There are 7 stored owner reports matching the engine leading-label group for the 2003 Honda Element in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 7 of 7 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 227,590. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP AND BLACK SMOKE EMITTED THROUGH ALL OF THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
I STOPPED TO CHECK MY MAIL AND TURNED OFF MY VEHICLE TO USE THE MAIL BOX KEY AND WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR AGAIN, IT WOULD NOT START. ALL I GOT WAS A BUZZING NOISE FROM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT OVER THE LAST WEEK THERE WERE TIMES MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I WOULD MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND IT WOULD FINALLY START. THE BATTERY AND STARTER WERE CHECKED AND IN WORKING CONDITION. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON I-5 GOING THROUGH GRANTS PASS IN OREGON UPHILL, MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT SUDDENLY DECELERATED FROM 65MPH TO BARELY 35 MPH. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR TWO DAYS, THERE WERE NO CODES INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED IT BE SEEN BY A ENGINE MECHANIC. CAR IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE AFTER A TRANSMISSION FLUSH, NEW SPARK PLUGS, FUEL SYSTEM CLEANING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, THE CAR ONLY HAS 82500 MILES ON AND HAS NEVER BEEN PLACED IN STORAGE. *TR
POOR HEATING DUE TO RESTRICTED HEATER CORE. AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE 2004,AND 2005 ELEMENT (REF. HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 07-076 DATED 11/28/2007) AND THE HEATER CORE IS THUS REPLACED UNDER THE NORMAL WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM BEGAN ON MY 2003 ELEMENT IN 2006 AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, HONDA SERVICE PERSONNEL REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE THE TROUBLE AS A FACTORY DEFECT AND WILL CHARGE IN EXCESS OF $1,500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED REGARDING CONTAMINATION OF THE ENGINE COOLANT WHICH COULD CAUSE RESTRICTIONS IN THE HEATER CORE AND RADIATOR AND SOMETIMES CORROSION. UPDATED 03/05/09. *JB
THE CONSUMER HAS HAD CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S FACTORY INSTALLED HORN AND ALARM. *NM THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. OTHER PROBLEMS WERE; THE BUMPER COVER WOULD POP OUT INTERMITTENTLY, THE RIGHT SIDE CORNER PIECE WAS LOOSE, THE HORN SOUND WAS ABNORMAL AND ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING. *SC
MY 2003 HONDA ELEMENT HAS A SULPHUR SMELL THAT IS BEYOND ANNOYANCE. THE SMELL IS SO INTENSE THAT IT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY. MY DEALER IS UNABLE TO REPAIR AND HONDA SEEMS INDIFFERENT TO THE PROBLEM. WHILE NOT LIFE THREATENING, IT COULD, I BELIEVE BE DETRIMENTAL TO MY HEALTH AS WELL AS THE HEALTH OF MY PASSENGERS.*AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.