The 2004 Honda Element has 7 recalls, the most serious being a Takata airbag inflator defect affecting both the driver and front passenger sides, where the inflator can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
Multiple recalls cover this same airbag hazard from different filing campaigns, and one additional recall addresses a related concern: the front passenger airbag may have been installed incorrectly during a prior replacement, which can cause it to deploy improperly in a crash. Prior repair attempts on these airbags did not fully resolve the issue across all affected vehicles, which is why several campaigns exist for what is fundamentally the same inflator rupture risk.
The remaining recall affects 2003-2004 model years only and involves the ignition switch. The interlock lever inside the switch can deform, allowing the ignition key to be removed even when an automatic transmission has not been shifted into park. With the key out and the transmission in gear, the vehicle can roll away on its own.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front airbag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front airbag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The driver frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Driver air bag inflators installed during previous recalls or as service parts may explode during a crash when the air bag deploys due to a manufacturing defect.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflator with a different inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement, potentially affecting its ability to deploy properly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the passenger air bag and replace the module assembly if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver air bag inflator may rupture due to moisture and manufacturing variations that develop over time.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The interlock lever inside the ignition switch may warp, which could disable the automatic transmission's safety interlock that prevents the engine from starting in gear.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the interlock pin and lever in the ignition switch with new parts designed to prevent warping.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
