Is the 2005 Honda Element a bad year?
159 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Element years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2005 Honda Element are in line with other Element years. Air bags stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2005 Element owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 80,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 76 (48%) | 50k–140k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 16 (10%) | 42k–114k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Seats | 12 (8%) | 35k–124k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 13 (8%) | 4k–27k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 13 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 11 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 9 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 80,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 159 complaints: 13 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 19 report an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
3 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2005 Honda Element: 10
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode. 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.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The outer race of the secondary shaft bearing may be broken during certain driving styles. A broken outer race may cause abnormal noise, the malfunction indicator light to turn on, and allow contact between the transmission idle gear and an electronic sensor housing within the transmission. This could result in a short circuit causing the engine to stall.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Certain Honda accessory trailer harness kit, p/n 08L91-SCV-102, manufactured between november 24 and december 18, 2004, sold for use on my 2005 Honda element vehicles manufactured between december 20, 2004, and april 29, 2005. The wire harness of the trailer hitch kit has an incorrectly wired connector. Improper signaling or a loss of trailer warning lamp function without warning could cause a vehicle crash, possibly resulting in injuries.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 22
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2005 Honda Element. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The MIL comes on with one of these DTCs: P2646/P2651 (Rocker arm oil pressure switch circuit low voltage)
In certain vehicles, the driver s (Front) airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment
On some model vehicles, there is an alternator/starter tester (Ast) module capable of testing alternators, installed on GR8 diagnostic battery station
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2004 Element: 282 complaints, keep it · 2006 Element: 122 complaints, keep it.
Every Honda Element year
2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · All Element years side by side
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.
Questions
Is the 2005 Honda Element a bad year?
159 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Element years. At 80,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Honda Element?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (76), electrical system (16), seats (12), visibility and wipers (13), suspension (13).
How many recalls does the 2005 Honda Element have?
10 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-501), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-499), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-182), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-029) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.