Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Honda Element airbags problems
severe 70 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
70
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
11crashes
17injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 70 airbags complaints filed for the 2005 Honda Element, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 7 model years of Honda Element we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 70.
Airbags accounts for 44% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 9 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passengers airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passengers airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2005 Honda Element has multiple confirmed airbag failures across 70 complaints. The most common and dangerous is spontaneous deployment: driver- and passenger-side airbags deploy at low speeds (5–60 mph) with zero impact—on gravel roads, in parking lots, while crossing speed bumps, or during routine highway driving. These deployments cause facial and arm burns, neck strain, hearing loss, and loud trauma. Owners consistently report that dealers and Honda customer service refuse responsibility, often directing owners to file insurance claims for non-collision events (which insurers deny) or denying warranty coverage.
A second failure pattern is the opposite problem: airbags fail to deploy during actual crashes. Owners report high-impact collisions—rollovers with crushed roofs and windshields, T-bone crashes, rear-end impacts—where the driver-side or front airbags either don't activate or only partially inflate. Injuries in these cases are severe: fractured sternum, rotator cuff tears, internal bleeding.
Minor road imperfections (curbs, potholes, speed bumps) trigger airbag deployment. Dealers deny responsibility and claim the owner must have struck something.
A third pattern involves persistent SRS warning lights that remain illuminated for years despite dealer resets. After Takata recall service, warning lights reappear, and dealers claim the light sensor is a separate, non-warrantable issue.
The Takata recall itself created delays: owners received notices but replacement parts were unavailable for months or years, leaving vehicles unrepaired despite acknowledged defects.
Same Honda Element airbags reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Spontaneous airbag deployment
Driver- or passenger-side airbags deploy without collision or impact, often at low speed or while stationary. Owners report loud explosions, powder discharge, facial and arm burns, neck strain, and hearing damage. Many incidents occur on low-speed maneuvers (parking lots, gravel roads, speed bumps) and normal highway driving with no contact.
When: Low speed (5–60 mph) during normal driving, parking lot maneuvers, gravel roads, or while stationary; incidents reported from 2009 onwards
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loud bang or explosion sound with no impact; Airbag deploys unprompted from driver or passenger seat; Facial burns, powder inhalation, ringing ears; Arm, shoulder, and neck pain and bruising; Hearing impairment lasting minutes to hours
Repairs/costs cited: Airbag and ECU replacement required; seat stitching and sensor recalibration may be needed. Costs cited: ~$1,500–$3,200 per deployment incident. Warranty coverage disputed by dealers; owners report they are sometimes denied coverage or instructed to contact insurance for no-collision events.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda customer service initially denies responsibility, often directs owners to insurance or refuses to cover repair beyond sensor replacement under warranty. Dealers decline to take responsibility for spontaneous deployment in low-impact scenarios. No formal recall issued for this defect.
Airbag failure to deploy in collisions
Driver-side or front airbags fail to deploy during actual crashes at moderate to high speed or with significant vehicle damage. Owners report high-impact collisions with severe structural damage (crushed windshield, roof collapse, frame damage) yet partial or no airbag activation. One rollover at 30 mph, another rollover with multiple rotations at highway speed, and T-bone impact at ~40 mph all resulted in absent or partial deployment.
When: During actual crashes: rollover at ~30 mph, rear-end collision while stationary with impact from another vehicle, T-bone collision, multi-vehicle pile-up, and highway-speed four-time rollover
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment in high-impact collision despite severe vehicle damage; Partial airbag deployment (1/4 inflation observed in one rollover); Internal injuries: rotator cuff tears, fractured sternum, internal bleeding, contusions, neck bruising and swelling; Lack of warning indicators prior to crash
Repairs/costs cited: In rollover incidents, owners cite documented photographic evidence showing airbag still folded inside seat fabric despite violent crash. No repair data provided; vehicles were totaled or severely damaged and not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda denies responsibility; no recall issued. Dealers and manufacturer did not provide satisfactory explanation for failure to deploy.
Airbag deployment triggered by minor road imperfections
Airbags deploy after vehicle rolls over curb, hits pothole, drives over speed bump at very low speed (2–7 mph), or tire contacts road debris. One owner partially drove over a curb at 5–7 mph and both steering wheel and passenger airbags deployed. Another hit a small pothole at ~50 mph and passenger airbag deployed. Another drove over curb and driver-side airbag deployed.
When: Low-speed curb strikes, pothole impacts at 50 mph, speed bump crossing at 2 mph, and similar minor road irregularities
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deploys from steering wheel or seat; Loud explosion or bang noise; Arm and back injuries from airbag impact; Ringing ears
Repairs/costs cited: Repair costs: ~$1,500. Airbag and impact sensor replacement required. Dealers and manufacturer often deny responsibility, claiming owner struck an object or caused the deployment.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers deny responsibility, claiming owner caused the deployment or struck something. No recall issued. One dealer claimed a scraped bracket activated the sensor.
SRS and airbag warning light issues
Airbag system warning lights remain illuminated for extended periods, often years, despite dealer diagnostics and resets. One owner reports light coming on after only 200 miles and recurring for seven years; dealer initially claimed cell phone or laptop on passenger seat triggers malfunction (information not in manual). Multiple owners report warning light persists after recall service. Dealers claim these are separate issues not covered by warranty.
When: Lights appear early in ownership or persist after recall repair; one case at 200 miles, others after recalls performed 2014–2017
Symptoms owners cite: SRS light illuminated on dashboard; Light remains on despite multiple dealer resets; Light reappears after recall service; Dealer states airbags will not function while light is on
Codes mentioned: SRS warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers perform diagnostic resets but light recurs. One owner reports $800 cost for light sensor repair. Dealers deny warranty coverage for warning light sensor issues separate from airbag inflator replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda service manager at Poway Honda claimed cell phone/laptop on passenger seat triggers warning (not in owner's manual). Manufacturer and dealer attribute warning light to separate sensor issues not covered by Takata recall. No clear recall or remedy program for recurring warning lights.
Takata airbag recall parts shortage and delays
Owners receive recall notices (campaigns 14V351000, 15V320000, 16V344000, 16V346000) but replacement parts remain unavailable for months or years. Multiple owners report exceeding reasonable timeframes for repair completion. One owner waited over nine months for parts. Manufacturer expanded supplier base (TRW, Autoliv, Delphi) but supply remained insufficient.
When: Recall notices issued 2014–2016; parts unavailable through 2016 and later
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received; Dealer unable to schedule or complete repair due to parts unavailability; Owner unable to drive vehicle or receives rental car due to indefinite delay
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed in these cases. Manufacturers attempted to secure parts from multiple suppliers (TRW, Autoliv, Delphi) but supply remained constrained.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda recall campaign 14V351000 and 16V344000. Manufacturer stated in April 2015 that it had secured three additional suppliers to accelerate repairs; however, parts remained unavailable for many owners into 2016+. No firm timeline or compensation offered to owners waiting for recall completion.
Passenger-side airbag indicator light remains illuminated despite manual stating feature does not exist
One owner reports passenger-side airbag and seatbelt warning light and beeper present and functional initially, then after dealer service light persists for four years despite four repair attempts. Honda regional manager claims feature does not exist in 2005 Element and manual is a misprint, but owner surveyed other Element owners (1996–2008) who all report the same light and beeper present in their vehicles.
When: Four years of recurring issues and failed repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag warning light illuminated; Passenger seatbelt beeper activates; Persists despite four dealer repair attempts
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer reset sensor multiple times but issue recurs. No permanent repair achieved.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda regional manager Morris stated feature is a manual misprint and does not exist on 2005 Element; refused to provide written confirmation. Denies responsibility for repair.
Synthesized from 70 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
While driving through parking lot approaching exit, the passenger side seat airbag deployed without reason. Loud bang, ringing ears, and crying kids. No bumps, potholes, curbs or accident. So far everyone from Honda, the dealer and insurance are all pointing the finger at each other. As seen on this and other sites this seems common however everyone acts like it's the first time they've heard of…
Started with pass. Air bag light & pass. Seatbelt beeper & light. Have had it repaired 4 times but pass. Beeper & light has not been fixed. Spoke with Honda america in ca regional mgr morris said it doesn't exist in the 2005 Honda element the manual is a misprint. This is a safety issue which Honda does not want to correct. It had worked before so my wife & I spoke to people with 1996 to 2008…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Honda element. While driving at an unknown speed, the front passenger side air bag deployed without warning or impact. There were no injuries. The dealer (mike maroone Honda, 1103 academy park loop, colorado springs, co 80910, (719) 888-2995) stated that the contact must have struck something to trigger the air bag deployment. The dealer stated that the repair would…
My daughter was driving her 2005 Honda element around 50mph and hit a small pot hole and then heard a loud bang. After seeing smoke she immediately pulled over and checked the car and found no outside damage. When getting back in still seen and smelled smoke and noticed passenger front airbag was deployed. How does an airbag deploy without a front or side impact?
My Honda 2005 element's side air bag inadvertently deployed. I was exiting a parking lot and partially drove over a curb with the left front tire. As the tire rolled off the curb the driver's side air bag deployed. I heard a loud explosion sound and was completely freaked out. I looked to my left side and the driver side airbag had exploded out. It wasn't even inflated. Fortunately, I was not…
Repeated (7 shop visits) attempts to resolve SRS (airbag) indicator activating. Two seat belt clasp replacements, I can recall. Honda refuses to honor vehicle occupant safety warranty to remedy repeated faults tied possibly to defective seat belt harness wiring estimated to cost $400-$1,100.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts…
I was driving down the road, and for no reason at all, my passenger side airbag deployed!!!!! Scared me to death, glad I wasn't going very fast or I might have gotten into an accident! I am also lucky that it wasn't the drivers side airbag, or it could have broken my arm! *tr
My wife, mother in-law, and 8 month old son were driving on a gravel driveway to someones house when suddenly the drivers side airbag in my 2005 Honda element deployed. There was no collision, no reckless driving, nothing to provoke an airbag to suddenly deploy. It only happened once, however, due to fighting w/ dealerships and Honda's customer service center over the repairs; my wife is still…
Had airbags trouble with your 2005 Honda Element?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2005 Honda Element?
It's a meaningful issue. 70 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 47 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 46,000 and 140,000 miles, with the median around 77,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 46,000; a quarter make it past 140,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Honda/Element.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.