Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Honda Element airbags problems
severe 53 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
53
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
14crashes
16injuries
When does it fail?
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
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
Airbags accounts for 44% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 8 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 53 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
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 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.
Seatbelt latch sensor design flaw affecting airbag deployment
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.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light remains on; Seatbelt latch sensor malfunction
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
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…
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.…
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…
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 -…
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?
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/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.