Every recall campaign and owner complaint the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration holds for the 2008 Honda Element. Nothing on this page is written from memory — it is all imported from NHTSA's public database.
11 recall campaigns filed by Honda for the 2008 Element, newest first.
| Campaign | Component | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|
| 19V182000 2019-03-06 |
Air Bags Frontal Driver Side › Inflator Module |
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014…
Risk: 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. Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer… |
| 19V501000 2019-06-27 |
Air Bags Frontal Passenger Side › Inflator Module |
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.
The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement…
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C. |
| 19V499000 2019-06-27 |
Air Bags Frontal Driver Side › Inflator Module |
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles.
These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service…
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58. |
| 18V268000 2018-04-26 |
Air Bags Frontal Passenger Side › Inflator Module |
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O. |
| 17V029000 2017-01-10 |
Air Bags Frontal Passenger Side › Inflator Module |
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2011 Honda Element vehicles, 2005-2012 Acura RL vehicles, 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2005-2008 Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American…
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KD9 and KE0. |
| 16V344000 2016-05-23 |
Air Bags Frontal Passenger Side › Inflator Module |
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the…
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KA0, KA1, KA2, and KA3. |
| 15V320000 2015-05-28 |
Air Bags Frontal Driver Side › Inflator Module |
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible…
Risk: 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. Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles… |
| 12V436000 2012-09-05 |
Electrical System Wiring |
Honda is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2011 Element passenger vehicles equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness. The wire that supplies power to the trailer turn signal lights was inadvertently switched with the stop lamp wire. As a result the turn signals only illuminate when the brake lamps are illuminated. This does not comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety…
Risk: Without trailer turn signal illumination, the driver's intent is not communicated, potentially increasing the risk of a crash. Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on September 20, 2012. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. |
| 11V395000 2011-08-04 |
Power Train Automatic Transmission Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) |
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 ACCORD, 2007-2010 CR-V, AND 2005-2008 ELEMENT PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1, 2004, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 3, 2010. 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…
Risk: 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. … Fix: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 27, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AUTOMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-999-1009. |
| 10V098000 2010-03-16 |
Service Brakes, Air | HONDA HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 ODYSSEY AND ELEMENT PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 28, 2006 AND AUGUST 21, 2008. AIR CAN ENTER THE VSA MODULAR PUMP DURING AN INITIAL SELF-CHECK PROCESS THAT OCCURS SHORTLY AFTER EACH TIME THE ENGINE IS STARTED. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ENOUGH AIR TO ENTER THE SYSTEM TO RESULT IN A BRAKE PEDAL THAT FEELS SOFT OR LOWER TO THE FLOOR.
Risk: 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. Fix: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNER AND HONDA DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VSA MODULATOR BY REMOVING ANY EXISTING AIR IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM THEN APPLY SEALANT AND CAPS TO PREVENT AIR FROM ENTERING THE BRAKE SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 3, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009. |
| 08V349000 2008-07-29 |
Suspension Rear |
HONDA IS RECALLING 241 MY 2008 ELEMENT VEHICLES. THE FRONT BUSHING BRACKET OF THE LEFT TRAILING ARM OF THE REAR SUSPENSION MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY WELDED AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE TRAILING ARM.
Risk: 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. Fix: OWNERS WILL BE CONTACTED BY PHONE AND ADVISED TO STOP DRIVING THEIR VEHICLES UNTIL THEY HAVE TAKEN THEIR VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LEFT REAR TRAILING ARM AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 25, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA… |
Summaries are quoted verbatim from NHTSA's official campaign records. A single campaign often covers dozens of model years and several nameplates, so a summary may name vehicles other than the 2008 Element — that is normal. Every record listed here carries this vehicle's own make, model and model year in NHTSA's database. Whether a recall is still open on a particular car can only be determined by VIN.
113 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2008 Element, grouped by the component owners reported. Counts reflect how many owners complained, not how often the fault actually occurs.
| Reported component | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags 1 crash, 1 injured |
24 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2 crash, 1 injured |
23 | |
| Suspension | 17 | |
| Structure | 8 | |
| Visibility | 5 | |
| Suspension,Structure | 4 | |
| Service Brakes | 3 | |
| Tires | 3 | |
| Service Brakes, Air 1 crash |
3 | |
| Unknown Or Other 1 crash |
2 | |
| Power Train | 2 | |
| Electrical System | 2 |
A complaint is an unverified owner report. It is a signal about where to look, not proof of a defect.
Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaint filings on this model year. These are the owners' own words, not our diagnosis, and each one is a single unverified report.
We were driving on a bumpy road and our driver side curtain airbag deployed and cracked the windshield
filed 09/16/2026 · ODI 11764818
Airbag warning light stays on. Dealer indicates that the problem is a weight sensor. Dealer stated that seat belt issues and airbag issues were warranted by Honda. Dealer indicated that the weight sensor issue, which is used to deploy the airbag is not warranted. If seatbelts and airbags are warranted, why would the weight sensors that are an integral part of the SRS not be warranted? Dealer has estimated the cost of repairs at $1,240.47. Part to complete the repair is not available at this time. Per the dealer, it has been ordered with shipping date TBD.
filed 08/13/2022 · ODI 11479122
SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW IN JUNE 2008, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 2000-5000 MILES. BLEEDING THE BRAKES SEEMS TO CORRECT THE SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 2000-5000 MILES THE PEDAL IS AGAIN SOFT AND CONTINUES TO GET SOFTER. I HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER REPEATEDLY AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND MODULATOR WHICH DID NOT CORRECT MY SOFT PEDAL. I WENT THROUGH SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY TOLD ME "NO PROBLEM FOUND" AND BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS MY IMAGINATION. FINA
filed 10/19/2011 · ODI 10430765
AT 22,294 MILES MY 2008 HONDA ELEMENT, HAS SEVERE PREMATURE BRAKE PAD, ROTOR WEAR. I HEARD AND FELT A SEVERE GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. I HAD TIRES PUT ON MY CAR AND THE BRAKE PADS INSPECTED AND MECHANIC FOUND NOTHING UNUSUAL. TWO WEEKS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED LOUDER AND WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY FOUND NO REAR BRAKE PAD ON RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND MY ROTOR WAS COMPLETELY RUINED. MY FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE FINE AND WAS GIVEN NO EXPLANATION BY HONDA WHY THIS COULD'VE OCCURRED. HONDA WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED MANY OTHER OWNERS H
filed 01/05/2011 · ODI 10374864
The front bushing bracket on the left (driver's side) rear trailing arm may have an improper weld and could separate from the arm. I am noticing some rust in this area. I have rustproofed the vehicle to help prolong the life and to avoid a separated bracket which can release the lower portion of the wheel hub and damage the brake system, leading to a loss of vehicle control and an increased risk of a crash.
filed 09/29/2026 · ODI 11767821
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Element. The contact stated that while reversing out of a parking spot, the driver’s side rear trailing arm fractured. There were no warning lights illuminated. Upon researching the failure, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V349000 (Suspension). The vehicle was towed to the husband's place of employment. The contact called the local dealer, who confirmed there was no recall coverage on the VIN for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure
filed 09/17/2025 · ODI 11687921
There is a massive rust spot under the driver side seating position where your feet would rest while driving. Seems as there isn't significant drainage holes in this area.
filed 06/17/2025 · ODI 11667334
I just purchased a 2008 Honda Element and took it for inspection and the entire undercarriage is rusted. I know Honda of Canada will fix or buy back the vehicle. However as I am in the USA my understanding is that for now only the CRV’s are affected. The car cannot be driven as it is a very dangerous concern. Please help.
filed 08/14/2024 · ODI 11608412
A recall only matters if it is open on your car. The lists above are for the model year as a whole; the free official lookup below tells you what applies to your specific 17-character VIN.
Free, official, and takes about thirty seconds. No account needed.
Yes. NHTSA records 11 recall campaigns filed by Honda for the 2008 Element. The most recent is campaign 19V182000, filed 2019-03-06, covering Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module.
Yes. 7 of the 11 campaigns on record for this model year involve the airbag system. The fix is a free inflator replacement at an authorised dealer.
The most-reported component is Air Bags with 24 of the 113 owner complaints on file, including 1 reports involving a crash. Complaint counts show where owners report trouble; they are not proof of a defect.
113 complaints with NHTSA for the 2008 Element, spread across 29 reported component groups.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's free recall lookup. Recalls are applied per vehicle, so the model-year lists above cannot tell you whether your particular car is covered.