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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Visibility231
- Air bags55
- Electrical system36
- Structure35
- Latches/locks/linkages28
- Suspension25
- Power train14
- Service brakes, hydraulic9
- Steering7
- Exterior lighting6
- Vehicle speed control6
- Seats6
- Equipment6
- 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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
60
122
73
17
15
10
5
15
10
12
6
19
22
17
4
5
3
1
7
4
8
5
7
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 60 |
| 2004 | 122 |
| 2005 | 73 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2007 | 15 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 1 |
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.
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”
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.”
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”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.