2003 Honda Element EX from North America - Comments

I have a 2003 Element AWD and I am replacing my original tires this weekend. I have 45,000 miles on them.

2006 Honda Element EX-P AWD - 20k miles.

Tires are worn on inside and out. Honda service has done total wheel alignment twice. Still wearing. Tires may hold out another 8k miles. No other problems other than abnormal tire wear. I like the vehicle because it is very practical for me, but I won't purchase another because of this too frequent expense.

Update: 8-4-07 25K miles

Replaced tires today with Uniroyal SR Touring tire from Discount Tire.

Tire Kingdom and Discount Tire salesman are aware of this outside and inside wear with OEM Goodyears. AWD Elements and CRV's wear out tires. The reason Honda uses the Goodyear is the rounded outside tread. Reduces road noise. The Uniroyals are noisy but the ride is much better. Discount tire recommended 33 psi in all tires. According to them, I should get at least 35K.

I own a 2003 Honda Element and had to replace the back brakes at only 14,000 miles! Honda could care less when I questioned why this happened. Only to say brakes are not under warranty.

Also, I was told that the tires needed replaced too!

I've never owned a car with such low mileage that needed new back brakes or new tires!

I'm thinking twice about keeping this car. What's going to go next! Is this a lemon or what?

I have a 2006 Element (25,000 miles) that has been trouble free except for tire wear on the inside... mostly left side.

Having been an mechanic and alignment specialist, and after buying new Michelins, I had a friend of 40 years checkout the

suspension in his front end shop.

He discovered 2 things... the rear wheels were double the negative camber (-2 degrees) and there is no rear alignment possible except to purchase an aftermarket adjustable upper arm, or to bend the arm like the old Ford i-beam front axles.

The vehicle is currently at my Honda dealer and I wait to hear from them regarding this issue.

Will advise later.

Cajun.

I do have a 2003 Element my local dealer replaced my windshield for free due to mfg. fault. Everyone who own it should rec'd a letter from a law firm about it. Yes my rear brake make noises too when we first have it and continue to make noises and the front to when you turn and go reverse.

I was just in a car accident in a 2003 element -- I walked away with just cosmetic damages to the passenger doors and plastic molding.

Yes, I'll have to sink some cash into fixing it, but I'd buy another one in a heartbeat. I've been driving it for years with minor repairs (tires at 30,000, new windshield, oil seal) and now I appreciate my E even more now that I've seen how it performs in an accident. The doors are smashed, but the windows, locks and mirrors still work.

I'd put my kids in one too -- you can never be too safe.

Own an '03 EX and the OE Goodyears are still going strong @ 50k. I am noticing the rounding at the outer edges of the tread, but that's only been noticeable over the last 10k miles. The Element's been great and very reliable. Does a super job in winter snow as I usually go out to fetch other workers to get them into work. Had the windshield crack, but it was replaced by Honda.

I have a 2005 Honda Element and I love it. Problem is it only has 28,000 miles and the original tires are almost completely worn out. The outsides are wearing wrong.

Tonight in searching for new tires and came upon this site and am now thinking maybe I will trade it in on an Accord or something.

Just paid off my 2003 Element and plan to drive it it until it falls out from underneath me which I suspect won't happen. We love the car and at 63,300 miles were told we could use some new tires. The only thing I was shocked about was how much the dealer would charge for replacement of 4 new tires. The service person even told me to shop around. I'm in hopes Tire Discounters will beat $720+.

I am enjoying my Element. I am very upset about this tire issue. I have a 2005 AWD with 25,000 light miles. I need new tires. I rotated, did all that I was supposed to. I almost didn't pass inspection. I am shocked that Honda has not done anything for us, being that it appears to be a design flaw. I love my truck. I spent a lot of money on it. I called Goodyear. They don't offer a warranty on the stock tires (wrangler hp). They said they might help if I bring it into a certified Goodyear shop. What can we do? Has anyone done anything through Honda with results? Please tell.

My father bought an 03 Honda Element in Feb. of 03.

No abnormal tire wear issues. Just had the brake switch replaced due to some problems with the cruise control turning off when slight bumps were hit in the road.

The only other thing I can think of is that the latch on the floor for the rear suicide doors keep loosening up. I have remove the screws and applied blue loctite and even tightened them down with an air-ratchet. A few months later and they have become loose again. I have no idea why, I though the loc tite would have kept them tight!

But back to the tire wear issue -

In his door it lists 32psi for the front tires and 34 psi for the rear tires. Like I said, no uneven wear. Just got Michelins last year at over 50,000 miles. Prior to that were the Goodyear Wranglers that came with the vehicle.

It is an 03. Is it possible Honda had a different psi recommendation for the Element's that initially rolled right off of the assembly line?

My EX 2004 has just over 50K miles and the second set of tires is worn out at the edges (front tires). The same thing happened at around 20k. I have been servicing the car at the recommended intervals.

Other than the above and a seat belt sensor that was replaced free of charge, the Element has been a good car. Drove it from Houston to Calgary, Houston to Mexico City, and Houston to Salt Lake City and no problems.