MYRModel Year Report

2004 Honda Element

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2004 Honda Element
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
281
Recalls
11

Campaigns on file for 2004

Investigations
4

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Visibility

38% of complaints

Complaints per year

2003: 423 complaints 2004: 281 complaints 2004 281 2005: 159 complaints 2006: 122 complaints 2007: 112 complaints 2007 2008: 113 complaints 2009: 30 complaints 2009 2010: 30 complaints 2011: 11 complaints 2011
2003: 423 complaints 2003 2004: 281 complaints 2004 281 2005: 159 complaints 2005 2006: 122 complaints 2006 2007: 112 complaints 2007 2008: 113 complaints 2008 2009: 30 complaints 2009 2010: 30 complaints 2010 2011: 11 complaints 2011
2003: 423 complaints 2003 2004: 281 complaints 2004 281 2005: 159 complaints 2005 2006: 122 complaints 2006 2007: 112 complaints 2007 2008: 113 complaints 2008 2009: 30 complaints 2009 2010: 30 complaints 2010 2011: 11 complaints 2011

2004: 281 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
2003423
2004281
2005159
2006122
2007112
2008113
200930
201030
201111

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Visibility

38% · 106 reports

Most commonly citing windshield and power window devices and controls.

Air bags

26% · 73 reports

Most commonly citing side/window and frontal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Car was parked in a pullout on the side of a highway. Slamming rear driver's side door caused driver's seat airbag deployment. No collision occurred.

NHTSA ODI report, 2020-01-26

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Honda Element. While attempting to operate the vehicle, the driver's foot slipped off the brake pedal and depressed the accelerator pedal.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-03-02

"Takata recall " I was in a wreck hit a car from behind and airbag did not deploy but was also sent a letter in the mail stating that the air bag was recalled due to shards of metal coming out when the air bag does deploy ....

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-12-01

Seats

9% · 26 reports
CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Honda Element. The contact stated that the driver was in a head on collision and driver's seat moved forward and the seat belt failed to restrain the driver.

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-05-13

Also filed under Seat belts

Electrical system

6% · 18 reports

Most commonly citing horn and wiring.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

While driving to work, vehicle caught on fire .

NHTSA ODI report, 2004-07-14

Suspension

6% · 16 reports

Most commonly citing rear and front.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Drivers side rear control arm mount is almost none distant from rust. The subframe is almost gone and there is tons of rust on the drivers side frame as well. I have seen this with a lot of people laments.

NHTSA ODI report, 2024-01-28

Safety timeline

11 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    2004Complaint volume 281 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. I
    2009-01-05Engineering analysisClosed 2010-10-14 Ignition Shift Interlock
  3. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2010-10-07Electrical system10V364000 Honda is recalling certain model year 2003 Honda accord, civic two and four door, and model year 2003-2004 Honda Element vehicles. The interlock lever of the ignition switch may unexpectedly…

    Remedy: Dealers will remove the original interlock pin and lever within the ignition switch, and replace them with new, designed components. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  7. R
    2014-09-12Air bags14V353000 American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2015-01-26Air bags14V700000 American Honda Motor Co.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  10. R
    2015-07-01Air bags15V320000 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...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2016-06-29Air bags16V344000 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,...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2018-06-22Air bags18V268000 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...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2019-04-10Air bags19V182000 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...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. R
    2019-08-12Air bags19V499000 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,...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  15. R
    2019-08-12Air bags19V501000 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,...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  16. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Buy-smart checklist

2004 Honda Element — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Visibility: 106 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 73 reports on file for this year.
  • Seats: 26 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 10V364000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 14V353000 · Air bags
  • Recall 14V700000 · Air bags
  • Recall 15V320000 · Air bags
  • Recall 16V344000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V268000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V182000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V499000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V501000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years2 years

Worst years2 years

FAQ

Is the 2004 Honda Element reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2004 Honda Element is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Honda Element?
The most-reported component is visibility, accounting for 38% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2004 Honda Element have?
11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.