Most common 2008 Honda Element problems
Share of the 113 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Honda Element complaints by model year
Best Element years: 2011, 2009, 2010. Years to avoid: 2003, 2004. Compare all years →
2008 Honda Element recalls (12)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011…
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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 2012 Ridgeline vehicles.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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 Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California,…
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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, or that have ever been registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia,…
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.
Show 6 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles.
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.
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.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
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 secondary shaft bearing May be broken during certain driving styles.
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.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
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 the pivoting plate and the pivoting plate pin.
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.
Service brakes, air
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 pump during an initial self-check process that occurs shortly after each time the engine is started.
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 free of charge.
Suspension › Rear
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 2008 Honda Element:
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Air in brake system
By letter dated March 15, 2010, American Honda Motor Corp. (HMC) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA Recall No. 10V-098) to address a defect in approximately 412,000 model year (MY) 2007 and 2008 Honda Odyssey and Element vehicles equipped with an ABS/VSA/TCS modulator.
What 2008 Honda Element owners say
Brakes all 34 →
Tl contact owns a 2008 Honda Element. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the contact tried to stop abruptly to avoid hitting a vehicle in front of him; however, he crashed into the rear of the other vehicle when the brakes did not engage. The contact drove the vehicle from the scene. The body damage was repaired by an authorized dealer. On another occasion, while driving approximately 20-25 MPH, the failure recurred and when the brakes were applied they failed to engage and the contact crashed into the rear of a vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the damaged body was repaired. The contact stated that he had previously received a recall notice for recall 10V098000 (service brakes, air). Police reports were filed for each crash that occurred. The contact did not report any injuries. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000. The current mileage was approximately 48,000.
My cars brake pedal had been soft for some time. Yet no problem with the brakes or with the vsa. I started my car on Saturday morning (6/13/2015) and the vsa, ABS and triangle exclamation light came on and would not go out. The vehicle was checked on the 30th of April 2010 and no change was made to the vsa since no problem was reported. I am disabled and do not use the vehicle that often. It is well maintained and in excellent running order. I took the car to my regular mechanic and he tested the car quickly and told me to take to the dealer for recall repair. It is doing exactly what service bulletin 10-017 was reporting. I called Honda of America on the 17th of June 2015 to speak with them and they told me to take it to the dealer. I have a case number from them... .updated 07/22/15
Suspension all 24 →
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Element. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle and pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the rear driver's side tire was leaning outward from the vehicle. The contact called a friend with a trailer and had the vehicle towed to a friend's residence. Upon further inspection, it was discovered that the front mounting bracket on the rear trailer arm had become severely corroded which led to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle, but offered no further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Element. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for an inspection, it was discovered that the rear suspension front bushing bracket trailing arm was rusted. The vehicle failed the inspection due to the failure. The contact was informed by the mechanic that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the same failure had been recalled in Canada but not in the United States. No further information was available. The local dealer was not notified. The failure mileage was 200,000.
Air bags all 24 →
Airbag warning light stays on. Dealer indicates that the problem is a weight sensor. Dealer stated that seat belt issues and airbag issues were warranted by Honda. Dealer indicated that the weight sensor issue, which is used to deploy the airbag is not warranted. If seatbelts and airbags are warranted, why would the weight sensors that are an integral part of the SRS not be warranted? Dealer has estimated the cost of repairs at $1,240.47. Part to complete the repair is not available at this time. Per the dealer, it has been ordered with shipping date TBD.
while driving 65 mph on the freeway my side passenger curtain airbag and the airbag in the from passenger seat deployed. We did not hit anything nor is there any visible damage to the exterior or underside of the car
2008 Honda Element engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 25 / 22 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 23 / 20 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 18 / 23 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Honda Element a good car?
Based on 113 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Element rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Element at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Honda Element?
The brakes — 34 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › control unit/module. Next are the suspension (24) and air bags (24).
How many recalls does the 2008 Honda Element have?
There are 12 recalls for the 2008 Honda Element, the most recent from June 27, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Honda Element?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2009 and 2010. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003 and 2004. See the full Honda Element years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Honda Element problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 29,000 miles; 58% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.