The Lemon IndexHonda Element reliability.
Is it reliable? Not really. 2.1× the average car's complaints.
Avoid · 2003–2008
Engines & versions
What owners say on YouTube: we haven't studied Honda Element videos yet. When that study runs, the most-watched owner reviews and buyer guides for each generation, and what owners praise and complain about, show up here.
Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/honda-element/" title="Honda Element reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="330" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/honda-element/">Lemon Index</a> (Honda Element reliability by year)</p>Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.
Compare the Honda Element.
Opens the compare tool with both cars, every year side by side. Compare with any car →
Quick answers.
Is the Honda Element reliable?
Not really. It draws 2.1× the average car's complaints. Fewest complaints: 2005. Most complaints: 2003, 2004 and 2008.
Is the Honda Element a good car?
Not overall: it draws more complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2003-2008: Lemon Index 212; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: 2005 drew the fewest complaints and 2003 the most.
What are the best Honda Element years to buy?
By owner complaints per car sold: 2005, 2006. 2005 drew the fewest.
What Honda Element years should you stay away from?
The 3 years with the most complaints per car sold: 2003 (avoid, Lemon Index 456), 2004 (avoid, Lemon Index 241), 2008 (worse than average, Lemon Index 147). 100 is the average car; lower is better.
How many recalls does the Honda Element have?
100 safety recalls across the 9 model years we track. Most: 2008 (13), 2003 (12), 2007 (12). Each year's page lists them, and every Honda Element recall is in one list here.
What are the most common Honda Element problems?
Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name visibility, airbags and brakes most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.
Every year in one table
| Year | Index | Compared with average | Complaints | Top complaint | Recalls | Crash test | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 456 | about 5 times the average car's complaints | 254 | visibility (84%) | 12 | — | 20–21 |
| 2004 | 241 | about twice the average car's complaints | 123 | visibility (79%) | 11 | — | 20–21 |
| 2005 | 85 | somewhat fewer complaints than the average car | 33 | airbags (45%) | 10 | — | 20–21 |
| 2006 | 98 | about average | 32 | airbags (47%) | 11 | — | 20–21 |
| 2007 | – | too few complaints to score | 19 | service brakes, hydraulic (42%) | 12 | — | 20–22 |
| 2008 | 147 | about one and a half times the average car's complaints | 39 | service brakes, hydraulic (59%) | 13 | — | 20–22 |
| 2009 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 7 | service brakes, hydraulic (43%) | 9 | — | 20–22 |
| 2010 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 4 | visibility (50%) | 11 | — | 20–22 |
| 2011 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 4 | visibility (50%) | 11 | — | 20–22 |
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. U.S. sales source: goodcarbadcar.net. How it works
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Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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