2005 Honda Element Air Bags Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS · data through 07/12/2026

54Air Bags complaints

34.2%Of all 158 complaints

#1Most-reported category

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

How air bags ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS54 · 34.2%

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW14 · 8.9%

SEATS12 · 7.6%

SUSPENSION12 · 7.6%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12 · 7.6%

Share of the 158 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2005 Honda Element overview page.

What owners report

“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

“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

“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

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

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Honda Element have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the most-reported problem area on the 2005 Honda Element: 54 of 158 complaints on file (34.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2005 Honda Element have in total?

158 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 13 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 19 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS 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.