VehicleVerdict

2008 Honda Element brakes problems

The 2008 Honda Element has 34 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 27% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

34

Brakes complaints

27%

Share of year

3

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Element brakes complaints by model year34 complaints2003: 11 complaints2004: 5 complaints2005: 6 complaints2006: 2 complaints2007: 20 complaints2008: 34 complaints2009: 8 complaints2010: 5 complaints
Element brakes complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

10V098000BrakesMarch 16, 2010 · 412,000 units

Defect

HONDA HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 ODYSSEY AND ELEMENT PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 28, 2006 AND AUGUST 21, 2008. AIR CAN ENTER THE VSA MODULAR PUMP DURING AN INITIAL SELF-CHECK PROCESS THAT OCCURS SHORTLY AFTER EACH TIME THE ENGINE IS STARTED. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ENOUGH AIR TO ENTER THE SYSTEM TO RESULT IN A BRAKE PEDAL THAT FEELS SOFT OR LOWER TO THE FLOOR.

Consequence

IF THE OWNER DOES NOT HAVE ANY BRAKE SERVICE OR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS OR YEARS, THE SYSTEM CAN CONTINUE TO ACCUMULATE ENOUGH AIR TO AFFECT BRAKING PERFORMANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNER AND HONDA DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VSA MODULATOR BY REMOVING ANY EXISTING AIR IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM THEN APPLY SEALANT AND CAPS TO PREVENT AIR FROM ENTERING THE BRAKE SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 3, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

What owners report

BRAKES WERE SOFT ALMOST TO THE FLOOR,MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND ENDED UP HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. HAVE CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY ARE RECALLING MY MODEL OF CAR BUT NOT MINE FOR THE SAME REASON. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · March 17, 2010 · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 2008 Honda Element have?

NHTSA has 34 complaints about the 2008 Honda Element brakes — 27% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2008 Honda Element brakes?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the brakes: 10V098000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.