2005 Honda Element Honda Element 2005

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2005 Honda Element repairs by problem area

Engine (20%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (5%)

Brakes and Traction Control (14%)

Suspension and Steering (23%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (29%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (4%)

Other (5%)

Chart based on 56 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2005 Honda Element.

2005 Honda Element repair cost distribution

$2500+ (2%)

$1000 - $2499 (2%)

$500 - $999 (21%)

$100 - $499 (42%)

< $100 (34%)

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Chart based on 53 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2005 Honda Element

Engine not specified

Honda Element in Pennsylvania, United States
Mar 2012 - Apr 2012
Apr 2012

103000 mi

US $500
D light started blinking. Code said it was solenoid. Had solenoid replaced 

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2005 Honda Element 4dr SUV

160-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual AWD

Honda Element in Washington, United States
Mar 2015 - Apr 2017
Dec 2016

140000 mi

US $700
Rear calipers sticking, significantly rusted. Rotors warped. Replaced calipers/rotors/pads. 
Honda Element in Virginia, United States
Nov 2010 - Jun 2018
Feb 2011

52000 mi

US $180
Car was pulling to left. After 3 alignments it was determined that a defective rear caliper was creating a continuous drag and creating the pulling. The caliper assy was replaced and the problem is gone. 
Jan 2016

63600 mi

US $800
Rear struts and stabilizer bar ends replaced. Dealer was not super competent. Had the repair fixed at a better private shop. 
Jun 2016

105000 mi

US $575
Dash lights out, required dash removal and new module. Zeroed the odometer, much bigger deal than would be necessary if they would just use light bulbs in the dash. Stupid really. 
Jun 2018

140000 mi

US $300
Front stabilizers and tie rods were supposedly repaired about a year ago by the local dealer I won't make any conclusions about the dealer, who used to be a pleasure to work with but has "evolved". I will say that after a year of reporting clunking and pulling etc is all being redone at a private shop. 

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2005 Honda Element 4dr SUV

160-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

Honda Element in Florida, United States
Dec 2013 - Mar 2014
Jan 2014

92000 mi

US $350
D light flashing. Changed tranny fluid. Third clutch pressure switch needed to be replaced 
Honda Element in Washington, United States
Jun 2015 - Jun 2018
Jun 2016

117000 mi

US $600
Failed starter. Hard starting, especially restart when hot. 
Jun 2017

128000 mi

US $200
Flush and fill power steering fluid, only 20k miles after last flush and fill. 
Jun 2018

142000 mi

US $1000
Alternator failure. Car charging light was on and very loud whine from under the hood. 
Honda Element in New York, United States
May 2017 - Jun 2017
Jun 2017

181000 mi

US $190
Caliper was leaking brake fluid at the wheel. Had caliper replaced. 
Honda Element in Mississippi, United States
May 2016 - Jun 2018
Mar 2017

169000 mi

US $140
Leaking power steering pump, resulted in low fluid. Rebuilt the pump. Discovered there is a stain inside the reservoir so can't tell the level of the fluid by looking at the outside. Chose not to replace the reservoir. Price might be off as it is from memory. 
Apr 2018

187000 mi

US $130
Battery died with no warning. Check engine light went on. Nothing was found except the need for a new battery. 
Jun 2018

191000 mi

US $700
front and rear sway bars and anything related that made sense to replace at the same time. oil leak near the valve cover (if I have this correct- I think there was a sensor near this??) - we had been watching it for a while (several years) it was finally bad enough to fix 
Honda Element in Alabama, United States
Jun 2010 - Dec 2016
Jul 2010

68000 mi

US $100
Replaced Vtec solenoid switch. 
Feb 2015

140000 mi

US $85
Replaced VTEC solenoid. Car running very badly when part malfunctioned. 
Apr 2016

146300 mi

US $750
Compressor worn out. Had to pay to have old one removed and then I evacuated and recharged. PAIN to remove old one. 
Jun 2016

148000 mi
Serpentine belt replacement 
Honda Element in Texas, United States
Nov 2009 - Apr 2012
Mar 2011

162000 mi

US $50
rough idle 

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2005 Honda Element 4dr SUV

160-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic AWD

Honda Element in Oklahoma, United States
Oct 2008 - Jun 2018
Mar 2017

55000 mi
Airbag recall 
Honda Element in California, United States
Jun 2010 - Sep 2014
Jul 2012

36200 mi

US $400
serpentine belt needed to be replaced. 
Honda Element in Ohio, United States
Oct 2008 - Nov 2013
Aug 2013

132700 mi

US $60
Sway bar links were replaced 
Honda Element in California, United States
Aug 2012 - Feb 2018
Jun 2017

100000 mi

US $400
Noise coming from front right of car, sounded like worn tires, replaced, aligned and still same sound. Took to dealer and the right wheel bearing needed to be replaced. 
Oct 2017

102000 mi

US $10
Replaced front headlight bulbs, took less than 10 minutes to change both of them. 
Honda Element in Florida, United States
Jul 2021 - Feb 2022
Dec 2021

79000 mi

US $400
Struts replaced with True Drive quick struts and tie rod ends replaced simultaneously 
Honda Element in Texas, United States
May 2016 - Nov 2019
Oct 2016

118000 mi

US $2500
replace rear brakes and pads 
Aug 2018

130000 mi

US $75
muffler hangers replaced 
Honda Element in Illinois, United States
Dec 2008 - May 2014
Apr 2011

75000 mi

US $600
Replaced both rear brake calipers and one set of brake pads. 
Honda Element in Oklahoma, United States
Jul 2009 - Jun 2018
Oct 2016

101200 mi

US $55
Driver side door window regulator failed and was replaced. 
Honda Element in Ohio, United States
Dec 2013 - Aug 2017
Mar 2014

185000 mi

US $602
One rear shock strut leaking fluid. Replaced both rear strut shocks. 
Honda Element in Connecticut, United States
Jul 2010 - Oct 2016
Jul 2012

83800 mi

US $269
electric window failed cables pulled out of housing 
Aug 2012

84700 mi

US $300
the passenger window failed what an inferior part two window lifts within a month or so very displeased with Honda 
Nov 2015

108000 mi

US $60
Odometer bulbs went bad could not read mileage 
Dec 2015

108000 mi

US $880
Rear struts All brakes 
Honda Element in Vermont, United States
Oct 2009 - Dec 2013
Dec 2009

62000 mi

US $130
New brake caliper bracket for driver side rear. 
Jan 2011

75000 mi

US $400
Replace exhaust system due to rust through 
Oct 2012

94000 mi

US $200
replaced frozen calipers , pads and brake hoses on right and left rear. 
Honda Element in Massachusetts, United States
Oct 2008 - Feb 2011
Feb 2011

78000 mi
Dashlight bulb for the heater/a/c fan control knob burned out (and the dealer wanted abut $150 to pull the dash to get to it).  The rear window windshield wiper motor started to make noise when turned on but it still worked OK. The dealer wanted about $200 to replace it since they said it could not be fixed.  
Honda Element in North Carolina, United States
Aug 2009 - Jun 2010
Sep 2009

66000 mi
Dealer installed a new Pucket (the basket cover overhead to store stuff in). The door that pops open did not open. 
Mar 2010

72000 mi

US $89
Vibration from front of car when turning at slow speeds (Parking lot maneuvers) Rear Differential needed flushing. 
Honda Element in California, United States
Nov 2009 - Dec 2012
May 2009

58000 mi

US $350
Dealer replaced Instrument Cluster because the dash lights were not working...only the gauge needles and gear indicator would illuminate. Plug on back of cluster was faulty, new cluster fixed the problem. 
Feb 2010

69000 mi

US $300
The 3rd gear pressure sensor went bad on the transmission causing the "D" light to flash... $50 part, $150 labor. 
Mar 2012

90000 mi
Diagnose rattle in front suspension -- cracked compliance bushings found, but not culprit of noise so not replaced at this time 
Dec 2012

95000 mi
Cracked compliance bushings when sold. No symptoms. Also suspension rattle. 
Honda Element in Georgia, United States
Sep 2012 - Oct 2013
Aug 2013

146400 mi

US $150
Starter failing to engage. Replaced. Drivers side frontal airbag failure. Self diagnosed. 
Honda Element in Ohio, United States
Nov 2010 - Sep 2016
May 2011

153000 mi

US $664
Replaced frt brake pads and calipers (bolts rusted on calipers) resurfaced frt brake pads. Initially reommended at a regular oil change. 

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2005 Honda Element 4-door

4-cylinder automatic AWD

Honda Element in New Jersey, United States
Aug 2013 - Sep 2013
Sep 2013

219000 mi
Vehicle currently in the shop. I was informed that it needs a new engine, plus the transmission mount is cracked and it needs some other work. Cost would be over $5000. Decided not worth it for mileage over 200,000 - looking for new car. 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Honda models.

2005 Honda Element Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2005 Honda Element problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.