The 2009 Honda Element has 9 recalls, the most serious being a defect in both the driver and front passenger airbag inflators that can cause the inflator to rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
This is the well-known Takata airbag issue, and it accounts for the majority of these recalls across multiple filings covering both sides of the front seat. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue for all affected vehicles, which is why several separate campaigns exist. One filing specifically covers vehicles ever registered in high-humidity regions such as Florida, Hawaii, and several other southern states and U.S. territories, where the risk is elevated. There is also a separate concern that some replacement passenger airbags may have been installed incorrectly, meaning the bag could deploy improperly in a crash and raise the risk of injury. On a lower-severity note, vehicles equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness have the turn signal and brake lamp wires reversed, so trailer turn signals only light up when the brakes are applied rather than when signaling a turn.
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 explode due to propellant breakdown from prolonged exposure to heat, humidity, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no cost.
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
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 harness has the turn signal power wire and brake lamp wire switched. Turn signals only light up when braking, not independently.
What the fix does
Dealers will repair the wiring harness at no charge to restore proper turn signal operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
