73 of the 329 complaints about the 2004 Honda Element are about the airbag system — 22% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 108,000 miles.
73
Complaints
12
Crashes
0
Fires
13
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
AIR BAGS
I drive a 2004 Honda Element and on Friday 2/3/23 I was in a car accident where I t-boned a car going 25 mph and my airbags did NOT deploy.
NHTSA complaint #11505768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Element. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to repair under the Takata recall. Several few months after the air bag repair, the driver’s side curtain air bag deployed without incident and without warning while driving at 65 MPH. The contact pulled off the highway and found no visible damage or reason for the deployment. The contact had taken the vehicle back to the dealer on two separate occasions for an inspection; however, the contact was never given a cause for the failure. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who refused to service the vehicle since the cause of the deployment had not been determined. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #11441631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
air bag light stays on
NHTSA complaint #11434385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
CAR WAS PARKED IN A PULLOUT ON THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY. SLAMMING REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAUSED DRIVER'S SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. NO COLLISION OCCURRED.
NHTSA complaint #11301968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
SRS LIGHT ON. HONDA DEALER WANTS $$ TO DIAGNOSE, BUT THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11277464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH AND NOT INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, EXCEPT TORN SEAMS IN SEAT FROM AIRBAG. THIS HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING ON GRAVEL ROAD TO LAKE HOUSE, RIGHT FRONT TIRE HIT POT-HOLE, CAUSING THE BAG DEPLOYMENT. INAPPROPRIATE SENSITIVITY IN AIRBAG SENSOR OR FAULTY AIRBAG SEEMS TO BE THE CAUSE. HUGHES HONDA IN ATHENS, GA. STATES THEY WILL NOT REPAIR SINCE THIS IS NOT A RECALL ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11253110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
SEAT BELT LIGHT WON'T TURN OFF
NHTSA complaint #11172639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN HONDA DEALER IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY SENSOR IN THE AIR BAG. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,113.
NHTSA complaint #11171439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY GOING 65 MPH AND SWITCHING LANES WHEN MY SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED. MY SEAT IS RIPPED. IT HIT ME IN THE ARM. NO ACCIDENT OR COLLISION HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #11171484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND PROPERLY SECURE THE DRIVER WHILE MAKING SUDDEN STOPS. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (HONDA CARS OF CORONA, 1080 POMONA RD, CORONA, CA). WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 293,800.
NHTSA complaint #11129917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE DEALER (AUTONATION HONDA LEWISVILLE, 601 WATERS RIDGE DR., LEWISVILLE, TX 75057, (972) 763-5524) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
NHTSA complaint #11115899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
2004 HONDA ELEMENT AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF STAYS ON CONSTANTLY HONDA REFUSES TO FIX WITHOUT COSTING ME MORE MONEY THIS SHOULD BE COVERED IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE FREE OF CHARGE. -----SHAME ON YOU HONDA !!.-----
NHTSA complaint #11083345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUFFERED HEADACHES, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO THE NEAREST INDEPENDENT AUTO YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.
NHTSA complaint #11075951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEING ON SINCE AFTER SOME YEARS FROM BUYING THE CAR. A RECALL WAS PLACED APRIL 2015. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES HONDA DEALER , BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS STILL ON THE MOMENT I TURNED THE CAR ON INSIDE THE DEALER . THE TECHNICIAN MENTIONED THE LIGHT WOULD GO WAY ONCE I WOULD DRIVE THE CAR , BUT IT DID NOT HAPPEN .
NHTSA complaint #11053765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
"TAKATA RECALL " I WAS IN A WRECK HIT A CAR FROM BEHIND AND AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY BUT WAS ALSO SENT A LETTER IN THE MAIL STATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS RECALLED DUE TO SHARDS OF METAL COMING OUT WHEN THE AIR BAG DOES DEPLOY ....
NHTSA complaint #11051840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT CALLED SUBURBAN HONDA (LOCATED AT 25100 HAGGERTY RD, FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48335) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #11019195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
MY 2004 ELEMENT LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY. I HAD IT SERVICED BY A MECHANIC WITH SET BELT REPLACEMENT. DID NOT HELP WITH THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. HAD IT LOOKED AT BY SOMEONE ELSE WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE AIRBAG SENSORS. I REALLY DON"T WANT TO KEEP SPENDING MONEY BUT IT FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THIS ALONG WITH MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT THAT IS ROCKING. DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP WITH ANY TYPE OF FORCE CAUSES THE SEAT TO JUMP FORWARD. EVEN IF I AM SITTING AND IF I MOVE AROUND MY SEAT WILL MOVE. IS THERE ANY TYPE OF PERMANENT FIXES FOR THESE PROBLEMS. OUR DAUGHTER LOVES HER ELEMENT BUT, THESE ARE MAJOR ISSUES FOR OUR FAMILY AS THEY ARE AND CAN HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE
NHTSA complaint #11014231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE DRIVER SIDE,SIDE AIRBAG (THE DRIVER SEAT) DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. IT FRIGHTENED ME AND CAUSED ME TO SWERVE INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE, FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE AROUND ME AT THE TIME AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND REGAIN MY COMPOSURE. I SHIVER WHEN I THINK OF HOW BADLY THIS MIGHT HAVE GONE IF OPPOSING TRAFFIC WAS THERE AT THE TIME! A DAY LATER MY LEFT ARM STILL HURTS FROM DEPLOYMENT. MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #11002340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR BODY REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #10968730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT KEEPS APPEARING AFTER TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THE HONDA DEALER IN VA BCH TWO TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10968374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD HAS ILLUMINATED AND WILL NOT EXTINGUISH AT APPROXIMATELY 145000 MILES. IT REMAINED ON AFTER IGNITION SELF-CHECK FROM A DEAD START AFTER OVERNIGHT PARKING. THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG HAD BEEN REPLACED APPROX 7,000 MILES AGO.
NHTSA complaint #10948709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
RECEIVED PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL NOTICE, HAVE CALLED THE SUBURBAN HONDA DEALERSHIP - FARMINGTON HILLS, MI EVERY MONTH SINCE JULY 2016 WITH NO RESOLUTION. THEY SAY THE PART IS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10927160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,021.
NHTSA complaint #10908397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10905889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10899140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55-60 ON A PAVED HIGHWAY. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS IS OVER 3000. HONDA TOOK ALL THE INFO AND WAS SUPPOSEDLY GOING TO GET BACK TO ME. MANY UNRETURNED PHONE CALLS LATER, I HAVE NOTHING TO SHOW FOR THIS EXCEPT A RECALL NOTICE COVERING OTHER AIRBAGS. OF COURSE AT THIS POINT, NONE OF MY AIRBAGS ARE FUNCTIONING; THUS THERE IS NO POINT IN COMPLYING WITH THE RECALL NOTICE. THE DATE BELOW IS APPROXIMATE. THE HONDA DEALER LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM AND GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE ON 5-31-16. THE MILEAGE ON THE NEXT PAGE IS ALSO APPROXIMATE. MY CONTACT # AT HONDA IS 310-781-5259. RIO GRACIOUSLY GAVE ME HIS DIRECT LINE, THEN DID NOT RETURN ANY CALLS.
NHTSA complaint #10894703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
NHTSA RECALL 16V-344 THE LOCAL DEALER REPLACED MY FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG ON 07.06.2016. THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT FOR MY AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS BEEN ON SINCE THIS DATE. I HAVE EMAILED THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER HERE IN CEDAR RAPIDS IOWA 10 TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THEM. I ALSO FOUND 2 SCREWS ON MY FLOORBOARD AFTER THEIR WORK ON MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10885740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE AVAILABLE WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10884727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AND THEN PROVIDED NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO RECEIVE THE REPAIR. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE WAITING FOR THE DEALER TO SUPPLY AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #10883078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL: I HAVE BEEN ON A WAITING LIST FOR A RECALLED AIRBAG REPLACEMENT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. NEITHER THE HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOR THE HONDA GENERAL MANAGMENT WILL RETURN MY CALLS. HONDA'S "RECALL RESOLUTION TEAM" HAS BEEN ATTEMPTING UNSUCCESSFULLY TO GET THE HONDA DEALER TO RESPOND TO ME. THE DEALERSHIP IS: PROCTOR HONDA, 2373 W TENNESSEE ST, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32304. TEL: (850) 576-5165. AS A RESULT OF BEING PLACED ON A WAITING LIST, AND THEN IGNORED, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY INJURE ME. IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 2 MONTHS. I DON'T RECALL THE ORIGINAL DATE I WAS PLACED ON THE WAITING LIST, BUT IT COULD BE 6 MONTHS OR MORE.
NHTSA complaint #10853460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.