The 2005 Honda Element's elevated safety profile includes 2 recall campaigns and 158 owner-reported complaints. Make recall verification part of your pre-purchase checklist.

Recalls

158

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

11V3950002011-04-08

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 ACCORD, 2007-2010 CR-V, AND 2005-2008 ELEMENT PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1, 2004, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 3, 2010. THE OUTER RACE OF THE SECONDARY SHAFT BEARING MAY BE BROKEN DURING CERTAIN DRIVING STYLES. A BROKEN OUTER RACE MAY CAUSE ABNORMAL NOISE, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT TO TURN ON, AND ALLOW CONTACT BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION IDLE GEAR AND AN ELECTRONIC SENSOR HOUSING WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION.

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. ENGINE STALL AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PERSONAL INJURY TO PERSONS WITHIN THE PATH OF A ROLLING VEHICLE.

View at NHTSA

05E0350002005-16-05

EQUIPMENT

CERTAIN HONDA ACCESSORY TRAILER HARNESS KIT, P/N 08L91-SCV-102, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 24 AND DECEMBER 18, 2004, SOLD FOR USE ON MY 2005 HONDA ELEMENT VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 20, 2004, AND APRIL 29, 2005. THE WIRE HARNESS OF THE TRAILER HITCH KIT HAS AN INCORRECTLY WIRED CONNECTOR. AS A RESULT, THE TRAILER BRAKE LAMPS AND TURN SIGNAL LAMPS COULD OPERATE INCORRECTLY, OR A FUSE COULD BLOW CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKE AND TURN SIGNAL LAMP FUNCTION.

IMPROPER SIGNALING OR A LOSS OF TRAILER WARNING LAMP FUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2005 Honda Element has accumulated 158 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with air bags leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Air Bags61

02Visibility10

03Suspension9

04Seats9

05Electrical System8

158 total across 1 model years (2005–2005)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Honda Element Fuel Economy

20–21mpg combined

18-19city

22-24hwy

$3,200-$3,400/yr

With 4 configurations tested, the 2005 Honda Element ranges from 20 to 21 MPG combined. That's a 1 MPG gap that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in fuel costs.

By Trim

Element 2WD - Automatic 4-spd

21mpg

2.4L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

19 city24 hwy~$3,200/yr-1/10 Poor

Element 2WD - Manual 5-spd

21mpg

2.4L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

19 city23 hwy~$3,200/yr-1/10 Poor

Element 4WD - Automatic 4-spd

20mpg

2.4L 4-cyl · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

19 city23 hwy~$3,400/yr-1/10 Poor

Element 4WD - Manual 5-spd

20mpg

2.4L 4-cyl · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

18 city22 hwy~$3,400/yr-1/10 Poor

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2005 Honda Element

38States

26%in top 3

If you're near Oregon, you're in luck: 10% of listings are there. But with 38 states represented, there's likely one near you too.

OROregon

1510%

FLFlorida

138%

WAWashington

128%

TXTexas

117%

COColorado

106%

GAGeorgia

85%

ILIllinois

64%

DCWashington DC

64%

MIMichigan

64%

CACalifornia

64%

CTConnecticut

53%

NYNew York

43%

OHOhio

43%

KYKentucky

43%

NCNorth Carolina

43%

DEDelaware

32%

MDMaryland

32%

VTVermont

32%

WIWisconsin

32%

PAPennsylvania

32%

MA2

MO2

VA2

NE2

AZ2

NH2

NJ2

NV2

KS2

ID1

UT1

MN1

AL1

ND1

SC1

OK1

WY1

TN1

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2005.

2005 Honda Element: Questions Buyers Ask

Pricing, reliability, and ownership answers

Is the 2005 Honda Element a good car to buy?

Here's the short version on the 2005 Honda Element. There are 2 recalls to verify before purchase. Dig into the safety overview and pricing trends for recall-by-recall detail.

Are there recalls on the 2005 Honda Element?

Yes, 2 recalls on record. The good news: recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Check the safety report for specifics, and always run the VIN before buying.

What's the gas mileage of the 2005 Honda Element?

Fuel economy ranges from 20 to 21 MPG combined. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, that gap is worth about $125 annually. See the fuel economy section for per-trim data.

What are common problems with the 2005 Honda Element?

AIR BAGS problems top the list with 158 total complaints filed. Not every car is affected, but it's worth asking about and inspecting. Full details in the known issues section.

How does the 2005 compare to other Honda Element years?

Each Honda Element model year has different pricing, recall counts, and owner satisfaction patterns. Compare all available years on the Honda Element overview page.