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ProblemsByVin File / 2007-HONDA-ELEMENT NHTSA data synced 3 days ago
Honda

2007 Honda Element problems

The 2007 Honda Element has 6 critical safety recalls on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 112 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.

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The 2007 Honda Element has 112 NHTSA owner complaints and 12 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 23 complaints, typically surfacing around 134,800 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Honda Element owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2005 Element 158 10
2006 Element 122 11
2007 Element (this page) 112 12
2008 Element 111 13
2009 Element 30 9
2010 Element 30 11
2007 Honda Element
Photo: phototram / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 · representative photo of the Honda Element
0 5 10
Reliability score
3.0 / 10

Significant reliability concerns on file. Read the trouble spots before buying.

6
Critical
6
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2007 Element?
High-risk ownership

Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

Buying a used 2007 Honda Element? Check these first

Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.

What to inspect on this specific car

⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 134,800 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 12 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 3.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is powertrain (~$2,500) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.

We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.

See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2007 Honda Element

A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.

Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.

Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.

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Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

airbags
23 reports · fails ~134,800 mi · avg $1,100
severe
electrical
20 reports · fails ~100,934 mi · avg $850
moderate
brakes
15 reports · fails ~32,980 mi · avg $450
moderate
suspension
14 reports · fails ~101,282 mi · avg $900
severe
visibility
7 reports · fails ~30,662 mi · avg $350
moderate
cruise control
5 reports · fails ~79,375 mi · avg $600
moderate
powertrain
4 reports · fails ~79,500 mi · avg $2,500
moderate
body
3 reports · fails ~142,000 mi · avg $1,500
moderate
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2007 Element's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2007 Element?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2007 Element · electrical
Letter from senator schumer on behalf of constituent re takata airbags being replaced and battery drainage problem in Honda element. *ld *js
2007 Element · electrical
The contact owns a 2007 Honda Element. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V436000 (Electrical System, Trailer Hitches) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The contact was advised by the local dealer that the vehicle was not…
2007 Element · airbags
I purchased a car from rausch motors in parker with the wires to the air bag sensors being cut and taped together, he patched it up and not dec 2016 my air bag light came on. I was told by a Honda dealer that the sensors are bad, same codes as before. I am worried that in case…
2007 Element · electrical
2007 Honda element electrical dashboard equipment failure. Tachometer gauge fell off tachometer, temperature gauge is not working properly. Some of the dashboard lights do not work and the electrical plug for the chargers does not work. This is a manufacturers defect.
View all 112 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2007 Honda Element? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 3 of 12

critical NHTSA 19V499000 June 27, 2019

Honda (American Honda Motor Co

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.
critical NHTSA 19V501000 June 27, 2019

Honda (American Honda Motor Co

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.
critical NHTSA 19V182000 March 6, 2019

Honda (American Honda Motor Co

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.
View all 12 recalls →

Under investigation 2 open at NHTSA

EA Air Bags › Frontal · opened September 2021

NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA21002 on NHTSA →

EA Air Bags › Frontal · opened February 2015

NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA15001 on NHTSA →

How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →

Common questions

Is the 2007 Honda Element reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 3.0 out of 10 based on 112 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2007 Honda Element has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

Should you avoid the 2007 Honda Element?

The 2007 Honda Element is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Reliability score 3.0/10 — below the segment average; 12 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should I check before buying a used 2007 Honda Element?

Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 23 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 134,800 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.

Is the 2007 Honda Element a good used car to buy?

It scores 3.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 112 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 134,800 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.

What's the most common problem on the 2007 Honda Element?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 23 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 134,800 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 134,800 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Honda Element has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2007 Honda Element?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 112 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 3 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Honda/Element. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Honda. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you purchase through them.
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