2005 Honda Element Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Side/window
  14
• Frontal
  5
• Frontal › Sensor/control module
  4

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

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  611%
• 25k–50k
  713%
• 50k–75k
  815%
• 75k–100k
  815%
• 100k–150k
  1223%
• 150k+
  1223%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Honda Element owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

On 8.31.26, while driving my 2005 Honda Element Mileage: Approximately 125,000), the front passenger-side airbag spontaneously deployed without warning.There was absolutely no vehicle collision, physical impact, pothole, undercarriage strike, or jarring event to trigger a deployment. Approximately 10 hours prior to the spontaneous deployment, the airbag warning light illuminated on the instrument cluster and remained solid, indicating an active system fault. The car then sat parked for about 8 hours, before driving again. The light remained on.The uncommanded deployment filled the cabin with a smell and gases while the vehicle was in motion between towns. A VIN lookup shows no currently outstanding recalls for this vehicle, indicating the failure occurred within a previously remedied issue. Remedied in 2016. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Honda Element. While driving 40 MPH, the glare from the sun impaired the contact's vision. As a result, the contact rear ended the preceding vehicle, which then crashed into a third vehicle. The driver's side air bag failed to deploy, but the passenger side air bag deployed. There were no warning indicators illuminated prior to the collision. The contact sustained minor injuries, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer (miller Honda, 3985 valley pike, winchester, va 22602) was called and the contact left a voice message. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 206,549. The VIN was not available.

I was driving around 12:15 in am, a vehicle from right came out of street and I could not avoid hitting the car. My Honda hit the car, described as a t bone hit. I had no passengers,and was wearing seat belt. My passenger side front air bag activated, my driver side air bag did not activate. My Honda car had severe damage on the left driver side, less on the right side. My head light was gone from the left side and right side was intact. My car was totaled as a loss by insurance company. The sensor located on my driver side did not react to deploy the air bag. The frame bar was bent and damage right next to the sensor. I received neck bruises, swelling and neck pain. My knee was cut and swollen. There are significant breaks in the plastic on both sides of the interior steering column, proving the intense of the force of the hit. The car was towed to an independent repair shop. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Honda Element. While driving 35 MPH, a loud booming noise was heard and the driver's seat air bag deployed without warning or impact. The contact sustained injuries to the left arm and there was a ringing noise in her left ear. Medical attention was not sought. A police report was not filed. The contact stated that the vehicle was driven home. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or local dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The contact called hinshaw's Honda (2605 auburn way n, auburn, wa 98002 [phone]) who advised the contact to take the vehicle to an auto body repair facility. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 126,055.

I rolled my 2005 Honda Element (2x drive) on I-95 at least four times according to fhp. My front airbag did not deploy, although my windshield was crushed in. And my drivers' side airbag deployed only partially (1/4). I was extracted from the vehicle and life-flighted to shand's emergency room in jacksonville, florida. I suffered multiple contusions; internal bleeding and severely fractured sternum. Had my drivers side airbag deployed, I probably would have been spared much of this trauma. I have thoroughly documented with pictures to support my claim, and my insurance adjuster also confirms this. I am awaiting the florida highway patrol's report.

I was the driver of a Honda Element that was rear ended while I was stationary waiting to make a left turn into my driveway. The impact from the other car had broken the drivers seat and repositioned my head just a few inches from the floor and by then the spare tire securing mechanism had broken and the spare tire flew forward hitting me in the head and eventually coming to a rest in the passengers seat. With the back impact from the other car and then the front impact hitting the trees along side of the road did not release the airbags when the other car that hit the Element had its airbags deployed.

On 3/31/09, I rolled my Honda Element four times (according to fhp report) on I-95, to avoid a construction ladder. No other vehicles were involved. Among other injuries, I suffered two full-width rotator cuff tears to my left shoulder. This was a direct result of the drivers side airbag only partially deploying. I have documented with several pictures or the bag still folded inside the seat fabric panel. The passenger side deployed fully, and you can clearly see the difference in deployment size difference of drivers side vs. Passengers side. Honda was notified, and denied any responsibility.

Airbag warning lights will come on for no reason saying passenger airbag is off and it is not off. This happens at least once a week. This happens at various times, cranking vehicle, driving vehicle, there is really no specific situation . It's sporadic. Headlights have always been dim. Sometimes I can't even tell if they are on. The cargo lights, front middle and back work sometimes and most times they don't. Also brake lights seem to have a mind of there own and work when they want to but definitely not when I want them to. In fact I am pretty sure there is an electrical shortage somewhere.

While I was turning into a parking lot I cut the turn too short and went over the curb. The airbag deployed. No damage. I didn't hit anything. Just went over the curb and the airbag deployed. I think this is a defect. This should be a recall item. I don't feel the airbag should deploy just for going over a curb. My arm was injured. Something needs to be done about this. I sent it to the dealer for repair and they said I was in an accident. Of course I knew they wouldn't say it's a common problem that the airbag deploys for no good reason.

Driving down a straight major hi way, moving 60 MPH, driver seat airbag deploys for no reason. Vehicle was not involved in accident, hit anything in road, or have any other vehicles near. Loud bang occurred with airbag hitting left arm. Vehicle went to Honda dealership next day, diagnosed from computer as air bag deployed to unknown reason an replacement of airbag an control panel need replacement at owners expense. Auto insurance will be notified as soon as possible, memorial day weekend closed.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other Element years