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Exterior lightingPart report

2005 Honda Element Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
3about this part
Share
2%of 159 total for the year
Median mileage
118,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2005 Honda Element, 2% of the 159 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 118,000 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

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

“While driving down the county road at 60 MPH at night the headlights turned off. I turned the headlight switch off and then back on and everything was fine for a couple days. This happened 5 or 6 more times and now the headlights will not turn back on unless I switch to high beams. High beam works fine, this is an electrical issue not bulb failure. This could have been deadly .”

NHTSA complaint #11093729, filed 2018-05, 118,000 miles

“Airbag warning lights will come on for no reason saying passenger airbag is off and it is not off. This happens at least once a week. This happens at various times, cranking vehicle, driving vehicle, there is really no specific situation . It's sporadic. Headlights have always been dim. Sometimes I can't even tell if they are on. The cargo lights, front middle and back work sometimes and most times they don't. Also brake lights seem to have a mind of there own and work when they want to but definitely not when I want them to. In fact I am pretty sure there is an electrical shortage somewhere.”

NHTSA complaint #11375667, filed 2020-11, 100,000 miles

“My 2005 Honda Element constantly display airbag off, when it's inaccurate, dashboard light doesn't work. There's some kind of shortage because it blinks, come on and go off and stay off. It shows the same information, rather driving or stationary. Are there recalls on this car? It's been one problem after another.”

NHTSA complaint #11405632, filed 2021-03, 172,000 miles

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201027%
200822%
200722%
200643%
200532%
200431%
200361%

Other parts of the 2005 Honda Element

Air bags
76 complaints
Electrical system
16 complaints
Suspension
13 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaints
Seats
12 complaints
Engine cooling
9 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
9 complaints
Seat belts
8 complaints
Body and structure
8 complaints
Steering
7 complaints
Brakes
6 complaints
Other or unknown
6 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2005 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