2004 Honda Element Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Side/window
  8
• Frontal
  5
• Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
  1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  00%
• 25k–50k
  24%
• 50k–75k
  817%
• 75k–100k
  715%
• 100k–150k
  1941%
• 150k+
  1022%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Honda Element owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2004 Honda Element. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to repair under the Takata recall. Several few months after the air bag repair, the driver's side curtain air bag deployed without incident and without warning while driving at 65 MPH. The contact pulled off the highway and found no visible damage or reason for the deployment. The contact had taken the vehicle back to the dealer on two separate occasions for an inspection; however, the contact was never given a cause for the failure. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who refused to service the vehicle since the cause of the deployment had not been determined. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

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. As a result, the contact crashed into the front passenger side of another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The driver suffered headaches, but did not require medical attention. The vehicle was totaled and towed to the nearest independent auto yard. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Honda Element. While driving at approximately 50 MPH, the air bags deployed independently without warning causing the contact to loose control of the vehicle and it rolled over. The contact sustained an unknown injury that required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed and was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. One year later, the contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V700000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 145,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Honda Element. The contact stated that the driver crashed into a parked vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and later towed to an independent mechanic for body repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

"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 ....

I drive a 2004 Honda Element and on Friday 2/3/23 I was in a car accident where I t-boned a car going 25 mph and my airbags did NOT deploy.

With reference to recall 14v-700, the following was sent to Honda in May. They did call a month later stating that the parts would be in soon and that Honda of bowie would contact me for the repair. Nothing has happened since, it has been seven months since the recall. 3 May 2015 [redacted] American Honda moror company. Inc. Honda automobile customer service 1919 torrance blvd torrance, ca 90501 [phone] (f) reference: NHTSA recall 14v-700 dear sir/madam: in January of this year I received the aforementioned recall notice. As a result, I called Honda of bowie, md asking if they could accomplish the repair and asked if they had the required parts in stock. They replied affirmative, so an appointment with the service center was scheduled for 6 February. My 2004 Element was delivered to the service center for the air bag (driver and passenger) replacement. …

I am complaining because of the time I have been waiting for the recall replacement of the airbag for the passenger. I first called my dealer, space coast Honda, on February 11, 2015. I have called them after 30 days and after 60 days. Then after 60 days I get the second recall letter for the driver airbag. I understand this is a huge recall, but Honda knew about this long before we customers were notified and we should not be warned not to drive the car because it could kill us, when they are doing nothing about it....at least in my case. I am wondering if my dealer is playing favorites. We do not go for regular service, oil changes, etc. After all it is a 2004 car and a walmart oil change is good enough. The car has 100,000 miles on it and we are planning to keep it. My husband is 80 years old and cannot get in the back seat easily (which is what Honda recommends). …

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Honda Element. While driving at an unknown speed, another vehicle crashed into the front driver side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained whiplash, cervical strain, neck pains, x-rays, and further medical treatment. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken by the insurance company for body repairs and the air bag failure was not diagnosed. The dealer had not diagnosed the vehicle. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V700000 (air bags) and 14V351000 (air bags). The contact received the notification on April 15, 2015, but was unable to schedule the recall repairs within a reasonable timeframe because the parts were not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was unavailable.

Passenger side airbag deployed while I was driving. I was driving about 55-60 on a paved highway. The estimate for repairs is over 3000. Honda took all the info and was supposedly going to get back to me. Many unreturned phone calls later, I have nothing to show for this except a recall notice covering other airbags. Of course at this point, none of my airbags are functioning; thus there is no point in complying with the recall notice. The date below is approximate. The Honda dealer looked at the problem and gave me an estimate on 5-31-16. The mileage on the next page is also approximate. My contact # at Honda is [phone]. Rio graciously gave me his direct line, then did not return any calls.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other Element years