2011 Honda Element Reliability Report

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

Excellent

Ranks 1st of 9 Element years we score.

Owner complaints: 11; 5 are recall notices
Per 10,000 cars: 5.2; 11,460 made for the U.S.
Vs the average car: 0.17×; same age, 1× is average
Serious outcomes: 1; crash, fire, injury, stall or tow
Recalls: 10
NHTSA crash rating: Not rated; no overall rating

← 2010 Element

Should You Buy the 2011 Honda Element?

Yes. Our reliability score for the 2011 Honda Element is 88 out of 100, which rates Excellent. Owners reported about a third as many problems as for the average car of the same age. It ranks 1st of the 9 Element years we score.

It has 10 recalls. For comparison, the 2010 scores 79.

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

Excellent reliability score of 88
About a third of the problems of the average car its age
No do-not-drive or park-outside recalls

Cons

None stand out.

How the 2011 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 problems1 complaint · average car: about 16	0.14×	−1
Everyday problems5 complaints · average car: about 24	0.25×	−3
Problems in the last two years0 complaints · average car: about 1.0	Not counted	–
Recalls10 recalls · average car: about 4.4	1.8×	−8
Score		88

The last two years are not counted for the 2011 Element. Honda made 11,460 of them, and at this age an average car made in that number would get only about 1.7 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 11 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Honda Element, one by one, and grouped them by the problem they describe. The most reported problems come first.

No problem shows up in more than one of the complaints we read.

Reported Once (8)

Show the 8 problems reported once

Frontal airbags: no deployment in a crash
Loss of power (cause not stated)
Sun visor: parts breaking or coming apart
Suspension (part not stated): unusual noises
Seat belts: not releasing
Side window glass: shattering or cracking
Steering: shattering or cracking
Tire pressure monitoring: warning lights

How the 2011 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 This year	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	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

2011 Honda Element Recalls

Ten recalls cover the 2011 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.
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 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.

Show 4 more recalls

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.
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.

2011 Honda Element Warranty Extensions and Programs

Honda has seven customer support programs for the 2011 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)

2011 Honda Element NHTSA Investigations

NHTSA has opened three investigations that cover the 2011 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 5-Star Safety Ratings for this model year. See the 2011 Element ratings on NHTSA.gov.

SUV AWD and SUV FWD

OverallNot rated

Frontal crashNot rated

Side crashNot rated

Rollover3/5

Check Before You Buy

A checklist for the 2011 Element, from its ten recalls.

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
Improperly Installed Passenger Air Bag NHTSA 18V268000
Look up the VIN at NHTSA to see all 10 recalls and which are still open.

Ask the Seller

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.