What are the most common problems with the 2011 Honda Element?

Air bags are the biggest complaint group, with 6 complaints. Visibility follows with 2.

Does the 2011 Honda Element have recalls?

Yes. The count is in the by-year fact and each recall is listed in the Recalls section of this page.

Is the 2011 Honda Element reliable?

NHTSA has 11 owner complaints on file. Most groups have just 1 complaint, so no single area dominates apart from air bags.

How many miles per gallon does the 2011 Honda Element get?

See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.

Is 2011 the best year for the Honda Element?

See the by-year comparison on this page to compare the complaint and recall counts for each year.

2011 Honda Element Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 11 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Honda Element^[1]. The biggest group is the air bags, with 6 complaints^[2].

11owner complaints^[1]

10recalls^[3]

20–22MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here is what owners reported, starting with the biggest group.

Air Bags. 6 complaints^[2]. Owners describe getting recall notices and then waiting on repair parts that the dealer did not have. Some say they were told to keep the front passenger seat empty in the meantime, which is hard for a family. One owner describes a crash while swerving around debris on the road.
Visibility. 2 complaints^[5]. In the stories we read, one owner says a side window broke apart while driving on the highway with nothing hitting it. Another says the sun visor will not stay up and drops into the line of sight.
Suspension. 1 complaint^[6]. An owner describes tire pressure warning lights that stay on when the pressure is fine, plus odd cracking noises from the suspension.
Traction Control System. 1 complaint^[7]. An owner describes warning icons lighting up and the vehicle losing power, often at startup, even after several shop visits.
Power Train, Wheels, Steering and Unknown Or Other. 1 complaint each^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2011 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 (18V662), September 2018. About 57,095 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.^[15]
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.^[16]
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module (18V041), January 2018. About 24,945 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.^[17]
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.^[18]
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.^[19]
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.^[20]
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.^[21]

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 / 24 / 22	$3,050
Element 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[22]	19 / 24 / 21	$3,200
Element 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[23]	18 / 22 / 20	$3,350

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD^[24]	n/a	n/a	n/a	3	20.4%
SUV FWD^[25]	n/a	n/a	n/a	3	21.9%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2011 Honda Element with electric motor^[26]	166 hp

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
ELEMENT 4DR SUV AWD EX^[27]	169 in	72 in	70 in	102 in	3,578 lb
ELEMENT 4DR SUV FWD LX/EX/SC^[28]	169 in	72 in	70 in	102 in	3,444 lb

How 2011 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Element model year. The 2011 is highlighted^[3].

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 11 complaints and 10 recalls for 2011^[3]. Among the 9 model years listed, 0 have fewer complaints than 2011 and 8 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 2011 Element?

The 2011 Element has a small pile of complaints, 11 in all^[1]. Air bags stand out as the biggest group^[2]. Most of those stories are about waiting for a repair, not about the car failing on its own. Recalls exist for this year, so check the Recalls section on this page^[3]. These are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for how many were sold, so treat them as a guide and not a score.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Honda Element?: Air bags are the biggest complaint group, with 6 complaints^[2]. Visibility follows with 2^[5].
Does the 2011 Honda Element have recalls?: Yes. The count is in the by-year fact^[3] and each recall is listed in the Recalls section of this page.
Is the 2011 Honda Element reliable?: NHTSA has 11 owner complaints on file^[1]. Most groups have just 1 complaint, so no single area dominates apart from air bags^[2].
How many miles per gallon does the 2011 Honda Element get?: See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.
Is 2011 the best year for the Honda Element?: See the by-year comparison on this page to compare the complaint and recall counts for each year.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Honda Element

2003 423 complaints, 10 recalls
2005 159 complaints, 7 recalls
2006 122 complaints, 9 recalls
2007 112 complaints, 10 recalls
2008 113 complaints, 12 recalls
2010 30 complaints, 10 recalls
2011 this page

Compare all model years of the Honda Element

Other Honda models from 2011

2011 Honda Fit 113 complaints, 11 recalls
2011 Honda Insight 41 complaints, 10 recalls
2011 Honda Pilot 293 complaints, 11 recalls

All Honda models

Similar cars from 2011: suvs

2011 Cadillac SRX 447 complaints, 7 recalls
2011 Chevrolet Equinox 782 complaints, 3 recalls
2011 Chevrolet HHR 203 complaints, 2 recalls
2011 Chevrolet Traverse 608 complaints, 5 recalls
2011 Ford Edge 1,803 complaints, 3 recalls
2011 Ford Escape 1,355 complaints, 2 recalls

All suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 11 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Honda Element (1 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
6 complaints name the air bags component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). 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 / 24 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
2 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
1 complaints name the suspension component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
1 complaints name the traction control system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
1 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
1 complaints name the wheels component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
1 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
1 complaints name the unknown or other 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 18V662, filed September 27, 2018: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V268, filed April 26, 2018: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V041, filed January 9, 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
EPA rating for Element 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, 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, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 22 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: rollover 3 stars; rollover risk 20.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: rollover 3 stars; rollover risk 21.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2011 Honda Element with electric motor: rated 166 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, ELEMENT 4DR SUV AWD EX: length 169 in, width 72 in, height 70 in, wheelbase 102 in, curb weight 3,578 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
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 3,444 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2011 Honda Element: problems, recalls and fuel economy