2003 Honda Element reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2003 Honda Element — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 482
- 46 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
- 217 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 10
- see below
- Reported harm
- 37 reported crashes · 33 injuries · 4 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,084
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Honda median
+152
median 330 across 215 Honda records
Vs 2001-2005
+230
median 252 complaints in 794 records
Top component share
45%
Visibility: 217 complaints
What owners report fails — 2003 Honda Element
- VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD 217
- AIR BAGS 40
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 25
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 24
- SUSPENSION 23
10 recalls on record for the 2003 Honda Element
- NHTSA 19V501000 · 2019 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- NHTSA 19V499000 · 2019 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- NHTSA 19V182000 · 2019 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the dr
- NHTSA 18V268000 · 2018 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 16V344000 · 2016 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2003 Honda Element
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2003 Honda Element units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Honda Element reliable?
NHTSA has 482 consumer complaints on record for the 2003 Honda Element and 10 recalls. The most-reported problem area is visibility:windshield (217 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2003 Honda Element units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Honda Element?
Owners most often report problems with: visibility:windshield (217), air bags (40), electrical system (25), latches/locks/linkages (24). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2003 Honda Element?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.