Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Honda Element. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, she had noticed that an extension ladder and debris had landed in the middle of the road. In order to avoid the objects, the contact and the driver behind her attempted to make the same turn at the same time into the right lane which caused a collision. The driver and passenger air bags failed to deploy upon collision. The driver side seat belt also failed to release upon depression of the driver seat belt button. Due to the failure, the contact was trapped in the driver seat and had to be cut out of the vehicle by the county roadside assistance. Both drivers were treated at the scene and had their vitals taken, neither driver needed further medical assistance. A police report was filed at scene. …
Takata recall: I was advised that it would possibly take longer than a 3 month wait until the repair kit even arrived at the facility due to the fact that they "don't make that vehicle any more" and was told to have my family of 4 ride in the rear seats for safety issue. It is a 4 seat vehicle. Have left message with service manager an no response. This time frame is unacceptable and if in an accident, according to the video on your website, could cause injury or death to my family.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owned a 2010 Honda Element. While driving approximately 20 MPH, a second vehicle crashed into the front driver's side of the contact's vehicle. The side curtain air bags failed to deploy. The driver and rear driver side occupant sustained multiple lacerations to the face and neck. The contact indicated that the injuries were caused by debris from the air bag deploying. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. A police report was filed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 84,000.
I received "Takata recall" a notice from auto airbag settlement, settlement administrator po box 3207 portland, or 97208-3207 as a current owner and I will try to contact the administrator. Also I will call the Honda company about this vehicle. Right now the light indicating defective airbag is always on and I am deeply concerned which I just discovered that this car has a manufacturer recall number s53 and NHTSA recall number 12v-436 recall status recall incomplete.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Honda Element. The contact stated that while at a stop sign to make a left turn, another vehicle crashed into the rear drivers side panel causing the vehicle to spin around three times in the opposite direction. The air bags deployed with force, metal fragments ejected from the air bag. The contacts glasses came off and a metal fragment pealed the contacts right eye lid causing excessive bleeding. The contact experienced bruises to the face and bruising from the seat belt. A police report was filed. The contact received further medical treatment due to the injuries sustained from the force of the air bags deploying. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop who remedied the body damages and the driver was unable to determine if the air bags were replaced. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the crash. …
I was driving my Honda Element 2009 on a hwy in sc. The car was in motion and I had a green light and the car was moving forward when a woman who was driving in the opposite direction, made a left turn in the intersection failing to yield me the right of way. My car impacted her car on one side most likely the passenger side door and the collision was a frontal collision for my car. None of the frontal air bags in my vehicle were deployed. I hit my face on the windshield and I suffered a contusion/ light fracture on my left ribs and a head concussion. Car was purchased at a local dealership on 12/21/2016 was a used car that never was involved in a collision and had a clean title and clean history. According to Honda dealership, the car belonged to one owner only in the past. The car was taken to the dealership to get the airbags replaced in February 2017. …
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
Related 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 2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles nationwide. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2012 Acura RL, 2011 Honda Element and 2011-2013 Ridgeline vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska,…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. 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 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.
Show 7 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura RL, 2010 Honda Element, and 2010-2013 Honda Ridgeline vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. 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 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles manufactured February 24, 2002, to January 18, 2005, 2003-2007…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. 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 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.
Air bags
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Air bags
American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
NHTSA investigations
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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Honda Element years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (76), 2004 (73), 2006 (55), 2003 (49) and 2007 (27) model years. Airbag complaints make up 48% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Honda Element airbag problems?
Yes — 12 recalls, including 19V-501 (inflator module, Jun 27, 2019); 19V-499 (inflator module, Jun 27, 2019); 19V-182 (inflator module, Mar 6, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Honda Element airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles; 23% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the side/window (39 mentions), followed by the frontal (18).
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.