2008 Honda Element Reliability Report

NHTSA data as of Oct 15, 2026Published Oct 23, 2026

Good

Ranks 3rd of 9 Element years we score.

Owner complaints: 113; 27 are recall notices
Per 10,000 cars: 22.6; 37,984 made for the U.S.
Vs the average car: 0.53×; same age, 1× is average
Serious outcomes: 20; crash, fire, injury, stall or tow
Recalls: 12
NHTSA crash rating: Not rated; no overall rating before 2011

← 2007 Element 2009 Element →

Should You Buy the 2008 Honda Element?

Yes, with the usual checks. Our reliability score for the 2008 Honda Element is 75 out of 100, which rates Good. Owners reported about half as many problems as for the average car of the same age. It ranks 3rd of the 9 Element years we score.

The most reported problem is the brakes, mostly soft pedal (31 of 113 complaints). Owners also complain about the frame and body structure and ball joints and control arms. 20 of the 113 complaints describe a serious outcome, such as a crash, a fire, an injury or stalling while driving.

It has 12 recalls. For comparison, the 2007 scores 72 and the 2009 scores 72.

Before you buy, check that the recalls were done and get an independent inspection. The full checklist is at the end of this page.

Pros

Good reliability score of 75
About half the problems of the average car its age
No do-not-drive or park-outside recalls

Cons

Brakes: soft pedal31 complaints
Frame or structure: rust or corrosion12 complaints
Ball joints and control arms: parts breaking or coming apart11 complaints

How the 2008 Element Earned Its Score

Every model year starts at 100. Each part takes points away when this year has more problems than the average car of the same age. How we score

Score breakdown
Item	Vs average	Points lost
Starting score		100
Serious problems20 complaints · average car: about 52	0.40×	−10
Everyday problems66 complaints · average car: about 79	0.84×	−7
Problems in the last two years1 complaint · average car: about 1.2	Not counted	–
Recalls12 recalls · average car: about 3.8	2.4×	−8
Score		75

The last two years are not counted for the 2008 Element. Honda made 37,984 of them, and at this age an average car made in that number would get only about 2.1 complaints of any kind in two years. We need at least 5 to compare, so we leave this part out. Its 30% goes to serious and everyday problems instead, so they make up 80% of the score rather than 50%.

Each part shows two counts: this year's so far, and what an average car would have at the same age. For complaints, that average car was made in the same number as this one. “Vs average” compares the two counts, but in our scoring system we first add a little to both, so a few complaints cannot swing the result. That is why it is not simply one count divided by the other. The last two years count only complaints about five systems: the engine and fuel system, transmission, brakes, steering, and airbags and seat belts.

What Owners Report

We read all 113 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Honda Element, one by one, and grouped them by the problem they describe. The most reported problems come first.

Brakes: soft pedal
31 complaints (27%)
Soft pedal, early wear and a failure that needed a new part. 6 of these 31 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often loss of braking. In 6 complaints, the problem came back after a repair. Median mileage when it started: about 17,000 miles.
Frame or structure: rust or corrosion
12 complaints (11%)
Rust or corrosion and parts breaking or coming apart. 7 of these 12 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often loss of steering control. Median mileage when it started: about 197,000 miles.
Ball joints and control arms: parts breaking or coming apart
11 complaints (10%)
Parts breaking or coming apart, rust or corrosion and early wear. 5 of these 11 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often a tow. Median mileage when it started: about 130,000 miles.
Windshield: shattering or cracking
4 complaints (4%)
Shattering or cracking.
ABS: warning lights
3 complaints (3%)
Warning lights and loss of braking. 1 of these 3 complaints describes a serious outcome: loss of braking. Median mileage when it started: about 49,000 miles.
Tire pressure monitoring: warning lights
3 complaints (3%)
Warning lights, a feature that stopped working and a failure that needed a new part. Median mileage when it started: about 1,000 miles.
Airbags: no deployment in a crash
2 complaints (2%)
No deployment in a crash. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome: an airbag problem.
Control arm bushings: damage
2 complaints (2%)
Damage and rust or corrosion. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome.
Headlights: stopped working
2 complaints (2%)
A feature that stopped working and problems that come and go.
Suspension (part not stated): parts breaking or coming apart
2 complaints (2%)
Parts breaking or coming apart. Both describe a serious outcome, most often loss of steering control.
Paint and rust: shattering or cracking
2 complaints (2%)
Shattering or cracking and rust or corrosion.
Power windows or regulator: parts breaking or coming apart
2 complaints (2%)
Parts breaking or coming apart.
Side or curtain airbags: deployment with no crash
2 complaints (2%)
Deployment with no crash.
Stability control (VSA): warning lights
2 complaints (2%)
Warning lights.
Stall (cause not stated)
2 complaints (2%)
Stalling. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome: stalling or losing power while driving.

Show 2 more problems

Tires: poor traction
2 complaints (2%)
Poor traction and a leak.
Transmission: failure or loss of drive
2 complaints (2%)
Failure or loss of drive.

Reported Once (15)

Show the 15 problems reported once

A/C condenser: damage
Brake calipers: sticking or stiffness
Door latches: not opening or unlocking
Exterior trim: parts breaking or coming apart
Ignition or push-button start: locking up
Instrument cluster: parts breaking or coming apart
Manual transmission or clutch: failure or loss of drive
Passenger airbag sensor failure
Accelerator pedal: locking up
Electrical system (part not stated): electric shock
Seat belts: locking up
Side window glass: shattering or cracking
Steering: locking up
Struts or shocks: damage
Transmission fluid leak

How the 2008 Honda Element Compares With Other Years

Every Element year is here: the Element was made in one generation, 2003 to 2011.

Year	Rating	Score	Vs average	Per 10k cars	Recalls	Most reported problem
2011	Excellent	88	0.17×	5.2	10	–
2010	Good	79	0.40×	13.9	10	Brakes: loss of braking
2009	Good	72	0.72×	24.3	8	Brakes: soft pedal
2008 This year	Good	75	0.53×	22.6	12	Brakes: soft pedal
2007	Good	72	0.67×	27.6	10	Instrument cluster: parts breaking or coming apart
2006	Good	70	0.83×	24.8	9	Side or curtain airbags: deployment with no crash
2005	Good	70	0.90×	26.5	7	Frontal airbags: deployment with no crash
2004	Caution	67	1.1×	46.6	9	Windshield: shattering or cracking
2003	Caution	66	1.2×	52.3	10	Windshield: shattering or cracking

See every Element year

2008 Honda Element Recalls

The 2008 Honda Element has 12 recalls. The most recent was issued in June 2019: “Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode.” A VIN check at NHTSA shows which are still open on a given car.

Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, June 2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 19V499000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jun 27, 2019. By the fourth quarter of 2020, 22% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 19V501000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jun 27, 2019. By the fourth quarter of 2020, 42% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, March 2019
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.
NHTSA 19V182000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Mar 6, 2019. By the third quarter of 2020, 49% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Improperly Installed Passenger Air Bag
An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA 18V268000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Apr 26, 2018. By the third quarter of 2019, 85% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture, January 2017
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 17V029000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jan 10, 2017. By the second quarter of 2018, 68% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture, May 2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 16V344000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued May 23, 2016. By the third quarter of 2017, 58% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.

Show 6 more recalls

Driver's Frontal Air Bag May 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.
NHTSA 15V320000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued May 28, 2015. By the fourth quarter of 2017, 68% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Accessory Trailer Hitch Wiring Harness
Without trailer turn signal illumination, the driver's intent is not communicated, potentially increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA 12V436000 Owner letter (PDF)Issued Sep 5, 2012.
Automatic Transmission Control Module Software
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. Additionally, broken pieces of the outer race or ball bearing from the secondary shaft may become lodged in the parking pawl resulting in the vehicle rolling after the driver has placed the gear selector in the park position.
NHTSA 11V395000 Owner letter (PDF)Issued Aug 4, 2011.
6-Way Power Seat Base (ALL IN ONE MOBILITY, INC.)
The seat occupant may be injured if the seat base pin were to break.
NHTSA 10V271000 Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jun 15, 2010.
Soft Brake Pedal/Braking Performance
If the owner does not have any brake service or maintenance performed over a period of months or years, the system can continue to accumulate enough air to affect braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA 10V098000 Owner letter (PDF)Issued Mar 16, 2010.
Improper Welded Suspension
A separated bushing bracket could cause the suspension to release the lower portion of the wheel hub, causing a loss of control and damage to the brake system which could lead to a crash.
NHTSA 08V349000 Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jul 29, 2008.

2008 Honda Element Warranty Extensions and Programs

Honda has five customer support programs for the 2008 Honda Element, separate from its recalls. All five are for problems with the airbags. Two have ended. Whether one applies to a car depends on its VIN, which a Honda dealer can check.

Customer support programHonda 18-053 and 20-015
Front passenger's airbag inflator
2 programs with the same terms. Which one applies depends on the VIN.
The problem:
The front passenger's airbag inflator can be faulty, and the airbag warning light comes on.
The fix:
A Honda dealer replaces the front passenger's airbag inflator for free.
Who qualifies:
The airbag warning light must be on. A Honda dealer test must show the inflator is faulty. Only replacement inflators that fail later are covered. Open inflator recalls must be done first. Salvage or branded titles are not covered.
Coverage:
18-053: Covered until January 31, 2027.
20-015: Covered until January 31, 2030.
Another program for the same problem, Honda 18-050, has ended.
Bulletin 18-053 (PDF)Bulletin 20-015 (PDF)
Customer support programHonda 20-010
Driver's airbag inflator
The problem:
The driver's airbag inflator can be faulty, and the airbag warning light comes on.
The fix:
A Honda dealer replaces the driver's airbag inflator for free.
Who qualifies:
The airbag warning light must be on. A Honda dealer test must show the inflator is faulty. Only replacement inflators that fail later are covered. Open inflator recalls must be done first. Salvage or branded titles are not covered.
Coverage:
Covered until January 31, 2030.
Another program for the same problem, Honda 18-047, has ended.
Honda's bulletin (PDF)

2008 Honda Element NHTSA Investigations

NHTSA has opened four investigations that cover the 2008 Honda Element. Two are still open and two led to a recall.

Air in the brake system causing a soft pedal
Led to a recall
NHTSA's engineering analysis covered 2007-2008 Odysseys and Elements. Honda said air could slowly enter the stability control pump over thousands of engine starts, giving a soft brake pedal. Honda recalled about 412,000 vehicles under recall 10V-098. Dealers remove the air and seal the pump for free. NHTSA closed the case in May 2010.
NHTSA EA09014 Opening report (PDF)Closing report (PDF)Oct 19, 2009 to May 11, 2010
Takata air bag inflators rupturing, mostly in humid areas
Led to a recall
NHTSA's preliminary evaluation began in June 2014 after six Takata air bag inflator ruptures. It covered Honda Accord, Civic, CR-V, Odyssey and Pilot models from 2001 to 2007, among others. All 10 makers started regional recalls within about two weeks. NHTSA asked them to widen the recalls. It closed in March 2015 and moved to engineering analysis EA15-001.
NHTSA PE14016 Opening report (PDF)Closing report (PDF)Jun 11, 2014 to Mar 2, 2015
Takata air bag inflator ruptures across all makers
Still open
NHTSA's engineering analysis, opened in February 2015, covers Takata air bag inflators that can rupture. It includes Honda Accord, Civic, CR-V, Odyssey and Pilot models from 2001 to 2007, among others. NHTSA is studying the root cause, the affected vehicles and whether repairs are adequate. The record links 194 recall campaigns to it. It is still open.
NHTSA EA15001 Opening report (PDF)Open since Feb 24, 2015
Rupture risk in Takata inflators with a desiccant
Still open
NHTSA's engineering analysis, opened in September 2021, asks whether Takata inflators with a moisture-trapping desiccant could degrade and rupture over time. They are not yet recalled. It covers Honda Accord, Civic, CR-V, Odyssey and Pilot models from 2001 to 2015, among others. No field ruptures have been reported in them. The case is still open.
NHTSA EA21002 Opening report (PDF)Open since Sep 17, 2021

NHTSA Crash Test Ratings

NHTSA gave the 2008 Element no overall, frontal or side rating. It did rate each seat in those tests and lists the seat ratings under Rating Breakdown on its page. We show them the same way below. These tests are from before 2011, so the stars are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and newer models. See the 2008 Element ratings on NHTSA.gov.

4-door with side airbags

OverallNot rated

Frontal crashNot rated

Driver seat5/5

Passenger seat5/5

Side crashNot rated

Front seat5/5

Rear seat5/5

Rollover3/5

Check Before You Buy

A checklist for the 2008 Element, from its 12 recalls and the problems owners report most.

Confirm the Recalls Were Done

Ask the seller for proof that each of these recalls was repaired.

Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, June 2019 NHTSA 19V499000
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA 19V501000
Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, March 2019 NHTSA 19V182000
Improperly Installed Passenger Air Bag NHTSA 18V268000
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture, January 2017 NHTSA 17V029000
Look up the VIN at NHTSA to see all 12 recalls and which are still open.

On the Test Drive

Brake firmly from a moderate speed. A soft, hard or pulsing pedal, or a brake warning light, is a warning sign.
Look for uneven tire wear and listen for clunks or humming that changes with speed.

Ask the Seller

Ask whether any of these were ever repaired, and ask to see the receipts.

Brakes
Frame and body structure
Ball joints and control arms
Also ask for the service records, especially oil changes.

Before You Pay

Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
Decode the VIN to confirm the model year, engine and trim.
Check the title for salvage, flood or rebuilt branding.

What to do next

All Element Years →Best years and years to avoid, side by side.Compare With Other Years →Put up to four model years side by side.Find Warranty Extensions →Repairs Honda may still cover for this year.Decode a VIN →Confirm the exact year, engine and trim of a car.