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Honda

2011 Honda ELEMENT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2011 Honda ELEMENT has 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (40% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2011 honda element. the contact received a notification for nhtsa campaign number: 14v351000 (air bags). however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer wa.

2 crash reports

15

Total Complaints

0

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

6 complaints
40%
  • • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V351000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WA
  • • TAKATA RECALL: REPLACED DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG 2 YRS AGO WHEN NEWS BROKE. DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE PASSENGER SIDE AS HONDA AMERICA REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT. NOW HONDA ISSUES RECALL ON PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, STATING NO ONE SHOULD SIT IN PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL REPAIR. CALLED DEALER, HONDA AMERICA HAS NOT STOCK
  • • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS M
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V351000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

2 complaints
13%
  • • THE DRIVER SIDE, FRONT WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED IN ON ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY OBJECT STRUCK THE WINDOW. IT JUST EXPLODED. *JS
  • • REPEATEDLY SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE ICONS WILL COME ON AND THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY CLEARLY ARE GUESSING. IT HAPPENED MOST RECENTLY JUST LAST WEEK. IT USUALLY HAPPENS UPON STARTUP, BUT SOMETIMES WHILE DRI
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE DRIVER SIDE, FRONT WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED IN ON ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY OBJECT STRUCK THE WINDOW. IT JUST EXPLODED. *JS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

2 complaints
13%
  • • THE DRIVER SIDE, FRONT WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED IN ON ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY OBJECT STRUCK THE WINDOW. IT JUST EXPLODED. *JS
  • • SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AND IS BLOCKING VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD AHEAD. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I SEE THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH SIMILAR MODELS OF HONDA. IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL FOR HONDA AS IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JS
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE DRIVER SIDE, FRONT WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED IN ON ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY OBJECT STRUCK THE WINDOW. IT JUST EXPLODED. *JS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

1 complaints
7%
  • • REPEATEDLY SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE ICONS WILL COME ON AND THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY CLEARLY ARE GUESSING. IT HAPPENED MOST RECENTLY JUST LAST WEEK. IT USUALLY HAPPENS UPON STARTUP, BUT SOMETIMES WHILE DRI
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“REPEATEDLY SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE ICONS WILL COME ON AND THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY CLEARLY ARE GUESSING. IT HAPPENED MOST RECENTLY JUST LAST WEEK. IT USUALLY HAPPENS UPON STARTUP, BUT SOMETIMES WHILE DRI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

1 complaints
7%
  • • THERE ARE TWO INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR AIR PRESSURE THAT COME ON AND STAY ON WITHOUT CAUSE (PRESSURE IS NORMAL) "TPMS" AND A SYMBOL. IT IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM AMONG OWNERS ONLINE IN GROUP DISCUSSIONS. IN ADDITION, THE SUSPENSION IS FAULTY IN THAT AN UNEXPLAINABLE "CRACKING" AND SLICKING NOISE HAS BEE
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THERE ARE TWO INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR AIR PRESSURE THAT COME ON AND STAY ON WITHOUT CAUSE (PRESSURE IS NORMAL) "TPMS" AND A SYMBOL. IT IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM AMONG OWNERS ONLINE IN GROUP DISCUSSIONS. IN ADDITION, THE SUSPENSION IS FAULTY IN THAT AN UNEXPLAINABLE "CRACKING" AND SLICKING NOISE HAS BEE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)
$500
OTHER(~50K mi)
$500
VISIBILITY(~50K mi)
$500
TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)
$500
SUSPENSION(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 15 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • ☐
    AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V351000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WA

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    OTHER: THE DRIVER SIDE, FRONT WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED IN ON ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY OBJECT STRUCK THE WINDOW. IT JUST EXPLODED. *JS

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    VISIBILITY: THE DRIVER SIDE, FRONT WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED IN ON ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY OBJECT STRUCK THE WINDOW. IT JUST EXPLODED. *JS

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    TRANSMISSION: REPEATEDLY SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE ICONS WILL COME ON AND THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY CLEARLY ARE GUESSING. IT HAPPENED MOST RECENTLY JUST LAST WEEK. IT USUALLY HAPPENS UPON STARTUP, BUT SOMETIMES WHILE DRI

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Honda ELEMENT — Year Comparison

How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

2011
15Excellent Reliability
2010
39Above Average
Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Fire reports
0
Crash reports
2
Injury reports
0
Segment avg
80

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2011 Honda ELEMENT

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