Model year
2008 Honda Element
NHTSA lists 12 recalls and 113 complaints for the 2008 Honda Element (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). The components listed on the most complaints are AIR BAGS (24), SUSPENSION (24), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC (22). NHTSA lists 4 investigations, including 2 investigations with no close date in the file. NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 20–22 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $3,050–$3,350, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2003 423 complaints
- 2004 281 complaints
- 2005 159 complaints
- 2006 122 complaints
- 2007 112 complaints
- 2008 113 complaints
- 2009 31 complaints
- 2010 30 complaints
- 2011 11 complaints
Recalls
19V501000 · Jun 27, 2019
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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…
19V499000 · Jun 27, 2019
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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…
19V182000 · Mar 6, 2019
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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,…
18V268000 · Apr 26, 2018
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The…
17V029000 · Jan 10, 2017
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2011 Honda Element vehicles, 2005-2012 Acura RL vehicles, 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2005-2008 Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold,…
16V344000 · May 23, 2016
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been…
15V320000 · May 28, 2015
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura…
12V436000 · Sep 5, 2012
TRAILER HITCHES; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Honda is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2011 Element passenger vehicles equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness. The wire that supplies power to the trailer turn signal lights was inadvertently switched with the stop lamp wire. As a result the turn…
11V395000 · Aug 4, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 ACCORD, 2007-2010 CR-V, AND 2005-2008 ELEMENT PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1, 2004, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 3, 2010. THE OUTER RACE OF THE SECONDARY SHAFT BEARING MAY BE BROKEN DURING CERTAIN DRIVING STYLES. A BROKEN OUTER RACE…
10V271000 · Jun 15, 2010
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
ALL IN ONE MOBILITY IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2008 CONVERSION VANS EQUIPPED WITH VMI/RICON 6-WAY POWER SEAT BASES. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A DEFECTIVE WELD AT THE JOINT BETWEEN THE PIVOTING PLATE AND THE PIVOTING PLATE PIN.
2 more recalls are in the NHTSA file for this name and are not listed here. Campaign numbers above link to NHTSA.
Complaints
113 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 5, fire flag on 0, injury field 2, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Investigations
| Action | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| EA09014 | Air in brake system · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | Oct 19, 2009 | May 11, 2010 |
| PE14016 | Air Bag Inflator Rupture · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; AIR BAGS | Jun 11, 2014 | Mar 2, 2015 |
| EA15001 | Air Bag Inflator Rupture · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; AIR BAGS | Feb 24, 2015 | No close date in the file |
| EA21002 | Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | Sep 17, 2021 | No close date in the file |
Safety ratings
NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Element 2WD · 2.4L · Automatic 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 | 25 | 22 | — | — | $3,050 |
| Element 2WD · 2.4L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 18 | 23 | 20 | — | — | $3,350 |
| Element 4WD · 2.4L · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 | 24 | 21 | — | — | $3,200 |
| Element 4WD · 2.4L · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 18 | 23 | 20 | — | — | $3,350 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2008 Honda Element at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.