[carvingbarn]

From Consumer Report.org
Reliability History -
Honda ElementTrouble spots by year 03 04 05 06 07 08
Engine Major - - - - -------------- Excellent all years
Engine Cooling - - ----------------- Excellent all years
Transmission Major - - - -----------Excellent all years
Transmission Minor - - - ----------- very good 03 -Excellent other years
Drive System - - - ----------------very good 05-Excellent other years
Fuel System - - - -----------------Very good 03- Excellent other years
Engine Minor - - - -----------------Excellent all years
Electrical System - - - -----------very good 04,05,06,Excellent other years
New Car Prediction Much better than average

 

[matt z]

I have to agree

Ive put on 30K miles and I've had no real problems. A mouse chewed through a wire on the transmission. I thought the thing was possessed, the transmission had a mind of its own... and it seemed like that mind had ADD.

The E has been better that our other cars. The Acura MDX is a close second, but its basically a honda.

 

[i <3 my honda]

its nice to know that my car will out last me

 

[Demon Lemon]

I have 66,500 miles on my E, and I want to see at least 150,000 if at all possible. I think this website will be a HUGE assistant in that regard.

 

[Dom.five]

I have 66,500 miles on my E, and I want to see at least 150,000 if at all possible. I think this website will be a HUGE assistant in that regard.

That's a fact !

Get an EOC sticker ! Then I will be able to see you on the road !

Dom

 

[BigTzElement]

I have 66,500 miles on my E, and I want to see at least 150,000 if at all possible.

I think you set your sights MUCH too low. I own 2 Es, an 03 and 04.

The 03 is my show car and can be seen in my siggy. (60,000 miles)

The 04 is what my wife drives daily, it has almost 140,000 miles and runs just like the day we drove it off the lot. I expect to see 300,000 miles with both Es.

I change the oil every 10,000 miles, put gas in it and windshield wiper fluid.


They are Hondas after all.

Our 2 Accords have 340,000 and 230,000 miles on a 91 and 95. Both still get in the neighborhood of 30 mpg. (depending on how much "fun" I have.)

Bottom line is:
Do the little maintenance things and it will run for a good long time.

 

[vfxraven19]

Awesome to know that the E is a pretty damn reliable vehicle.

 

[Demon Lemon]

As I said, at least 150K miles. You never know when some idiot is going to reduce the 200-300K miles potential. Besides, that would be approximately another 6-8 years of average use for me -- for a grand total of 12-15 years of use. Not too shabby, 'cuz that's 'bout what I expect to get outta my vehicles.

 

[dohcvtec]

i have honda vehicles all my life so far.96 accord.97civic,01 acura cl type s and element.i love honda quality.no doubts.no complaints.

 

[ramblerdan]

Long-term maintenance report

2004 EX 4WD MT, now at 175,6xx miles. It seems to have entered middle age, based on maintenance in the last two calendar years. Yet the cost is still pretty low.

Significant items from 2012 and 2013:

PARTS
Front axles
Front calipers, rotors, pads
Rear rotors, pads
Engine/transmission mounts (4)
Ball joints
Strut mount, R
Spark plugs

SERVICE
Valve adjustment (by owner)
Engine/transmission mounts
Front axles
Front ball joints
Exhaust gasket (flex tube)
Strut mount, R
Alignment

The chart below shows what I've spent on parts & accessories (including tires) and maintenance since purchase. 2004 and 2013 are partial years, since I bought the thing in May of '04 and it's only July now. Not included are front-end repairs after a collision and two windshields, all paid by insurance, and one front axle that Honda reimbursed me for under the extended warranty [more].

The large outlay in 2004 includes four summer tires, four snow tires plus rims, and lotsa Honda accessories. The only replacement parts that year were filters and such. Maintenance costs for 2009 through 2011 were zero because I did all routine maintenance, including brakes and serpentine belt, myself.

 

[MennoToaster]

My E is almost at 100,000 and other then the normal things you have to replace (tires, brake pads), the only thing I've had to get fixed is the AC condenser, and it was my own fault.....so I'm a very happy honda owner :grin:

 

[GR8Bike]

As the owner of a highly modified E I can only say that Honda quality is top notch. To have a motor and transmission take the "abuse , or fun driving" of an old ex-race car driver and not totally blow up is astounding. In the year + I have had the Hellement, I have installed a new clutch,flywheel, and Tial wastegate. Est. 38K and 3 yrs of use. Car runs like a top - albeit a fast top. I get 20+ mpg in town and 22+ on the road. A billboard doing 80+ has a lot of drag. At speeds below 70 and driving in the mountains I have averaged 25.7 mpg. You could say buying gas is probably the least expensive cost of my E.

 

[FridaysElement]

Just curious what year is your E and how was the A/C condenser your fault? (I just replaced my 2007 EX's A/C compressor).

 

[akslamin]

You are asking a question to a four year old post from July 2013.

 

[ramblerdan]

MennoToaster logged in just a week and half ago, so I think FridaysElement's question might get answered.

However since this thread is about general reliability and not a specific a/c condenser incident, a PM would have been more appropriate.

 

[AWD]

Bought my E at 92k, now at 145K

I have replaced:
engine mounts
AC compressor
starter
power steering pump
front struts and mounts
OEM front compliance bushings
OEM front drive axles
serpentine belt
sparkplugs
OEM brand new (not remanufactured) alternator
front tie rods
serpentine belt tensioner
OEM rear sway bar stabilizer bushings
rear upper control arms w/ adjustable ones to align tires due to camber
OEM transmission filter, OEM trans fluid partial flush 2xs, OEM diff fluid 1xs.
Both door window motors
front drivers seat upholstery by upholstery shop
OEM rear bumper cover due to scuffing/ fading
Both OEM door speakers
Both rear tail lights due to cracking or damage
replaced OEM interior door screw hole covers that somehow disappeared

This is the repair list off the top of my head...I know I forgot some stuff...purposely did not include standard maintenance stuff like brakes, tires, extra, or upgrades.

 

[desinia]

My '08 needed a replacement battery almost immediately and the rear suspension either fell apart on right rear or was delivered only partly assembled. Dealer prep was never done inside or out and the tires were nearly flat when I drove it home from the showroom. Had to replace the tires on my own dime almost immediately because although the dealer agreed that it was uncontrollable up past 50mph or so, they weren't going to replace them. ABS system was recalled, then had to be REDONE on my own dime because the dealer couldn't bleed the air out afterward. Engine has been a real gem but the transmission has already had two fluid changes and still shudders sometimes during shifts. Has been recalled due to undersized secondary bearing being unable to handle normal winter driving stresses.

I have to admit that some of these problems were probably caused by an incompetent repair dept at the local dealership but since the dealer care is part of owning the car, you have to include it. I have at least three outstanding recalls right now simply because there's no dealer close enough that I can trust to do the work.

 

[AWD]

Good point Desenia

Oh yeah, I forgot about the 2 recalls a year apart. I had to get the front steering wheel airbag and then the driver side airbag replaced. Having to call the dealer each time to arrange that and then wait for them to fix the repairs was a hassle.

 

[ramblerdan]

Bear in mind that the Takata airbag recall was not specific to the Element.

 

[desinia]

That's why I didn't mention the airbag recalls. I also didn't mention other, smaller issues with my Element because as a former GM owner, they seemed to be on par with any better car maker. (no better, no worse) It's also fair to mention that Honda canned their previous CEO in 2015 over their reliability problems at the same time they got slammed with the largest government fine in history for failing to report deaths and injuries. They certainly know they have a problem.