RoadVitals

2003 Honda Element Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Apr 20, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 423 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Honda Element submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsBody & structureDriver assistance
Filed Apr 20, 2023
Crash reported1 injury reported

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.

NHTSA ID
11518170
Incident
Nov 10, 2022
Driver assistance
Filed May 30, 2019

GOING ALONG HIGHWAY I90 AT 65MPH AND I DECIDED TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL SETTING ON MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT . WHEN TRAFFIC BECAME TOO CONGESTED I DECIDED TO SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL , ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT NOW I COULDN'T ACCELERATE. IT SEEMS THIS ISSUE HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A FAULTY THROTTLE CABLE . EITHER WAY THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY .

NHTSA ID
11216980
Incident
May 25, 2019
Mileage
110,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 31, 2019
2 injuries reported

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR KEY CEASED TO WORK AS STATED NUMEROUS TIMES BY OTHERS. ONLY WAY TO GET IN AND LOCK THE DOOR IS FROM PASSENGER SIDE...PLACING DRIVER IN UNSAFE AND VUNERABLE POSITION. ALSO WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY APPROX 10 MPH CAR HAS FREQUENTLY IRRACTICALLY ACCELERATED OF ITS OWN ACCORD. HAVE TO STAND ON THE BRAKES TO GET CAR TO STOP. WITH THE CAR AT A STOP, AND IN DRIVE IT WILL SELF ACCELERATE...VERY DANGEROUS!!! AS OTHERS HAVE NOTED THERE IS A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL SHORT?? AS DASH LIGHTS ARE DULL THEN AND HAVE TO HIT DASH TO GET THEM TO LIGHT UP. HEADLIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY SURGING FROM LIMITED LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO NORMAL.

NHTSA ID
11173203
Incident
Jun 1, 2018
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 30, 2012
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE AND FLIPPED THE VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

NHTSA ID
10445847
Incident
Jan 8, 2012
Mileage
156,000 mi
Body & structureDriver assistanceElectrical+1 more
Filed Jan 26, 2005

THE CONSUMER HAS HAD CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S FACTORY INSTALLED HORN AND ALARM. *NM THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. OTHER PROBLEMS WERE; THE BUMPER COVER WOULD POP OUT INTERMITTENTLY, THE RIGHT SIDE CORNER PIECE WAS LOOSE, THE HORN SOUND WAS ABNORMAL AND ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING. *SC

NHTSA ID
10111196
Incident
Jan 1, 2005
Driver assistanceVisibility
Filed Dec 13, 2004

CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY THURSDAY EVENING AT 4PM. AT 6 AM THE FOLLOWING MORNING CRACK HAD APPEARED DURING THE NIGHT IN THE LOWER WINDSHIELD DRIVERS SIDE. CRACK WENT VERTICAL FOR APPOX. 3 INCHES. THEN WENT HORIZONTAL TOWARD PASSANGER SIDE APPOX. 6 INCHES. BY FRIDAY EVENING CRACK HAD LENGHTEND AND DROPPED DOWN TO CENTER OF WINDSHIELD.DEALER SAID TOO BAD MUST HAVE BEEN A ROCK. PLAN TO KEEP WINDSHIELD AS EVEDENCE WHEN IT IS REPLACED. ODOMETER HAS 14K MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10102886
Incident
Dec 9, 2004
Mileage
14,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 14, 2004

WHEN ENGINE IS COLD STARTED(NO MATTER WHAT TEMP OUTSIDE), THE ENGINE FAST IDLES AT ABOUT 1500 RPM. WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE THE ENGINE ACCELERATES TO 2500 RPM. HEAVY BRAKING AND LURCHING RESULTS. CAR WILL REACH SPEED OF 20MPH.*AK THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 6 MOS

NHTSA ID
10062142
Incident
Oct 1, 2003
Mileage
14,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 13, 2004

VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD, AND CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES VERY HARD IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10059125
Mileage
8,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .