FaultScore

Honda Element airbag problems

322 of the 1,533 complaints filed about the Honda Element are about the airbag system — 21% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2005.

322

Complaints

21%

Share of all complaints

59

Crashes

1

Fires

Airbags complaints by model year

2003 Element 49 15.2%

Median failure at 90,000 miles

2004 Element 73 22.7%

Median failure at 108,000 miles

2005 Element 77 23.9%

Median failure at 80,000 miles

2006 Element 55 17.1%

Median failure at 76,500 miles

2007 Element 27 8.4%

Median failure at 86,000 miles

2008 Element 23 7.1%

Median failure at 98,000 miles

2009 Element 5 1.6%

Median failure at 67,130 miles

2010 Element 7 2.2%

Median failure at 33,929 miles

2011 Element 6 1.9%

Median failure at 122,500 miles

What owners said

2006 Honda Element Ocala, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

Vehicle (2-owner, all svc records), involved in a head-on collision, with approximately 75% of impact/damage to the Driver’s front (see photos). The passenger front (25% of impact) airbag deployed, the DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG did NOT deploy. The Takata airbag recall service/replacement (see invoice) was performed by a local Honda dealership on 01/08/2018. (Factory recall: 16-047; Kit Inflator: 06999). The vehicle is in my (owner’s) private possession since the time of the incident, I have deliberately not yet had it serviced or inspected for damage/repair estimates in any way, as my priority is to FIRST go through proper, qualified channels to have it properly inspected and diagnosed in regards to the AIRBAG FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #11714865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Honda Element at 155,500 miles Eureka, CA

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2006 Honda Element. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the passenger's side door air bag deployed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact and her mother heard a loud explosion, and the passenger's side door air bag deployed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed. There was no impact GTC system scanned -1 completed troubleshooting found no damage while SRS and air bag unit need to be replaced. The vehicle had previously been repaired, a year and a half prior to the failure under an unknown recall associated with the air bags. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,500.

NHTSA complaint #11650488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Honda Element Greenbrier, AR

AIR BAGS

Air bag in drivers seat deployed when I shut rear door. Car was running at the time.

NHTSA complaint #11637053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Honda Element at 200,000 miles Sammamish, WA

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Element. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V370000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the recall repair was completed. The contact stated that the vehicle was at the dealer for a week for the recall repair. The contact stated that while the vehicle was still at the dealer, the vehicle was started, and the air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that a diagnostic test was needed to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA complaint #11598053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Honda Element Myrtle Point, OR 1 injured

AIR BAGS

While driving on a rough road the driver's seat airbag deployed injuring my arm (big bruise and tennis-ball size laceration). I plan to take the vehicle into the dealership to find out why this happened.

NHTSA complaint #11569257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Honda Element Sarasota, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

Seems Honda is hiding specific vin needing recal replacement of airbag fue to fact it's deployed. Attempt to cover up recall regarding this specific vin possibly aware that damage is done and if airbag deployed, vin check results "no current recalls" for vehicle. 2003 Honda Element had first recall replacement done. At that time Honda had person come to house to notify. This time, second recall, too late. It deployed and air bag is on recall list. Please provide honest facts. Correct me please if I misunderstood.

NHTSA complaint #11518170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Honda Element Caledonia, MI Crash 1 injured

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.

2008 Honda Element Springville, AL

AIR BAGS

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.

NHTSA complaint #11479122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Honda Element Newark, CA

AIR BAGS

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

NHTSA complaint #11446665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Honda Element at 150,000 miles Santa Cruz, CA

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.

2004 Honda Element York, SC

AIR BAGS

air bag light stays on

NHTSA complaint #11434385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Honda Element Stevens Point, WI

AIR BAGS

Airbag lights keeps turning on and off and has now stayed on permanently. This is a safety issue if airbags fail to deploy.

NHTSA complaint #11427954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Honda Element at 172,000 miles Louisville, KY

AIR BAGS

MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT CONSTANTLY DISPLAY AIRBAG OFF, WHEN IT'S INACCURATE, DASHBOARD LIGHT DOESN'T WORK. THERE'S SOME KIND OF SHORTAGE BECAUSE IT BLINKS, COME ON AND GO OFF AND STAY OFF. IT SHOWS THE SAME INFORMATION, RATHER DRIVING OR STATIONARY. ARE THERE RECALLS ON THIS CAR? IT'S BEEN ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER.

NHTSA complaint #11405632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Honda Element Winston-Salem, NC

AIR BAGS

ODOMETER ROLLED BACK IN RE-SALE; RESULT OF RETURN DUE TO NATURAL DISASTER. (2000MILES)

NHTSA complaint #11390087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Honda Element at 153,600 miles Temecula, CA

AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAG STAYS ON EVEN AFTER A THE LEFT AIR BAG ASSEMBLY REPLACED. THERE IS A LOUD KNOCKING FRONT END WHICH IS WORSE WHEN IT IS GOING ABOUT 15-30 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #11386038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Honda Element at 165,000 miles Menlo Park, CA Crash

AIR BAGS

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 complaint #11377818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Honda Element at 100,000 miles Tallahassee, FL

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS WILL COME ON FOR NO REASON SAYING PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF AND IT IS NOT OFF. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. THIS HAPPENS AT VARIOUS TIMES, CRANKING VEHICLE, DRIVING VEHICLE, THERE IS REALLY NO SPECIFIC SITUATION . IT'S SPORADIC. HEADLIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DIM. SOMETIMES I CAN'T EVEN TELL IF THEY ARE ON. THE CARGO LIGHTS, FRONT MIDDLE AND BACK WORK SOMETIMES AND MOST TIMES THEY DON'T. ALSO BRAKE LIGHTS SEEM TO HAVE A MIND OF THERE OWN AND WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO BUT DEFINITELY NOT WHEN I WANT THEM TO. IN FACT I AM PRETTY SURE THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE SOMEWHERE.

NHTSA complaint #11375667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Honda Element at 187,000 miles Phoenix, AZ

AIR BAGS

WAS DRIVING ON A GRAVEL ROAD AROUND 30 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND NOTICED THAT SOMETHING HIT MY LEFT ARM. I LOOKED TO THE SIDE AND SAW THAT THE SIDE AIRBAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAD DEPLOYED. I DID NOT GET HIT NOR DID I HIT ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #11364819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Honda Element at 110,100 miles Hesperia, CA

AIR BAGS

IN A PARKING LOT MOVING SLOWLY. I WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE CAR. THE AIR BAG ON THE REAR OF THE PASSANGER SEAT DEPLOYED. NOTHING WAS HIT OR WAS I HIT BY ANYTHING. THE SEAT WAS MOVED FORWARD AS FAR AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I HAD SOMETHING IN THE BACK.

NHTSA complaint #11361278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Honda Element Menlo Park, CA

AIR BAGS

2003 HONDA ELEMENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND IGNITION SWITCH SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IMPROPERLY REPAIRED DURING THE RECALL REPAIR PROCESS. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.*JS

NHTSA complaint #11349432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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