NHTSA has 113 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Honda Element[1]. Brakes lead the list with 33 complaints[2].
Most reported problems
Here are the complaint groups owners raise, biggest first.
- Brakes. 33 complaints[2]. Owners describe a soft, mushy pedal that sinks a long way, and in a few stories the pedal went to the floor. Others mention brake pads wearing out early.
- Suspension. 24 complaints[5]. In the stories we read, owners describe corroded rear arm mounts that gave way, clunking noises from worn parts, and shops telling them the car was unsafe to drive.
- Air Bags. 24 complaints[6]. Owners describe waiting on repair parts after a recall notice, and some ask whether the passenger side needs the same fix.
- Structure. 14 complaints[7]. Owners describe rusted frame pieces, cracking paint on the hood, a loose trim piece that flew off on the highway, and a rear window that shattered by itself.
- Visibility. 6 complaints[8].
- Electrical System. 6 complaints[9].
- Power Train. 4 complaints[10].
- Tires. 4 complaints[11].
Recalls
Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2008 Element is necessarily included.
- Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module (19V499), June 2019. About 3,947 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: explosion, injury, death. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[12]
- Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module (19V501), June 2019. About 1,657,752 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: explosion, injury, death. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[13]
- Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module (19V182), March 2019. About 1,101,534 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: explosion, injury, death, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[14]
- Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module (18V268), April 2018. About 1,335 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, stalling, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[15]
- Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module (17V029), January 2017. About 308,884 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury, death. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[16]
- Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module (16V344), May 2016. About 1,790,894 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury, death. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[17]
- Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module (15V320), May 2015. About 6,281,043 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, death, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[18]
- Trailer Hitches (12V436), September 2012. About 5,216 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[19]
- Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) (11V395), August 2011. About 1,512,107 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[20]
- Equipment Adaptive/Mobility (10V271), June 2010. About 13 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[21]
- Service Brakes, Air (10V098), March 2010. About 412,000 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[22]
- Suspension › Rear (08V349), July 2008. About 241 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking, parts separating. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[23]
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
| Version | City / highway / combined MPG | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| Element 2WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[4] | 20 / 25 / 22 | $3,050 |
| Element 2WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[24] | 18 / 23 / 20 | $3,350 |
| Element 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive[25] | 19 / 24 / 21 | $3,200 |
| Element 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive[26] | 18 / 23 / 20 | $3,350 |
Safety ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR AWD/FWD[27] | n/a | n/a | n/a | 3 | 20.4% |
Engine and size
These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.
| Version | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELEMENT 4DR SUV FWD LX/EX/SC[28] | 169 in | 72 in | 70 in | 102 in | 3,384 lb |
How 2008 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 423 | 10 |
| 2004 | 281 | 9 |
| 2005 | 159 | 7 |
| 2006 | 122 | 9 |
| 2007 | 112 | 10 |
| 2008 | 113 | 12 |
| 2009 | 31 | 8 |
| 2010 | 30 | 10 |
| 2011 | 11 | 10 |
NHTSA's counts for the Element show 113 complaints and 12 recalls for 2008[3]. Among the 9 model years listed, 4 have fewer complaints than 2008 and 4 have more[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2011 (11) and the most are for 2003 (423)[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 2008 Element?
The 2008 Element has 113 complaints on file[1]. Brakes, suspension, air bags and structure make up most of that list[2][5][6][7]. Brake complaints include 3 crashes, the most of any group[2]. Recalls exist for this year too, so check the Recalls section above[3]. If you are shopping, look closely at the brakes and the underside before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Honda Element?
- Brakes lead with 33 complaints, followed by suspension and air bags with 24 each[2][5][6].
- Does the 2008 Honda Element have recalls?
- Yes. The recall count for this year is listed with the by-year data[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the full list.
- How many complaints does the 2008 Honda Element have?
- NHTSA has 113 owner complaints on file[1]. These are unverified owner reports.
- What is the gas mileage of the 2008 Honda Element?
- See the Fuel Economy section on this page for the EPA figures.
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Honda Element
Compare all model years of the Honda Element
Other Honda models from 2008
Similar cars from 2008: suvs
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 113 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Honda Element (5 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 2 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 33 complaints name the brakes component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 18,350). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Honda Element model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Element 2WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 25 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- 24 complaints name the suspension component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 130,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 24 complaints name the air bags component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 14 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 112,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 6 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 6 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 4 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 4 complaints name the tires component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 19V499, filed June 27, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 19V501, filed June 27, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 19V182, filed March 6, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 18V268, filed April 26, 2018: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 17V029, filed January 10, 2017: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 16V344, filed May 23, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 15V320, filed May 28, 2015: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 12V436, filed September 5, 2012: Trailer Hitches. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 11V395, filed August 4, 2011: Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (Tcm / Pcm / Tecm). NHTSA recall database
- Recall 10V271, filed June 15, 2010: Equipment Adaptive / Mobility. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 10V098, filed March 16, 2010: Service Brakes, Air. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 08V349, filed July 29, 2008: Suspension › Rear. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Element 2WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 23 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Element 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 24 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Element 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 23 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR AWD/FWD: rollover 3 stars; rollover risk 20.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, ELEMENT 4DR SUV FWD LX/EX/SC: length 169 in, width 72 in, height 70 in, wheelbase 102 in, curb weight 3,384 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov