I was traveling approximately 20 MPH, brakes were not applied before incident, and the driver and passenger side curtain airbags and the driver seat air bag deployed. When the airbags deployed I attempted to apply the brakes and they were not functioning for approximately 1/2 miles of travel. *tr
2007 Honda Element brakes problems
moderate 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
What stands out
Among the 5 model years of Honda Element in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2007 Honda Elements report a constellation of brake failures starting early in ownership and persisting across multiple repair attempts. The most common complaint is a soft or spongy brake pedal that requires excessive pressure to stop—one owner reports needing to "floor" the brakes habitually, which concerns them with a 2011 Accord. Several owners describe the pedal falling toward the floorboard or lacking firmness during hard stops. These complaints continued even after Honda's recall (NHTSA 10V098000) in 2010, which involved gluing silicone caps over VSA modulator vents—owners call this a band-aid that did not fix the problem.
Premature brake wear is the second major pattern. Owners replaced brake pads and rotors every 1–2 years despite driving 3,000–14,000 miles annually. Uneven wear between wheels is common; one owner's rear driver-side pad wore completely through by 27,000 miles while the passenger side remained fine. A seized caliper due to corrosion and lack of lubricant was documented at 23,000 miles.
Less frequently, owners report complete brake failure during normal driving—one event occurred two weeks after recall repair, another at 55 mph highway speed requiring emergency pedal pressure to avoid collision. Warning lights appeared after recall service on at least one vehicle. Dealers performed 12+ brake bleeds and multiple VSA modulator replacements on the same car with no lasting fix. Honda initially refused warranty claims, citing "user variances" and street debris, despite low-mileage owners reporting identical problems.
Same Honda Element brakes reports on nearby years: 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Soft, Mushy, or Spongy Brake Pedal
Brake pedal loses firmness and requires excessive pressure or travel to achieve stopping. Owners report the pedal feeling soft, spongy, or falling toward the floorboard. The issue frequently recurs even after dealer service, brake bleeding, or recall repair.
When: Starts within first few years of ownership; affects vehicles from very low mileage onward
Symptoms owners cite: Soft or spongy brake pedal feel; Increased brake pedal travel; Excessive pressure needed to stop vehicle; Brake pedal falls toward floorboard intermittently; Pedal loses firmness during hard braking
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers performed repeated brake bleeding (up to 12+ times on single vehicle), VSA modulator replacement (multiple instances on same vehicle), and recall repair involving silicone caps over VSA modulator vents. Repairs provide temporary improvement or no improvement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda recall NHTSA 10V098000 addressed soft brake issue by applying silicone caps over VSA modulator vents; described by owners as inadequate fix. TSB 07-045 referenced by owner; VSA modulator part #9125782 identified in forum research. Dealers initially denied responsibility, claiming 'user variances' or driver sensitivity.
Premature Brake Pad and Rotor Wear
Front and rear brake pads and rotors wear out abnormally fast, often requiring replacement every 1–2 years despite low annual mileage. Uneven wear patterns and seized pads indicate caliper or modulator distribution problems.
When: Begins as early as 14,000 to 30,000 miles; one owner replaced brakes annually from year 3 of ownership despite driving only 3,000 miles/year
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes need replacement every 1–2 years; Loud grinding or screeching noises from brakes; Uneven wear between left and right wheels; One pad seized to caliper by corrosion; Rotor damage requiring replacement alongside pads
Repairs/costs cited: Owners replaced complete front and rear brake systems including rotor turning/replacement multiple times. One owner reported paying over $200 out-of-pocket before warranty negotiations. Another had repair bill initially quoted at $505, reduced to $65 after dispute. Caliper replacement also required in some cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda denied warranty responsibility under 'user variances' and street-debris claims even while vehicle was under warranty. Owners believe VSA modulator malfunction causes uneven fluid distribution and premature wear but Honda has not acknowledged this as root cause.
Brake System Failure Under Braking
Brakes become completely or severely ineffective during normal driving, requiring extreme pedal pressure or fail to slow vehicle at highway speeds. One incident involved airbag deployment when brakes did not function.
When: Can occur as early as 500 miles after recall repair; another incident at 55 mph highway speed
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes do not slow or stop vehicle despite pedal application; Extreme pedal pressure required (slamming to floor) to achieve braking; Vehicle skids or continues at speed despite braking attempt; Failure occurs intermittently at various speeds including highway; Airbag deployment during brake failure incident
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle taken to brake shop and diagnosed with electronic power brake system failure; dealer had replaced rear pads, front pads, and master brake pump without resolving issue. Dealer technician unable to diagnose other failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 10V098000 did not resolve brake failure; one owner reported failure recurred approximately two weeks after recall repair. Vehicles taken to multiple dealers without successful diagnosis or repair.
Brake Warning Lights and Check Engine Light Illumination
After recall repair, malfunction indicator light and check engine light illuminate on instrument panel. Dealer clears codes but warning lights return repeatedly.
When: Began after recall repair at 58,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Malfunction indicator light illuminates; Check engine light illuminates; Warning lights continue after dealer code clearing
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer removed error codes from system but lights returned. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated vehicle was not experiencing other failures despite persistent warning lights after recall service.
Frozen or Stuck Rear Caliper
One or both rear calipers seize or freeze, causing one rear brake to lock or bind while the other operates normally. Results in extreme uneven wear and overheating on the locked side.
When: 27,000 miles (driver-side rear); corrosion-induced seizure observed at 23,000 miles rear inspection
Symptoms owners cite: Loud grinding noise from rear of vehicle; Smoke coming from rear brake; Pad worn completely through on one wheel; Uneven brake wear between sides; Caliper corroded and seized to housing
Repairs/costs cited: Rear rotor and both rear pads replaced; caliper replacement required in some cases. One owner noted dealer 'treated the symptom and not the cause.' Lack of lubricant cited as cause of corrosion-induced seizure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in narratives.
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2007 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 brakes problem on the 2007 Honda Element?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 15,000 and 58,000 miles, with the median around 30,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,000; a quarter make it past 58,000. 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 $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2007/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.