49 of the
1,533 complaints filed about the Honda Element
are about the transmission —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2003.
49
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
8
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
The check engine light indicated a "gas cap" code, and the "side airbag off" light was illuminated. Upon diagnosis, the technician identified significant rust and cracked transmission components, resulting in fluid leakage. The service department assessed the vehicle as unsafe for operation, waived the diagnostic fees, and replenished the transmission fluid to prevent the risk of being stranded due to a lack of fluid on the return trip. Honda Service Department took the attached photos and documented the vehicle's safety violations.
NHTSA complaint #11632315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We have had to repair the front suspension parts the entire front suspension and steering component on our 2010 honda element ex and from the very first time we drove it. It never drove right. It would jerk you out of a curve we took it back to the dealer twice and they kept telling us it was because we were not used to driver assist system. Well since then 5 times we have had the front end steering and suspension replaced thousands of dollars! Why has there not been a recall? and from friends responses it's not just the Element, it's Honda Civic and Honda Accord also, the parts are made too short. Honda even has a extension kit but you can't buy it! Why has there been NO recall?
NHTSA complaint #11625327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The rest frame has rusted from the inside out, frame actually broke when going in for repairs. Was raised on lift for basic brake repair and the frame separated on the rear driver side. Same exact issue that was recalled in crvs of same year.
NHTSA complaint #11608187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
i have had real trouble recently getting my key out of the ignition switch - one time it took me 10 minutes, even tho i had the wheels totally straight & i kept turning engine off & back on many times. (this has happened many times over the past half year or so & occasionally before that) this is already a recall for vehicles of my year or element, but for some reason mine wasn't included & it definitely should have been! nhtsa campaign id: 10v361000
NHTSA complaint #11527146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Element. The contact stated that after parking and turning off the vehicle, the vehicle would roll forward or backward. The contact stated that he restarted the vehicle and shifted into park(P), and the vehicle responded as needed. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving and unintendedly striking the gear shifter, the vehicle shifted out of gear. The contact stated that he would manually shift back into the intended gear. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the ignition switch had failed to turn and was repaired by a locksmith; however, the failure recurred. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired free of charge because it was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V364000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that the vehicle was undrivable. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000. The VIN was unavailable.
NHTSA complaint #11520563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Element. The contact stated that after the vehicle was shifted into park(P), the vehicle would roll forward or roll backward. Additionally, the key would remain stuck in the ignition, causing the contact to have to maneuver the key to release the key from the ignition switch. The failure occurred intermittently; however, the key was still stuck in the ignition. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who confirmed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 167,000.
NHTSA complaint #11492053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Element. The contact stated that while his vehicle was parked in a parking lot, the vehicle independently drifted backwards without warning. Due to the failure, the vehicle collided with another vehicle which resulted in the injury of the occupant inside the other vehicle. The other occupant claimed to have sought medical treatment for his injuries(injuries unknown). There was rear bumper damage to the other vehicle as a result of the failure. A police report was filed and neither vehicle was towed from the scene. The dealer was notified of the failure and stated that they were unaware of such a failure occurring with this model vehicle. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure had yet to reoccur and the vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 208,000.
NHTSA complaint #11419306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION AND THERE WAS NO ONE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #11385189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. UPON PLACING THE GEAR SELECTOR IN PARK AND BRIEFLY EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED FROM PARK AND ROLLED INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS ALMOST RUN OVER. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS SHAKEN BY THE EXPERIENCE AND RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD ESCALATE THE MATTER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,425.
NHTSA complaint #11162045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION: #1- DIFFICULTY ENGAGING SHIFTER INTO ANY GEAR (NOT IN MOTION). #2- SHIFTER/TRANSMISSION POP OUT OF GEAR TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING (CITY AND HIGHWAY). #3- DIFFICULTY UP AND DOWN SHIFTING SMOOTHLY. THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT MANUAL SHIFTER ISSUES WITH HONDA ELEMENT. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES LACK OF MOTION OF THE CAR AND TEMPORARY DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #11128530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR, THERE IS A GEAR SLIPPAGE ACTION AND SOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION. APPARENTLY, THIS FAILURE IS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 11V395000 / HONDA'S RECALL CAMPAIGN # R89. I HAD THIS RECALL PERFORMED LAST FRIDAY BY AN AUTHORIZED HONDA DEALER. BEFORE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND WHILE SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR. AFTER THE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED, THE KNOCKING SOUND DISAPPEARED, BUT THE TRANSMISSION STILL SLIPS BETWEEN 1ST SHIFT TO 2ND SHIFT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION MENTIONED IN THIS RECALL. I EXPECT HONDA TAKE IN CONSIDERATION MY VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLAINT AND HAVE A POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM HONDA. NOTE: I HAD NOT RECEIVED BEFORE, A RECALL CAMPAIGN ABOUT THIS FROM HONDA.
NHTSA complaint #11099863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SOMETIMES THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLAMS HARD WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR INTO SECOND GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE. ALSO WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED AND PLACED IN GEAR IT WILL TAKE OFF AND GO 20MPH WITH OUT DEPRESSING EXCELERATOR. WHEN ENGINE RUNS ABOUT 10 MINUTES IT WILL OPERATE AS IT SHOULD . THIS VEHICLE HAD A TRANSMISSION RECALL EARILER AND WONDER IF THE PROBLEMS WERE TRULY RESOLVED OR NOT EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED.
NHTSA complaint #11083656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL : AIRBAG RECALL SLIP, NO PARTS AVAILABLE, STEERING SEEMS TO HAVE ISSUES ON DRIVERS FRONT,WHILE IN MOTION, TRANSMISSION WHINES, WHILE BACKING AND DRIVING ANY ROAD STYLE, REMOTE KEY LOCK ISSUES, STATIONARY
NHTSA complaint #10889300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND CHANGING GEARS, THE CLUTCH DISENGAGED. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,000.
NHTSA complaint #10862831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIM SHAFT BEARING BROKEN - REPLACED BY TWO DIFFERENT DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AT 20K MILES IN JUNE 2014 AND ALSO AT 30K MILES IN DEC 2015 WITH ORDINARY SUBURBAN DRIVING
NHTSA complaint #10809744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR WILL STALL WHEN IN MOTION AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A TURN. THE CAR WILL STALL AT A STOP SIGN , THE CAR WILL STALL AND BRAKE, FUEL AND BRAKE LIGHTS WIL COME ON BUT BATTERY IS FINE AND LIGHTS STAY ON. THIS IS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM HONDA WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE 2005 STALLING AUTO TRANSIMISSION THEY HAVE REPLACED THE AIC , THE THROTTLE , THE CRUISE CONTROL , O2 SENSOR. THE PROBLEM IS GOING OVER A YEAR SINCE 2014 NOW WORSE.
NHTSA complaint #10795293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, IT INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO LOCK THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. UPDATED 7/14/15
NHTSA complaint #10715983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HEAVY SNOW CONDITIONS (CT FEB. 6, 2015) CAR TRANSMISSION LIGHT APPEARED, PULLED OVER, READ MANUAL WHICH INSTRUCTED DRIVER TO PROCEED MODERATELY, WITHOUT RAPID ACCELERATION, TO EITHER A SERVICE GARAGE OR SAFE PLACE. DROVE HOME (4.5 MILES) BUT DRIVE IS STEEP. SOME WHEEL SLIPPAGE THEN CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. TOWED FEBRUARY 6 TO CHAMPAGNE MOTORS OF MANSFIELD, CT. RESEARCHED PROBLEM ON LINE AND DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR TCM THAT WAS NOT PERFORMED ON CAR. CHAMPAGNE COULD NOT DO REPAIRS AND CAR ENDED UP AT HONDA OF MANCHESTER,CT. AFTER 4 WEEKS CALLED HONDA TO MENTION THE RECALL (NHTSA # 11V-395) AND SERVICE CLERK SAID THEIR REPAIRS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM UNLESS I WAS SHIFTING FROM D-N-R TO ROCK THE CAR IN SNOW. I SAID I WAS IN DRIVE UP A HILL, SLIPPED, SHIFTED TO N THEN R TO BACK UP, THEN D, AND IT FAILED. DEALER NEVER CHECKED FOR OPEN RECALLS WHEN CAR (BOUGHT USED) WAS PURCHASED. NOT SURE IF THEY ARE REQUIRED TO BY LAW.
NHTSA complaint #10692998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.