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2006 Honda Element airbags problems
severe
Owners of the 2006 Honda Element have filed 53 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 78,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.See airbags across all vehicles →
Of the 53 airbags complaints filed for the 2006 Honda Element,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
1 (20%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
0 (0%)
75-100k
1 (20%)
100-125k
1 (20%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
2 (40%)
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
Airbags accounts for 43% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 8 categories tracked.
Among the 7 model years of Honda Element in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
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.
Fix: 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 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: 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 driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to September 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Vehicles that, on or after September 12, 2014, received a remedy for a prior driver frontal air bag inflator recall already received an inflator of a different design, and therefore are not included in this recall and do not require additional servicing. Note: This recall fully supersedes recalls 08V-593, 09V-259, 10V-041, 11V-260, 14V-351 and 15V-153. Honda's numbers for this recall are JQ9, JR0, JR1, JR2, JR3, JR4, JR5, JR6, JR7, and JR8.
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
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 BulletinA18-051Jun 2026
Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2006 Honda Element has generated 53 complaints centered on two distinct failure patterns in the airbag system.
Spontaneous deployment without impact is the most common issue. Owners report driver-side and passenger-side airbags deploying while driving at normal highway speeds or low speeds on ordinary roads—often on clear days with no accident, collision, or road debris. The deployment is loud, disorienting, and occurs without warning. Owners describe arm injuries, bruises, welts, and hearing loss from the explosive force. Several specifically mention the impact sensors are positioned beneath the vehicle where minor bumps (gravel, branches, parking curb edges, asphalt piles) trigger deployment. Owners note that repair costs run around $1,000, and Honda dealers have declined warranty coverage, blaming owners for hitting road debris or claiming the airbag "did what it was supposed to do."
Airbag failure to deploy in actual crashes is equally serious. Multiple owners report being in genuine collisions—head-on impacts, rollovers, rear-end strikes at significant speed—where airbags should have deployed but did not. In these cases, driver and passenger sustained injuries (concussions, bruising, jaw injury, collarbone fracture) that might have been prevented. One rollover accident was deemed catastrophic by emergency personnel yet triggered no deployment.
Recall-related issues include parts unavailability lasting months or years, intermittent airbag warning lights after recall service, and faulty wiring discovered post-recall. A Takata recall (16V344000) saw widespread parts shortage. Owners also report Honda refusing warranty coverage citing seatbelt latch sensor design flaws.
Same Honda Element airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Spontaneous airbag deployment without impact
Driver-side or passenger-side airbags deploy while vehicle is in normal driving or stationary, with no collision, impact, or road debris present. Deployment is sudden and extremely loud, often causing injury.
When: Occurs during normal highway driving (65 mph), low-speed driving (5–30 mph), or while parked; mileage ranges from 7,000 to 187,000 miles reported.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden, loud explosive deployment; No visible external damage to vehicle before deployment; Arm/wrist/shoulder injury, bruising, or welts from deployment; Hearing loss or ringing in ears; Seat torn open by deployment; Powder residue in vehicle cabin
Repairs/costs cited: Repair cost approximately $1,000 for sensor and airbag replacement. Honda dealers have refused warranty coverage, blaming owner impact or road debris. Some dealers stated airbag 'did what it was supposed to do.'
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda has refused liability in multiple cases, stating owners ran over debris or hit something. No recalls issued specifically for spontaneous deployment.
Airbag failure to deploy in actual crashes
Driver-side or passenger-side airbags fail to deploy during genuine collisions—head-on impacts, rollover accidents, rear-end strikes at moderate to high speed. Passengers sustain injuries that might have been mitigated by airbag protection.
When: Occurs during crashes with speeds from 25 mph to 75 mph; mileage at failure unknown for most reported incidents.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag does not deploy despite collision impact; Driver or passenger strikes steering wheel, dashboard, or frame; Head, chest, jaw, collarbone, or rib injuries sustained; Seatbelt fails to lock or tighten appropriately in some cases; Emergency responders surprised by lack of deployment given crash severity
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to diagnose the cause of non-deployment. Some owners report vehicle was still drivable after crash; others had vehicles declared total loss.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated they had never heard of airbags deploying without impact (suggesting they did not acknowledge failure-to-deploy as a known issue). No recalls issued for this failure mode.
Sensor placement triggering deployment on minor contact
Sensors positioned beneath the vehicle (under sidestep or frame) trigger side airbag deployment when the vehicle contacts minor road obstacles—branches, parking curb edges, gravel, shallow asphalt pile—at very low speed.
When: Occurs at speeds 5–30 mph on roads with minor obstructions; timing varies.
Symptoms owners cite: Side airbag deploys after running over branch, curb edge, or gravel; No external body damage except shallow scratches on undercarriage; Airbag hangs from seat back after deployment; Owners describe sensor design as defective due to vulnerable location
Repairs/costs cited: Repair cost approximately $1,000. Owners refused repair claims, arguing sensors are poorly positioned.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda has not acknowledged this design defect. Dealers attributed deployment to owner negligence.
Airbag warning light illumination and intermittent faults
Airbag warning light remains illuminated on the dashboard or illuminates intermittently. May occur after recall service or independently. Owners express concern about airbag reliability in an actual crash.
When: Reported at mileages from 23,601 to 187,000 miles; can occur after recall service (19V182000) or spontaneously.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light continuously or intermittently illuminated; No obvious collision or impact preceding the light; Light persists despite visits to dealership; Owner concern that system will not function in actual crash
Codes mentioned:GTC system scanned (narrative #8)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers performed diagnostics but could not replicate or determine the cause in some cases. In one case, faulty airbag wiring was discovered after five dealership visits; repair estimate was approximately $1,000. Manufacturer and some dealers were unwilling to provide assistance or cover warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated unwilling to provide assistance. Some recall parts (16V344000, 14V351000, 19V182000) were unavailable for months, leaving owners unable to complete recall repairs.
Takata recall parts unavailability and service delays
Owners received recall notices (campaigns 14V351000, 16V344000, 19V182000) but parts were not available for extended periods—sometimes months to over a year—preventing timely repair.
When: Recall notices issued 2014–2016; parts unavailable well into 2016–2017. One dealership indicated parts would not arrive until September 2015 despite being contacted months earlier.
Symptoms owners cite: Recall letter received but parts unavailable; Dealer unable to provide specific date for parts arrival; Manufacturer unable to estimate repair timeline; Owner left with unrepaired vehicle subject to potential airbag defects
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed while awaiting parts. One owner noted recall service (01/08/2018) was completed per Takata recall 16-047 Kit Inflator 06999, but issues persisted post-service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls issued under campaigns 14V351000, 16V344000, 19V182000 but Honda could not provide timely parts or estimated repair dates. This represents a systemic supply-chain issue affecting the manufacturer's ability to execute recall repairs.
A design flaw in the seatbelt latch sensor causes the airbag warning light to remain illuminated. This flaw is known to prevent airbag deployment in a crash.
When: Reported at mileage 187,000; defect is described as endemic to the design.
Repairs/costs cited: Honda refuses to take responsibility and charges customers significant diagnostic and repair costs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda refuses to acknowledge the defect or provide warranty coverage, despite the fact that the flaw disables airbag protection in a crash.
Synthesized from 53 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
5 most recent
airbags · 78,000 mi
· filed 12/17/2012
I was driving on a curvy road where it had recently rained - only driver was in vehicle. The element SUV skid and possibly hydroplaned a little. The SUV jumped the curb and crashed into a concrete column of a freeway overpass. The front end was smashed in and the radiator was destroyed. The passenger side airbag deployed but the driver airbag did not deploy. The collision was more on the…
airbags · 196,000 mi
· filed 11/20/2015
My side curtain airbag came out after running over a branch that I could not avoid. I came over a hill on a residential street and the branches were all over the road. I got out of my car because I smelled smoke. It was only upon getting back in my car that I realized the air bag was hanging out. It did not inflate just came out. I recently had the recall taken care of for the front driver side.…
airbags · 150,000 mi
· filed 11/13/2014
I was driving down my own driveway, when there was a very loud explosion to my right. After a moment, I realized the passenger seat side airbag deployed. There was nothing on the seat at the time. My right ear rang for quite some time after. Luckily, my dog was crated behind me. I rolled down the windows to dissipate the powder floating about. Honda, both the local dealer and corporate, have been…
airbags · 20,000 mi
· filed 11/08/2007
When: motor vehicle accident on wednesday, 11/07/2007, 1515hrs where: southbound co hwy 93 and eastbound co hwy 72; jefferson county, state of colorado; what: motor vehicle accident: 2006 Honda element was struck by an SUV. The accident caused the 2006 Honda element to rollover, once, before righting onto its wheels. Extensive damage occurred to the element automobile. Notably, the airbags -…
airbags · 106,000 mi
· filed 11/05/2014
I called braman Honda in miami, florida (7000 coral way, miami, fl 33155, (800) 568-9724), in order to make an appointment for recall #14v-351 (airbags), and was told they would try to get back to me in three weeks. I was not offered a loaner, until the part arrived, and I purchased my car new there. If I have an accident with injuries, I want this on the record. [xxx] information redacted…
Had airbags trouble with your 2006 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 2006 Honda Element?
It's a meaningful issue. 53 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 36 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 26,500 and 155,000 miles, with the median around 78,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 26,500; a quarter make it past 155,000. 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?
Yes — 7 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
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/2006/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.