Of the 23 suspension complaints filed for the 2008 Honda Element,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
0 (0%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
1 (100%)
75-100k
0 (0%)
100-125k
0 (0%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)
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
Of the 6 model years of Honda Element we track for suspension problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 23.
Suspension accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 8 categories tracked.
A separated bushing bracket could cause the suspension to release the lower portion of the wheel hub, causing a loss of control and damage to the brake system which could lead to a crash.
Fix: Owners will be contacted by phone and advised to stop driving their vehicles until they have taken their vehicle to a dealer for inspection. Dealers will inspect the left rear trailing arm and, if necessary, replace it free of charge. The recall began on july 25, 2008. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the rear trailing arm mounting points corroding and separating from the frame—the dominant failure mode across these complaints. The corrosion happens at the front bushing bracket and main frame attachment point where the rear trailing arm meets the subframe, particularly on the driver's side. Failures occur across a wide mileage range (70,400 to 225,000 miles) with no warning lights preceding them. Several owners lost control at highway speeds—tire tilting outward, fishtailing, and abrupt loss of directional control—while others caught the failure during routine inspections or when changing tires. Owners note the corrosion accelerates in salt-belt climates like Michigan and New York. A few complaints mention premature ball joint wear causing similar suspension collapse symptoms. Many owners cite that Honda already recalled 2007–2011 CR-Vs in the U.S. and 2003–2011 Elements in Canada for identical trailing arm corrosion issues, yet U.S. Elements remain uncovered. NHTSA Campaign 08V349000 (Suspension) applied to some Elements but excluded many by VIN, leaving owners without manufacturer support.
Same Honda Element suspension reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Rear trailing arm mounting corrosion and separation
The front bushing bracket and main frame attachment point where the rear trailing arm connects to the subframe corrodes and fails, causing the trailing arm to detach partially or completely from the vehicle frame.
When: 70,400 to 225,000 miles; primarily in salt-belt climates (Michigan, New York); no time-based pattern reported
Symptoms owners cite: Tire leaning outward or sideways; Loss of vehicle control at highway speeds; Fishtailing or abrupt directional instability; Clunking or rubbing noises from undercarriage; Vehicle fails state safety inspection due to frame corrosion holes; No warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report repairs involve complete replacement of trailing arm and frame reinforcement in rusted areas; some mechanics indicated repair is not feasible due to extent of corrosion; no costs cited by owners
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 08V349000 (Suspension) provided coverage for some 2008 Elements but excluded many by VIN. Honda recalled 2007–2011 CR-Vs in the U.S. (NHTSA #23V-228) and 2003–2011 Elements in Canada (Transport Canada Recall #2021024) for identical trailing arm corrosion. U.S. Element owners report Honda confirmed awareness of the defect but declined assistance outside recall scope.
Premature ball joint wear and separation
Ball joints in the rear suspension wear prematurely and can separate, collapsing the suspension and reducing steering control.
When: Failure mileage not specified; reported as premature wear
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking noise from undercarriage; Ball joints visibly worn during inspection; Risk of suspension collapse; Reduced steering controllability; Potential sudden loss of vehicle deceleration capability
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported ball joint replacement was needed; no costs provided
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
5 most recent
suspension
· filed 11/07/2024
My mechanic informed me that this car will no longer pass NYS inspection due to body rust/corrosion holes where the rear trailing arms attach to the car's body. Honda has issued a recall for the same model year CR-V, which has a nearly identical trailing arm attachment design, due to the risk of losing control of the vehicle if the trailing arm mount separates from the body.
suspension
· filed 11/06/2023
The drivers side rear trailing arm mounting point on my Honda Element has completely rotted out, making my car a seriously unsafe vehicle to drive. This is a well known issue to both Honda and the NHTSA as Honda has already recalled both the Element and CR-V in Canada, and the CR-V here in the USA, but not the Element. NHTSA # 23v-228, Transport Canada Recall - 2021024 - HONDA
suspension
· filed 10/24/2024
The driver side rear trail arm broke off bending the strut with the tire hanging, it happened in my apartment parking lot, I could have lost my life if this had happened at high speeds or killed somebody else. I’m very lucky to be alive!! Currently it is not inspectable due to the damage. The problem has not been reproduced by a dealer or an independent service centre. The vehicle has not been…
suspension · 58,600 mi
· filed 10/17/2014
Heard clunking noise from under carriage of vehicle. Brought into Honda dealership. Their inspection revealed worn ball joints(prematurely). Ball joints could separate causing the vehicle suspension to collapse. This condition would result in vehicle deceleration and a sudden loss of power, also steering controllability would be reduced. *tr
suspension
· filed 10/16/2023
My Honda Element unibody has rusted out resulting in the real axle trailing arm separating from the vehicle. This happened while my daughter was driving - luckily she was not injured. This is a known issue at Honda. Honda Elements years 2003-2011 have already been recalled for a repair or reimbursement in Canada (see recall # 2021024) and all Honda CR-Vs in the United States model years…
Had suspension trouble with your 2008 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 2008 Honda Element?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 23 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 111,890 and 200,000 miles, with the median around 170,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 111,890; a quarter make it past 200,000. 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 $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?
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover suspension issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
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/2008/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.