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Honda ElementModel year report

2010 Honda Element Problems

Compared with other Honda Element years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

29/100 0.6× a typical year · 50 = typical

Open NHTSA investigationAir Bag Inflator Rupture

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
30filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
45,429miles, 16 complaints with mileage
Recalls
10campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl FWD · 20 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2010 Honda Element (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 30 consumer complaints for the 2010 Honda Element. The part named most often is air bags, with 7 complaints (23% of the total), followed by suspension (6) and brakes (5). 16 of the complaints include a mileage, and 63% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 45,429 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns and 52 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 8 recall campaigns covering the inflator module, 2 NHTSA investigations and 38 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 Honda Element model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 29 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Other or unknown (1), Seats (1), Steering (1), Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Crash pushed car off the road. Airbags deployed but did not inflate. Airbags had crude cut out circles at the end of wires. Did someone cut out the bag inflators?..updated 06/25/14 updated 06/30/2014 updated 12/30/15”

NHTSA complaint #10595577, filed 2014-06, 70 miles

Suspension: “We have had to repair the front suspension parts the entire front suspension and steering component on our 2010 honda element ex and from the very first time we drove it. It never drove right. It would jerk you out of a curve we took it back to the dealer twice and they kept telling us it was because we were not used to driver assist system. Well since then 5 times we have had the front end steering and suspension replaced thousands of dollars! Why has there not been a recall? …”

NHTSA complaint #11625327, filed 2024-11

Brakes: “I purchase a Honda Element 2010 from ray Honda on strasbourg on april, test drive it and the brake went down to floor I was told that they will make the necessary repair I drove away and the same problem persist I brought it back they said to me that I have to leave we it, I toll them is dangerous and the brake has no stopping power and there's it nothing they could do.”

NHTSA complaint #10396760, filed 2011-04, 15,510 miles

Engine: “At 118,000 miles the engine in my 2010 Honda Element suffered a catastrophic engine failure. After the engine was removed, it showed that a piston had stopped creating heat significant enough to fuse it to the cylinder. Prior to stopping the only sign of an issue was odd revving during times of consistent speeds (55 MPH on a flat surface).”

NHTSA complaint #11075646, filed 2018-03, 118,500 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

63% of the 16 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 22,000 and 60,000 miles.

19%0–1025%10–2519%25–5013%50–7519%75–1006%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (16 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 45,429 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2014201662018202220242026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2010 Honda Element. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Element · sedan AWD/FWDnot rated5 / 5——3 · 20.4% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2010 Honda Element version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Element 2WD2.4L 4-cyl5-speed automatic202522$3,050
Element 2WD2.4L 4-cyl5-speed manual182320$3,350
Element 4WD2.4L 4-cyl5-speed automatic192421$3,200
Element 4WD2.4L 4-cyl5-speed manual182320$3,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 10 recalls for the 2010 Honda Element → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 52 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 52 bulletins →

Other model years of the Honda Element

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20111160,20010—22—Not enough data
20103045,42910—2229 · FewerRising
20093140,0008—2250 · TypicalRising
200811326,50012—22100 · MoreRising
200711271,40010—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200612269,7869—21Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200515970,0007—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200428147,0009—21Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200342324,00010—21Not compared (before 2008)Rising

All Honda Element model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2010 Honda Element have?

NHTSA recorded 30 consumer complaints for the 2010 Honda Element as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2010 Honda Element is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 7 complaints (23% of the total), followed by suspension with 6.

Has the 2010 Honda Element been recalled?

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2010 Honda Element get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Honda Element (Element 2WD, 2.4L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 20 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2010 Honda Element reported?

Among the 16 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 45,429 miles and the middle half falls between 22,000 and 60,000 miles; 63% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.