2008 Honda Element Problems

No incident, Soft Brake Pedal all the time

WE JUST BOUGHT A USED 2008 HONDA ELEMENT AND WE THOUGHT THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR BECAUSE OF LOW BRAKE FLUID THAT THE HONDA SERVICE OF BATON ROUGE APPARENTLY DID NOT FILL, BUT IT STILL WAS NOT WORKING. WE BROUGHT IT IN AND OUR MECHANIC PULLED UP A SAFETY RECALL FOR AIR IN THE VSA MODULATOR, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THE BRAKES ARE DOING. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE IN 2016, SO THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO, EXCEPT GO IN AND CHARGE US TO DO THE SAME PROCESS AGAIN.

Rotted and rusted out trailing arms

The contact owns a 2008 Honda Element. The contact stated that while reversing out of a parking spot, the driver’s side rear trailing arm fractured. There were no warning lights illuminated. Upon researching the failure, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V349000 (Suspension). The vehicle was towed to the husband's place of employment. The contact called the local dealer, who confirmed there was no recall coverage on the VIN for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

Airbag warning light stays on. Dealer indicates that the problem is a weight sensor. Dealer stated that seat belt issues and airbag issues were warranted by Honda. Dealer indicated that the weight sensor issue, which is used to deploy the airbag is not warranted. If seatbelts and airbags are warranted, why would the weight sensors that are an integral part of the SRS not be warranted? Dealer has estimated the cost of repairs at $1,240.47. Part to complete the repair is not available at this time. Per the dealer, it has been ordered with shipping date TBD.

while driving 65 mph on the freeway my side passenger curtain airbag and the airbag in the from passenger seat deployed. We did not hit anything nor is there any visible damage to the exterior or underside of the car

There is a massive rust spot under the driver side seating position where your feet would rest while driving. Seems as there isn't significant drainage holes in this area.

My mechanic informed me that this car will no longer pass NYS inspection due to body rust/corrosion holes where the rear trailing arms attach to the car's body. Honda has issued a recall for the same model year CR-V, which has a nearly identical trailing arm attachment design, due to the risk of losing control of the vehicle if the trailing arm mount separates from the body.

Driver side window regulator went out. Window dropped down on it's own.

The front passenger window regulator went out. Window dropped down into the door panel.

MY LOW BEEMS STOPPED WORKING WHEN I USE THE HIGH BEEMS THEY SUDDENLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING WE CHANGED THE LIGHT BULBS AND THEY STILL DON,T WORK

HEAVY SNOW CONDITIONS (CT FEB. 6, 2015) CAR TRANSMISSION LIGHT APPEARED, PULLED OVER, READ MANUAL WHICH INSTRUCTED DRIVER TO PROCEED MODERATELY, WITHOUT RAPID ACCELERATION, TO EITHER A SERVICE GARAGE OR SAFE PLACE. DROVE HOME (4.5 MILES) BUT DRIVE IS STEEP. SOME WHEEL SLIPPAGE THEN CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. TOWED FEBRUARY 6 TO CHAMPAGNE MOTORS OF MANSFIELD, CT. RESEARCHED PROBLEM ON LINE AND DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR TCM THAT WAS NOT PERFORMED ON CAR. CHAMPAGNE COULD NOT DO REPAIRS AND CAR ENDED UP AT HONDA OF MANCHESTER,CT. AFTER 4 WEEKS CALLED HONDA TO MENTION THE RECALL (NHTSA # 11V-395) AND SERVICE CLERK SAID THEIR REPAIRS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM UNLESS I WAS SHIFTING FROM D-N-R TO ROCK THE CAR IN SNOW. I SAID I WAS IN DRIVE UP A HILL, SLIPPED, SHIFTED TO N THEN R TO BACK UP, THEN D, AND IT FAILED. DEALER NEVER CHECKED FOR OPEN RECALLS WHEN CAR (BOUGHT USED) WAS PURCHASED. NOT SURE IF THEY ARE REQUIRED TO BY LAW. *TR

2 OF 4 GENERAL GRABBER TIRES ARE LEAKING AIR FROM THE SIDEWALLS.. HAVE TO ADD AIR DAILY. *TR

I REPLACED THE TIRES ON MY NEW 2008 HONDA ELEMENT ON 10/21/2007 AT 869 MILES SINCE THE TIRES THAT THE CAME WITH THE VEHICLE HAD POOR TRACTION IN RAIN. A MONTH LATER, THE TPMS LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON 11/26/2007 AT 1056 MILES. HONDA OF SEATTLE CONCLUDED THAT THE SYSTEM JUST NEEDED A RESET AND PROCEEDED WITH DOING SO. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE TPMS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN SO I TOOK IT TO HONDA OF SEATTLE ON 12/05/2007 AT 1161 MILES. THEY FOUND THAT ONE TIRE SENSOR WAS NOT SENDING OUT A SIGNAL SO IT WAS REPLACED. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER THE TPMS SENSOR CAME ON AGAIN SO IT WAS TAKEN TO HONDA OF SEATTLE ON 01/04/2008 AT 1840 MILES. THIS TIME HONDA OF SEATTLE REPLACED ANOTHER TPMS SENSOR AND THE TPMS RECEIVER UNIT, HOWEVER THE TPMS LIGHT WAS STILL ON. AT THIS TIME, HONDA OF SEATTLE CONCLUDED THAT THE NEW TIRES THAT WERE INSTALLED (ELSEWHERE) HAD TOO MUCH CARBON IN THEM THUS BLOCKING THE SIGNALS FROM TPMS SENSORS AND THEREFORE THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT RESOLVE ITSELF UNTIL THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. FIVE YEARS LATER, SINCE I WAS WANTING TO REPLACE THE TIRES AGAIN, I TOOK IT TO HONDA OF SEATTLE TO CONFIRM THEIR PREVIOUS DIAGNOSIS THAT THE TIRES WERE A PROBLEM. NOW THEY STATED THAT THE TPMS LIGHT WAS ON DUE TO THE FAILURE OF ALL FOUR SENSORS RELATED TO WATER CORROSION. THEY REPLACED ALL FOUR SENSORS ON 09/25/2012 AT 28206 MILES. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE TPMS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND HONDA OF SEATTLE FOUND THAT ONE OF THE NEW TPMS SENSORS HAD FAILED SO THEY REPLACED IT ON 10/03/2012 AT 28317 MILES. AFTER THAT, WITH NO LIGHT COMING FOR WEEKS, I FELT COMFORTABLE THAT THE TPMS PROBLEM WAS FINALLY CORRECTED AND REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES ON 10/20/2012 AT 28518 MILES. HOWEVER ON 11/11/2012 THE TPMS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO HONDA OF SEATTLE ON 11/14/2012 AT 28691 MILES. TWO OF THE NEW SENSORS HAD FAILED AGAIN AND WERE REPLACED. *TR

5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION: #1- DIFFICULTY ENGAGING SHIFTER INTO ANY GEAR (NOT IN MOTION). #2- SHIFTER/TRANSMISSION POP OUT OF GEAR TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING (CITY AND HIGHWAY). #3- DIFFICULTY UP AND DOWN SHIFTING SMOOTHLY. THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT MANUAL SHIFTER ISSUES WITH HONDA ELEMENT. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES LACK OF MOTION OF THE CAR AND TEMPORARY DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING.

HEAVY SNOW CONDITIONS (CT FEB. 6, 2015) CAR TRANSMISSION LIGHT APPEARED, PULLED OVER, READ MANUAL WHICH INSTRUCTED DRIVER TO PROCEED MODERATELY, WITHOUT RAPID ACCELERATION, TO EITHER A SERVICE GARAGE OR SAFE PLACE. DROVE HOME (4.5 MILES) BUT DRIVE IS STEEP. SOME WHEEL SLIPPAGE THEN CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. TOWED FEBRUARY 6 TO CHAMPAGNE MOTORS OF MANSFIELD, CT. RESEARCHED PROBLEM ON LINE AND DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR TCM THAT WAS NOT PERFORMED ON CAR. CHAMPAGNE COULD NOT DO REPAIRS AND CAR ENDED UP AT HONDA OF MANCHESTER,CT. AFTER 4 WEEKS CALLED HONDA TO MENTION THE RECALL (NHTSA # 11V-395) AND SERVICE CLERK SAID THEIR REPAIRS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM UNLESS I WAS SHIFTING FROM D-N-R TO ROCK THE CAR IN SNOW. I SAID I WAS IN DRIVE UP A HILL, SLIPPED, SHIFTED TO N THEN R TO BACK UP, THEN D, AND IT FAILED. DEALER NEVER CHECKED FOR OPEN RECALLS WHEN CAR (BOUGHT USED) WAS PURCHASED. NOT SURE IF THEY ARE REQUIRED TO BY LAW. *TR

The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH and making a left turn, the vehicle stopped independently. The contact stated that she depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that two brake pads, one brake line, and one caliper on the front brakes needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle had not been repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V119000 (Electronic Stability Control). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000. The contact stated there is an appointment to have repairs made on 05/23/23 and the dealership is also charging $150 diagnostic fee in addition to repairs.

MY CARS BRAKE PEDAL HAD BEEN SOFT FOR SOME TIME. YET NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES OR WITH THE VSA. I STARTED MY CAR ON SATURDAY MORNING (6/13/2015) AND THE VSA, ABS AND TRIANGLE EXCLAMATION LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED ON THE 30TH OF APRIL 2010 AND NO CHANGE WAS MADE TO THE VSA SINCE NO PROBLEM WAS REPORTED. I AM DISABLED AND DO NOT USE THE VEHICLE THAT OFTEN. IT IS WELL MAINTAINED AND IN EXCELLENT RUNNING ORDER. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC AND HE TESTED THE CAR QUICKLY AND TOLD ME TO TAKE TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR. IT IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT SERVICE BULLETIN 10-017 WAS REPORTING. I CALLED HONDA OF AMERICA ON THE 17TH OF JUNE 2015 TO SPEAK WITH THEM AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. I HAVE A CASE NUMBER FROM THEM... .UPDATED 07/22/15 *BF

MY LOW BEEMS STOPPED WORKING WHEN I USE THE HIGH BEEMS THEY SUDDENLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING WE CHANGED THE LIGHT BULBS AND THEY STILL DON,T WORK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ELEMENT. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

My Honda Element unibody has rusted out resulting in the real axle trailing arm separating from the vehicle. This happened while my daughter was driving - luckily she was not injured. This is a known issue at Honda. Honda Elements years 2003-2011 have already been recalled for a repair or reimbursement in Canada (see recall # 2021024) and all Honda CR-Vs in the United States model years 2007-2011 have also been recalled in the Unites States for the same issue (NHTSA # 23V-228). This issue represents an extremely hazardous risk in the Honda Elements, as well as the potential complete loss of the vehcile. The recall for the Elements should be extended to the United States immediately.

I PURCHASED A USED HONDA CERTIFIED 2008 HONDA ELEMENT FROM HONDA DEALERSHIP IN DECEMBER 2009. ATTEMPTED TO USE AIR CONDITIONER FOR THE FIRST TIME MAY 2010. AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK. I TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT A ROCK DAMAGED CONDENSER. TO MY AMAZEMENT, THE CONDENSER IS IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR, AND OEM GRILL IS TOTALLY NON EFFECTIVE IN OFFERING PROTECTION. THE COST OF REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $750.00. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT NUMEROUS OWNERS HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT I WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR ONLY TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDS REPLACEMENT CONSTANTLY. CALIPERS GET STUCK CAUSING BRAKES AND ROTORS TO GET STUCK AND FREEZE UP. ALSO BRAKES ARE ON WHEN DRIVING

I BELIEVE THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT ON MY CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS BELT CINCHES SO TIGHTLY THAT I MUST REMOVE IT WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. IT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE RACHETING SYSTEM INTENDED FOR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. IT IS UNSAFE AND HONDA HAS NO FIX FOR THIS. BMW FIXED MY 5-SERIES, AND GM PROVIDED ME A SEAT BELT EXTENDER WHICH SOMEHOW STOPS THE CINCHING FROM OCCURRING. A FRIEND HAS THE SAME CAR (OLDER MODEL) AND SHE HAS DISABLED HER SEAT BELT BECAUSE SHE CAN'T BREATHE. IS THERE SOMETHING WHICH CAN BE DONE TO AID ME IN GETTING HONDA TO FIX THIS SCARY SITUATION. THE PROBLEM IS ONGOING, THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT. THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLEANED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,883 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000. *TR

ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. VEHICLE ONLY SLID BACKWARDS UNTIL PLACED IN PARK. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. DEALER PUT IN TRANSMISSION FLUID, CHECKED PRESSURE AND RETURNED TO OWNER. IN 5-7 DAYS VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK BACKWARDS FORCEFULLY. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR 4 DAYS NOW. DEALER FIRST REPLACED SOLENOID SWITCH. HONDA WOULD NOT RELEASE TO DEALER NEW TRANSMISSION UNTIL SOLENOID WAS REPLACED. NOW DEALER HAS TO KEEP CAR LONGER TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE. THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE FAILURE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.