27 of the
1,533 complaints filed about the Honda Element
are about the throttle and cruise control —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2003.
27
Complaints
2%
Share of all complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
Just like the same era's Honda CR-V (the Honda Element's sibling car with many of the same components), the undercarriage rust on my vehicle is excessive: as described in the same era Honda CR-V's NHTSA Recall (23V-228). Large sections of my car’s rear frame are completely missing, and as shown in the photographs even the rear bumper fell off because of all of the rust. Just like with the CR-V, a recall for the rear frame corrosion first occurred in Canada and then in the US: see NHTSA Recall 23V-228’s chronology. The Honda Element's Canadian recall is as follows: "Transport Canada Recall - 2021024 – HONDA". As of today, there is no NHTSA recall for rear frame corrosion for Honda Elements. I am submitting this complaint for this car now, and also contemporaneously am submitting complaints under different VINs for my other Elements with rust problems: every Honda Element that I have ever owned, even one that had spent its entire 14 year life as a New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas car has had rust problems. In other words, no matter what environment these Elements (which were made for the model years 2003-2011) are in, they corrode right away (within any factory warranties), and eventually become dangerous.
NHTSA complaint #11666870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Just like the same era's Honda CR-V (the Honda Element's sibling car with many of the same components), the undercarriage rust on my vehicle is excessive: as described in the same era Honda CR-V's NHTSA Recall (23V-228). Large sections of my car’s rear frame are completely missing, as shown in the photographs. My car is now undriveable. I had it towed to two Honda dealerships at my expense and both refused to even look at the car's rust, when I explicitly asked them to determine if the car was safe to drive. Niether dealership would confirm. Honda corporate cited that they were unable to assess the photographs that I sent to it because it does not physically inspect the cars. Honda corporate also insisted that it could not do anything about any dealership’s behavior as they are allegedly completely independent from Honda of North America. Honda corporate also looked up the history of my Hondas that I have owned and Elements that I still own and actually asked me, if I purchased them just to try to have Honda fix them for free. Just like with the CR-V, a recall for the rear frame corrosion first occurred in Canada and then in the US: see NHTSA Recall 23V-228’s chronology. The Honda Element's Canadian recall is as follows: "Transport Canada Recall - 2021024 – HONDA". As of today, there is no NHTSA recall for rear frame corrosion for Honda Elements. I am submitting this complaint for this car now, and also contemporaneous will submit less detailed complaints under different VINs for my other Elements with rust problems: every Honda Element that I have ever owned, even one that had spent its entire 14 year life as a New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas car has had rust problems. In other words, no matter what environment these Elements (which were made for the model years 2003-2011) are in, they corrode right away (within any factory warranties), and eventually become dangerous.
NHTSA complaint #11666864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Just like the same era's Honda CR-V (the Honda Element's sibling car with many of the same components), the undercarriage rust on my vehicle is excessive: as described in the same era Honda CR-V's NHTSA Recall (23V-228). Sections of my car’s rear frame are rusty. Just like with the CR-V, a recall for the rear frame corrosion first occurred in Canada and then in the US: see NHTSA Recall 23V-228’s chronology. The Honda Element's Canadian recall is as follows: "Transport Canada Recall - 2021024 – HONDA". As of today, there is no NHTSA recall for rear frame corrosion for Honda Elements. I am submitting this complaint for this car now, and also contemporaneously am submitting other complaints under different VINs for my other Elements with rust problems: every Honda Element that I have ever owned, even this Element for this complaint that I am submitting right now, that had spent its entire 14 year life as a New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas car has had rust problems. In other words, no matter what environment these Elements (which were made for the model years 2003-2011) are in, they corrode right away (within any factory warranties), and eventually become dangerous.
NHTSA complaint #11666868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE INDICATORS ON MY ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER FELL OFF INTO MY DASH, EMITTING THE BACKGROUND LIGHT. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME AND PARKED IT .WHEN I STOPPED BOTH INDICATORS FELL. I DID NOT HIT ANY POT HOLES OR BUMPS. I HAVE READ IN YOUR COMPLAINTS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, THE LIGHT IS VERY BRIGHT AND I HAD TO PLACE TAPE OVER IT TO AVOID THE GLARE VERY DANGEROUS OTHERWISE.. I CAN NO LONGER TELL MY SPEED. MY GAS INDICATOR DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ACCURATE EITHER AS IT FALLS BELOW THE EMPTY LINE.
NHTSA complaint #11298332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GOING ALONG HIGHWAY I90 AT 65MPH AND I DECIDED TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL SETTING ON MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT . WHEN TRAFFIC BECAME TOO CONGESTED I DECIDED TO SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL , ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT NOW I COULDN'T ACCELERATE. IT SEEMS THIS ISSUE HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A FAULTY THROTTLE CABLE . EITHER WAY THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY .
NHTSA complaint #11216980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR KEY CEASED TO WORK AS STATED NUMEROUS TIMES BY OTHERS. ONLY WAY TO GET IN AND LOCK THE DOOR IS FROM PASSENGER SIDE...PLACING DRIVER IN UNSAFE AND VUNERABLE POSITION. ALSO WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY APPROX 10 MPH CAR HAS FREQUENTLY IRRACTICALLY ACCELERATED OF ITS OWN ACCORD. HAVE TO STAND ON THE BRAKES TO GET CAR TO STOP. WITH THE CAR AT A STOP, AND IN DRIVE IT WILL SELF ACCELERATE...VERY DANGEROUS!!! AS OTHERS HAVE NOTED THERE IS A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL SHORT?? AS DASH LIGHTS ARE DULL THEN AND HAVE TO HIT DASH TO GET THEM TO LIGHT UP. HEADLIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY SURGING FROM LIMITED LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO NORMAL.
NHTSA complaint #11173203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, DROVE OVER A CURB, AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FLOW HONDA (2600 PETERS CREEK PKWY, WINSTON SALEM, NC 27127, (888) 902-4024), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.
NHTSA complaint #11151796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE, AND THE TACHOMETER NEEDLE FELL OFF OF THEIR GAUGES. IN ADDITION THE GAS GAUGE NOW NO LONGER PROPERLY REGISTERS THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK SO I AM LEFT TO ESTIMATE. ALL THREE POSE A SAFETY RISK TO ME AS A DRIVER INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF MY SPEEDING INADVERTENTLY, RUNNING OUT OF GAS IN ISOLATED LOCATIONS, OR DRIVING THE CAR AT HIGH RPM. ALL 3 ITEMS OCCURRED WITH NO OTHER UNUSUAL INCIDENT IN THE CAR, NO BUMP, NO ACCIDENT OR ANY OTHER EVENT THAT ONE WOULD EXPECT IS REQUIRED TO DISLODGE A NEEDLE FROM ITS GAUGE.
NHTSA complaint #10764686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000.
NHTSA complaint #10746196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10678362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
[XXX] - SPEEDOMETER GAUGE NEEDLES FELL OFF BOTH THE TAC AND SPEEDOMETER. NOW BRIGHT LIGHTS IN YOUR EYES! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10628247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY ELEMENT DOWN A BACK ROAD IN INDIANAPOLIS WHEN AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE I NOTICED 4 BRIGHT LIGHTS SHINING DIRECTLY AT ME. ALL THE NEEDLES IN MY DASH FELL RIGHT OUT AND ARE CURRENTLY NESTLED IN PLAIN VIEW BEHIND THE CLEAR PLASTIC FACE.
NHTSA complaint #10608737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BOTH, INDEPENDENTLY, EXPERIENCED OUR HONDA ELEMENT REVVING ITS ENGINE AND SURGING FORWARD WHEN WE APPLY THE BRAKES. PLEASE WATCH FOR THE COPY OF A LETTER I AM SENDING TO NHTSA BY USPS CERTIFIED #7011 2000 0001 6765 8433.
NHTSA complaint #10586381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF A TWO MONTH TIME FRAME. ON COLD MORNINGS, WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR, THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF, LEAVING ME WITHOUT BRAKES, STEERING, OR ACCELERATION. THIS WOULD REQUIRE ME TO TAKE OUT THE KEY AND RESTART THE ENGINE. NO ERROR CODES ARE BEING GENERATED AND THE AIR/HEAT AS WELL AS RADIO CONTINUES TO WORK. THIS HAS BECOME QUITE A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE THE OTHER VEHICLES ARE UNAWARE I CANNOT MOVE THE CAR AND THE RANDOMNESS OF WHEN THIS OCCURS. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO IT, ALTHOUGH IT WILL ONLY HAPPEN WITHIN THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR AND IT WILL HAPPEN WHEN IN ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION. MY DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO RECREATE THIS ISSUE EVEN AFTER KEEPING IT A COUPLE DAYS. I HOPE THIS ISSUE CAN BE FIGURED OUT, FIXED, AND RECALLED SO THAT I CAN FEEL SAFE AGAIN WHEN DRIVING MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10563309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED AND LUNGED FORWARD AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,708.
NHTSA complaint #10482726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WIFE WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED ACCELERATING AND SHE PRESSED THE BRAKES TO TRY TO STOP IT. SHE EVENTUALLY PUT IT IN PARK TO STOP THE CAR, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO GO TO MAXIMUM RPM. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE HONDA DEALER WHERE IT WAS STILL EXHIBITING THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10461412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE REPEATED THREE TIMES AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,300. UPDATED 06/05/12*LJ UPDATED 06/06/12
NHTSA complaint #10454873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE AND FLIPPED THE VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
NHTSA complaint #10445847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY '06 HONDA ELEMENT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WIT MY FOOT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN I GO TO APPLY THE BRAKE. ADD HEAVY BOOTS AND A BIT OF WINTER ICE AND IT ALL ADDED UP TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND SLIDING INTO THE FRONT GATE ON MY PROPERTY WHILE I WAS TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKE CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND MY PROPERTY. THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR ARE TOO CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER!!! I KNEW SOME DAY THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN, GUESS I SHOULD BE THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10376445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE IDLE WAS NOT STABLE CAUSING IT TO FLUCTUATE FROM 2000 RPMS TO 4000 RPMS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
NHTSA complaint #10369910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.