2005 Honda Element

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

66/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 159 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Honda Element, and it carries 10 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	62	39%
Visibility	10	6%
Suspension	9	6%
Seats	9	6%
Electrical system	8	5%
Engine and engine cooling	7	4%
Power train	5	3%
Structure	4	3%
Unknown or other	4	3%
Air bags	3	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

On 8.31.26, while driving my 2005 Honda Element Mileage: Approximately 125,000), the front passenger-side airbag spontaneously deployed without warning.There was absolutely no vehicle collision, physical impact, pothole,
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Left rear trailing arm mount has rusted and trailing arm is not intact.
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

"Reporting a Material Compound Failure on a set of 4 Falken Wildpeak AT Trails tires (size 215/70/16) sold as 'new' but manufactured in 2021 (DOT 3921). Despite 8/32" tread remaining (75% life), from there original 10/32
NHTSA complaint: Tires

The contact owns a 2005 Honda Element. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle began to tilt sideways while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle became inoperable. There was no warning ligh
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

Air bag in drivers seat deployed when I shut rear door. Car was running at the time.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

The contact owns a 2005 Honda Element. The contact stated while inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear trailing arm mount was severely rusted. The vehicle was taken to an independent frame mechanic, w
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

The left rear control arm pulled out of the subframe and floor panel and hit the pavement facing forward, the direction in which the car was moving. The left rear tire pulled out and away from the vehicle, and the car lu
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

Rear unibody rust through allowing the drivers side rear trailing arm to become detached. Pulling up to stop sign very slowly luckily. At speed this failure would have assuredly led to a crash from loss of control. Calls
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2005 Honda Element. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module 19V182000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV

Risk: 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 dea

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer servic

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module 19V501000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-213

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module 19V499000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. The

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module 17V029000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2011 Honda Element vehicles, 2005-2012 Acura RL vehicles, 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2005-2008 Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, i

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Ho

The seven scores

Reliability raw	59	average
Longevity est.	72	good
Maintenance	82	excellent
Depreciation	72	good
Performance	59	average
Efficiency	38	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 15% of SUVs
Longevity: better than 35% of SUVs
Running costs: better than 83% of SUVs
Value retention: better than 79% of SUVs

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 59: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 72: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2005 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 82: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2005 Honda Element?

Owners have filed 159 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 62 of them (39%). There are 10 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2005 Honda Element reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 59/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2005 Honda Element last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 72/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2005 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2005 Honda Element?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 66/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.