Honda Element owners have reported 20 unknown or other related problems since 1996. Table 1 shows the 1 most common unknown or other problems. The number one most common problem is related to the vehicle's unknown or other (20 problems). For details of each of the problem category, use the links in the table.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other problems |
The drivers side and passenger side door locks will freeze up and not allow the keys to be removed. This keeps the car from being abl eto be locked. Honda will not honor a warranty or recall on this item they charge $250. 00 per door to fix the problem. This heppened to both the drivers side and passengers side doors, and is a very common complaint among Honda Element owners.
Ignition switch seized locking all controls.
Like many others, driver side door key was difficult to insert. Then it inserted and was unable to turn; despite greasing lock. Now using passenger side door lock. I am hoping this does not get stuck on me too like it has happened with many others. Lock costs ~$33 on ebay and $55 from dealer, but this does not include installation and it lock will have a separate key. I was quoted around $350-375 to have a matching lock installed. I am worried to even do this because it sounds like it is a recurring problem even after replacement. This needs to be made a recall.
While driving on I-5 going through grants pass in oregon uphill, my 2003 Honda Element suddenly decelerated from 65mph to barely 35 mph. Car has been in the shop for two days, there were no codes indicating an issue with the transmission. The mechanic recommended it be seen by a engine mechanic. Car is still experiencing the issue after a transmission flush, new spark plugs, fuel system cleaning. This is a major safety issue, the car only has 82500 miles on and has never been placed in storage.
I was mowing my lawn when the lawn-mower kicked up a small (less than 1. 5 cm diameter) pebble and threw it into the rear window. The entire window shattered, the sides fell out, the middle cracked all the way across. You could see a small white area(size of a dime) where the impact was, it was nowhere near where the glass fell out. Then about 1 hour later the entire window fell out. Normal glass should have been able to withstand, perhaps chip or crack, but not blow out the entire window. This was defective glass. Also, this is a 2011 Honda Element, not a 2010, but that was the only option on the site.
My Honda Element has had two windshileds replaced and now a crack again at the base moving up. Stress cracks not foreign material hitting the car. I simply cannot afford a 500 deductable to get another windshield. . . . .
Ever since I purchased my '06 Honda elelment I have had problems wit my foot touching the accelerator pedal when I go to apply the break. Add heavy boots and a bit of winter ice and it all added up to sudden accelleration and sliding into the front gate on my property while I was trying to apply the break causing major dammage to the car and my property. The break and accelerator are too close to one another!!! I knew some day that this would happen, guess I should be thankfull that no one was injured. This is a major design problem.
Drove car on a 6 hr trip with one stop for gas during daylight hours therefore there was no need to turn headlights on. When reaching destination, headlights had turned on by themselves although the headlight switch on the steering column remained in the 'off' position and was never turned on by the driver that day. Car headlight warning would not sound when car was turned off and door open even though the lights remained on. Removed headlight fuse that night. The next day, inserted fuse and headlights were still on. Took to Honda dealership who replaced headlight relay but that same day headlights continued to turn on by themselves while car was turned off. Dealership replaced entire fuse box to fix the problem. Less than one week later, while driving the car will not go over3,000 rpm. Took to dealership who stated that the vtech sensor for oil pressure needed to be replaced. Was bought new in Aug 2006 so only has been driven by one owner for 4 years with dealer recommended maintenance performed.
2/27/10 purchased new Honda Element, delivered with windshield chips, dealer subcontracted. New windshield install & gave guarantee of customer satisfaction. Took delivery 3/8/10, noted excessive dash/windshield rattle. Called dealer next day-was asked to 'monitor through summer mos. As rattle would 'settle'. It only got worse. Contacted dealer several times over summer & was assured if problem persisted they would 'stand behind it until it was done right'. Returned. To dealer for 'repair' 3 times 11/15/10, 12/7/10, 12/29/10 (car was repaired three separate times during this visit (kept at dealership 12/29-1/10/11). Broken windshield clips found/replaced on 11/15/10 & 12/29/10 visit, re-padded dash on 12/7/10 visit. Rattle still persistent. Contacted Honda corp. Customer service & was told all Elements have dash/windshield rattles in cold weather. . . Honda considers this 'normal'. . . Dealership now stating they have 'done all they can'. Car had less than 3500 mi. At last service date. Problem has never been corrected and dealer states they are unsure if problem is in the dash, windshield or both areas. Honda customer service states only option available is to take it to another dealership and 'keep trying' to see if another dealer is willing to try to fix the problem.
While driving my 2007 Honda Element "cs", just after entering a freeway southbound, while getting up to freeway speed, a loud noise began to come from rear of vehicle as if a tire or tires were coming loose. Once hitting 55mph the vehicle began to shake somewhat, yet still controllable. I pulled over & inspected the tires & wheels and could not find anything wrong. Continued into next city to dealership where a four wheel alinement was done & all tires rotated. Now while on cross country trip on 20 may 2012, this same issue has occurred once again on a set of new tires. The cambers cannot be adjusted on this model & year vehicle. Honda has made no effort to remedy this problem. It was corrected in the 2008 models & subsequent models. The tires wear unevenly & "cup" & could cause the tires to blow, either at the same time, one at a time or even just one leaving driver in a position of being unable to control car from rapid deflation of exploding tire. I have spoken with the service writer at the dealership where I purchased my Element cs & he told me Honda is fully aware of this. I spoke with Honda America & was told they are fully aware of this & they did not think ". . . This is a life threatening issue. " this issue is with the Honda Element cs only that I am aware of.
2004 Honda Element: (I have 2 and both have the following exact problems)1. Airbags warning lights indicating problems 2. Drivers seat is loose and rocks 3. Passenger seat causes extreme discomfort to hip and back on long tips (this is occurs with all passengers, young and older) 3. Under carriage brushes failure 4. A/c air compressor failure 5. Straps in back seats pulled out and seat cannot be reclined 6. Engine decelerates without warning. Power cutback during passing makes this very dangerous. 7. Drivers seatbelt buckle is difficult to secure (only 1 car with this problem) 8. Loud clanking noise when cars are being turned.
2004 Honda Element windshield cracked at stress point located on driver's side where inspection stickers usually appear. No pitting, no impact point from flying debris. This is a known problem with the Honda Element. Had driven the car an hour earlier and no crack.
The driver's side outer lock and automatic lock fails on the car. Passenger must enter through passenger side only. Intermittent problem with multiple instances of this occurring.
- the contact has a 2007 Honda Element with an odometer reading of 1,473 miles. The contact realized that when a passenger is seated in the rear seat, the rear doors can not be opened. The contact was in the rear seat of the vehicle when the wind blew the doors shut. The contact stated that there was not a way for him to unlatch the doors. On past models there was a latch on the front seats which would release the seat so the doors could be unlocked. Now on the current vehicle the latch is not available, and the only way to get out of the rear seats it to climb over the seats or opened from the outside on the vehicle. The contact did not have the VIN available at this time. Updated. Updated 05/10/07.
While making a left turn in my 2005 Honda Element, I turned too sharply, causing the left front wheel to drive over a large piece of a previously broken street lamp that was on the corner of the street. Though I was only traveling at 10-15 mph, the car overturned and fell on its side. There were no other vehicles involved. There was some body damage and two broken windows, and some damage to the front wheels/axle of the vehicle. The car is currently being repaired.
Major (deadly) flaw in 2004 Honda Element. The consumer stated the design flaw that was discovered while sitting inside the vehicle on the day of purchasing may result in the entrapment of occupants.
The door locks on the Honda Element are faulty. So faulty in fact that a year after the Elements were advertised, a technical service bulletin (06-068) was issued for "door lock cylinder binds". This TSB applied to 2003-2004 civics, 2002-2003 cr-v, 2003 Elements. The TSB includes the affected VIN numbers. Once the door cylinder stops working you cannot gain entry into the vehicle through the affected door. For me it was the drivers door and I was forced to enter the vehicle via the passenger door. The Honda site stated that you should contact the dealer and ask for re numeration as this was a known failure. The Honda dealer local to me stated that since it wasn't a recall they wouldn't "give me a break" on the cost to fix the problem. Honda should be made accountable since they knew this was a problem. The safety issue here lies in the fact that you can't enter your vehicle quickly in a dangerous situation. Climbing over seats is certainly not a safe thing to do either.
Bought the car with 264 miles on it on Aug. 15th, 2003. On Aug. 23rd, a noise began consistantly from the rear part of the vehicle each & every time when making turns.
The problem is with the windshield. I have had to replace it twice since January and it needs to be replaced again due to cracks. I checked around and I am not the only one with this problem. It seems that the windshield in the Element is very susceptable to cracks due to the flange creating too much stress which renders the glass very prone to cracking by road debris. I got hit by a tiny pebble which should never have cracked the glass. And in my 18 years of driving various vehicles, I have never, ever had this type of problem, so I know it is not just "bad luck" as the dealer has told me.
Complaint regarding Honda american motors and the purchase of a 2003 Honda Element. Consumer stated experience at the dealership was less than good. His vehicle was sprayed with "armor oil type grease" all over the door panel with spray sprinkles. All over the front and back seats and console. They sprayed stuff all over the place to the point where his hand slipped off the steering wheel and the seats were destroyed. Dealership promised the perma plate, low jack and keyless entry. Consumer was told he wouldn't receive his keyless entry despite it being part of the deal. Consumer stated the dealership jacked up his vehicle.