The 2003 Honda Element has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Rear trailing arm mount corrosion and separation.” Honda vehicles use the Maintenance Minder system — your dashboard displays a Code A (oil change) or Code B (oil change plus inspections) along with sub-codes 1-6 for additional services. Intervals adjust based on how you drive. The schedule below reflects Honda's underlying targets.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2003 Honda Element.
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
22 NHTSA complaints · 2021-03 → 2025-11
“The contact stated that while the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the trailing arm fractured”
“Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the rear trailing arm had detached from the vehicle”
“The rear frame is corroded causing my drivers side trailing arm to come loose while driving on the highway”
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
40 NHTSA complaints · 2007-07 → 2021-03
“THE LOCK ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR NO LONGER ACCEPTS THE KEY”
“THE LOCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT THE KEY TO UNLOCK IT”
“DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR LOCK DOES NOT ACCEPT A KEY”
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
15 NHTSA complaints · 2010-08 → 2023-05
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION IN ANY GEAR WITHOUT WARNING”
“IGNITION WILL ALLOW KEY TO BE REMOVED WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION”
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND FAILED TO TURN OVER IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE”
VISIBILITY
22 NHTSA complaints · 2005-11 → 2010-03
“STRESS CRACK IN WINDSHIELD NOT DUE TO AN IMPACT OF ROCK OR SIMILAR FLYING OBJECT”
“I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND NOW IT IS CRACKED ONCE AGAIN IN PRETTY MUCH THE SAME PLACE”
“2003 HONDA ELEMENT...FRONT WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER”
SEATS
3 NHTSA complaints · 2006-12 → 2013-02
“MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT EX DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH WHENEVER I STOP OR START MOVING FORWARD”
“FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT IS LOOSE AND IT ROCKS”
“THE ISSUE IS THE SEAT ROCKS AS YOU ACCELERATE OR BRAKE LIKE A ROCKING CHAIR”
AIR BAGS
21 NHTSA complaints · 2015-02 → 2018-05
“THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE”
“RECEIVED SECOND RECALL NOTICE 3/27/17”
“RECALL FOR AIR BAG, NO PARTS AVAILABLE”
AIR BAGS
9 NHTSA complaints · 2007-03 → 2024-02
“WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON”
“WHILE DRIVING ON ROUGH PAVEMENT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED - URBAN STREET IN RUSH HOUR WHILE RAINING”
“DRIVING DOWN SMOOTH ROAD AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON”
AIR BAGS
7 NHTSA complaints · 2010-06 → 2021-08
“Airbag lights keeps turning on and off and has now stayed on permanently”
“AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON”
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter. The Maintenance Minder triggers Code A between 7,500 and 10,000 miles depending on driving conditions.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate tires front-to-back to even out wear. Honda triggers Sub-code 1 alongside every other oil change.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake. Code B includes a multi-point inspection of brakes, suspension, and fluids.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 3 years regardless of mileage to prevent moisture absorption and corrosion of ABS components.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Replace ATF or CVT fluid. Honda CVT models (Civic, HR-V, Accord LX) use Honda HCF-2 — do not substitute. The Maintenance Minder triggers earlier under heavy stop-and-go.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
AWD CR-V, Pilot, Passport, Ridgeline: replace rear diff fluid every 30,000 miles, sooner if towing.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$150–$195
Shop
~$105–$135
DIY
~$20–$50
Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.
Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Honda uses a long-life cellulose element on most port-injected engines.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Honda uses iridium-tipped plugs rated for 100,000+ miles. Replace at 105,000 miles or whenever Sub-code 6 displays.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Honda Long-Life Type 2 (blue) coolant: first change at 120,000 miles, then every 60,000 miles. Do not mix with other coolant types.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace the cabin air filter — accessible behind the glove box on most Hondas. Honda recommends 15,000 miles in dusty conditions, longer in clean climates.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Inspect and adjust valve clearances at 105,000 miles. Critical on K-series and L-series engines to prevent valve recession.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$495–$535
Shop
~$345–$375
DIY
Pro only
Mechanical-bucket valvetrains (many Honda 4-cyls, older Toyotas) need this. Hydraulic lifters don't. Shop work — feeler-gauge precision required.
Modern Honda engines (K-series, L-series, R-series, plus all Earth Dreams 1.5T and 2.0T) use a timing chain designed to last the life of the engine. No scheduled replacement.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Pro only
Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
112 crashes 1990–2024
How the 112 occupant deaths break down
86
driver deaths
26
passenger deaths
112
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2003 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
33
complaints mentioning a crash
5
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2003 Honda Element reflects Honda's published service intervals and the Maintenance Minder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.