2003 Honda Element structure problems
32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the structure on the 2003 Honda Element — 8% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2003 Honda Element. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact discovered that the rear trailing arm was…”
filed Nov 10, 2025
“The trailing arm connection that connects to the subframe has completely rusted make the car unsafe to drive. Parts will break and driver will lose control of the car. These same parts were recalled in Canada many years ago.”
filed Oct 5, 2025
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Structure problems in other Element years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 Element | 2 | 7% |
| 2009 Element | 4 | 14% |
| 2008 Element | 14 | 13% |
| 2007 Element | 6 | 5% |
| 2006 Element | 11 | 9% |
| 2005 Element | 8 | 5% |
| 2004 Element | 13 | 5% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2003 Honda Element
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.