Honda Element Reviews

I loved my Honda Element! I had a Honda Element 2004 before I sadly rolled it three times this last winter during freezing Rain here in Minnesota. But don't think for a minute that what I'm saying is it bad for winter driving. No the element drives great in the winter. I only rolled due to the fact that I couldn't afford new tires at the time and mine on the element were bald as hell. Although it was totaled and after being upside down in the ditch for an hour. This bad boy still fired right up.

I own a 2005 Honda Element EX with 187,000 miles on it and it will not die. It's the most practical vehicle I've ever owned for a variety of reasons. I have tested the MPG on various occasions and I am getting 25 MPG combined city/highway. I don't know why I am getting on the high end of the scale, but maybe it's because I have a feather foot. Nevertheless, for a 4WD SUV it's not bad with the exception of the gutless engine. I wish it had a bit more power. With the plastic floors and rubber mats I am now a firm believer that cars should never have carpet. It's the easiest vehicle to clean. You can literally wipe your floors spotless. No stains. The fabric for the seats could have been more durable. I think everyone has had the same problem on the drivers side seat where it is torn from getting in and out of the vehicle.

I just had an awful experience with my Honda Element 2006. As I was driving home, I experienced smoke inside the car. I was at the end of my street, so made it to my driveway. When I opened the passenger's side back door, I could see the fire in the wall, next to the back seat and in front of the wheel well. All I could do was pour water in there with the garden hose. Large hole in the wall, plastic cover melted, passenger seat partially burnt. Smelled like wire burning. I was very lucky to get out of the car. Luckily I had just dropped my 10-year old granddaughter off to her mother. I am so upset, as I love this car. Best car I've ever had. I keep up the maintenance and care of the car. I am waiting for the insurance adjuster today. So no repair number at this time. Will keep in touch.

2005 Honda Element EX: I will never buy another Honda vehicle in my life. Driver and passenger vehicle windows broke years ago like every other Honda Element. The key locks won't turn. The AC motor broke twice. The driver side seat is badly torn. Honda has no pride.

I love my Element❤❤. It is a 2006 and these are the repairs I have had done. Windows automatic... first driver's side and then much later passenger side. Brakes have been redone, normal maintenance maintained, have driven it constantly for 170,000 miles. It has great headroom???

The Element LX is the ugly duckling in the family. We bought it new in 2008 and we now have 52,000 miles on it. Ugly is almost the only negative we have for it. The low gas mileage threw us a curve. We have a 2000 Chevy suburban, V8 that gets 20 mpg, so it blows our mind that our 4 cylinder Honda also averages 20 mpg. We did have a window regulator go out in 2016, but that is it for parts and repair issues. We keep it clean and serviced. It is a fun car to drive, easy to handle roomy, perfect for camping, easy to keep clean. It is solid and we often refer to it as our little tank.

I truly loved my Honda Element 2003. I still own it to date with 83,000 miles. I have to be honest and will never purchase another one. I have replaced the starter 3 times, the struts 3 times, the key locks about 3 times, they are currently not working again and can't afford to replace. I have electrical issues, not sure why, radiator went, replaced that, the ball joints twice, cd player stopped working after 6 years and now I have to replace the control arms and muffler. I do get oil changes scheduled. Don't understand why this vehicle has so many problems. I loved the design and I love my element, but I honestly would not buy another. I have only 83k miles and I don't use the vehicle often.

Replaced the catalytic converter twice because it stolen 500 deductible second time. Not so lucky, 800 dollars third time. Husband took to guy for 300, just straight pipe, passenger side window, regulator broke 2 times but during replacement handle broke. So now have to let people out, real pain. Everything breaks easy.

I had brought in my 2010 Honda Element to three different Honda dealers to fix the 12v accessory power plug since no matter what I plugged into it, the item was very very loose and would many times lose connection and just about fall out on its own. Obviously it is not functioning as it should. The worst place I brought it to was Honda of Kenosha, they were the rudest people I've ever dealt with. Not only were they being very sexist and whistling at me calling me "baby", but they said the power plug is working "fine" and they cannot fix it since it's working fine. I even showed them the issue and then they made excuses how it must be my fault, etc. They refused to fix the issue and were the biggest jerks known to man. I even reported them to Honda corporate who didn't care (official letter to upper management). I will NEVER buy another Honda EVER again.

Honda Civic constantly overheats after driving on interstate for over 30 minutes, then get off. It's fine in stop and go traffic. Fine on highway. Only when I get off highway. Looked online & MANY, MANY Hondas with same problem!!! No one has an answer. :( Called Honda service, and guy sounded like dumb **. I had more brains than he did when I was in high school!! Last time I buy a Honda.

I bought a 2003 (yes, old) Honda Element a month ago. The passenger window regulator (motor) suddenly broke. So I went to AutoZone and bought a new one (lifetime warranty from AutoZone). Took about 1 hour and it is as good a new! I really like the interior and exterior design of this car. I wish it got better MPG, but oh well. I have been getting other parts (like the plastic piece I broke when removing the window $12, and a new tailgate weatherstripping $15) from a local Honda dealer. It's amazing that I can get the parts from a dealer for less than I can buy them online!!!

I have been so thankful & proud being an owner of this Honda Element 2008. This is my second Element. It has been reliable. Great on gas mileage. All I do - keep it's maintenance current. Only recently, the Catalytic converter was stolen. Resilient.

Purchased my 2003 Honda Element in December of 2012. LOVED the car, put over 260,000 miles on it. Got rear ended on the hwy and totaled my car. Best car I ever owned and want to find another.

I love my 2003 Honda Element. Truly it has its small things here and there but tonight for the first time it left me sitting on side off the road and I don't know what happened. First it acted like it didn't want to start but then it did then the radio went crazy and stopped working a few mins. After that all the gadgets went crazy and it acted like it was losing power? I thought it was the battery but we tried to jump it off and it still won't start back but the radio came back on. I had to leave my baby on the side of the road tonight and I don't know what's wrong with it! Any ideas? What could it be?

I bought my 2006 Honda Element with just 3 miles on it. Now it has 144K. I LOVE this car. I pull an aluminum trailer every year when I go camping. Throw in a couple of kayaks. I do have the roof rack, but I just move the seats and there you go. I love the floors, easy clean up. I just wish they would make them again. I want a new one. Exactly the same as mine, just newer. The seats are ripping on the driver side, which I have never experienced with any other car. Is it a big deal, just aesthetically. I can cover with a seat cover, eventually. Oh I forgot, the lights for the shifter and wheel went out a long time ago. It is so expensive to get them fix that i just don't bother. They really should fix that.

I own a 2005 Honda Element. I bought this car a year ago from a private seller with 93k miles. It is a great car, very strong and roomy. I had no issues with this vehicle, good maintenance and the car will run for a long time. I am sorry about every complaint I read here, but my experience has been the best with Honda and Toyota.

Great car. 70k miles. Reliable. Dependable. Does everything I need it do with excellence. 2007 ex, purchased new. HOWEVER, worst brakes ever fitted to an automobile in the history of man. I am in the shop waiting room as i write this, getting, you guessed it...brakes. Third set of front rotors. Second set of front calipers. Fourth set of rear pads. Possibly rear rotor replacements. I have a manual gearbox and do a lot of engine braking. All brakes "should" last a long time. Instead, the element has brake components apparently made of cheese. I've spent a fortune them. Please find the man or women who designed this braking system and throw them out of automotive design forever.

Bought car New from dealer and did not know the air condition was put in after factory. Never do that again, I think they put it in wrong or put in with after market parts. Had it in about 6 times for different parts they claimed it needed. Also until this day, the cable is broken and will not pay $700 to fix. I use my finger to switch over to Air and Heat. Also would never buy 4-Wheel Drive again, went through a lot of tires. Rough drive, a lot of noise in front. Went though many batteries too in 11 years. I guess Honda gets away with a lot of recalls.

Plenty of issues. My 2006 has 70145 miles during first year the fabric on seats on passenger side was falling apart. They put a new cover that's when they were nice. Now 2014, my window regulator on right side dropped really, looked it up on web they have so many complaints about this defect. They are playing dumb which makes me angry and the so called seats are cracking and ripping,,, It's crazy the battery went bad after 2 years, 3 major things and this is suppose to be a tough car? Put bikes and camp and surf boards. I HAVE NOT TREATED MY CAR TO THAT AMOUNT OF FUN... I WILL NEVER BUY A HONDA AGAIN EVER. Money grabbers customer service are infinite in ignorance. I could do that job what? Huh? I don't know...

Purchased a used 2008 Element from a Honda dealer, bought over the internet, car sold with warranty, thought I was doing the right thing by buying a Honda from a Honda dealer. What a mistake. Picked up Element, after two days noticed some rough driving, brought it into local Honda dealer to find out the front shocks were shot and the suspension had been modified. Called dealer/seller, they blew me off. Complained to Honda Customer care several times to no avail. DO NOT TRUST HONDA DEALERS FOR USED HONDA cars/SUVs. The safety inspection that the dealer did was incomplete. They did not fill out the documentation required in system, they missed out on some things and intentionally hid other issues. Worse is the owner of the local dealership who had car on the lot for 90+ days knew the prior owners of the car and knew history. Honda DEALERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROFESSIONALS yet are anything but.

I've read a lot of reviews on here regarding the Honda Element. Across the board, I have found that almost every single negative review is pretty ridiculous. I firmly believe that when people buy a Honda, they expect to not have any repairs or problems. This is very much inaccurate information. Of course, it's going to require repairs at some point. One individual complained about having to do compliance bushings with 196,000 miles!!! Really? How miserable is your life if you get online to complain about ANY repair with 196,000 miles.

I took my 2003 Honda Element to Jay Wolfe Honda today because I have been hearing popping noises when I turned. They told me it was the compliance Bushings and the sway bars were loose. For the repairs it is going to cost me $475 for the bushings and additional $243 for the sway bars to be fixed, then another $99 for the front wheel alignment to be done. I came home and looked online for a cheaper place and I found that this is a common problem with these cars.

Honda customer care reeks! First, the passenger door wouldn't turn when I put in the key. Now I'm stranded with no car in the mountains since the ignition will not accept any of the keys (3). I looked online, sure enough, others have also been stranded with no means of moving the car. I can't even have it strap towed to my local mechanic because it's nosed in at my home and locked into gear. My closest dealer is in Flagstaff, AZ, over 2 hours away ($600 tow). I have to get to work, but now have a two ton paperweight sitting outside my apartment 7 miles from work. So I called Honda, described in detail what the car was doing and the guy told me the dealer could help me (just to get me off the damn phone).

I have had 5 window regulators break in my 2006 Honda Element. I am told that it is no longer under warranty so it is not their issue. The first regulator went out on the passenger’s side 2 months after the warranty was out. The driver’s side regulator went out 8 months later. The dealership replaced both at no cost to me and let me know they were Honda parts and would be fine. Eight months later, the passenger regulator went out and they refused to help me and wanted to charge me over $400.00 to replace a part they put in.

The Honda Corp showed absolute disdain for the rights of their customer and total lack of willingness to stand behind their product in my recent dealing with the company.

Upon starting the ignition on my 2005 Honda Element, smoke began to emit out of the driver side door. After some electrical crackling noises, the power window master switch caught on fire and continued to smoke out the vehicle without any ability for me to open the windows. My 12-month-old daughter was also in the vehicle.

I bought a brand new 2006 Honda Element from Stephen Wade Honda in St. George, Utah. Within 2 years, the battery died. It was still under warranty so they replaced it. It was a 100-month battery. The battery died again in 2011 and I took it back thinking it would at least be prorated. They charged me $80.00.

I have a 2006 Honda Element with vinyl upholstery. The car has been well maintained but the upholstery began cracking on the driver's seat in 2009. Now the seams are split on the passenger side on the back and on the seat. Foam and wires are exposed.

This is not an actual complaint. I own a Honda 2008 Honda Element. Even with the hood down, there is easy access to the engine compartment from the ground. I recently found the neighbor's cat huddled on the engine. The situation is not amusing because if the engine is started, the animal could be injured or killed. Has Honda considered adding some form of barrier to prevent such occurrences?

Following is our "Honda certified" story. This spring, we purchased a used Element from the Honda dealership in Traverse City, MI. They said it was "Honda certified" and we had no reason to doubt that, but after driving it for a week, its rear brakes made an inordinate amount of noise. We also found a dash light that didn't work plus it needed a minor recall service completed, so we traveled to our local Honda dealership to get this all done. While taking care of this, the service fellow came out and said the rear brakes were completely gone and the Element shouldn't be driven in its current state. We of course had them repaired, which came to $150. The service fellow also said, "Call Honda Motors and tell them about this. These brakes should have been replaced by the dealership who sold it to you". The reason we took the Element to a different dealership was because it's a 7+ hour drive to the dealer we had purchased it from.