2010 Honda Element Reliability Report

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

Good

Ranks 2nd of 9 Element years we score.

Owner complaints: 30; 7 are recall notices
Per 10,000 cars: 13.9; 16,561 made for the U.S.
Vs the average car: 0.40×; same age, 1× is average
Serious outcomes: 8; crash, fire, injury, stall or tow
Recalls: 10
NHTSA crash rating: Not rated; no overall rating before 2011

← 2009 Element 2011 Element →

Should You Buy the 2010 Honda Element?

Yes, with the usual checks. Our reliability score for the 2010 Honda Element is 79 out of 100, which rates Good. Owners reported about a third as many problems as for the average car of the same age. It ranks 2nd of the 9 Element years we score.

The most reported problem is the brakes, mostly loss of braking (3 of 30 complaints). Owners also complain about airbags and ball joints and control arms. 8 of the 30 complaints describe a serious outcome, such as a crash, a fire, an injury or stalling while driving.

It has 10 recalls. For comparison, the 2009 scores 72 and the 2011 scores 88.

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 79
About a third of the problems of the average car its age
No do-not-drive or park-outside recalls

Cons

Brakes: loss of braking3 complaints
Airbags: no deployment in a crash2 complaints
Ball joints and control arms: parts breaking or coming apart2 complaints

How the 2010 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 problems8 complaints · average car: about 24	0.38×	−9
Everyday problems15 complaints · average car: about 35	0.45×	−4
Problems in the last two years1 complaint · average car: about 1.0	Not counted	–
Recalls10 recalls · average car: about 4.3	1.9×	−8
Score		79

The last two years are not counted for the 2010 Element. Honda made 16,561 of them, and at this age an average car made in that number would get only about 1.8 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 30 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 Honda Element, one by one, and grouped them by the problem they describe. The most reported problems come first.

Brakes: loss of braking
3 complaints (10%)
Loss of braking and soft pedal. 2 of these 3 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often loss of braking. In 3 complaints, the problem came back after a repair.
Airbags: no deployment in a crash
2 complaints (7%)
No deployment in a crash and injurious deployment. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome: an airbag problem.
Ball joints and control arms: parts breaking or coming apart
2 complaints (7%)
Parts breaking or coming apart. Both describe a serious outcome.
Frame or structure: rust or corrosion
2 complaints (7%)
Rust or corrosion. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome: loss of steering control.
Suspension (part not stated): rust or corrosion
2 complaints (7%)
Rust or corrosion and a failure that needed a new part.

Reported Once (17)

Show the 17 problems reported once

Airbag warning light
Uneven tire wear: early wear
Headlights: the system acting on its own
Ignition or push-button start: not releasing
Interior trim: unusual noises
Loss of power (cause not stated)
Paint and rust: rust or corrosion
Piston rings: locking up
Seats: not closing or latching
Side or curtain airbags: no deployment in a crash
Side window glass: shattering or cracking
Stability control (VSA) failure
Steering: loss of steering control
Tire pressure monitoring: warning lights
Tires: shattering or cracking
Unintended acceleration (cause not stated)
Windshield: damage

How the 2010 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 This year	Good	79	0.40×	13.9	10	Brakes: loss of braking
2009	Good	72	0.72×	24.3	8	Brakes: soft pedal
2008	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

2010 Honda Element Recalls

Ten recalls cover the 2010 Honda Element. 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, June 2019
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.
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, September 2018
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 18V662000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Sep 27, 2018. By the first quarter of 2020, 83% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, January 2018
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 18V041000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jan 9, 2018. By the second quarter of 2019, 79% 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.

Show 4 more recalls

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.
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.
Gear Selector
During assembly process, the cable that connects the shift lever to the transmission was not set correctly at the shift lever bracket. As a result the driver may move the gear shift lever but the transmission may not be placed in the selected gear. This can cause the key to be stuck in the ignition switch, an inability to shift into or out of park, or an inability to shift into reverse, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA 10V361000 Owner letter (PDF)Issued Aug 4, 2010.

2010 Honda Element Warranty Extensions and Programs

Honda has seven customer support programs for the 2010 Honda Element, separate from its recalls. All seven 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, 20-015, 18-056 and 19-002
Front passenger's airbag inflator
4 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.
18-056: Covered until January 31, 2028.
19-002: Covered until September 30, 2028.
Another program for the same problem, Honda 18-050, has ended.
Bulletin 18-053 (PDF)Bulletin 20-015 (PDF)Bulletin 18-056 (PDF)Bulletin 19-002 (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)

2010 Honda Element NHTSA Investigations

NHTSA has opened three investigations that cover the 2010 Honda Element. Two are still open and one led to a recall.

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 2010 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 2010 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 2010 Element, from its ten 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, June 2019 NHTSA 19V501000
Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, March 2019 NHTSA 19V182000
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, September 2018 NHTSA 18V662000
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, January 2018 NHTSA 18V041000
Look up the VIN at NHTSA to see all 10 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.
Confirm every airbag recall on this VIN has been repaired before you buy.
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
Airbags
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.