RoadVitals

2005 Honda Element Interior & seats Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Interior & seats 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.
12
Latest Oct 14, 2017
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.
8%
of 158 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Honda Element submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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 interior

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

Interior & seats
Filed Oct 14, 2017

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH WHEN DECELERATING AT A STOP LIGHT OR AT A STOP SIGN AND/OR WHEN PERFORMING A TURN . IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A STOP OR TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 03-032) WAS ISSUED YET HONDA CLAIMS THEY DO NOT SEE THIS AS AN ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH INFORMALLY VERIFIES THIS HAPPENS WITH OTHER MODELS OF HONDA VEHICLES (CIVIC, CRV, ELEMENT). THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUE FOR ME WHEN DRIVING ESPECIALLY DURING STOP AND START AND TURNING. THIS PRESENTS A DANGER WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND BRAKE DURING DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11033316
Incident
Dec 10, 2016
Mileage
91,378 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 11, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT ROCKED BACK AND FORTH EVERY SINGLE TIME IT WAS USED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. ...UPDATED 03/08/17 *BF

NHTSA ID
10944317
Incident
Jan 11, 2017
Mileage
35,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed May 29, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT WOULD EXCESSIVELY MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,238.

NHTSA ID
10594899
Incident
May 15, 2014
Mileage
124,238 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 20, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BRACKETS BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH. THE FAILURE WAS PROGRESSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE BUSHINGS AND THE BRACKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10573824
Incident
Sep 12, 2013
Mileage
100,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Dec 23, 2013

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH PARKING LOT APPROACHING EXIT, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON. LOUD BANG, RINGING EARS, AND CRYING KIDS. NO BUMPS, POTHOLES, CURBS OR ACCIDENT. SO FAR EVERYONE FROM HONDA, THE DEALER AND INSURANCE ARE ALL POINTING THE FINGER AT EACH OTHER. AS SEEN ON THIS AND OTHER SITES THIS SEEMS COMMON HOWEVER EVERYONE ACTS LIKE IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE HEARD OF SUCH A THING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10557130
Incident
Dec 21, 2013
Mileage
104,830 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jul 10, 2012

I WAS DRIVING INTO THE BANK DRIVE IN TELLER AND MY LEFT SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10465064
Incident
Nov 15, 2011
Mileage
185,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Mar 28, 2011

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10393045
Incident
Mar 26, 2011
Mileage
77,500 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 1, 2010

2005 HONDA ELEMENT. FRONT SEAT LOOSE. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT A PART WAS HOLDING THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT THAT IS WELDED HAS SOME PROBLEM WHERE IT CAME LOOSE. THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT LITERALLY ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. WHEN DISCUSSED WITH DEALERSHIP, THEY DID SAY "IT IS NOT WEAR AND TEAR" AND THAT IT WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10333981
Incident
Apr 15, 2010
Mileage
70,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 2, 2009

OWNER OF A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH, GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND NOW ROCKING LEFT AND ROCK. THIS PRESENTS A DANGER WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND BRAKE DURING DRIVING. SINCE THE PROBLEM IS WORSENING I FEEL THAT AT SOME POINT MY SEAT WILL DEFINITELY COME UNMOUNTED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. HONDA'S LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND CORPORATE OFFICE REFUSE TO FIX THIS ISSUE FOR FREE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A MULTITUDE OF INJURIES - EVEN WHIPLASH FROM JERKING OF THE VEHICLE. A SERVICE BULLETINS WAS ISSUED YET HONDA CLAIMS THEY DO NOT SEE THIS AS AN ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUE FOR ME WHEN DRIVING ESPECIALLY DURING STOP AND START AND TURNING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10286077
Incident
May 1, 2007
Mileage
20,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 17, 2009

DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS DURING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. THIS IS POSSIBLY A SAFETY ISSUE IN AN ACCIDENT IF THE SEAT FIXTURES WERE TO BREAK. ALSO THE SEAT BELT CONFIGURATION MAKES EGRESS IMPOSSIBLE FROM THE REAR SEATS ONLY. THERE IS NO INTERIOR HANDLE FOR A REAR SEAT PASSENGER TO OPEN THE DOOR IN AN EMERGENCY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10280778
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Mileage
20,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 28, 2009

DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS WHEN ACCELERATING OR BRAKING. HONDA HAS ISSUED TSB BUT REFUSES TO COVER COST OF FIX IF VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MY CAR IS A 2005 BUT THE TSB COVERS ALL VEHICLES FROM 2003-2006. *TR

NHTSA ID
10278531
Incident
Jul 18, 2009
Mileage
30,800 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 9, 2007

OWN A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. AT 13K MILES BOTH THE FRONT SEATS SIDE SEAMS HAVE TORN. WE ARE NOT HARD ON THIS CAR AND ARE SHOCKED HOW SOON THE SEATS HAVE WORN OUT. WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO HONDA AND THEY DID CHANGE THE SEATS, BUT DENY THERE IS A PROBLEM OVERALL WITH THE SEATS. AT WWW.ELEMENTOWNERSCLUB.COM THERE ARE PAGE AFTER PAGE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT SEATS TEARING WITH LOW MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10182081
Incident
Jan 16, 2006
Mileage
13,450 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 .