Side/window Air Bag Problems of Honda Element - part 1

Vehicle (2-owner, all svc records), involved in a head-on collision, with approximately 75% of impact/damage to the driver’s front (see photos). The passenger front (25% of impact) airbag deployed, the drivers side airbag did not deploy. The takata airbag recall service/replacement (see invoice) was performed by a local Honda dealership on 01/08/2018. (factory recall: 16-047; kit inflator: 06999). The vehicle is in my (owner’s) private possession since the time of the incident, I have deliberately not yet had it serviced or inspected for damage/repair estimates in any way, as my priority is to first go through proper, qualified channels to have it properly inspected and diagnosed in regards to the airbag failure.

See all problems of the 2006 Honda Element 🔎.

Was driving on a gravel road around 30 mph when I heard a loud bang and noticed that something hit my left arm. I looked to the side and saw that the side airbag on the driver side had deployed. I did not get hit nor did I hit anything.

See all problems of the 2005 Honda Element 🔎.

Tl the contact owns a 2004 Honda Element. While driving approximately 60 mph, the front driver's side air bag deployed without warning or an impact. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to an unknown Honda dealer in san diego, California where it was diagnosed that there was a faulty sensor in the air bag. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the insurance company. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 117,113.

See all problems of the 2004 Honda Element 🔎.

Tl the contact owns a 2005 Honda Element. While driving at an unknown speed, the front passenger side air bag deployed without warning or impact. There were no injuries. The dealer (mike maroone Honda, 1103 academy park loop, colorado springs, CO 80910, (719) 888-2995) stated that the contact must have struck something to trigger the air bag deployment. The dealer stated that the repair would cost $3,200. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 191,050.

While driving on a two lane highway, at highway speeds, the driver side,side airbag (the driver seat) deployed for no reason. It frightened me and caused me to swerve into the oncoming traffic lane, fortunately no cars were around me at the time and I was able to pull over and regain my composure. I shiver when I think of how badly this might have gone if opposing traffic was there at the time! a day later my left arm still hurts from deployment. My granddaughter was in the car with me at the time of incident.

I drove the rear-right wheel over an angled curb at exactly 5mph in a parking lot. Dash cam gps confirms the speed. This triggered the passenger's side airbag to deploy. There is no visible damage to the tire or vehicle. Luckily there was no passenger at the time. I do not believe the airbag should be triggered for such a minor event as running over an angled parking curb at very low speed.

I was driving on a highway and heard an extremely loud pop - it sounded like maybe one of my tires exploded somehow. It turns out the passenger side air bag had deployed and popped. My right ear was ringing for a while after this happened and I fortunately maintained control of the car and figured out it was the air bag when I saw the blue air bag hanging out of the passenger seat.

2008 Honda Element. Consumer writes in regards to replacement parts not available to repair front passenger side airbag recall notice and requests alternative transportation.

See all problems of the 2008 Honda Element 🔎.

Takata recall: replaced driver side airbag 2 yrs ago when news broke. Dealer would not replace passenger side as Honda America refused to pay for it. Now Honda issues recall on passenger side airbag, stating no one should sit in passenger seat until repair. Called dealer, Honda America has not stocked parts. So essentially they ignored danger two years ago, and by saying don't sit there, are trying to blame vehicle owners and duck lawsuits. And didn't stock enough parts? sounds like they want cars off the road, do not want to fix, and are putting people in danger.

See all problems of the 2011 Honda Element 🔎.

Takata recall- I feel that having to wait an estimated one to two months for a replacement of the passenger side airbag is unacceptable. We are unable to use our vehicle for carpooling which is how we utilize this vehicle. Also, the driver's side airbag was recalled long ago--- I feel the passenger side airbag has probably been a danger for a long time and should have been recalled when the driver's side airbag was recalled. I feel that the safety of consumers has been compromised by the delay in issuing a recall and the delay in getting the necessary parts when the recall was initiated.

Takata recall - I called the dealership (stuart, FL Honda) to schedule the recall repair. I was told they can order the part but have no idea when it will be in and that it could be weeks or months. The man said people waited from March until sept to get drivers side airbags, and the have no idea when they will get the passenger side airbag to fix my car. Further, in direct conflict with the recall letter from Honda, the service person said there is no risk of metal coming out of the airbag. The dealer alos refused to provide a loaner car. I then called american Honda, they gave me a case number and also could not tell me when I can get my car fixed. I spoke to gloria who said there is no rosk to the back seat. I received the Honda recall letter in July 2016 and Honda still cannot provide a estimate for when I can have the car fixed, or provide a loaner car.

Passenger side airbag deployed while I was driving. I was driving about 55-60 on a paved highway. The estimate for repairs is over 3000. Honda took all the info and was supposedly going to get back to me. Many unreturned phone calls later, I have nothing to show for this except a recall notice covering other airbags. Of course at this point, none of my airbags are functioning; thus there is no point in complying with the recall notice. The date below is approximate. The Honda dealer looked at the problem and gave me an estimate on 5-31-16. The mileage on the next page is also approximate. My contact # at Honda is 310-781-5259. Rio graciously gave me his direct line, then did not return any calls.

2006 Honda Element. Consumer writes in regards to VIN# not listed on passenger airbag recall list and requests information on the type of propellant used in the passenger airbag system. The consumer stated the driver side air bag was replaced in June 2015. The consumer is now concerned about the passenger air bag exploding. Honda informed the consumer a recall was issued for his make and model, but not his year.

I am following up on my recent replacement of the recalled driver's side air bag. Worried that the same problem could exist on the passenger side, I have contacted Honda to inquire if the passenger side airrbag is similar to the recalled item and also in need of replacement. Honda has told me that the passenger side air bag is a takata brand but a different model. Upon research on your site, I found that Honda Element years 2003-2004 have had a recall for a similar design and vintage air bag under NHTSA campaign 14v700000. This recall is following the same decision making process that has led to the larger driver side recall. Rather than wiat for similar events to occur, wouldn't it be prudent to replace passenger side air bag in my vehicle now instead of waiting for the report of injuries in both high humidity and more northern sites? as these vehicles age, they have more exposure to high temperature and humidity weather and will very likely have similar problems.

I was driving down my own driveway, when there was a very loud explosion to my right. After a moment, I realized the passenger seat side airbag deployed. There was nothing on the seat at the time. My right ear rang for quite some time after. Luckily, my dog was crated behind me. I rolled down the windows to dissipate the powder floating about. Honda, both the local dealer and corporate, have been less than helpful in this matter. I am just happy it happened in my own driveway ( which I almost drove off of) rather than on the major hwy I had been on the day before as I surely would have crashed.

I was driving down a street at the rate of about 20 mph and heard a pop and I lost hearing and senses and my arm flew sideways because my driver side airbag had deployed. After regaining my senses, I got out of my Honda Element to check to see what caused the deployment and I saw no damage. My driver side seat airbag deployed for no reason and injured my arm. My vehicle is currently at the Honda dealership being inspected.

While traveling at 65 mph on the freeway, the passenger side air bag deployed for no reason. There was no impact or collision of any kind. There was no front passenger at all, only the driver in the vehicle.

See all problems of the 2003 Honda Element 🔎.

I was traveling north on nc hwy 12 on my way to work, alone, and I rear ended another vehicle traveling between 35-40 mph, when I glanced down to scratch my leg and when I glanced back down, the car in front of me was at a dead stop and I rear ended it. My passenger airbag deployed, however I had no passenger with me, my drivers side airbag failed. Luckily I was wearing my seatbelt and only received minor injuries.

The contact owns a 2006 Honda Element. While driving approximately 35 mph, the driver side air bag deployed without warning or impact. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the cause of the deployment could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

Happened in nyc, afternoon, weather drizzling/raining and humid. Slid on an oil slick on the road, swerved sideways and hit an exit ramp concrete barrier full front (w/ my front against it, perpendicular to the barrier). Passenger side airbag deployed, mine did not. The thing is, I was the only person in the car, there was no passenger in the passenger seat. Car was always driven in NY, I am original owner. Didn't report it earlier bec news always said it's only an issue w/ cars in the south, and Element didn't appear in the recall lists in the papers (only saw it listed this minute on the gov site, after hearing so much talk about it on the news and decided to check). I think the car manuf's should have notified all owners of that airbag of the possibility of an issue, even if they didn't live in the south, just in case, it's not expensive to do, just a stamp. Anyway, that's my feeling.

I was driving around 12:15 in am, a vehicle from right came out of street and I could not avoid hitting the car. My Honda hit the car, described as a t bone hit. I had no passengers,and was wearing seat belt. My passenger side front air bag activated, my driver side air bag did not activate. My Honda car had severe damage on the left driver side, less on the right side. My head light was gone from the left side and right side was intact. My car was totaled as a loss by insurance company. The sensor located on my driver side did not react to deploy the air bag. The frame bar was bent and damage right next to the sensor. I received neck bruises, swelling and neck pain. My knee was cut and swollen. There are significant breaks in the plastic on both sides of the interior steering column, proving the intense of the force of the hit. The car was towed to an independent repair shop. My questions were not answered by Honda as to why my driver side air bag did not employ. I spoke to Honda customer service, with no satisfactory results. Thank you, with much appreciation.

My Honda 2005 Element's side air bag inadvertently deployed. I was exiting a parking lot and partially drove over a curb with the left front tire. As the tire rolled off the curb the driver's side air bag deployed. I heard a loud explosion sound and was completely freaked out. I looked to my left side and the driver side airbag had exploded out. It wasn't even inflated. Fortunately, I was not injured.

I was driving into the bank drive in teller and my left side airbag went off.

The front passenger side air bag deployed without a collision. Driver was making a slow u-turn exit from a parked location and accidentally drove one tire over a curb. The air bag deployed when the tire rolled off the curb. Dealer service personnel initially confirmed a no-impact deployment, then changed diagnosis after being contacted by Honda America.

The contact owns a 2005 Honda Element. While driving, the passenger side air bag suddenly deployed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but they could not figure out why the air bag deployed without the vehicle being involved in a crash. The failure mileage was 95,000. Updated 11/23/bf.

I was driving my 2004 Honda Element on a gravel road, which I do most days as I live on this road, and the side airbag on the driver's side deployed for no reason, causing me bodily harm with scratching and bruising to my left upper arm.

I was driving my 2004 Honda Element to work on the morning of may 27, 2011 when the (drivers side) side curtain air bag deployed. There was no collision or known reason for it to deploy. It startled me badly, nearly causing me to go off the road. At first, I thought it might be a gun shot. I stopped the vehicle, got out and checked for damage, holes. I only noticed the bag hanging from the side of the seat when I went to enter the vehicle again. I had no idea what had happened until I saw that bag. My left upper arm felt as if I had been punched hard. Nether my insurance company(safety) nor american Honda will cover the damage which was estimated at a bit over $1500. I brought the vehicle to my Honda dealer. They could find no "codes" or other reason for the bag deploy. My insurance company representative stated it couldn't have happened as I reported and inferred I might be trying to defraud the company. All in all, this was a very bad experience.

The contact owns a 2007 Honda Element. While driving approximately 20 mph, the contact applied the brakes and both the front and rear driver side air bags deployed independently. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed and was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 50,000.

See all problems of the 2007 Honda Element 🔎.

Passangers seat, side airbage, deployed while traveling less than 10 mph. I was turning into my driveway and getting ready to park. Vehicle was not involved in an accident, did not hit a pot hole, etc. Honda states that the vehicle is out of warranty and will not repair. Cost of repair estimated at over $2400.

While driving less than 10 mph turning into my driveway, my passangers seat, side air bag deployed. There was no impact, pot hole, etc. To cause deployement. Honda of America says the warranty has expired and they will not pay to repair.

I was driving to work on March 26, 2011 on the freeway and it was early and a clear day. I was on the highway and out of no where I heard a loud explosion sound and was completely freaked out. My right ear was ringing and I started to smell smoke. I looked to my right side and the passenger side airbag had exploded out. It wasn't even inflated and there was no one sitting on the seat thankfully. But since no one was on the seat the airbags should have been off, the Honda Element has a sensor on the seat. I called the Honda customer service department and they told me I was responsible for the problem. That I should take my vehicle to a Honda dealership and report it to my insurance so that they can take care of it for me.

On 9/7/10 while driving southbound on I-15 south of las vegas, nv the right front. Passenger airbag on my 2006 Honda Element inadvertently deployed. There was no impact or collision of any kind. My wife was sitting in the right front passenger seat when the incident occurred. The right front passenger side airbag deployed with such force that it blew a hole through a blanket my wife had wrapped around her injuring her right arm and shoulder. Upon returning to my home in ventura, CA I contacted a local Honda dealer in oxnard, CA. They were very circumspect in their discussions with me and I was asked to visit them on 9/13/10 with any "additional information" I may have. I have done some research since the incident in question and have discovered that other incidents such as mine have occurred in the past and have been reported to your agency, but with little or no results. It is my understanding that north american Honda has refused to acknowledge any responsibility for what seems to be a defect in their airbag system(s). So far as I can tell from my research no one has been killed yet by previous incidents in a Honda Element such as mine. It is my contention that it is only a matter of time before you can put an "x" in the death or fatality box on your form. It's time your agency stepped up to the plate and did something to force Honda to take responsibility for this defect.

On 9/7/10 while driving southbound on I-15 south of las vegas, nv the right front. Passenger airbag on my 2006 Honda Element inadvertently deployed. There was no impact or collision of any kind. My wife was sitting in the right front passenger seat when the incident occurred. The right front passenger side airbag deployed with such force that it blew a hole through a blanket my wife had wrapped around her injuring her right arm and shoulder. Upon returning to my home in ventura, CA I contacted a local Honda dealer in oxnard, CA. They were very circumspect in their discussions with me and I was asked to visit them on 9/13/10 with any "additional information" I may have. I have done some research since the incident in question and have discovered that other incidents such as min e have occurred in the past and have been reported to your agency, but with little or no results. It is my understanding that north american Honda has refused to acknowledge any responsibility for what seems to be a defect in their airbag system(s). So far as I can tell from my research no one has been killed yet by previous incidents in a Honda Element such as mine. It is my contention that it is only a matter of time before you can put an "x" in the death or fatality box on your form. It's time your agency stepped up to the plate and did something to force Honda to take responsibility for this defect.

Driving to work at 6:20am on 08/27/2010, while exiting the 91 freeway (going eastbound) and entering the 71n towards chino hills, my driver side airbag deployed out of nowhere. The deployment (or better, the explosion) hit the left side of my face, my left arm and jerked my head towards the other side (to the right/passenger seat). For a couple of seconds I had no idea what had happened and was partially deaf for about an hour. Now my face and arm sting a little, my neck is a little stiff and I'm still hearing a little ring in my left ear. I contacted Honda's corporate office in torrance, CA and was told that it was very likely Honda would not be responsible for the financial burden since my car is a 2005 Element, past the warranty. To that, all I have to say (or ask) once the car is out of the warranty, does the manufacturer cease to have responsibility over the overall safety of it's vehicles? to me it seems that is there was no accident, my car wasn't hit or it didn't hit anything, that my airbag shouldn't deploy. Nobody has ever told me there is an expiration date on an airbag and my seats are in great condition (as is the rest of my car). Ultimately, this deployment could have cost me my life, and I am not exaggerating. I was blown in the face on a major freeway, if I had lost control due to the explosion I could have slammed my car into a wall or another car.

Drivers side airbag deployed spontaneously while vehicle was parked. The vehicle was never in an accident and incurred no impact whatsoever! Honda said srs chip (for airbags) info indicated Element was in collision. . . Despite the contrary. Our insurance says it was not, and claimed it was defective Honda parts. Honda technician even told us not to drive too fast over bumpy roads??!! it's a 4x4!! Honda refused any responsibility. Costs about $1200 to fix. Huge safety issue and I will keep pursuing Honda for this. . . They need to address this problem.