MYRModel Year Report

2006 Honda Element

● Typical for this model
2006 Honda Element
RENDERED 2026-08-02T10:04:46.086Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% 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 PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Honda Element Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2006 highlighted. 2003: 423 complaints 2003 2004: 281 complaints 2005: 157 complaints 2005 2006: 121 complaints 2006 2007: 112 complaints 2007 2008: 110 complaints 2009: 29 complaints 2009 2010: 30 complaints 2011: 11 complaints 2011
2006: 121 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
2003423
2004281
2005157
2006121
2007112
2008110
200929
201030
201111

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

AIR BAGS 32%

32% of complaints: air bags — 39 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Vehicle (2-owner, all svc records), involved in a head-on collision, with approximately 75% of impact/damage to the Driver’s front (see photos). The passenger front (25% of impact) airbag deployed, the DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG did NOT deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 20260201

DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WENT OFF, WHICH WE HAD FIXED ON A RECALL NOTICE YEARS BEFORE. HOWEVER THE DRIVER AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180714

TAKATA RECALL ----FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT COME OUT AFTER FRONT SIDE COLLISION. AUTO WAS TOTALED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20171103

AIR BAGS 9%

9% of complaints: air bags — 11 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

JULY 28TH 2006 @ ABOUT 3 PM. I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY @ NORMAL RATE OF SPEED (65 OR SO MPH) WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I WAS DRIVING IN THE SECOND FROM THE FAST LANE. IT WAS A NORMAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DAY, SUNNY, CLEAR AND HOT.

NHTSA ODI report, 20060801

SUSPENSION 8%

8% of complaints: suspension — 10 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
SEATS 7%

7% of complaints: seats — 9 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
STRUCTURE 7%

7% of complaints: structure — 8 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH VEHICLE IN FRONT SUDDENLY STOPPED I REAR ENDED VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO FRONT BUMPER, HOOD AND DRIVER SIDE PANEL, THERE WAS NO INJURIES THANK GOD DRIVER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALSO PASSENGER ON REAR SIDE SEAT...

NHTSA ODI report, 20130916

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 20060802 — equipment

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES, THE OWNER'S MANUALS CONTAIN INCORRECT CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S (NHTSA) VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE.

Remedy: HONDA WILL SEND A POSTCARD TO DEALERS AND OWNERS WITH THE CORRECT NHTSA VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE INFORMATION AND WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO INSERT THE CARD INTO THE "REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS" SECTION OF THE O

Campaign 06V270000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20110827 — power train

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

Remedy: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 27, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AUTOMOBILE CU

Campaign 11V395000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20140611 — PE (closed 20150302)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

I 20150224 — EA (open)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R 20150701 — air bags

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.

Campaign 15V320000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160629 — air bags

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.

Campaign 16V344000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20170227 — air bags

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...

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KD9 and KE0.

Campaign 17V029000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20180622 — air bags

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.

Campaign 18V268000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190410 — air bags

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.

Campaign 19V182000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190812 — air bags

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.

Campaign 19V499000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190812 — air bags

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.

Campaign 19V501000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20210917 — EA (open)

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2006 Honda Element — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (39 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (11 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for suspension issues (10 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 06V270000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 11V395000 (power train) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V320000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V344000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 17V029000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 18V268000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19V182000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19V499000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19V501000 (air bags) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2010 ● 2008 ● 2007

WORST YEARS

■ 2003 ■ 2004 ◆ 2005

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2006 Honda Element reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2006 Honda Element is rated "typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Honda Element?

The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 32% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2006 Honda Element have?

11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.