Skip to content
Air bagsPart report

2003 Honda Element Air bags Problems

Complaints
49about this part
Share
12%of 424 total for the year
Median mileage
90,000miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 49 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Honda Element, 12% of the 424 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,000 miles. 10 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 9 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Happened in nyc, afternoon, weather drizzling/raining and humid. Slid on an oil slick on the road, swerved sideways and hit an exit ramp concrete barrier full front (w/ my front against it, perpendicular to the barrier). Passenger side airbag deployed, mine did not. The thing is, I was the only person in the car, there was no passenger in the passenger seat. Car was always driven in ny, I am original owner. …”

NHTSA complaint #10662667, filed 2014-12, 86,000 miles

“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

“I was traveling north on nc hwy 12 on my way to work, alone, and I rear ended another vehicle traveling between 35-40 MPH, when I glanced down to scratch my leg and when I glanced back down, the car in front of me was at a dead stop and I rear ended it. My passenger airbag deployed, however I had no passenger with me, my drivers side airbag failed. Luckily I was wearing my seatbelt and only received minor injuries.”

NHTSA complaint #10560672, filed 2014-01, 131,000 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

“I own a 2003 Honda Element and was involved in an accident where I hit a pickup truck and both vehicles were total losses. The drivers side airbag did not deploy even though it was a frontal impact which pushed the front of the vehicle in by 24 inches and bent the frame - the passenger airbag did deploy even though no other passengers were in the vehicle. I reported the problem twice to Honda america but they are refusing to acknowledge a problem exists.”

NHTSA complaint #10138318, filed 2005-10, 40,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2011655%
2010723%
2009516%
20082421%
20072724%
20065545%
20057648%
20047326%
20034912%

Other parts of the 2003 Honda Element

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
226 complaintsElectrical system
35 complaintsBody and structure
33 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
27 complaintsSuspension
25 complaintsOther or unknown
16 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
12 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsExterior lighting
6 complaintsSeats
6 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
6 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 Honda Element

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology