The 2005 Honda Element has 9 recalls, the most serious being defective Takata airbag inflators on both the driver and passenger sides that can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
All of the top recalls center on the frontal airbags. The driver-side inflator can explode during deployment, scattering sharp metal fragments toward the driver and other occupants. The passenger-side inflator carries the same rupture risk, with the added concern that long-term exposure to heat and humidity can degrade the propellant and cause the bag to deploy with excessive force. There is also a separate concern covering certain vehicles where a replacement passenger airbag may have been installed incorrectly, which can cause it to deploy improperly in a crash. On the electrical side, the trailer hitch wiring harness on some vehicles has an incorrectly wired connector that can cause the trailer's brake lights and turn signals to work incorrectly, or blow a fuse and knock out those lights entirely without warning.
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.
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
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 front passenger air bag inflator can rupture during a crash due to chemical breakdown from long-term exposure to heat and humidity.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Heat and humidity can gradually break down the propellant in the passenger front airbag. If deployed, the airbag could inflate with excessive force, potentially sending fragments at occupants or damaging the airbag assembly.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the passenger front airbag inflator.
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 trailer hitch wiring connector is incorrectly wired, which can cause trailer brake and turn signal lamps to malfunction or blow a fuse, resulting in sudden loss of these warning lights.
What the fix does
Dealers will repair the wiring harness to correct the connector wiring.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
