How many recalls does the 2008 Honda Element have?

The 2008 Honda Element has 12 NHTSA safety recall campaigns on record.

How do I check if my 2008 Honda Element has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's official recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls) to see open, unrepaired recalls for your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free.

What do owners complain about most on the 2008 Honda Element?

Of 128 NHTSA complaints on file, the most-reported component is air bags.

2008 Honda Element Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2008 Honda Element has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 13,074,966 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 128 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

AIR BAGS 19V501000 2019-06-27 1,657,752 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

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.

AIR BAGS 19V499000 2019-06-27 3,947 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

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.

AIR BAGS 19V182000 2019-03-06 1,101,534 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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 service at…

AIR BAGS 18V268000 2018-04-26 1,335 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

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.

AIR BAGS 17V029000 2017-01-10 308,884 affected

Defect

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,…

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

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.

AIR BAGS 16V344000 2016-05-23 1,790,894 affected

Defect

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,…

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

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.

AIR BAGS 15V320000 2015-05-28 6,281,043 affected

Defect

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. …

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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 that have had their…

TRAILER HITCHES 12V436000 2012-09-05 5,216 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

Without trailer turn signal illumination, the driver's intent is not communicated, potentially increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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.

POWER TRAIN 11V395000 2011-08-04 1,512,107 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

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. ENGINE STALL AND…

Remedy

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.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY 10V271000 2010-06-15 13 affected

Defect

ALL IN ONE MOBILITY IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2008 CONVERSION VANS EQUIPPED WITH VMI/RICON 6-WAY POWER SEAT BASES. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A DEFECTIVE WELD AT THE JOINT BETWEEN THE PIVOTING PLATE AND THE PIVOTING PLATE PIN.

Consequence

THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY BE INJURED IF THE SEAT BASE PIN WERE TO BREAK.

Remedy

ALL IN ONE MOBILITY WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 22, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ALL IN ONE MOBILITY AT 1-503-255-5005.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 10V098000 2010-03-16 412,000 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

SUSPENSION 08V349000 2008-07-29 241 affected

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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 AT 1-800-999-1009.

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS

SUSPENSION

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

STRUCTURE:BODY

SERVICE BRAKES

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

POWER TRAIN

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

STRUCTURE

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

Total complaints128

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Rotted and rusted out trailing arms”

SUSPENSION · reported 2026-03-23

“The contact owns a 2008 honda element. The contact stated that while reversing out of a parking spot, the driverâ€™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 · reported 2025-09-16

“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.”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2025-04-16

“The driver side rear trail arm broke off bending the strut with the tire hanging, it happened in my apartment parking lot, I could have lost my life if this had happened at high speeds or killed somebody else. Iâ€™m very lucky to be alive!! Currently it is not inspectable due to the damage. The…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2024-10-24

“The driver side rear trail arm broke off bending the strut with the tire hanging, it happened in my apartment parking lot, I could have lost my life if this had happened at high speeds or killed somebody else. Iâ€™m very lucky to be alive!! Currently it is not inspectable due to the damage. The…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2024-10-24

“My mechanic informed me that this car will no longer pass nys inspection due to body rust/corrosion holes where the rear trailing arms attach to the car's body. Honda has issued a recall for the same model year cr-v, which has a nearly identical trailing arm attachment design, due to the risk of…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2024-10-24

“My mechanic informed me that this car will no longer pass nys inspection due to body rust/corrosion holes where the rear trailing arms attach to the car's body. Honda has issued a recall for the same model year cr-v, which has a nearly identical trailing arm attachment design, due to the risk of…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2024-10-24

“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 crvâ€™s are affected. The car cannot be driven as it is a very…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2024-08-12

Defect investigations

Investigation EA09014 Opened 2009-10-19 · closed 2010-05-11

Air in brake system

By letter dated March 15, 2010, American Honda Motor Corp. (HMC) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA Recall No. 10V-098) to address a defect in approximately 412,000 model year (MY) 2007 and 2008 Honda Odyssey and Element vehicles equipped…