Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Honda Element problems

Owners filed 450 complaints about the 2003 Honda Element with NHTSA between Jul 2002 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is visibility (231).

Complaints
450
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
33
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
31
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Visibility231
  2. Air bags55
  3. Electrical system36
  4. Structure35
  5. Latches/locks/linkages28
  6. Suspension25
  7. Power train14
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic9
  9. Steering7
  10. Exterior lighting6
  11. Vehicle speed control6
  12. Seats6
  13. Equipment6
  14. Engine5

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20022
200360
2004122
200573
200617
200715
200810
20095
201015
201110
201212
20136
201419
201522
201617
20174
20185
20193
20201
20217
20224
20238
20245
20257
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Visibility

231 reports3 crashes1 fire
“WINDSHIELD LEAKED WATER, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX. WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND WAS CITED BY POLICE OFFICER FOR NOT FIXING, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX. UPON REPLACEMENT THE REPAIR GUYS JUST LAUGHED AND SAID THAT THAT GLASS WAS SEATED IMPROPERLY AND ASKED WHO HAD REPLACED IT. I RESPONDED THAT IT WAS THE ORIGINAL, THEY TOLD ME NOT TO BUY ANY MORE HONDAS. KEY WOULD NO LONGER WORK IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. REPLACED SOMETHING AT DEALERSHIP FOR $800 AS WELL AS THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AS IT STOPPED MOVING DUE TO THE MOTOR DYING AT AROUND 60,000 MILES. NOW THE KEYS DON'T WORK IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE NOR DOES THE WINDOW. IN ANOTHER INCIDENT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AFTER FULLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 5-10 MPH AND DRIFTING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING MODERATE DAMAGE. HONDA HAS NOT RESPONDED TO ANY INQUIRES MADE BY CONSUMER. NOR HAS DEALERSHIP. I STILL OWE 10,000 DOLLARS ON THIS CAR, HAVE SPENT OVER 3000 IN REPAIRS AND AT THIS POINT WANT TO DRIVE IT INTO A TREE AT A HIGH SPEED. *KB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 2, 2012Service brakes, hydraulic, Visibility, StructureCrash reportedODI 10446217

Air bags

55 reports13 crashes2 fires9 related recalls
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 1, 2024Air bagsODI 11598053

Electrical system

36 reports3 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“I was driving and my odometer light and dash lights went dim on me. I changed the bulbs it didn't make a difference. I had to replace the instrument cluster. Other complaint is drivers seat keeps loosening from the floor”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2025Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11674334

Structure

35 reports5 crashes
“Component/System: Unibody frame rails and structural rocker panels have suffered severe internal interlamellar delamination, heavy corrosion, and complete metal-through structural failure. The vehicle and components are available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: Severe rust-through compromises the unibody structural integrity, creating a critical risk of frame collapse, compromised crash energy management, and loss of vehicle control during normal driving or an accident, endangering occupants and others on the road. Confirmation: Structural corrosion and metal failure have been confirmed through direct physical inspection of the undercarriage. Previous Inspections: None by manufacturer, police, or insurance. Symptoms/Warnings: No dashboard warning lamps. Physical symptoms included surface blistering, flaking, and subsequent structural metal tearing as internal rust expanded over time.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2026StructureODI 11774194

Latches/locks/linkages

28 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY REMOTE UNLOCK FEATURE. IN ADDITION, THE KEY WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR EVEN WHEN IT WAS MANUALLY INSERTED. IN ORDER TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR, THE PASSENGER DOOR HAD TO BE UNLOCKED TO GET TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE RESULTS WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 13, 2016Structure, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10873878

Suspension

25 reports3 crashes
“The trailing arm connection that connects to the subframe has completely rusted make the car unsafe to drive. Parts will break and driver will lose control of the car. These same parts were recalled in Canada many years ago.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 5, 2025Suspension, Structure, Unknown or otherODI 11691501
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.