2007 Honda Element Electrical Problems

The contact owns a 2007 Honda Element. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V436000 (Electrical System, Trailer Hitches) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The contact was advised by the local dealer that the vehicle was not eligible for recall repairs due to the title being salvaged and that the part was not an attachment for the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the issues.

NHTSA ID

11632646

Incident

Dec 27, 2024

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!

NHTSA ID

11093347

Incident

May 11, 2018

LETTER FROM SENATOR SCHUMER ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE TAKATA AIRBAGS BEING REPLACED AND BATTERY DRAINAGE PROBLEM IN HONDA ELEMENT. *LD *JS

NHTSA ID

11057549

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE HAS DROPPED OVER THE LAST 2 WEEKS . NO LONGER CAN TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING. 2007 ELEMENT 4WD ' FROM VIN 5J6YH2...7L000033 THRU 5J6YH2...7L014108 SAMPLE LETTER: DECEMBER 2007 PRODUCT UPDATE: INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGE NEEDLES READ INACCURATELY OR FALL OFF DEAR ELEMENT OWNER: THIS LETTER IS TO NOTIFY YOU OF A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH YOUR VEHICLE AND WHAT YOU SHOULD DO TO RESOLVE IT. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? THE NEEDLES IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES MAY READ INACCURATELY OF FALL OFF. THE GAUGES THAT CAN BE AFFECTED INCLUDE THE SPEEDOMETER, THE TACHOMETER, THE FUEL, AND THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? CONTACT ANY AUTHORIZED HONDA DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE YOUR VEHICLE UPDATED. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, TRANSFERRING THE ODOMETER AND MAINTENANCE MINDER DATA FROM THE ORIGINAL INSTRUMENT PANEL TO THE NEW ONE. THIS WORK WILL BE DONE FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE PLAN TO LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE AT THE DEALER FOR HALF A DAY TO ALLOW SOME FLEXIBILITY IN SCHEDULING. WHAT TO DO IF YOU FEEL THIS NOTICE IS IN ERROR OUR RECORDS SHOW THAT YOU ARE THE CURRENT OWNER OR LESSEE OF A 2007 ELEMENT INVOLVED IN THIS PRODUCT UPDATE. IF THIS IS NOT THE CASE, OR THE NAME/ADDRESS INFORMATION IS NOT CORRECT, PLEASE FILL OUT AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED, POSTAGE-PAID INFORMATION CHANGE CARD. WE WILL THEN UPDATE OUR RECORDS. SEEMS HONDA NOW REFUSES TO HONOR THIS LETTER. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.

NHTSA ID

11005374

Incident

Jul 12, 2017

Mileage

153,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE RPM AND SPEEDOMETER NEEDLES WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10871802

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

Mileage

85,000 mi

TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER NEEDLES RANDOMLY FELL OFF. I WAS JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE TACHOMETER NEEDLE FELL OFF, AND ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE DID THE SAME. I TOOK OFF THE BEZEL AND IT SEEMS THAT THE PLASTIC SHAFT THAT HOLDS THE NEEDLE IN PLACE WAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES, THAT NEGATIVELY AFFECTED ITS ABILITY TO HOLD ON TO THE METAL SHAFT IN THE CLUSTER. THIS IS NOTHING THAT WAS DONE TO THE CAR, THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER RECALL, SINCE I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR AND KNOW EXACTLY HOW FAST I'M GOING.

NHTSA ID

10825792

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

Mileage

50,000 mi

2007 HONDA ELEMENT ELECTRICAL DASHBOARD EQUIPMENT FAILURE. TACHOMETER GAUGE FELL OFF TACHOMETER, TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SOME OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AND THE ELECTRICAL PLUG FOR THE CHARGERS DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

10808520

Incident

Nov 27, 2015

Mileage

1,300,006 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TACHOMETER AND THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE GAUGES PROVIDED INCORRECT READINGS. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A PRODUCT UPDATE INDICATING THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGE NEEDLES READ INACCURATELY OR FALSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE INDICATING THAT THE TIMEFRAME FOR THE REPAIR HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10748455

Incident

Nov 3, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS) AND 12V436000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, TRAILER HITCHES); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10748108

Incident

Jun 11, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, READS LOW BY AT LEAST 20 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10681274

Incident

Feb 2, 2015

Mileage

160,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A GRAVEL ROAD AND THE GAUGE NEEDLES ON BOTH THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER FELL OFF. WE WERE USING THE VEHICLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH HOW IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE USED. WE WERE FORCED TO FINISH OUR TRIP WITHOUT KNOWING OUR SPEED OR RPMS (A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD). THE HONDA DEALER SAYS THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MUST BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE GAUGES TO DISPLAY ACCURATE INFORMATION AGAIN. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW BY HONDA WHICH HAS SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10678362

Incident

Jan 7, 2015

Mileage

67,000 mi

WE PURCHASED OUR ELEMENT IN 2011. IN 09/13, WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, WE HIT A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD AND ALL OF THE GAUGES POPPED OFF OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER WHO GAVE US A BID OF $1,000.00 TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. WE CHOOSE INSTEAD TO REPAIR THE CLUSTER. SINCE THE REPAIR, NONE OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAVE READ APPROPRIATELY. AT THAT TIME, NO MENTION WAS MADE THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE AND YEAR. APPROX. ONE YEAR LATER IN 11/14, THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AGAIN POPPED OFF WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. MY HUSBAND DID SOME RESEARCH AND WE LEARNED THAT IN 2008, HONDA DID A SAFETY RECALL REGARDING THE 2007 ELEMENT AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. APPARENTLY, HONDA IS WAS VERY MUCH AWARE THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE AND THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE DESIGN. HONDA PURPOSELY CHOOSE TO DO A SAFETY RECALL SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE LIABLE AFTER 2010. WE CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA IN DECEMBER AND A REPRESENTATIVE ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS A PRODUCT UPDATE ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE AND A SAFETY RECALL BACK IN 2008; HOWEVER, THIS RECALL HAD EXPIRED. I FILED A COMPLAINT AND WAS SENT TO CONSUMER PRODUCTS. A REPRESENTATIVE TOOK OUR INFORMATION AND AGREED TO RESEARCH OUR ISSUE. WE ALSO CONTACTED THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER, REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND ALTHOUGH THEY WERE UNDERSTANDING, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO TO HELP US. ONE WEEK LATER, AMERICAN HONDA CONTACTED US AND TOLD US THAT THEY BEST THEY COULD DO WAS TO HONOR THE BID OF $1,000.00 AND THAT THIS WAS A DEAL SINCE THE COST NOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM WAS $1,300.00. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT HONDA SHOULD BE FORCED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPAIR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS, COMMENTS AND CONCERNS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10672392

Incident

Dec 4, 2014

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ID

10662213

Incident

Apr 1, 2014

Mileage

146,000 mi

2007 HONDA ELEMENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE RPM IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FELL OUT. THE NEXT DAY, AS SHE PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE TEMPERATURE AND SPEED NEEDLES FELL OUT. THE CONSUMER WENT TO GET GAS, AND AFTER FILLING THE TANK, THE GAUGE ONLY SHOWED 1/2 TANK. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE GAS NEEDED WOULD EVENTUALLY FALL OUT, TOO. *JB

NHTSA ID

10640984

Incident

Sep 5, 2014

Mileage

151,000 mi

TOOK VEHICLE INTO HONDA SERVICE DEPT. AS NEEDLES HAD FALLEN OFF OF TACHOMETER AND HEAT INDICATOR AND SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT READING CORRECTLY. SERVICE TECH TOOK CAR FOR DRIVE TO TEST BRAKES FOR A RECALL ISSUE AND HIT THE DASHBOARD WHEN TOLD OF NEEDLE ISSUE. REST OF NEEDLES FELL OFF SO NOW I HAVE NO IDEA OF SPEED OR GAS AND THE LIGHTS SHINE DIRECTLY IN DRIVERS FACE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. HONDA SAYS THERE WAS AN UPDATE (WHICH HAS EXPIRED) AND IT WILL COST ME $1,000. TO FIX THE GAUGE ISSUE. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL AND MERELY AN 'UPDATE'! THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY HONDA AS THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE BUT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. CHECKING ONLINE HAS REVEALED THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10588117

Incident

May 13, 2014

Mileage

107,423 mi

ALL NEEDLES ON THE DASH FELL OFF, EXCEPT THE FUEL INDICATOR (FOR NOW). DRIVING CAR WITHOUT KNOWING MY SPEED, ENGINE TEMP, OR RPM, LET ALONE THERE ARE BRIGHT LIGHTS SHINING IN MY EYES DRIVING AT NIGHT INHIBITING MY VISION. I AM JUST FINDING OUT HONDA WAS FIXING THIS ISSUE FOR FREE, AS THEY SHOULD, BUT STOPPED AS OF DECEMEBER 2010. NOW I AM RESPONSIBLE TO REPLACE THIS KNOWN DEFECT, AND CAN BE CHARGED AROUND $900FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN READING. IS THIS EVEN LEGAL????? HOW CAN HONDA HAVE A KNOWN DEFECT, A SAFETY ISSUE AT THAT, AND NOT BE REQUIRED TO FIX THEIR PROBLEM?? IF THERE IS A LAWSUIT I WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED, OR NEED TO KNOW HOW TO MAKE THEM PAY FOR THIS REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10588062

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

75,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND HIT A MEDIUM SIZED POTHOLE. ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATOR NEEDLES FELL OFF OF GAUGES. A BLINDING LIGHT COMES FROM THE VOIDS BEHIND WHERE THE NEEDLES SHOULD BE. I AM UNABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ SPEED, TEMPERATURE, FUEL LEVEL AND RPMS. HONDA WILL NOT HONOR REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY AND THOUGH IT IS A COMMON KNOWN ISSUE, IT HAS NOT BEEN CLASSIFIED AS A SAFETY RECALL. I FEEL THAT VEHICLES WITH THIS ISSUE ARE EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563414

Incident

Feb 5, 2014

Mileage

97,400 mi

TACHOMETER INDICATOR NEEDLE FELL OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10456754

Incident

Aug 11, 2011

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE INCIDENT INVOLVES THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OF THE 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. THE PROBLEM IS COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE DRIVING, LOSING ALL FUNCTIONING OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES, INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER, FUEL, ENGINE TEMPERATURE, AND RPM, WITH ONE OF THE GAUGES COMPLETELY POPPING OUT AND THE OTHER PINS ON THE GAUGES DROPPING DOWN BELOW 0 AND NOT FUNCTIONING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10438458

Incident

Dec 3, 2011

Mileage

64,500 mi

2007 HONDA ELEMENT. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE TO INCLUDE TRANSMISSION FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FIRST FAILED AT 15,000. THE DEFECT THE DEALER APPARENTLY REPAIRED BETWEEN MARCH 22-26 AND APRIL 2008 HAS RETURNED. RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUDDER ONCE MORE UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION BETWEEN 30-35 MPH. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A PERSISTENT CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IN ADDITION, A MALFUNCTIONING RADIO CONSOLE WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM RETURNED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS AND WHEN IT DID ILLUMINATE, IT STAYED ON FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. *JB

NHTSA ID

10435934

Incident

Mar 25, 2008

Mileage

15,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND DISPLAYED AN INACCURATE READING . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE IT WAS BEYOND THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR A MANUFACTURERS RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10426786

Incident

Sep 20, 2011

Mileage

105,000 mi

HIT A SPEED BUMP AND THE GAGE NEEDLES FELL OFF THE TECH AND SPEEDOMETER. NOW THERE IS A GLARING LIGHT WHERE THE NEEDLES USE TO BE MAKING IT VERY HARD TO SEE. ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. HONDA ADMITS THERE IS A DEFECT BUT WILL NOT FIX UNLESS I PAY FOR EVERYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10390482

Incident

Mar 16, 2011

Mileage

49,683 mi