FaultScore

Worst years for a Honda Element

Owners have filed 1,533 complaints about the Honda Element with NHTSA across model years 2003 to 2011. More of them are about the windows, mirrors & wipers than anything else.

Avoid

2003 Honda Element

482 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly windows, mirrors & wipers.

Cleanest on record

2010 Honda Element

39 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Honda Element year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2011 B 15 2 0 60,200 Airbags
2010 B 39 2 0 46,400 Airbags
2009 C 40 5 0 55,000 Brakes
2008 C 129 5 0 26,500 Brakes
2007 C 142 10 0 70,500 Airbags
2006 D 154 26 1 69,786 Airbags
2005 D 203 16 7 80,000 Airbags
2004 F 329 20 3 60,000 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
2003 F 482 37 4 27,500 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers

What breaks on a Honda Element

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Worst in 2003

Airbags 322 21.0%

Worst in 2005

Suspension 115 7.5%

Worst in 2003

Worst in 2003

Worst in 2003

Brakes 91 5.9%

Worst in 2008

Seats 57 3.7%

Worst in 2004

Worst in 2003

Worst in 2005

Worst in 2003

Seat Belts 36 2.3%

Worst in 2004

Worst in 2003

Steering 27 1.8%

Worst in 2005

Worst in 2003

Exactly what failed on a Honda Element

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Windshield 335 66.6%
Body 53 10.5%
Side/Window 39 7.8%
Frontal 18 3.6%
Automatic Transmission 12 2.4%
Power Window Devices AND Controls 11 2.2%
Door 10 2.0%
Instrument Cluster/Panel 9 1.8%
Glass, Side/Rear 8 1.6%
Horn 8 1.6%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Honda Element, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jun 2003 peak 31 Aug 2026

Honda Element problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Honda Element

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.