2004 Honda Element Seats Problems

NHTSA component category: SEATS · data through 07/12/2026

26Seats complaints

9.3%Of all 281 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How seats ranks on this vehicle

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD100 · 35.6%

AIR BAGS59 · 21%

SEATS26 · 9.3%

SEAT BELTS14 · 5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12 · 4.3%

Share of the 281 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2004 Honda Element overview page.

What owners report

“THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN MY '04 HONDA ELEMENT EX ROCKS BACK, ESPECIALLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO COME RIGHT…”NHTSA complaint 10200880 — filed 08/27/2007

“THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN OUR '04 HONDA ELEMENT EX IS ACTUALLY ROCKING BACK AND FORTH AND SIDEWAYS! IT FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO COME…”NHTSA complaint 10175453 — filed 12/07/2006

“HONDA ELEMENT - DRIVER SEAT STARTED ROCKING 7 MONTHS OLD. UNSAFE. CLEARLY SOME IS LOOSE AND THERE ARE THE COMPLAINT IS OUT THERE AND REAL…”NHTSA complaint 10151771 — filed 03/04/2006

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Seats complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2004 Honda Element have seats problems?

Seats is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2004 Honda Element: 26 of 281 complaints on file (9.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2004 Honda Element have in total?

281 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 16 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 19 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's seats category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the SEATS category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.