The Honda Element has a bit of a checkered past—especially where the airbags and the airbag light are concerned. If you notice your Element’s light is on, it’s important to head to a mechanic as soon as possible.

While all vehicle owners should know how to deal with an airbag warning light, it’s especially important for Honda Element wonders to understand what it might mean, and what to do if they see it.

That’s why we’ve created this guide to help you understand what’s going on with your Element’s airbags, without having to be a

car repair

expert.

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What does the airbag light mean on a Honda Element?

Normally, if

your car's airbag indicator light is on

, it means there’s an issue with your airbag system. But if you’re driving a Honda Element, it might not mean anything at all.

While there has never been a recall specifically for the airbag light in a Honda Element, there have been eleven recalls on the airbags themselves, their harnesses and deployment systems, and the supplemental restraint system (SRS) as a whole. In fact, one of these recalls actually resulted in another later recall to replace airbags that were improperly installed in the earlier recall.

Unfortunately, even after the repairs for these recalls have been performed, many Element drivers still have to deal with an airbag light that just won’t turn off.

Before you dismiss the airbag light in your Honda Element though, let’s consider the numerous things that could result in its coming on:

Faulty sensors: Your Element is equipped with crash sensors and seat sensors to tell your vehicle when and whether to deploy the airbags in case of an accident. If either of these sensors has failed or is malfunctioning, the airbag light will come on.

Malfunctioning airbag module: If the computer that reads your Element’s sensors and causes your airbags to deploy when necessary is damaged or not working properly, it will cause the airbag light to turn on.

Wiring problems: Your Element’s sensors can’t properly communicate with the airbag control module if there’s an issue with the wiring that connects them. If your SRS light is flashing, it may indicate an issue with your wiring.

Drained airbag backup battery: If your Element’s battery is failing, it may tap into the airbag backup battery to help keep systems running. If this happens, the SRS light will flash.

Damaged airbag clock spring: The airbag clock spring, located in your Element’s steering wheel, expands and retracts as you turn the steering wheel and maintains electrical continuity for the driver-side airbag. Like other springs in your car, it’s subject to wear and tear over time—and when it fails, your airbag light will flash.

Unfortunately, there are still more reasons your Element’s airbag light may be on or flashing. If you’re not sure why your light is flashing and you’re not able to reset it on your own, it’s a good idea to bring the car to the mechanic for diagnosis. Or, if you own an OBD-II scan tool, you can

check for trouble codes

associated with the airbag system.

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Honda Element airbag recalls

If you own a Honda Element, there’s a good chance it’s been subject to a recall at some point, and an even better chance that recall had something to do with the airbags. The Honda Element has been subject to 21 recalls total—11 of which deal directly with the airbags.

Airbag rupture recalls

By far the most dangerous issue with Honda Element airbags is the possibility that they may rupture due to an accumulation of moisture. This can cause metal fragments to fly into the driver and/or passenger, resulting in serious injury or death.

This recall applies to every Honda Element ever manufactured, from 2003 to 2011, and 6,281,043 vehicles across the

Honda

and

Acura

brands.

Airbag inflator rupture recalls

The second largest set of recalls associated with the Element all deal with the driver and passenger airbag inflators. These recalls were issued because of deterioration of the airbag inflators, which could cause the inflator to explode during a crash, again sending metal fragments flying throughout the vehicle cabin, injuring or even killing occupants.

This recall applies to Honda Elements manufactured from 2003 to 2008 and affects 1,790,894 vehicles.

Improperly installed airbags

Honda Elements manufactured from 2006 to 2008 and in 2011 were subject to a recall because of improperly installed airbags that may not deploy properly in a crash. This is the “recall-on-a-recall” that caused an uproar with Element owners since the vehicles affected were those that had already had their airbags replaced due to the previous airbag rupture recall.

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How to reset the airbag warning light on a Honda Element

A major issue with the Honda Element is that even if there are no issues with the SRS system, the airbag light often still stays on. Sometimes a reset will turn it off, but not always. Plus, even if the reset does work, many owners complain that it only works for a short while.

With that in mind, here’s a method you can use to attempt to reset the airbag light on your own. A word of warning, though—it’s heckin complicated:

Turn ignition on (but don’t start car)

After the airbag warning light comes on for 7 seconds, turn the ignition off

Wait 4 seconds

Turn ignition on (but don’t start car)

After the airbag warning light comes on for 7 seconds, turn the ignition off

Wait 4 seconds

Turn ignition on (but don’t start car)

After the airbag warning light comes on for 7 seconds, turn the ignition off

Wait 4 seconds

Turn ignition on (but don’t start car)

Wait 3 seconds

Turn ignition off

Wait 2 seconds

START the car (the airbag light may be blinking slower than before)

Wait 3 seconds

Turn ignition off

Wait 3 seconds

START the car

If these 18 “simple” steps don’t reset your airbag light, you either still have an issue with your SRS system, or you’re one of the unlucky folks whose Honda Element airbag light just never turns off.

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Is it OK to drive with the Honda Element airbag light on?

Your Honda Element should operate normally, even with the airbag light on. While this is good news for those Element owners with a faulty light, it’s also bad news because they never know if or when the light may have gone from irritating inconvenience to meaningful warning.

Equally unfortunate is the fact that there’s no specific model year or years that suffer more from this issue than the others. It was and is a problem that plagues Elements across the board.

That said, generally speaking, if your airbag light is on, it indicates some sort of problem with your airbag system. Any issues with the system can cause the airbags to deploy incorrectly or not to deploy at all—both of which can be deadly.

With stakes this high, many Element drivers have chosen to trade in their vehicles for more reliable models, but if you’re still driving one, we recommend regular check-ups to ensure the issue is still with your light and not the SRS system.

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