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Honda Element VIN Number Check

Decode a Honda Element VIN free with NHTSA vPIC. See the NHTSA recalls for that model year, then read what owners have reported.

VIN prefix5J6

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Vinny, the VinNumber key mascot
Honda Element

About the Honda Element

Honda sold the Element in the US for model years 2003–2011. Across those years NHTSA lists 20 vehicle recall campaigns and 1,281 owner complaints. The 2003 has the most complaints of any model year (423). EPA rates it at 20–22 mpg combined. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2003–2011
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle
NHTSA recall campaigns20
Owner complaints1,281 at NHTSA
Honda Element photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

Honda Element at a glance

One generation in the data, 2003–2011: 20 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,281 owner complaints.

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Element
2003–2011Sport Utility Vehicle
Honda Element (2003–2011)

Photo: phototram, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

20032010
2003–2011

Honda Element

EPA classSport Utility Vehicle
EPA combined mpg20–22
NHTSA recalls20

Engines (EPA)

  • 2.4 L 4-cyl · 2003–2011

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • AWD/4WD, FWD
  • automatic (2003–2011), manual (2003–2011)

Known issues to check

Visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (374)Air bags (324)Suspension (116)10 high-risk recall campaigns

Mentions in 1,281 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · Element5J6YH285?3L······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2003 Honda Element EX, built in East Liberty, Ohio
Check an Element VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Element model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 20 campaigns on file for Element model years 2003–2011, and the 2008 shows up in more of them than any other year (12), ahead of the 2010 (11). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2008
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recallCanada only
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Honda Element owners report

NHTSA data

Between them, the 2003 and 2004 hold 704 of the 1,281 complaints, or 55%. Tap any bar or generation.

1,281NHTSA complaints, 2003–2011
92mention a crash
13mention a fire
92injuries reported
Owner complaints by model yearElement: 1,281 complaints · most for the 2003 (423)

Top complaint areas · Element

Mentions in 1,281 complaints, 2003–2011.

Visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors)374
Air bags324
Suspension116
Electrical system112
Structure and body92
Brakes68
Crashes 92Fires 13Injuries 92

2003–2011

NHTSA data summary

The 2003 is the outlier. On its own it has 423 of the ’s 1,281 complaints (33%), more than any other Element model year, and owners across the generation name visibility most often (374 mentions), then air bags (324).

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner complaints · by model year

Element complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Every Element version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.

1,281complaints, 2003–2011
92mention a crash
13mention a fire
92injuries reported
Most complaints: 2003 (423), 2004 (281), 2005 (159)
423’03281’04159’05’10

2003 · 423 complaints

Crashes 28 · fires 4 · injuries 23

Visibility226
Air bags49
Electrical system35
Structure32
Latches/locks/linkages27

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Element CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 35 Element versions for model years 2003–2011. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 404 g/mi (2011). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

Element2003–2011

20–22 mpg · CO₂ 404–444 g/mi

2010
22combined MPG
404CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$3,050EPA yearly fuel cost
5/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
not ratedGreenhouse gas rating
BIN 5 · LEV IIEmission standard
Cleanest gas version of 2010: 2WD · Auto 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L — 22 MPG · 404 g/mi
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
350400450500550200520102003 · Gas: 4232004 · Gas: 4232005 · Gas: 4232006 · Gas: 4232007 · Gas: 4042008 · Gas: 4042009 · Gas: 4042010 · Gas: 4042011 · Gas: 404
Gas

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

Element vs Toyota RAV4 vs Honda CR-V

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2003–2011. NHTSA lists 20 recall campaigns for the Element, against 22 for the Toyota RAV4 and 32 for the Honda CR-V. Pick a range to compare.

Honda Element

Model years 2003–2011

NHTSA recall campaigns
20
NHTSA owner complaints
1,281
EPA combined mpg
20–22
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.4 L
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, FWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) 374
  2. Air bags 324
  3. Suspension 116

Toyota RAV4

Model years 2003–2011

NHTSA recall campaigns
22
NHTSA owner complaints
3,908
EPA combined mpg
21–24
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.0, 2.4, 2.5 L · 6-cyl 3.5 L
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, FWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Engine and cooling 723
  2. Steering 650
  3. Speed control / acceleration 582

Honda CR-V

Model years 2003–2011

NHTSA recall campaigns
32
NHTSA owner complaints
5,115
EPA combined mpg
21–24
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.4 L
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, FWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Air bags 1,715
  2. Electrical system 914
  3. Latches, locks and linkages 514

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Honda Element VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on an Element

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Silver Honda Element (2003-2011 generation) SUV, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: BuickRiviera99, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

Element's clamshell rear doors create an unusual door arrangement, the B-pillar between the front and rear cargo doors carries a VIN label that's worth checking alongside the standard dashboard plate and driver's door jamb sticker.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common Honda Element VIN questions

Which Honda Element model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2003 leads with 423, ahead of the 2004 (281) and 2005 (159). Those first two alone make up 55% of the 1,281 Element complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Honda Element had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 20 vehicle campaigns for model years 2003–2011, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

Which Honda Element recalls are high risk?

15V-320, 15V-370, 16V-344 and 17V-029 cover air bag inflators that can rupture. 18V-268, 19V-182, 19V-499, 19V-501, 18V-041 and 18V-662 cover air bag inflator modules and how they deploy. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

What fuel economy does the Honda Element get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2003–2011 Element at 20–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Honda Element compare with the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V on recalls?

For 2003–2011 models the Element has 20 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Toyota RAV4 has 22, the Honda CR-V 32. Complaints run 1,281, 3,908 and 5,115 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

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