2008 Honda Element Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2008 Honda Element has a Complaint Index of 50 with 112 complaints and 12 recalls, ranking 4th worst out of 7 model years and rated Caution. Brakes are the top problem area, making up 31% of complaints with a median failure mileage of 18,350.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #4 of 7 Element years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 112
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 12
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 5
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Brakes
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20.5
- 18.5 city / 23.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2008 Honda Element problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes35 (31%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires27 (24%)
- Airbags24 (21%)
- Structure & Body14 (13%)
- Electrical System7 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers6 (5%)
- Other5 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (4%)
- Engine2 (2%)
- 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
- Brakes fail to engage or feel soft, sometimes going almost to the floor, leading to rear-end collisions at low speeds.
- Airbags failed to deploy during a head-on collision at low speed, resulting in injuries.
- Transmission fluid leaked out at low mileage, causing the vehicle to lose gear engagement and later jerk backward forcefully.
- Windshields developed cracks starting from the middle with no apparent impact.
- Tire pressure monitoring system lights stayed on despite dealer visits and tire or sensor replacements.
2008 Honda Element recalls
12 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.
2008 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.
2008 compared with other Element years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Honda Element reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2008 Element a Complaint Index of 50 and a Caution verdict, ranking 4th worst among 7 model years of the Element. Brakes account for 31% of its 112 complaints.
- What is the main problem with the 2008 Honda Element?
- Brakes are the top problem area, with 35 complaints (31% of the total) and a median failure mileage of 18,350. Suspension, wheels and tires follow with 27 complaints.
- Does the 2008 Honda Element have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the 2008 Element, most involving airbag inflators, plus one for a trailer hitch wiring harness affecting turn signal lights.
- How does the 2008 Element compare to other years?
- The 2008 model's Complaint Index of 50 is lower than the 2005 (100) and 2006 (83) model years, both rated Avoid, but higher than 2009, 2010, and 2011, which are all Caution.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Honda Element?
- EPA rates the 2008 Element at 20.5 mpg combined (18.5 city, 23.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175.