2003 Honda Element Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe windshield glass that cracks from the lower corners, frequently without any visible impact, and often within the first few thousand miles. Others report door lock cylinders that stop accepting the key, and, at high mileage, corroded rear trailing arms and subframes, along with a large set of airbag inflator recalls.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield cracks from lower corners

   • 215 complaints (51%)
   • median 9,680 mi at 1.5 yrs old (147 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $550 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2012

   Owners describe cracks that begin at the lower corner of the windshield, usually near or under a wiper, and run upward or across the glass. Many say no impact was seen or heard, that the crack appeared while the vehicle was parked, or that it grew quickly within days. Dealers commonly attributed the damage to a small stone chip and declined warranty replacement, though some owners report the glass was replaced at no cost. Mostly reported under 15,000 miles, often within months of purchase and sometimes after cold weather or defroster use.

   What to check: Inspect both lower corners of the windshield for sealant gaps, chips or prior replacement, and ask whether the glass has been replaced and why.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Windshield cracks very easily. While driving on the freeway (no surrounding traffic) we heard a pop an a crack appeared just to the left of the rearview mirror, originating from the top of the windshield. The crack has now grown to about 6 . Upon further inspection I cannot locate any point of impact. It appears that this is simply a stress crack.”

   NHTSA complaint #10060266, filed 2004-03, 13,000 miles

   “While driving on hwy 1, no traffic anywhere, windshield on my 2003 Honda Element with 8000 plus miles on it cracked from under the windshield wiper on the driver's side up about 5 inches. Car has a bug/rock shield on it. No visible mark on windshield just this crack inside the glass. Dealer refuses to fix. Entire windshield needs to be replaced cannot just repair. I am in my sixties and have owned lots of cars. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10088268, filed 2004-08, 8,250 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag inflator recalls and deployment concerns

   • 45 complaints (11%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 10.7 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2024

   Many complaints concern the Takata inflator recalls, including long waits for parts and warning lights after recall work. Some owners describe airbags that did not deploy in a collision, and a few report unexpected deployment with no impact. Several say they were told their vehicle was outside a regional recall. Reported across a wide mileage range, from low-mileage vehicles to those past 200,000 miles.

   Recall 19V501000Recall 19V499000Recall 19V182000Recall 18V268000Recall 16V344000Recall 15V370000Recall 15V320000Recall 14V700000Recall 14V3530005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for proof that the driver and passenger inflator recalls were completed, and confirm the airbag warning light goes out after startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The srs warning light came on. About 3 weeks later Honda issued a partial recall on 2003 Element airbags. I called Honda and was told my vehicle was not covered. In looking into the recall I see that it is for vehicles in hotter climates. I think it should be extended to all climates.”

   NHTSA complaint #10606382, filed 2014-06, 130,000 miles

   “My car ran over an object in the road, making a loud noise but not causing the car to go out of control. When I pulled over to assess the situation, I saw that the front passenger seat side airbag had deployed. No one was sitting in the front passenger seat at the time and there was absolutely no side impact to the car at all. There was no damage to the car, other than the malfunctioning deployment of the airbag.”

   NHTSA complaint #10268507, filed 2009-05, 85,000 miles
3. 3
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Door and tailgate lock cylinders stop accepting the key

   • 61 complaints (14%)
   • median 94,000 mi at 9.6 yrs old (44 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $450 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2023

   Complaints describe the key no longer turning in the driver's door lock, so owners enter through the passenger side or tailgate. In some cases the key sticks in the cylinder, and a few report the electronic lock function also stopped working. Most say the vehicle was not repaired, and some were told diagnosis or repair would be needed. Typically reported between about 55,000 and 210,000 miles, often after years of use in older vehicles.

   What to check: Try the key in the driver's, passenger's and tailgate locks, and check that the remote and power locks still work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The lock on driver side door no longer accepts the key. I have to unlock from the passenger side. When trying to lock or unlock from the driver side, my key gets stuck in the lock and does not turn.”

   NHTSA complaint #10622400, filed 2014-08, 130,000 miles

   “The driver's-side key lock routinely does not accept the key without multiple efforts. Sometimes these efforts fail, and I must try the back hatch or passenger side door. As a single female, I find this disturbingly dangerous. It is obvious that I can't get into the car, marking me as vulnerable. This basically sets me afoot, often at night, often in uncertain circumstances. Should I find myself needing to move the car for any emergency whatsoever, a great deal of time will be lost as I struggle with entry. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10660749, filed 2014-11, 89,359 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Rear trailing arm and subframe corrosion

   • 23 complaints (5%)
   • median 154,000 mi at 18.5 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2025

   Owners in salted-road states describe heavy underside rust, with mechanics reporting the rear trailing arm mount or subframe corroded. Some complaints describe a trailing arm fracturing or detaching, with the rear of the vehicle dropping. Most vehicles were not repaired, and several owners say they were advised the vehicle should not be driven. Reported mostly between about 115,000 and 210,000 miles, typically on vehicles used in winter-salt regions.

   What to check: Have the rear trailing arm mounts and subframe inspected on a lift for rust, especially if the vehicle spent its life in a salt-belt state.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The subframe is rusted near the rear control arm, there is a danger of the control arm separating which can result in a crash. The vehicle was stationary when I discovered this as I was attempting to jack the car up to change a tire.”

   NHTSA complaint #11403980, filed 2021-03, 210,000 miles

   “I'm concerned with the amount of rust under the vehicle. My Element is from pennsylvania and they do use salt on the streets in the winter. Took car to mechanic and was told the car was very rusted underneath. Changing parts under the car is a difficult task due to the rest. Mechanic said it was cause car was driven in pennsylvania the cause is to how the roads are salted. I did read this is a serious problem in canada and other places and very dangerous but in america not as much. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11414350, filed 2021-04, 168,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Ignition key sticks or will not turn

   • 40 complaints (9%)
   • median 107,000 mi at 10.5 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $450 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2023

   Owners describe the key becoming stuck in the ignition or the engine failing to crank, sometimes with a buzzing noise from under the steering column. A dealer diagnosis in one case recommended replacing the ignition. Another owner reported that the vehicle could be shifted out of park or the key removed in gear despite prior recall service. Mostly reported between about 58,000 and 180,000 miles.

   Recall 10V364000

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition interlock recall (10V364000) was performed, and check that the key turns freely and the engine cranks reliably.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I stopped to check my mail and turned off my vehicle to use the mail box key and when I tried to start my car again, it would not start. All I got was a buzzing noise from under the steering column. Prior to this incident over the last week there were times my car would not start. I would make several attempts and it would finally start. The battery and starter were checked and in working condition.”

   NHTSA complaint #10622402, filed 2014-08, 144,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2003 Honda Element. The contact stated that the key became stuck in the ignition and failed to turn over in order to start the vehicle. After several attempts, the vehicle was able to start. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for a diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the ignition needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10735152, filed 2015-07, 58,000 miles

Buying note. Check the windshield corners, all door lock cylinders and the underside for rear-suspension rust before buying, and confirm every open airbag inflator recall has been completed. Service records showing recall and ignition work done are worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.