Honda Canada recognized the safety risks from salt damage to the frames and rear suspension of Honda Elements and recalled all years of the Element for warranty repairs, or if the damage was too severe, buy back of the vehicles. Yet they have not in the USA in rust belt states where salt damage is prevalent. As you will note from the attached photos, severe injury or death could occur in a…
2006 Honda Element suspension problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1crash
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners in Minnesota, Ohio, upstate New York, and other salt-heavy climates report severe rust on rear trailing arms and mounting points. One Ohio driver felt the rear sway over bumps, got towed after a tire shop found the arm held by only 4-5 inches of rotted frame. Another lost control on the highway when a rear trailing arm came out of its mounting bracket entirely, the tire assembly detaching. A third had a front axle snap completely while driving. Multiple mechanics tell owners the damage is too severe to repair safely.
Frame rot compounds the problem — metal disintegrates to the point vehicles become undrivable and unsellable. One owner with an otherwise well-maintained car found it worthless.
Honda Canada recognized the hazard and recalled all Element model years nationwide for warranty repair or vehicle buyback. The US has not issued an equivalent recall despite comparable climate conditions in northern states. Owners cite internet forums showing hundreds of similar failures. One complaint notes the CRV already carries a rust-related suspension recall in the USA for the same underlying issue.
Same Honda Element suspension reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Rear trailing arm rust and structural failure
Rear trailing arms (control arms) rust through the mounting points and fail structurally, causing suspension separation or complete arm detachment from the vehicle during operation. Multiple owners report the arms holding by only inches of frame material, with risk of total separation.
When: Occurs in salt-belt climates (Minnesota, Ohio, upstate New York); timing varies but owners cite normal driving and low-speed collisions as triggers; one owner reports 96k miles on 2006 model
Symptoms owners cite: Rear end sways side-to-side over bumps; Rough ride quality; Tire assembly detaches or comes out of mounting bracket during highway driving; Loss of vehicle control; Visible severe rust and corrosion on trailing arm and mounting bracket
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report damage too severe for practical repair; one tire shop advised towing as unsafe to drive; Honda Canada offered warranty repairs or vehicle buyback for equivalent issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Canada issued recalls for all model years of the Element for frame and rear suspension salt damage, offering warranty repairs or buyback. No equivalent recall issued in US rust-belt states despite similar climate conditions. Complaint mentions similar recall for CRV in USA.
Front axle failure
Front axle breaks completely during normal or low-speed driving, creating life-threatening loss of vehicle control.
When: One owner reports incident occurred several months prior to complaint; no mileage stated
Symptoms owners cite: Front axle breaks completely; Loss of vehicle control
Frame rot and structural degradation
Frame undergoes severe rust and corrosion, particularly in salt-belt regions, causing metal to disintegrate beyond repair. Multiple owners note otherwise well-maintained vehicles rendered valueless by frame rot.
When: Occurs in high-salt climates (upstate NY, Ohio, Minnesota); timing varies; one owner reports 96k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Visible severe rust and corrosion throughout frame; Frame disintegration; Overall structural deterioration
Repairs/costs cited: Owners describe damage as beyond repair; vehicles cannot be sold or traded due to frame condition
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Canada issued comprehensive frame and rear suspension recalls for all Element model years in Canada
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
left rear rear trailing arm rusted out. had car checked due to rough ride & was informed said part so rusted it was dangerous to drive. damage so severe repair not feasible. appears this is a problem with elements & some crvs. canada apparently has a recall for this, & US should, too.
Had suspension 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 suspension problem on the 2006 Honda Element?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 92,500 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 $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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.