had person come to house to notify. This time, second recall, too late. It deployed and air bag is on recall list. Please provide honest facts. Correct me please if I misunderstood.

The car was being driven at a low speed across a school parking lot when there was a loud bang, the car dropped in the back and stopped movong. The rear trailing arm came apart from the body causing it to be inoperable. If I the car wasn't in a school zone and traveling at a high rate of speed this could have been a very serious accident. If there was a vehicle behind they would have rear ended the Honda. If this happens on going down a hill it would have rolled over. If this happened on a busy highway it would have caused a multi car accident. Honda is aware of this issue in canada but has done nothing to address it here in the united states. The vehicle is available for inspection for now. I can't have a vehicle sitting in my driveway that's inoperable due to city codes. The safety of the driver, passengers, pedestrians walking and other vehicles on the road are in danger. This is a very top heavy vehicle that could easily flip and roll over causing seriously injury even death. I had the vehicle towed from where it broke, the tow truck driver is a mechanic who looked at it. He said what broke. I had another mechanic stop and look because he is a welder and said it can't be repaired at this point. There were no warning lights or signs of this happening. Unless you live in canada where they sent owners a recall in the mail as long as they live in areas that have high salt usage on their roads. . . . . . . Not sure why that just pertains to canada because, michigan, new york, vermont, new hampshire, maine all get bad winters where salt is used. A vehicle should not disintegrate and fall apart like the Hondas are. They are a danger on the road right now. This is the recall for this exact same problem in canada https://wwwapps. Tc. Gc. Ca/saf-sec-sur/7/vrdb-bdrv/search-recherche/detail. Aspx?lang=eng&mk=1954!4785!35936!42257!39379&mkname=Honda&MD=element&fy=2003&ty=2003&ft=&LS=0&sy=0&syname=all%20systems&all=0&rn=2021024&cf=searchresult&pg=0.

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.

The frame of the vehicle has rusted out at the bolt where the rear trailing arm connects to the frame. The rust has caused the vehicle to fail maine state inspection. This vehicle defect has led to a recall in canada: “on certain vehicles, the rear frame could rust. In extreme cases, this could result in a rear trailing arm separating from the vehicle. This recall applies to vehicles originally sold or currently registered in areas of heavy road salt usage (ontario, quebec, new brunswick, nova scotia, prince edward island, and newfoundland & labrador). ” https://recallmonitor. Ca/recall/2021024 maine and new hampshire, where this vehicle has been registered for its entire life, are areas of heavy road salt usage. According to Honda canada, “ a rear trailing arm that separates could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash. ” the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. It was inspected by a garage certified to provide maine state inspections. The manufacturer has acknowledged the defect in canada. There were no warning lamps related to this issue.

I am located in ohio and the rear trailing arm has rusted out to the point that it is on the verge of breaking off on the passenger side. This was found out because I was driving and the car would sway back and forth in the rear every time I hit a bump in the road. I went to my nearest tire shop thinking it could be a wheel alignment issue and they brought me to the back and showed me the issue. It is being held by about 4-5 inches of the frame. They advised me to have the car towed as it was not safe for me to drive home. I have since not been driving the vehicle and have it parked in my garage. I'm aware that this is a recall by Honda in canada which is a neighboring border to my state and a very common issue with a lot of us northern states in the u. S. Please advise what can be done as I love this vehicle but it is unsafe to drive on the road.

I'm concerned with the amount of rust under the vehicle. My Element is from pennsylvania and they do use salt on the streets in the winter. Took car to mechanic and was told the car was very rusted underneath. Changing parts under the car is a difficult task due to the rest. Mechanic said it was cause car was driven in pennsylvania the cause is to how the roads are salted. I did read this is a serious problem in canada and other places and very dangerous but in America not as much. I'm wondering how I get this looked at by Honda and the problem be fixed like other Elements are being fixed or to see if it passes to have the unforced bracket put on.

Key in driver side will not turn. It gets stuck and will not unlock or lock . I have to insert, remove and re-insert many times in hopes that it will unlock or lock. There are many times it just won't work and I will have to enter from the trunk. Vehicle is stationary/parked.

Right back seat window broke.

We got a letter in the mail about the recall on the airbags. Air bag light always on. We have a knocking sound in the engine ,the driver door gets stuck, we have no a/c , one fan under the hood work,shocks missing up tires, battery die all the time, and have had problems with the car just cutting off at lights or when stoped by itself.

I received a letter from Honda stating that my instrument panel may need to be replaced. I contacted renner Honda, columbus, indiana where I purchased my Element SC new and told them that my gauges were falling out. They said they would order the panel and replace it. I never heard from them again and the time for replacement closed. Next, I received the brake recall notice and decided to try clarksville, in neil huffman Honda. They said they only did recalls during the week and if I needed a loaner vehicle to get back to work. . . That it would be $100/day and they would need my vehicle 2-3 days. I said so you are charging me for my inconvenience and they said that's our policy. So, I let that recall go. Here it is 2018, my gauges do not work at all and it looks like I'm doing 55 sitting still. My gas gauge is broke as well, my headlights are dim and my fans both quit working, part of the top panel has flown off--and my visor is broke. But, I did finally get Honda world, louisville, ky to replace the airbags and the brake recall. But, no dice on the instrument panel. I think that is wrong considering all the recalls on this by Honda. They will not budge on price yet there have been over 11 recalls on this vehicle and now I am stuck paying for the gauges, not to mention if the brakes had went out years ago. . . I could have been injured over clarksville neil huffman trying to charge me for a rental car! thanks to Honda world, but I will not recommend a Honda to anyone else considering all the complaints over the instrument panel, visors, lights, etc that I am reading on here. Shame on you Honda!.

As I was driving down the interstate, I heard a slight rattling sound. I then saw the left side windshield molding garnish completely break off of my car and fly into the road. I inspected the part and noticed that the plastic brackets that held it together were worn out from normal wear and tear, and became weak. This created a road hazard that nearly hit the vehicle behind me, and I was not in a spot where I could slow down and retrieve the part without causing a greater traffic hazard myself, as this occurred during rush hour.