Honda Element Honda Element

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Expensive Honda Element repairs by problem area

Engine (24%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (12%)

Brakes and Traction Control (10%)

Suspension and Steering (32%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (22%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (0%)

Other (0%)

Chart based on 41 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the Honda Element.

Honda Element repair cost distribution

$2500+ (21%)

$1000 - $2499 (79%)

$500 - $999 (0%)

$100 - $499 (0%)

< $100 (0%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 29 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2011 Honda Element 4dr SUV

166-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed automatic AWD

49446 mi

US $1301
Replaced O2 sensor Replaced A pipe, flange, and additional exhaust pipe. 
69750 mi

US $335
Replaced leaking (rusted out) AT filter housing and some connecting hoses and clamps. This repair included changing or flushing AT fluid. 

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2008 Honda Element 4dr SUV

166-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual AWD

28500 mi

US $250
replace rotors 
US $1500 VSA/ABS control module failed and had to be replaced 

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2008 Honda Element 4dr SUV

166-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed automatic FWD

114000 mi

US $180
Transmission fluid leak. Determined that the drain plug was leaking. Flushed transmission and replaced the plug. 
125000 mi

US $350
Replaced driver side window regulator 
134000 mi

US $1025
Replace front strut assemblies. 

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2007 Honda Element 4dr SUV

166-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed automatic FWD

110980 mi

C $1000
Serpentine chain replaced..hard to get to! New alternator. Vehicle does not have a timing belt..good news. Brake wear is huge..larger tires? although i live in calming traffic zone (speed bumps). Oh still waiting for Honda recall on air bags. 
110980 mi

C $350
Sensor that sends gas to engine: replaced 

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2007 Honda Element 4dr SUV

166-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed automatic AWD

89160 mi

C $130
Tire pressure sensor defective (leaking), was replaced and tire repaired. 
112320 mi

C $4110
transmission needed rebuilding due to premature wear, probably from towing beyond specs by previous owner 
108500 mi

C $212
Inspect AC system, perform leak test, recharge, test 
110360 mi

C $548
replace steering knuckle, front wheel alignment. replace cv joint, and outer cv boot. 
117180 mi

C $633
Condenser for air conditioning system was cracked, removed and replaced. Recharged system. 
129916 mi

C $688
remove and replace starter assembly 
134555 mi

C $1100
replace front and rear brake pads and rotors, clean and lubricate callipers and slide mechanisms 
155758 mi

C $146
alternator drive belt, serpentine belt 
80300 mi

US $375
replace weak battery tail pipe rusted fell off, replaced 
83000 mi

US $499
did not blow cold, no refrigerant replace driver door lock actuator 
87000 mi

US $1025
Replace AC compressor 
200000 mi

US $1000
Was leaking oil 

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2006 Honda Element

Engine not specified

168000 mi

US $1600
AC not working. 

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2006 Honda Element 4dr SUV

166-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD

91300 mi

US $225
Rocker Position Sensor failed, giving a Check Engine Light and violent loss of power during acceleration. Shop replaced the sensor. 
101000 mi

US $1400
Rear wheel camber adjustment not possible due to worn components. All replaced. 
117000 mi

US $1950
Clutch was replaced, as was the starter. 
120300 mi

US $570
Alternator quit charging battery. Both replaced. 

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2006 Honda Element 4dr SUV

166-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual AWD

165000 mi

US $225
Also replaced rear sway bar bushings. drivers side window regulator failed. This was the second time. First time replaced with an aftermarket regulator. That one only lasted a year. Replaced this time with a honda part. 
187600 mi

US $1200
Replaced struts all 4 corners 
199000 mi

US $150
Replaced manual shift cable assembly 
207000 mi

US $150
Replaced front rotors, pads, and lubed caliper pins 

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2006 Honda Element 4dr SUV

166-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

128000 mi

US $500
Needed a new starter. Had milked it for two months. 
134000 mi

US $1200
One tie rod was broken, both were replaced. Drive belt needed replacement. 
161000 mi

US $450
Alternator was replaced 

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2006 Honda Element 4dr SUV

166-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic AWD

163400 mi

US $500
Leaking right strut, replaced both it and the left one 
168000 mi

US $488
Slow starting for about a month or so prior...finally quit... had to be towed. Pep Boys found bad starter; replaced, problem solved. 
236000 mi

US $5000
Front and rear shocks struts and mounts worn out. Vehicle was unstable and had a poor ride. Additional repairs included power steering pump replacement. Drive belt, front and rear brake pads and rotors, valve cover gasket, and Vtec solenoid. 
245000 mi

US $500
Engine mounts replaced... 

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2005 Honda Element 4dr SUV

160-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

117000 mi

US $600
Failed starter. Hard starting, especially restart when hot. 
128000 mi

US $200
Flush and fill power steering fluid, only 20k miles after last flush and fill. 
142000 mi

US $1000
Alternator failure. Car charging light was on and very loud whine from under the hood. 

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2005 Honda Element 4dr SUV

160-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic AWD

118000 mi

US $2500
replace rear brakes and pads 
80000 mi

US $2598
Replaced front motor mount, rear mount, transmission mount. Car vibrates now and did not before, just made some rattling noise. rear struts replaced front lower ball joints replaced 

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2004 Honda Element 4dr SUV

160-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

71000 mi

US $1100
Air was blowing but not cool. I was told it was the compressor, but I don't trust the mechanic. The compressor should not have gone out this soon with the number of miles I have on my car. 

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2003 Honda Element 4dr SUV

160-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD

66960 mi

C $150
Stablizer rod Rear stablizer links 
72200 mi

C $1200
Left front ball joint. Replaced. 
83700 mi

C $100
Lower ball joint boot split. 
90520 mi

C $300
Idle control valve replacement 
96820 mi

C $600
Clutch linkages rusted out. Serpentine belt replaced Engine temperature sensor wires rusted out 
193200 mi

US $1280
Check engine light came on,O2 sensor failed, throttle body cleaned, power steering dirty and replaced, manual transmission fluid replace, synthetic oil change 
202700 mi

US $1200
brought vehicle in because of a loud clicking noise when turning steering wheel. Mechanic said it was bad axles and replaced them both. Problem was not solved, brought back to dealer and they said it was probably something in the tie rod end 

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2003 Honda Element 4dr SUV

160-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual AWD

88120 mi

US $3000
replaced manual transmission/clutch replaced manual transmission and clutch 
125000 mi

US $950
Both front and rear suspension linkage control arms replaced. Right front suspension linkage and both rear trailing arms replaced. 
140000 mi

US $300
Left front suspension/steering assembly. 
186000 mi

US $400
right rear brake caliper replaced, rear pads replaced and flush/fill brake fluid 
100000 mi

US $1200
transmission rebuilt 

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2003 Honda Element 4dr SUV

160-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

118000 mi

US $1200
Replaced front end exhaust system, gaskets 
59000 mi

US $311
Third gear pressure switch needed to be diagnosed and replaced. 
71000 mi

US $120
Flange rusted between the tailpipe and the muffler and the tailpipe needed to be replaced. 
88300 mi

US $245
Replaced left and right compliance bushings. replaced serpentine belt and belt tensioner 
90000 mi

US $500
Alternator needed to be replaced. 
84000 mi

US $700
Replaced tie-rods and performed alignment replaced front struts rebuilt rear calipers as they were seized replaced 02 sensor replaced catalytic converter 
98000 mi

US $680
replaced front calipers, resurfaced front rotors. replaced resonator on exhaust 
101000 mi

US $275
banging sound from front end, had lower tie rod replaced 
108300 mi

US $120
replaced abs wheel sensor 
17000 mi

US $1500
Ac compressor failed. Sold car as repair cost was 50% of car value. 
70000 mi

US $2100
Air conditioning compressor bad. After complaining about quality and requesting bad compressor to establish why it went bad, I was only charged 1/2 of the $2,100 repair price. 

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2003 Honda Element 4dr SUV

160-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic AWD

156000 mi

US $350
On intermittent basis cooling fan(s?) failed to come on causing the engine to overheat. Replaced relay, thermostat and temp. sensor. Seems to have solved the problem since no incidents after repair. 
158500 mi

US $1120
When prior cooling system repair was done mechanic failed to observe 3 aged 5/16" coolant hoses in the vicinity of the intake manifold. One of these hoses failed which nearly fried the engine. Replaced these three hoses, $200. Remove and replace oil sending unit due to leaking engine oil, $60. Shocks and struts have been bad since about 60K miles - finally became so bad that work had to be done. Replaced all. Ordered during previous repair trip. Also repalce front rotors and pads. 
158000 mi

US $2100
Compressor clutch failed - inspection revealed leaking seal also so necessary to replace compressor & clutch. Unable to locate vendor who would warrant compressor unless condensor (with integrated valve) was changed - this doubled cost. 
166000 mi

US $532
One cooling fan failed - replaced both since access time was significant. 
158200 mi

US $3500
Needed to rebuild transmission. Shift from 1st to 2nd gear was slamming, and other gears shifts were flaring. 
164000 mi

US $200
Exhaust needed welding. 
165000 mi

US $400
Radiator was leaking and needed to be replaced. 
179000 mi

US $200
Rear swaybar end link snapped. Replaced both end links in the rear. 
164300 mi

US $220
cooling fan broke which caused over heating and eventually a cracked radiator 
149700 mi

US $2000
replaced engine 

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2003 Honda Element 2-door

4-cylinder automatic 2WD

152000 mi

US $1500
Needed to be replaced 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Honda models.

Honda Element Expensive Problems

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 Honda Element problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.