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Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2004 Honda ElementRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls and 282 owner complaints for the 2004 Honda Element. Most complaints involve visibility (106) and air bags (74). The EPA rates it 20–21 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
20–21mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
11campaigns
Latest Jun 2019
Owner complaints
282
Top: visibility
Fuel cost / yr
$2,950est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

11 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jun 27, 2019NHTSA 19V501000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jun 27, 2019NHTSA 19V499000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.

Air bagsReported Mar 6, 2019NHTSA 19V182000
See all 11 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

282 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 2004 – Nov 2026
  1. Visibility106
  2. Air bags74
  3. Seats26
  4. Electrical system18
  5. Suspension16
  6. Seat belts15
  7. Structure13
  8. Power train10
  9. Steering6

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

By model year

Complaints for each Element model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2003450
2004282
2005159
2006122
2007112
2008113
200931
201030
201111
Crashes reported
17
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
19
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Visibility

106 reports
“MY HONDA ELEMENT HAS HAD TWO WINDSHIELDS REPLACED AND NOW A CRACK AGAIN AT THE BASE MOVING UP. STRESS CRACKS NOT FOREIGN MATERIAL HITTING THE CAR. I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD A 500 DEDUCTIBLE TO GET ANOTHER WINDSHIELD..... *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 23, 2011VisibilityODI 10392601

Air bags

74 reports13 crashes
“2004 Honda Element in a recent crash (October 26th, 2026) in which the vehicle was a total loss. The passenger side airbags did deploy, however the driver side airbag did not deploy. Recalls had been issued for both airbags and both times it was sent to a dealer for replacement. The vehicle is currently sitting in the yard of Happy Hills Towing near Lexington, North Carolina. As of this moment, the insurance adjuster for Erie Insurance Group has not inspected the vehicle nor contacted me, the driver, about it. My chest did impact the steering wheel, however my injuries were limited to severe bruising and minor rib and sternum injury.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 3, 2026Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11775428

Seats

26 reports3 crashes
“MY 2004 ELEMENT LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY. I HAD IT SERVICED BY A MECHANIC WITH SET BELT REPLACEMENT. DID NOT HELP WITH THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. HAD IT LOOKED AT BY SOMEONE ELSE WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE AIRBAG SENSORS. I REALLY DON"T WANT TO KEEP SPENDING MONEY BUT IT FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THIS ALONG WITH MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT THAT IS ROCKING. DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP WITH ANY TYPE OF FORCE CAUSES THE SEAT TO JUMP FORWARD. EVEN IF I AM SITTING AND IF I MOVE AROUND MY SEAT WILL MOVE. IS THERE ANY TYPE OF PERMANENT FIXES FOR THESE PROBLEMS. OUR DAUGHTER LOVES HER ELEMENT BUT, THESE ARE MAJOR ISSUES FOR OUR FAMILY AS THEY ARE AND CAN HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2017Air bags, Seat belts, SeatsODI 11014231
All 2004 Element problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd · Manual 5-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Element 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202421$2,950423
Element 2WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
192421$2,950423
Element 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
192320$3,100444
Element 4WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182220$3,100444
  • Element 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    20 city · 24 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Element 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    19 city · 24 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Element 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    19 city · 23 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Element 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    18 city · 22 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2004 Honda Element as of Nov 11, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 11, 2026Vehicle 1152
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2004 Element questions

How many recalls does the 2004 Honda Element have?

11 safety recalls as of Nov 11, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2004 Honda Element problems?

Owners filed 282 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are visibility (106), air bags (74), seats (26). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2004 Honda Element get?

The EPA rates the 2004 Honda Element at 20–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 11, 2026