2004 Honda Element Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2004 Element most often write about windshield glass that cracks with no visible impact, frequently within the first few thousand miles, and about air bag problems that appear at much higher mileage — warning lights, unexpected deployments and delayed recall repairs. Seat looseness, ignition switch trouble and rear brake noise round out the more common reports.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield cracks without an impact

   • 99 complaints (35%)
   • median 9,250 mi at 1.1 yrs old (64 state mileage)
   • filed 2004–2011

   Complaints describe the windshield cracking on its own, often beginning at the lower edge near the wiper or the base of the driver-side pillar and spreading a foot or more within days. Many owners say there was no chip, pit or road debris at the time, and several describe hearing a pop while driving or finding the glass cracked after the vehicle sat parked. Some dealers replaced the glass under warranty while others attributed the crack to road impact and declined coverage; a few owners report repeated replacements. Mostly reported within the first 2,000 to 40,000 miles, sometimes within weeks of purchase and often in hot weather.

   What to check: Inspect the lower corners and the area under the wiper cowl for cracks or repairs on a cold start, and ask whether the windshield has been replaced and by whom.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the parkway with no one in front of me, heard a pop and a 5 crack appeared on my windshield(drivers side). The crack has grown an additional 3-4 inches in the past week. There is no evidence of road or rock debris having hit it. The dealership refused warranty coverage although a service bulletin was issued for this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10091097, filed 2004-11, 8,200 miles

   “Windshield cracked (in 2 separate places!?!) with no apparent rock chip or damage. I have owned the car less than 6 months when this happens. Apparently a defect that many others have complained about. No cooperation from the dealership I purchased at. Won't make my next car a Honda because of thier failure to acknowledge the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10080777, filed 2004-07, 18,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light stays on / no deployment

   • 43 complaints (15%)
   • median 108,000 mi at 10.6 yrs old (33 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2023

   Complaints describe the air bag or SRS indicator staying lit after startup, sometimes for years, and in some cases the air bag not deploying in a collision while the other side did. Owners report dealers clearing codes, replacing seat latches or diagnosing the sensor or cable reel assembly, and several say the repair was quoted as a customer expense. Others mention that recall parts for the inflator campaigns were unavailable for months. Usually reported between about 60,000 and 210,000 miles, often after the vehicle is well out of warranty.

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

   What to check: Watch the SRS light through the startup self-check and confirm with a Honda dealer whether every air bag inflator recall has been completed on this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving 30 MPH on 2-way road. Driver coming other way cut me off, I swerved, he hit my left front with his right front. My driver airbag didn't deploy although passenger did. I sustained whiplash and chest trauma as a result. Honda 2004 Element.”

   NHTSA complaint #10295227, filed 2009-12, 100,000 miles

   “I had filed a complaint about this issue in 2010. The srv light has been on since 2010. I did have the driver seat latch replaced, the dealer cleared to code and the airbag light went off for two days and then returned. That is when I notified Honda and you. I was told I would have to pay $450.00 to have the harness replaced. Needless to say I no longer do business with the dealer and I am not sure if I will even buy another Honda just due to their lack of my interest. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10575801, filed 2014-03, 66,441 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Side or driver air bag deploys with no impact

   • 15 complaints (5%)
   • median 109,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2021

   Owners report the driver's seat side air bag, or the front air bag, deploying while the vehicle was parked, moving slowly, or after a door was shut firmly, with no collision involved. Complaints describe the noise and force of the deployment, occasional soreness or injury, and a dealer response pointing to a sensor or chip reading as if a crash had occurred; some owners were quoted repair costs. Several say the cause was never explained after a return visit. Reported from roughly 100,000 to 200,000 miles, often while parked or at low speed.

   Recall 19V499000Recall 15V320000Recall 19V182000Recall 14V7000003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any air bag or seat-side module has been replaced, and have a dealer scan the SRS history for stored deployment or crash-sensor events.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving less than 10 MPH turning into my driveway, my passengers seat, side air bag deployed. There was no impact, pot hole, etc. To cause deployment. Honda of america says the warranty has expired and they will not pay to repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #10397003, filed 2011-04, 108,000 miles

   “While driving on a two lane highway, at highway speeds, the driver side,side airbag (the driver seat) deployed for no reason. It frightened me and caused me to swerve into the oncoming traffic lane, fortunately no cars were around me at the time and I was able to pull over and regain my composure. I shiver when I think of how badly this might have gone if opposing traffic was there at the time! A day later my left arm still hurts from deployment. My granddaughter was in the car with me at the time of incident.”

   NHTSA complaint #11002340, filed 2017-06, 206,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Ignition key stuck or switch wear

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the key being removable while the vehicle is still in gear, the key sticking so it can't be turned or pulled out, and the vehicle sometimes rolling after being shifted into park. Owners report dealers replacing the ignition switch, in some cases more than once, and one complaint notes the VIN was not covered by the ignition interlock recall. Mostly reported between about 90,000 and 270,000 miles, with symptoms appearing intermittently at first.

   Recall 10V364000

   What to check: Try removing the key with the transmission in drive and check that the key turns smoothly; ask whether the ignition switch has been replaced under the interlock recall.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving or out of park position ignition key can be removed.also while in park eith switch in on podsition the ignition key can be removed. I have had ignition switch fixed twice within a 6 month period. First time occurred september 9 , 2019 other time was march,2020.”

   NHTSA complaint #11340295, filed 2020-07, 268,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2004 Honda Element. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, he noticed the ignition key was loose while positioned in the ignition switch. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who stated that the ignition switch would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired by an independent mechanic. The identical failure recurred three years later. There was a recall associated with the failure under NHTSA campaign id number 10v364000 (electrical system: ignition). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10415226, filed 2011-07, 90,000 miles
5. 5
   Seats

   Driver seat rocks on its track

   • 24 complaints (9%)
   • median 55,250 mi at 5.5 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2020

   Complaints describe the driver's seat rocking back and forth or feeling loose on its track during normal driving. Owners report dealers diagnosing worn or broken seat bushings, spacers or a failed seat track, and in several cases the repair was not covered because the vehicle was out of warranty. Some owners note the looseness returns after repair. Typically reported between about 44,000 and 133,000 miles, during ordinary driving.

   What to check: Grip the seat back and push front to back with the seat locked; ask whether the seat bushings or track have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Under normal driving conditions, driver's side seat has become very loose on seat track and now rocks on its track. Seat is so loose that control of vehicle is compromised when driving. Honda service inspection indicates seat bushings have failed and need to be replaced. Check online shows problem is widespread for this model and year. Indications are that even following repairs, seat will become loose again, pointing to safety design flaw.”

   NHTSA complaint #10380121, filed 2011-02, 60,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2004 Honda Element. The contact stated that the front drivers seat would rock back and forth. The manufacturer was unable to assist the contact and the dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 133,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10413615, filed 2011-07, 80,000 miles

Buying note. These reports center on glass and air bag hardware rather than the drivetrain, so a pre-purchase inspection should include the windshield and a dealer-verified check that every air bag recall has been done. Service records for the seat track and ignition switch are also worth requesting on higher-mileage examples.

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.