MYRModel Year Report

2008 Honda Element

● Typical for this model
2008 Honda Element
RENDERED 2026-11-01T12:43:23.989Z

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
113
Recalls
13

Campaigns on file for 2008

Investigations
4

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Service brakes

30% of complaints

Complaints per year

2003: 424 complaints 2003 2004: 281 complaints 2005: 159 complaints 2005 2006: 122 complaints 2007: 112 complaints 2008: 113 complaints 2008 113 2009: 31 complaints 2010: 30 complaints 2011: 11 complaints 2011
2003: 424 complaints 2003 2004: 281 complaints 2004 2005: 159 complaints 2005 2006: 122 complaints 2006 2007: 112 complaints 2007 2008: 113 complaints 2008 113 2009: 31 complaints 2009 2010: 30 complaints 2010 2011: 11 complaints 2011
2003: 424 complaints 2003 2004: 281 complaints 2004 2005: 159 complaints 2005 2006: 122 complaints 2006 2007: 112 complaints 2007 2008: 113 complaints 2008 113 2009: 31 complaints 2009 2010: 30 complaints 2010 2011: 11 complaints 2011

2008: 113 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
2003424
2004281
2005159
2006122
2007112
2008113
200931
201030
201111

Known problem areas

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

Service brakes

30% · 34 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY

Suspension

21% · 24 reports
Show complaint excerpts

The front bushing bracket on the left (driver's side) rear trailing arm may have an improper weld and could separate from the arm. I am noticing some rust in this area.

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-09-29

My Honda Element unibody has rusted out resulting in the real axle trailing arm separating from the vehicle. This happened while my daughter was driving - luckily she was not injured. This is a known issue at Honda.

NHTSA ODI report, 2023-10-16

Also filed under Structure and wheels

Recall never done on recall no 08V349000

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-04-10

Air bags

21% · 24 reports
CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Honda Element. While driving 15 MPH and making a left turn, the contact was struck head on by another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-11-13

We were driving on a bumpy road and our driver side curtain airbag deployed and cracked the windshield

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-09-16

Structure

12% · 14 reports

Most commonly citing body and frame and members.

Electrical system

5% · 6 reports

Most commonly citing ignition.

Show complaint excerpts

I replaced the tires on my new 2008 Honda Element on 10/21/2007 at 869 miles since the tires that the came with the vehicle had poor traction in rain. A month later, the TPMS light came on and I took it to the dealer on 11/26/2007 at 1056 miles.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-11-20

Also filed under Tires

Safety timeline

13 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first

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

  1. R
    2008-07-25Suspension08V349000 Honda is recalling 241 my 2008 Element vehicles. The front bushing bracket of the left trailing arm of the rear suspension may have been improperly welded and could separate from the trailing arm.

    Remedy: Owners will be contacted by phone and advised to stop driving their vehicles until they have taken their vehicle to a dealer for inspection. Dealers will inspect the left rear trailing arm and, if…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. I
    2009-10-19Engineering analysisClosed 2010-05-11 Air in brake system
  3. R
    2010-05-03Service brakes, air10V098000 Honda has notified NHTSA of a defect in certain model year 2007 and 2008 Odyssey and Element passenger vehicles manufactured between July 28, 2006 and August 21, 2008. Air can enter the vsa modular…

    Remedy: Honda will notify owner and Honda dealers will repair the vsa modulator by removing any existing air in the brake system then apply sealant and caps to prevent air from entering the brake system…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2010-06-22Equipment adaptive/mobility10V271000 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…

    Remedy: All in one mobility will notify owners and the vehicles will be repaired free of charge. The safety recall began on June 22, 2010. Owners may contact all in one mobility at 1-503-255-5005.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2011-08-27Power train11V395000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2012-09-20Electrical system, trailer hitches12V436000 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…

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on September 20, 2012. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  8. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  9. 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 →

  10. 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 →

  11. R
    2017-02-27Air bags17V029000 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.

    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. R
    2019-12-09Vehicle speed control19E068000 Dorman Products, Inc.

    Remedy: Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, using option 5.

    Check if this car was fixed →

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

Buy-smart checklist

2008 Honda Element — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Service brakes: 34 reports on file for this year.
  • Suspension: 24 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 24 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 08V349000 · Suspension
  • Recall 10V098000 · Service brakes, air
  • Recall 10V271000 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
  • Recall 11V395000 · Power train
  • Recall 12V436000 · Electrical system, trailer hitches
  • Recall 15V320000 · Air bags
  • Recall 16V344000 · Air bags
  • Recall 17V029000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V268000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V182000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V499000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V501000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19E068000 · Vehicle speed control
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years2 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2008 Honda Element reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2008 Honda Element is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Honda Element?
The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 30% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2008 Honda Element have?
13 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.