Honda Element: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
1,284 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Honda Element, model years 2003 to 2011. No model year stands out for the engine or transmission against the others. Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2010, 2009, 2007. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Element | 424 | — | 12 | |
| 2004 Element | 282 | — | 11 | |
| 2005 Element | 159 | — | 10 | |
| 2006 ElementFEW REPORTS | 122 | — | 11 | |
| 2007 ElementFEW REPORTS | 112 | quiet: 3 of 8 | 12 | |
| 2008 ElementFEW REPORTS | 113 | — | 13 | |
| 2009 ElementFEW REPORTS | 31 | quiet: 2 of 8 | 9 | |
| 2010 ElementFEW REPORTS | 30 | quiet: 1 of 8 | 11 | |
| 2011 ElementFEW REPORTS | 11 | — | 11 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Honda models
Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Pilot · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 200320042005