2007 Honda Element

112 complaints on file, page 1 of 6.

1. Filed Jun 14, 2025Failure Jun 9, 2025Queensbury, NYSuspension, WheelsCrash

   Rear Trailing Arm Rusted Out, Car Can not be repaired per two citified mechanics.

   NHTSA complaint 11666910
2. Filed Dec 27, 2024Failure Dec 27, 2024Pico Rivera, CAElectrical system, Trailer hitches

   The contact owns a 2007 Honda Element. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V436000 (Electrical System, Trailer Hitches) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The contact was advised by the local dealer that the vehicle was not eligible for recall repairs due to the title being salvaged and that the part was not an attachment for the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the issues.

   NHTSA complaint 11632646
3. Filed Sep 3, 2024Failure Sep 3, 2024Cisco, GASuspension

   While driving up my driveway on the way home the left swing arm seperated from the unibody allowing the left rear wheel to move aft jamming the left rear tire into the rear inside fender effectively locking that wheel at about a 20 degree angle.

   NHTSA complaint 11612430
4. Filed Aug 13, 2024Failure Nov 1, 2023Akeley, MNPower train, Suspension

   The rest frame has rusted from the inside out, frame actually broke when going in for repairs. Was raised on lift for basic brake repair and the frame separated on the rear driver side. Same exact issue that was recalled in crvs of same year.

   NHTSA complaint 11608187
5. Filed Jul 28, 2024Failure Jul 12, 2024Providence, RISuspension

   Left rear trailing arm completely broke off while I was on the highway. Very unsafe. This Element needs to be recalled, like the CRV. It was recalled in Canada. This is absolutely dangerous and I could have died.

   NHTSA complaint 11604942
6. Filed Oct 17, 2023Failure Oct 17, 2023Akeley, MNBody

   Brought vehicle (2007 Honda Element) to have new brakes and tires put on vehicle. Discovered rusted through rear frame. Declined to finish work of vehicle upgrades due to being unsafe to further drive vehicle. Mechanic said he didn't feel comfortable working on vehicle in the condition. Suggested taking to body shop to attempt replacing but would cost more than vehicle was worth. Suggested taking to dealer and seeing if they would offer recall since one was issued in Canada a couple years ago. He wouldn't recommend driving vehicle due to potential break and loss of control of vehicle rear control arms.

   NHTSA complaint 11550530
7. Filed Oct 12, 2023Failure Oct 10, 2023169,000 milesPelham, NHSuspension

   The contact owns a 2007 Honda Element. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the rear end of the vehicle became unstable and the rear driver's side wheel failed rendering the vehicle undrivable. The vehicle was towed to a friend's home and later examined by a local mechanic who diagnosed that the rear driver's side suspension swing arm had fractured due to severe rusting and corrosion of the vehicle's subframe. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 169,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11549609
8. Filed Sep 19, 2023Failure Sep 16, 2023Colliers, WVSuspension

   I was driving with my family to the local fair a few miles from home. When the steering got loose around a sharp bend at 35-40 mph. I was able to keep control and slow to where I could safely look at issues. Thankfully I was going slow. The mount for the rear trailing arm pulled out of the mounting location on the driver side.

   NHTSA complaint 11545322
9. Filed Sep 8, 2023Failure Sep 7, 2023Indian Lake, NYSuspension

   We are trying to sell our 2007 Honda Element and have found there is extensive rust under the car, likely due to the NY road salt. We have older cars in the family / area without this problem. We found out Canada has issued a recall over this matter. I have lost confidence that our car is safe to drive, well before the expected end of serviceable life. Can you have Honda remedy this situation

   NHTSA complaint 11543459
10. Filed May 5, 2023Failure May 4, 2023Boulder, COSuspension

    Rusted detached rear trailing arm. This is the same part involved in the Honda CR-V recall. This recall should be extended to the Honda Element which is on the same platform.

    NHTSA complaint 11520604
11. Filed Apr 11, 2023Failure Jan 9, 2023Barre, VTSuspension

    The left rear trailing arm mount is very rusty as is the inner rocker. This is a problem with both the CRV and Element ,it's a safety issue because the mount can detach and cause a accident. This vehicle has had a yearly inspection in my state and has passed I am concerned it won't in the future because of trailing arm rust. The element are built on the same platform as the CRV witch is being recalled for this problem. The elements are being recalled in Canada for this problem.

    NHTSA complaint 11516442
12. Filed Sep 22, 2022Failure Sep 18, 2022Elma, NYSuspension

    Rear suspension failure due to excessive corrosion. Fortunately failure occurred at low speed. Total loss of control would have happened at high speed. Independent body shops confirm this damage is not repairable. Please note that there is a recall for Honda Elements in Canada for the same defect. I called American Honda and they deny any knowledge of this defect in the U.S.

    NHTSA complaint 11485878
13. Filed Sep 22, 2022Failure Sep 18, 2022Elma, NYSuspension

    REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CHASSIS COROSION. FORTUNATELY FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED. TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL WOULD RESULT AT HIGH SPEED. INDEPENDENT BODY SHOPS CONFIRM THIS DEFECT IS NOT REAIRABLE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR HONDA ELEMENTS IN CANADA FOR THIS SAME DEFECT. I CALLED AMERICAN HONDA AND THEY DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS DEFECT IN THE U.S.

    NHTSA complaint 11485834
14. Filed Mar 6, 2022Failure Oct 14, 2021Westbrook, MEBody

    The frame of the vehicle has rusted out at the bolt where the rear trailing arm connects to the frame. The rust has caused the vehicle to fail Maine State Inspection. This vehicle defect has led to a recall in Canada: “On certain vehicles, the rear frame could rust. In extreme cases, this could result in a rear trailing arm separating from the vehicle. This recall applies to vehicles originally sold or currently registered in areas of heavy road salt usage (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador).” https://recallmonitor.ca/recall/2021024 Maine and New Hampshire, where this vehicle has been registered for its entire life, are areas of heavy road salt usage. According to Honda Canada, “ A rear trailing arm that separates could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash.” The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. It was inspected by a garage certified to provide Maine State Inspections. The manufacturer has acknowledged the defect in Canada. There were no warning lamps related to this issue.

    NHTSA complaint 11455411
15. Filed Sep 30, 2021Failure Sep 11, 2021Sutton, MASuspensionCrash

    While driving, without notice at all, the drivers side rear suspension ,wheel, and all the holds it together became dislocated/disassembled from the car while going about 40mph. Upon further investigation, I found the whole frame mount for the rear suspension had completely rotted away and caused this whole issue. NO PRIOR WARNING AT ALL!! This is a potentiality deadly issue.. I had just come off the highway doin 70 mph... if this would of happened there...it would of been a completely different outcome. The year/make/model of my vehicle has already been recalled for this issue.. BUT my vin # wasn't included?.?.?. THIS IS WRONG!! THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NO AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE WILL STOP!!

    NHTSA complaint 11434972
16. Filed Aug 30, 2021Failure Aug 28, 2021102,000 milesMccall, IDNon-powered axle assembly

    The contact owns a 2007 Honda Element. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the contact drove over a pothole and noticed that the driver’s side control arm on the rear axle fractured and detached from the vehicle, causing the rear driver’s side tire to stick out from underneath the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was inspected and diagnosed. The contact was informed that rust and corrosion on the rear axle had caused the failure and that the axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11431078
17. Filed Jan 26, 2021Failure Jan 13, 2017Winston Salem, NCUnknown or other

    HO 11851603 LAST KNOWN MILES FROM HO (AIRBAG RECALL SERVICE)

    NHTSA complaint 11390089
18. Filed Jan 26, 2021Failure Oct 27, 2016Winston-Salem, NCAir bags, Unknown or other

    ODOMETER ROLLED BACK IN RE-SALE; RESULT OF RETURN DUE TO NATURAL DISASTER. (2000MILES)

    NHTSA complaint 11390087
19. Filed Jan 17, 2021Failure Jan 16, 2021OAK Ridge, TNSeat belts

    DURING NORMAL DRIVING, NO HARD BRAKING INVOLVED, THE PASSENGER SEATBELT CONSISTENTLY LOCKS UP - CAUSING MY PASSENGERS TO BE LOCKED IN PLACE. IT LOCKS IF A PASSENGER LEANS FORWARD TO REMOVE SOMETHING FROM THE DASH CUBBIES (WHICH ARE JUST OUTSIDE OF ARMS REACH BUT WELL WITHIN NORMAL RANGE REACH). IT LOCKS IF THE PASSENGER LEANS TO REACH BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. IT SEEMS AS IF THE BELT HAS BEEN DESIGNED TOO SHORT OR THE LOCKING MECHANISM OVERLY SENSITIVE. SHOULD A COLLISION HAPPEN WHILE LOCKED, THERE WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY NO GIVE AND COULD CAUSE THEM SIGNIFICANT HARM.

    NHTSA complaint 11388604
20. Filed Oct 16, 2020Failure Jan 15, 2020139,624 milesCranston, RIElectronic stability control (esc)

    VSA LIGHT COMES ON AND TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY..AND AT TIMES IT HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO JERK AND NOT RUN RIGHT WHEN GOING ABOVE 2500RPM..THEN THE LIGHT WILL GO AWAY BUT THE CEL INDICATOR WILL STAY ON ...AT MY WITS END AND DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO

    NHTSA complaint 11364722