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The 2008 Honda Element has 6 critical safety recalls on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 111 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.
The 2008 Honda Element has 111 NHTSA owner complaints and 13 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is brakes at 30 complaints, typically surfacing around 25,352 miles (~$450 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Element | 158 | 10 |
| 2006 Element | 122 | 11 |
| 2007 Element | 112 | 12 |
| 2008 Element (this page) | 111 | 13 |
| 2009 Element | 30 | 9 |
| 2010 Element | 30 | 11 |
| 2011 Element | 11 | 11 |
Significant reliability concerns on file. Read the trouble spots before buying.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the brakes was repaired or replaced.
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.
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.
⚠ The one to take seriously: brakes is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 25,352 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 13 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 2.8/10 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 →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.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
While standing next to our 2008 Honda element, which was parked beside our house under the carport, the rear side window of the car spontaneously shattered and struck both my wife and I with glass. We were not injured by the safety glass. The window seemed to explode, from the…
I just noticed I have a cracked windshield on my new 2008 Honda element. I don't recall any debri or anything hitting my windshield but I noticed a crack? In my 37 years of driving I have had only 1 cracked windshield and in that case I saw and heard the rock hit my windshield…
Recently became second owner of vehicle. Noticed it had a soft brake pedal. Recall performed by first owners dealer, but, the problem still exists.
2008 Honda element consumer is requesting a recall expansion regarding takata air bags. *cn
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA21002 on NHTSA →
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 →
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 2.8 out of 10 based on 111 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 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.
On the NHTSA data, the 2008 Honda Element is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the brakes was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: Brakes: 30 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 8,500–23,000 mi; Reliability score 2.8/10 — below the segment average; 13 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the brakes first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 30 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 25,352 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 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.
It scores 2.8 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 111 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is brakes. Typical failure occurs around 25,352 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.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is brakes, with 30 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 25,352 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop.
The brakes is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 25,352 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
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.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 111 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $450, 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.