Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
The most-reported problem — Air Bags (34.2% of complaints) — is covered by 6 NHTSA recall campaigns.
Air Bags complaints here are 5.1× the median for that category across the 1998 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 54 · 34.2% | Recalled | Recall 19V182000 · Recall 19V501000 · Recall 19V499000 · Recall 17V029000 · Recall 15V320000 · Recall 16V344000 |
| Air Bags:side/window | 14 · 8.9% | Recalled | Recall 19V182000 · Recall 19V501000 · Recall 19V499000 · Recall 17V029000 · Recall 15V320000 · Recall 16V344000 |
| Seats | 12 · 7.6% | not available | — |
| Suspension | 12 · 7.6% | not available | — |
| Electrical System | 12 · 7.6% | not available | — |
| Visibility:windshield | 7 · 4.4% | not available | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Percentages are the share of the 158 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
NHTSA campaign 19V182000 · 2019 · reported 03/06/2019
An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 19V501000 · 2019 · reported 06/27/2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 19V499000 · 2019 · reported 06/27/2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 17V029000 · 2017 · reported 01/10/2017
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 15V320000 · 2015 · reported 05/28/2015
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 16V344000 · 2016 · reported 05/23/2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 11V395000 · 2011 · reported 08/04/2011
THIS COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. ADDITIONALLY, BROKEN PIECES OF THE OUTER RACE OR BALL BEARING FROM THE SECONDARY SHAFT MAY BECOME LODGED IN THE PARKING PAWL RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AFTER THE DRIVER HAS PLACED THE GEAR SELECTOR IN THE PARK POSITION.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 05E035000 · 2005 · reported 05/16/2005
IMPROPER SIGNALING OR A LOSS OF TRAILER WARNING LAMP FUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
“MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2005 HONDA ELEMENT AROUND 50MPH AND HIT A SMALL POT HOLE AND THEN HEARD A LOUD BANG. AFTER SEEING SMOKE…”NHTSA complaint 11160837 — filed 12/11/2018 · AIR BAGS
“REPEATED (7 SHOP VISITS) ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE SRS (AIRBAG) INDICATOR ACTIVATING. TWO SEAT BELT CLASP REPLACEMENTS, I CAN RECALL. HONDA REFUSES TO HONOR VEHICLE OCCUPANT…”NHTSA complaint 11156530 — filed 12/06/2018 · AIR BAGS
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS). THE RECALL REMEDY WAS PERFORMED ON…”NHTSA complaint 11012250 — filed 08/02/2017 · AIR BAGS
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Air bags issues are the most-reported category, cited in 54 of 158 NHTSA complaints (34.2%), followed by air bags:side/window (14), seats (12), suspension (12). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
158 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 13 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, and 19 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Yes — 10 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 19V182000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
