"SERVICE BULLETIN - THE MIL COMES ON WITH ONE OF THESE DTCS: P2646/P2651 (ROCKER ARM OIL PRESSURE SWITCH CIRCUIT LOW VOLTAGE). P2647/P2652 (ROCKER ARM OIL PRESSURE SWITCH CIRCUIT HIGH VOLTAGE). NOTE: THE SYMPTOM MAY BE INTERMITTENT AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT AFTER CLEARING THE DTC. THE ROCKER ARM OIL PRESSURE SWITCH MAY FAIL INTERMITTENTLY."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Honda Element engine problems
moderate 8 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
8
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 8 engine complaints filed for the 2005 Honda Element, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
HONDA: DTC P2646/P2651 OR P2647/2652 MAY BE SET. THE ROCKER ARM OIL PRESSURE SWITCH MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO INCLUDED MODEL CIVIC SI MODEL YEAR 2002-2005.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TROUBLESHOOTING A STALLING ENGINE? TAKE A SNAPSHOT WITH THE HDS. HONDA SERVICENEWS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ENGINE WON'T START AT ALL; ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY STARTS. CHECK IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM STATUS WITH THE HDS. HONDA. SERVICENEWS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SNAPPING, CRACKING NOISE AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
2005 Honda element (2 wd) has no heat at all while a/c system is working fine.. Come to find out, Honda released an original tsb of 07-076, and since then replaced it with tsb 08-097 which was "failed heater core". It seems the manufacturer used wrong coolant and so it cloggs up heater core. My car has been in local dealer for 5 days and they tried to blame on everything outside of the heater…
In march of 2007 we had a cold spell. I turned on the heat but it didn't work. I forgot about it as the seasons changed and it warmed up. Since the weather has started to turn cold I've tried to turn the heat on. It still doesn't work. I took it to the dealership to get looked at and the heater core has been messed up. My car is a 2005 and has only 52k miles. I've received regular…
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2005 Honda Element?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 8 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 8 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 63,729 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.