2005 Honda Element Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 7 Element years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2005 Honda Element has 159 owner complaints and 7 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 7 Element model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is airbags (76 complaints, 48% of the total). Complaints report 13 crashes, 5 fires, and 19 injuries.
- Complaints
- 159
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes / fires
- 13 / 5
- Injuries / deaths
- 19 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20.5
- 19 city / 23 hwy
Top 2005 Honda Element problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags76 (48%)
- Structure & Body20 (13%)
- Electrical System17 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires15 (9%)
- Engine14 (9%)
- Visibility & Wipers13 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain9 (6%)
- Seat Belts8 (5%)
- Brakes7 (4%)
- Other7 (4%)
2005 Honda Element recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V501000Jun 27, 2019Airbags1,657,752 vehicles
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. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.
- NHTSA 19V499000Jun 27, 2019Airbags3,947 vehicles
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. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.
- NHTSA 19V182000Mar 6, 2019Airbags1,101,534 vehicles
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 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
2005 Honda Element fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 20.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,175
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2005 compared with other Element years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Honda Element a reliable year?
- Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Honda Element ranks worst among Element model years (Complaint Index 100/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 159 complaints and 7 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Honda Element?
- The most reported problem areas are airbags (76 complaints), structure & body (20 complaints), and electrical system (17 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 70,000 miles.
- Does the 2005 Honda Element have any recalls?
- Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2005 Honda Element, most recently reported 2019, covering airbags and transmission & powertrain.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Honda Element?
- EPA rates the 2005 Honda Element at 20.5 MPG combined (19 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.