Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Honda Element owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2007 Honda Element. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V436000 (Electrical System, Trailer Hitches) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The contact was advised by the local dealer that the vehicle was not eligible for recall repairs due to the title being salvaged and that the part was not an attachment for the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the issues.
Speedometer needle has dropped over the last 2 weeks . No longer can tell how fast I am going. 2007 Element 4wd ' from VIN 5j6yh2...7l000033 thru 5j6yh2...7l014108 sample letter: December 2007 product update: instrument panel gauge needles read inaccurately or fall off dear Element owner: this letter is to notify you of a potential problem with your vehicle and what you should do to resolve it. What is the problem? The needles in the instrument panel gauges May read inaccurately of fall off. The gauges that can be affected include the speedometer, the tachometer, the fuel, and the coolant temperature. What should you do? Contact any authorized Honda dealer for an appointment to have your vehicle updated. The dealer will replace the instrument panel, transferring the odometer and maintenance minder data from the original instrument panel to the new one. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Honda Element. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the passenger side air bag warning indicator intermittently illuminated. The failure recurred on several occasions. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V320000 (air bags) and 12V436000 (electrical system, trailer hitches); however, the part needed to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Tachometer and speedometer needles randomly fell off. I was just driving down the road, and the tachometer needle fell off, and about a week later, the speedometer needle did the same. I took off the bezel and it seems that the plastic shaft that holds the needle in place was cracked in several places, that negatively affected its ability to hold on to the metal shaft in the cluster. This is nothing that was done to the car, this is a manufacturer's defect. This should be covered under recall, since I can't drive the car and know exactly how fast I'm going.
I was driving down a gravel road and the gauge needles on both the speedometer and tachometer fell off. We were using the vehicle in accordance with how it was designed to be used. We were forced to finish our trip without knowing our speed or rpms (a major safety hazard). The Honda dealer says the entire instrument cluster must be replaced in order for the gauges to display accurate information again. This is obviously a major design flaw by Honda which has serious safety concerns.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Honda Element. While operating the vehicle, the RPM and speedometer needles would not operate. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 85,000.
We purchased our Element in 2011. In 09/13, while driving this vehicle, we hit a slight bump in the road and all of the gauges popped off of the instrument cluster. We took the vehicle into the local Honda dealer who gave us a bid of $1,000.00 to replace the instrument cluster. We choose instead to repair the cluster. Since the repair, none of the gauges on the instrument cluster have read appropriately. At that time, no mention was made that this was an issue with this particular vehicle and year. Approx. One year later in 11/14, the gauges on the instrument cluster again popped off while pulling into a parking lot. My husband did some research and we learned that in 2008, Honda did a safety recall regarding the 2007 Element and the instrument cluster. Apparently, Honda is was very much aware that this was an issue and that there were problems with the design. …
Took vehicle into Honda service dept. As needles had fallen off of tachometer and heat indicator and speedometer was not reading correctly. Service tech took car for drive to test brakes for a recall issue and hit the dashboard when told of needle issue. Rest of needles fell off so now I have no idea of speed or gas and the lights shine directly in drivers face when driving at night which makes it very difficult to see. Honda says there was an update (which has expired) and it will cost me $1,000. To fix the gauge issue. I find it hard to believe that this is not a safety recall and merely an 'update'! This issue needs to be addressed by Honda as this is not a maintenance issue but a manufacturing defect. Checking online has revealed this is a common occurrence for this particular model.
2007 Honda Element. Consumer states several problems with vehicle to include transmission failure the consumer stated the transmission first failed at 15,000. The defect the dealer apparently repaired between March 22-26 and April 2008 has returned. Recently, the vehicle started to shudder once more under light acceleration between 30-35 MPH. The consumer also stated there was a persistent clicking sound coming from the front passenger seat. In addition, a malfunctioning radio console was replaced. The problem returned with the front passenger seat. The SRS light illuminated on an intermittent basis and when it did illuminate, it stayed on for extended periods of time.
All needles on the dash fell off, except the fuel indicator (for now). Driving car without knowing my speed, engine temp, or RPM, let alone there are bright lights shining in my eyes driving at night inhibiting my vision. I am just finding out Honda was fixing this issue for free, as they should, but stopped as of decemeber 2010. Now I am responsible to replace this known defect, and can be charged around $900from what I've been reading. Is this even legal????? How can Honda have a known defect, a safety issue at that, and not be required to fix their problem?? If there is a lawsuit I would like to be included, or need to know how to make them pay for this replacement.
Related recalls
Electrical system › Wiring
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 lights was inadvertently switched with the stop lamp wire.
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.
Electrical complaints in other Element years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2007 Honda Element?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the electrical system of the 2007 Honda Element, 20% of the model year's 112 complaints. The component named most often is instrument cluster/panel (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Honda Element electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 12V-436 (wiring, Sep 5, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2007 Honda Element electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 97,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.