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ProblemsByVinFile / 2011-HONDA-ELEMENTNHTSA data synced 7 hours ago
2011 · Honda
Honda Element problems
2 critical safety recalls on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 11 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.
Reliability score
7.4 / 10
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
2
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2011 Element?
Acceptable — with caveats
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average
3 recall campaigns on file
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.
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What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2011 Element· airbags
Takata recall my complaint is that we received the letter from Honda in july 2016 about the air bag recall. The letter advises us to avoid having a passenger sit in the front seat. That it's not yet repaired is just aggravating. For six months, we've had to avoid a front seat…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Honda element. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, she had noticed that an extension ladder and debris had landed in the middle of the road. In order to avoid the objects, the contact and the driver behind her attempted to make the same…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Honda element. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14v351000 (air bags). However, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
Takata recall: I was advised that it would possibly take longer than a 3 month wait until the repair kit even arrived at the facility due to the fact that they "don't make that vehicle any more" and was told to have my family of 4 ride in the rear seats for safety issue. It is a…
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In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with 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 on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles that have had their driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to September 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Vehicles that, on or after September 12, 2014, received a remedy for a prior driver frontal air bag inflator recall already received an inflator of a different design, and therefore are not included in this recall and do not require additional servicing. Note: This recall fully supersedes recalls 08V-593, 09V-259, 10V-041, 11V-260, 14V-351 and 15V-153. Honda's numbers for this recall are JQ9, JR0, JR1, JR2, JR3, JR4, JR5, JR6, JR7, and JR8.
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.
Honda is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2011 Element passenger vehicles equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness
Without trailer turn signal illumination, the driver's intent is not communicated, potentially increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on September 20, 2012. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Under investigation
2 open at NHTSA
EAAir 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 →
EAAir 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 →
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Honda Element is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2011 Honda Element?
The 2011 Honda Element is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2011 Honda Element?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 6 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 122,500 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 122,500 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 2011 Honda Element?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 11 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.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 7 hours ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Honda/Element.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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