RoadVitals

2011 Honda Element Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
11
Latest Dec 3, 2020
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 Honda Element, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags642.9%
  • Other / unspecified214.3%
  • Visibility214.3%
  • Suspension17.1%
  • Seat belts17.1%
  • Powertrain (other)17.1%
  • Steering17.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, SHE HAD NOTICED THAT AN EXTENSION LADDER AND DEBRIS HAD LANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IN ORDER TO AVOID THE OBJECTS, THE CONTACT AND THE DRIVER BEHIND HER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE THE SAME TURN AT THE SAME TIME INTO THE RIGHT LANE WHICH CAUSED A COLLISION. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON COLLISION. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED TO RELEASE UPON DEPRESSION OF THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUTTON. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS TRAPPED IN THE DRIVER SEAT AND HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE VEHICLE BY THE COUNTY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. BOTH DRIVERS WERE TREATED AT THE SCENE AND HAD THEIR VITALS TAKEN, NEITHER DRIVER NEEDED FURTHER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT SCENE. DUE TO THE ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE IT REMAINED UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 165,000.

NHTSA ID 11377818 · filed Dec 3, 2020

TAKATA RECALL MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WE RECEIVED THE LETTER FROM HONDA IN JULY 2016 ABOUT THE AIR BAG RECALL. THE LETTER ADVISES US TO AVOID HAVING A PASSENGER SIT IN THE FRONT SEAT. THAT IT'S NOT YET REPAIRED IS JUST AGGRAVATING. FOR SIX MONTHS, WE'VE HAD TO AVOID A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER, OR FEEL GUILTY ABOUT THEM SITTING THERE. THIS HAS CURTAILED OUR USE OF AND ENJOYMENT OF OUR VEHICLE. THE LETTER SHIFTED RESPONSIBILITY FROM TAKATA AND HONDA -- TO US, THE CAR OWNER. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID 10937472 · filed Dec 26, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THERE ARE TWO INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR AIR PRESSURE THAT COME ON AND STAY ON WITHOUT CAUSE (PRESSURE IS NORMAL) "TPMS" AND A SYMBOL. IT IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM AMONG OWNERS ONLINE IN GROUP DISCUSSIONS. IN ADDITION, THE SUSPENSION IS FAULTY IN THAT AN UNEXPLAINABLE "CRACKING" AND SLICKING NOISE HAS BEEN DULY DOCUMENTED AMONG OWNERS IN THE FRONT TIRES. SEVERAL HAVE REPORTED THIS WITH AN EFFECTIVE WARRANTY BUT OTHERS HAVE THE ISSUE POST-WARRANTY EXPIRATION. THIS SHOULD MANDATE A RECALL AS IT PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE DRIVER AND ALL OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THE CRACKING NOISES CAN BE HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE ISTARTS MOVING FROM A STAND STILL POSITION. OWNERS OF THE ODYSSEY HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS PROBLEM ON ONLINE FORUMS.

NHTSA ID 11006214 · filed Jul 18, 2017

REPEATEDLY SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE ICONS WILL COME ON AND THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY CLEARLY ARE GUESSING. IT HAPPENED MOST RECENTLY JUST LAST WEEK. IT USUALLY HAPPENS UPON STARTUP, BUT SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING ALSO. SOMETIMES RESTARTING THE CAR MAKES THE ICONS GO AWAY, SOMETIMES NOT. *TR

NHTSA ID 10610895 · filed Jul 16, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AND IS BLOCKING VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD AHEAD. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I SEE THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH SIMILAR MODELS OF HONDA. IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL FOR HONDA AS IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JS

NHTSA ID 10608461 · filed Jul 6, 2014

THE DRIVER SIDE, FRONT WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED IN ON ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY OBJECT STRUCK THE WINDOW. IT JUST EXPLODED. *JS

NHTSA ID 10598033 · filed Jun 13, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THERE ARE TWO INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR AIR PRESSURE THAT COME ON AND STAY ON WITHOUT CAUSE (PRESSURE IS NORMAL) "TPMS" AND A SYMBOL. IT IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM AMONG OWNERS ONLINE IN GROUP DISCUSSIONS. IN ADDITION, THE SUSPENSION IS FAULTY IN THAT AN UNEXPLAINABLE "CRACKING" AND SLICKING NOISE HAS BEEN DULY DOCUMENTED AMONG OWNERS IN THE FRONT TIRES. SEVERAL HAVE REPORTED THIS WITH AN EFFECTIVE WARRANTY BUT OTHERS HAVE THE ISSUE POST-WARRANTY EXPIRATION. THIS SHOULD MANDATE A RECALL AS IT PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE DRIVER AND ALL OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THE CRACKING NOISES CAN BE HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE ISTARTS MOVING FROM A STAND STILL POSITION. OWNERS OF THE ODYSSEY HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS PROBLEM ON ONLINE FORUMS.

NHTSA ID 11006214 · filed Jul 18, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, SHE HAD NOTICED THAT AN EXTENSION LADDER AND DEBRIS HAD LANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IN ORDER TO AVOID THE OBJECTS, THE CONTACT AND THE DRIVER BEHIND HER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE THE SAME TURN AT THE SAME TIME INTO THE RIGHT LANE WHICH CAUSED A COLLISION. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON COLLISION. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED TO RELEASE UPON DEPRESSION OF THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUTTON. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS TRAPPED IN THE DRIVER SEAT AND HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE VEHICLE BY THE COUNTY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. BOTH DRIVERS WERE TREATED AT THE SCENE AND HAD THEIR VITALS TAKEN, NEITHER DRIVER NEEDED FURTHER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT SCENE. DUE TO THE ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE IT REMAINED UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 165,000.

NHTSA ID 11377818 · filed Dec 3, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

REPEATEDLY SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE ICONS WILL COME ON AND THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY CLEARLY ARE GUESSING. IT HAPPENED MOST RECENTLY JUST LAST WEEK. IT USUALLY HAPPENS UPON STARTUP, BUT SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING ALSO. SOMETIMES RESTARTING THE CAR MAKES THE ICONS GO AWAY, SOMETIMES NOT. *TR

NHTSA ID 10610895 · filed Jul 16, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ALUMINUM STEERING WHEEL 'HUB SUPPORT MOUNTING BRACKET' HAS CRACKED AND IS BROKEN IN TWO PLACES. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER A TIME PERIOD DURING NORMAL USAGE OF MY VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL IS WOBBLEY AND LOOSENED. HONDA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT DISASSEMBLED AND REVIEWED COMPONENTS OF STEERING WHEEL AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS TOLD THAT IF THE REMAINING TWO BRACKET SPOKES CONTINUED TO FATIGUE AND ACTUALLY BROKE, WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE, I WOULD BE HOLDING MY STEERING WHEEL IN MY HANDS AND WOULD NOT HAVE ANY STEERING CONTROL OF MY CAR. THIS IS UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS. THE DEALERS SERVICEMEN TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT DRIVE THIS CAR IF IT WAS THEIR'S. I WAS GIVEN A COST ESTIMATE FOR THE PART OF $800 PLUS THE COST OF LABOR. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE DUE TO IMPROPER ENGINEERING/DESIGN AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS PROPOSED IN THE FABRICATION OF THIS PART. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A CONSUMER SAFETY HAZARD THAT MUST BE REVIEWED BY NHTSA BEFORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID 11118775 · filed Aug 9, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .