2011 HONDA ELEMENT Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Honda Element. This model year has 11 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Airbag Malfunctions.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2011 Honda Element Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Airbag Malfunctions
Visibility
Seat Belt Issues
Considering a 2011 Honda Element?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Honda Element. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag Malfunctions | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Honda Element. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 11 most recent complaints
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 T…
ALUMINUM STEERING WHEEL 'HUB SUPPORT MOUNTING BRACKET' HAS CRACKED AND IS BROKEN IN TWO PLACES. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER A TIME PERIOD DURING NORMAL USAGE OF MY VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL IS WOBBLEY AND LOOSENED. HONDA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT DISASSEMBLED AND REVIEWED COMPONENTS…
THERE ARE TWO INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR AIR PRESSURE THAT COME ON AND STAY ON WITHOUT CAUSE (PRESSURE IS NORMAL) "TPMS" AND A SYMBOL. IT IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM AMONG OWNERS ONLINE IN GROUP DISCUSSIONS. IN ADDITION, THE SUSPENSION IS FAULTY IN THAT AN UNEXPLAINABLE "CRACKING" AND SL…
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 …
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 …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V344000 (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 REPAIR. TH…
TAKATA RECALL: REPLACED DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG 2 YRS AGO WHEN NEWS BROKE. DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE PASSENGER SIDE AS HONDA AMERICA REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT. NOW HONDA ISSUES RECALL ON PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, STATING NO ONE SHOULD SIT IN PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL REPAIR. CALLED DEALER, HONDA A…
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 REPAIR.…
REPEATEDLY SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE ICONS WILL COME ON AND THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY CLEARLY ARE GUESSING. IT HAPPENED MOST RECENTLY JUST LAST WEEK. IT USUALLY HAPPENS UPON STARTUP, BUT…
SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AND IS BLOCKING VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD AHEAD. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I SEE THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH SIMILAR MODELS OF HONDA. IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL FOR HONDA AS IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JS
THE DRIVER SIDE, FRONT WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED IN ON ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY OBJECT STRUCK THE WINDOW. IT JUST EXPLODED. *JS
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2011 Honda Element.
Recalls for 2011 Honda Element
11 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2011 Honda Element. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2011 Honda Element — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2011 Honda Element reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2011 Honda Element has 11 NHTSA owner complaints, 1 crash-related, and 11 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Airbag Malfunctions (6 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Honda Element?▾
#1: Airbag Malfunctions (6 complaints). #2: Visibility (2 complaints). #3: Seat Belt Issues (1 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Honda Element?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2011 Honda Element?▾
The 2011 Honda Element has 1 crash-related complaints and 0 fire reports out of 11 total NHTSA complaints. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2011 Honda Element have any recalls?▾
Yes — 11 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2011 Honda Element. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2011 Honda Element?▾
The 2011 Honda Element has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Airbag Malfunctions issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Honda Element reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2011 Honda Element
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.