2007 Honda Element Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2007 Honda Element has a Complaint Index of 67, ranking 3rd worst of 7 model years, and carries a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 112 complaints, 10 recall campaigns, and the top problem area is airbags with 27 complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 67/100
- #3 of 7 Element years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 112
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 10
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 6
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 6
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20.5
- 18.5 city / 23.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
Top 2007 Honda Element problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags27 (24%)
- Electrical System23 (21%)
- Brakes21 (19%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires17 (15%)
- Engine12 (11%)
- Structure & Body10 (9%)
- Other8 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers7 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain5 (4%)
- Seat Belts2 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy in frontal and rear-end crashes at speeds around 35 to 55 mph, sometimes with multiple vehicles involved.
- One owner reported a driver airbag deployed but caused chemical burns and cuts rather than protecting the driver.
- Rear suspension and trailing arm components reportedly rusted out, causing a wheel and suspension assembly to detach while driving.
- Rear doors reportedly could not be unlatched from inside when a passenger was seated in the back seat.
- Brakes reportedly worked only on the front wheels despite repeated pad and master cylinder replacements.
- Wheel lug nuts reportedly loosened or came off after a tire change, nearly causing a wheel to detach.
2007 Honda Element recalls
10 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.
2007 Honda Element fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18.5 MPG
- Highway
- 23.5 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.
2007 compared with other Element years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2007 Honda Element reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2007 Element a Complaint Index of 67, the 3rd worst of 7 model years tracked, with 112 complaints and 10 recall campaigns, earning a Caution verdict relative to other Element years.
- What is the top problem area for the 2007 Honda Element?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 27 of 112 complaints (24%), with 4 crashes reported and a median failure mileage of 86,000.
- Does the 2007 Honda Element have airbag recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists multiple airbag inflator recalls covering the 2007 Element, including campaigns 19V501000, 19V499000, 19V182000, 18V268000, 17V029000, and 16V344000, plus a 2012 recall for a trailer hitch wiring harness.
- How does the 2007 Element compare to other years?
- Its Complaint Index of 67 is lower than 2005 (100, Avoid) and 2006 (83, Avoid) but higher than 2008 (50), 2009 (33), 2010 (17), and 2011 (0), all rated Caution or better.
- What mileage do 2007 Element problems typically show up at?
- Across all reported problems, the median mileage at failure was 71,450, though airbag issues had a median of 86,000 miles and brake complaints a median of 30,000 miles.