There are 5 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2006 Honda Elementin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The check engine light indicated a "gas cap" code, and the "side airbag off" light was illuminated. Upon diagnosis, the technician identified significant rust and cracked transmission components, resulting in fluid leakage. The service department assessed the vehicle as unsafe for operation, waived the diagnostic fees, and replenished the transmission fluid to prevent the risk of being stranded due to a lack of fluid on the return trip. Honda Service Department took the attached photos and documented the vehicle's safety violations.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA ELEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION AND THERE WAS NO ONE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
MY VEHICLE SOMETIMES STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING TURNS. FOUND A NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V395000 WHICH BEST DESCRIBES WHAT HAPPENS TO MY VEHICLE.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR, THERE IS A GEAR SLIPPAGE ACTION AND SOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION. APPARENTLY, THIS FAILURE IS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 11V395000 / HONDA'S RECALL CAMPAIGN # R89. I HAD THIS RECALL PERFORMED LAST FRIDAY BY AN AUTHORIZED HONDA DEALER. BEFORE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND WHILE SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR. AFTER THE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED, THE KNOCKING SOUND DISAPPEARED, BUT THE TRANSMISSION STILL SLIPS BETWEEN 1ST SHIFT TO 2ND SHIFT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION MENTIONED IN THIS RECALL. I EXPECT HONDA TAKE IN CONSIDERATION MY VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLAINT AND HAVE A POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM HONDA. NOTE: I HAD NOT RECEIVED BEFORE, A RECALL CAMPAIGN ABOUT THIS FROM HONDA.
2006 HONDA ELEMENT. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TRANSMISSION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE IS SUBMITTING A COMPLAINT AGAINST HONDA, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT PROVIDE A REASONABLE EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE SAME MODULE SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN RECALL 11V395000. IN NOVEMBER 2009, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO CHECK A RATTLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE DEALER FOUND A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION CARRIER BEARING AND QUOTED A PRICE OF $3,300. AFTER COMPLAINING, HONDA AGREED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY THE LABOR. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED HONDA IN OCTOBER 2011 BECAUSE HE DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER. HONDA STATED HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER IS NOW CONCERNED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS THE PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL. *JB
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.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026