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Honda ElementModel year report

2011 Honda Element Problems

Complaints
11filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
60,200miles, 7 complaints with mileage
Recalls
10campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl FWD · 20 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Honda Element (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 2011 Honda Element. The part named most often is air bags, with 6 complaints (55% of the total), followed by other or unknown (2) and visibility (2). 7 of the complaints include a mileage, and 43% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 60,200 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns and 45 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 9 recall campaigns covering the inflator module, 2 NHTSA investigations and 38 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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.

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall: I was advised that it would possibly take longer than a 3 month wait until the repair kit even arrived at the facility due to the fact that they don't make that vehicle any more and was told to have my family of 4 ride in the rear seats for safety issue. It is a 4 seat vehicle. Have left message with service manager an no response. This time frame is unacceptable and if in an accident, according to the video on your website, could cause injury or death to my family.”

NHTSA complaint #10898282, filed 2016-08, 80,000 miles

Other or unknown: “Repeatedly since I have owned the vehicle, the traction control and check engine icons will come on and the vehicle will lose power. It has been in the shop several times but they clearly are guessing. It happened most recently just last week. It usually happens upon startup, but sometimes while driving also. Sometimes restarting the car makes the icons go away, sometimes not.”

NHTSA complaint #10610895, filed 2014-07, 10,000 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “Sun visor will not stay up and is blocking visibility of the road ahead. After looking online I see that this is an ongoing issue with similar models of Honda. It should be a safety recall for Honda as it may cause an accident.”

NHTSA complaint #10608461, filed 2014-07, 21,000 miles

Seat belts: “The contact owns a 2011 Honda Element. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, she had noticed that an extension ladder and debris had landed in the middle of the road. In order to avoid the objects, the contact and the driver behind her attempted to make the same turn at the same time into the right lane which caused a collision. The driver and passenger air bags failed to deploy upon collision. The driver side seat belt also failed to release upon depression of the driver seat belt button. …”

NHTSA complaint #11377818, filed 2020-12, 165,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

43% of the 7 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 25,000 and 80,000 miles.

0%0–1029%10–2514%25–5014%50–7514%75–1000%100–15029%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (7 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 60,200 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

2014420164201720182020
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 2011 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 · SUV AWDnot rated———3 · 20.4% risk
Element · SUV FWDnot rated———3 · 21.9% risk

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

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 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 automatic202422$3,050
Element 4WD2.4L 4-cyl5-speed automatic192421$3,200
Element 4WD2.4L 4-cyl5-speed manual182220$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 2011 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. 45 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 45 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 2011 Honda Element have?

NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 2011 Honda Element as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 Honda Element is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 6 complaints (55% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 2.

Has the 2011 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 2011 Honda Element get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Honda Element (Element 2WD, 2.4L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 20 city and 24 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 2011 Honda Element reported?

Among the 7 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 60,200 miles and the middle half falls between 25,000 and 80,000 miles; 43% 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.