2010 Honda Element Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2010 Honda Element has 30 NHTSA complaints, a Complaint Index of 17, and 10 recall campaigns, mostly Takata airbag inflator recalls. Its verdict is Caution, capped because of the heavy recall count even though its complaint index is relatively low among Element years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 17/100
- #6 of 7 Element years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 30
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 10
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 2
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 5
- Top issue
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20.5
- 18.5 city / 23.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
Top 2010 Honda Element problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (27%)
- Airbags7 (23%)
- Brakes5 (17%)
- Electrical System3 (10%)
- Engine3 (10%)
- Structure & Body3 (10%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (7%)
- Fuel System1 (3%)
- Other1 (3%)
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 inflate or deploy properly in crashes, in some cases leaving cut wires or crude inflator modifications, and side curtain airbags failed to deploy in a low-speed collision causing facial and neck lacerations.
- Brakes reportedly lost stopping power, going to the floor shortly after purchase, and separately owners described the engine revving and surging forward when the brake pedal was applied.
- Tires on stock wheels showed abnormal outer and inner wear by around 22,000 miles, with a tire shop declaring them unsafe to drive on.
- Rear or windshield glass cracked or shattered unexpectedly, in one case from a small pebble strike that caused the entire rear window to fall apart.
- Turn signal use triggered the high beams to flash on and off by themselves, a problem owners said worsened over time.
- Owners who received Takata airbag recall notices reported long delays getting replacement parts scheduled or back-ordered at dealers.
2010 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.
2010 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.
2010 compared with other Element years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Honda Element reliable?
- NHTSA lists 30 complaints and a Complaint Index of 17 for the 2010 Element, which is lower than most other model years. However, it carries 10 recall campaigns, mostly Takata airbag inflators, which caps its verdict at Caution.
- What problems does the 2010 Honda Element have?
- The top reported problem area is Suspension, Wheels & Tires, accounting for 27% of complaints, followed by Airbags at 23% and Brakes at 17%. Median mileage at failure across all complaints was 45,429 miles.
- Does the 2010 Honda Element have an airbag recall?
- Yes. It is covered by multiple Takata-related recalls, including campaigns 19V501000, 19V499000, 19V182000, 18V041000, 17V029000, 16V344000, and 15V320000, all involving frontal or side airbag inflator replacement.
- How does the 2010 Element compare to other Element years?
- The 2010 model ranks 6th worst out of 7 model years with data, with a Complaint Index of 17 versus 100 for the worst year, 2005. Its verdict is Caution rather than Avoid, but recalls keep it from a Good rating.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Honda Element?
- EPA rates the 2010 Element at 20.5 mpg combined (18.5 city / 23.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175.