HondaElement2003Overview/honda/element/2003/base/

2003 Honda Element

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2003 Element.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2003 Honda Element is a compact SUV built on Honda’s well‑known platform, powered by an engine that requires 4.4 quarts of 5W‑20 API‑rated oil and mated to a 4‑speed automatic transmission, offering EPA ratings of 20 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined. Its distinctive boxy profile and practical design made it a standout in its segment, though the model’s first year also saw the highest complaint total—449 owner reports, primarily focused on visibility issues, and 12 recalls. Over the 2003‑2011 model run, complaints fell sharply to just 11 in 2011, indicating that the Element’s early reliability concerns were largely addressed in subsequent years.

Model year201120102009200820072006200520042003

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy20/24/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 51R · 410 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 51R · 410 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215-70SR16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length169.3 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height74 in
Wheelbase101.6 in
Curb weight3596 lb
Track (front / rear)62.2 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 24 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Element of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.1–8.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.10 sec — 2003 EX
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2003EX 2.4L I-48.10 sec16.20 sec160 hpFWD
2003EX 2.4L I-48.40 sec16.60 sec160 hpFWD
2003EX 2.4L I-48.70 sec16.60 sec160 hpFWD
2006EX-P 2.4L I-49.50 sec17.30 sec156 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.4 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 33.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.4 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs8mm Bolts: 20 ft-lbs, 6mm Bolts: 9 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsAT: 54 ft-lbs, MT: 76 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts33 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug33.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs8mm Bolts: 20 ft-lbs , 6mm Bolts: 9 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub181 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub134 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)MT: 700, AT: 800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.10-1.21 lbs
Oil TypePAG 46
Oil Capacity5.33-5.66 oz
Standard BCI Group Number51R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance410 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature169-176 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)48.0-55.0 psi
Engine Compression135 minimum PSI. 28 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure10 psi @ idle, 44 psi @ 3000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash0.110-0.130 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.110-0.130 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs / 16 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle80 ft-lbs / 41 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.063; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.004 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.91 in / 0.358 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.91 in / 0.358 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.83 in / 0.3 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9014 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
136 ft. lbs., step 2: 9036 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Apply engine oil to bolt thread and under-bolt heads, If using old bolts:

129 ft. lbs.29 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees; If using new bolts:90 degrees
129 ft. lbs.29 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees90 degrees
490

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs at 110,000 mi; coolant at 120,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 120,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 20,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 90,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)
At 110,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 160,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
At 180,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2003 model year represents the launch point of the Element generation, carrying the highest federal complaint count in the dataset at 449 incidents—substantially exceeding the 281 reported in 2004 and marking the peak of a downward trend that continues through 2011. This debut year also generated 178 technical service bulletins, the highest volume in the generation, compared to 136 in 2004 and fewer than 71 in every subsequent year. Visibility complaints dominate the 2003 dataset at 224 incidents, though the federal data does not specify the root cause of these reports. While recalls (12) and investigations (4) align closely with later model years, the concentrated volume of complaints and TSBs suggests 2003 bears the brunt of first-year production teething issues. Given the steep decline in reported problems from 2004 onward, prospective buyers would be better served seeking a later model year than this high-incidence launch example.

12
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
178
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
449
Owner complaints
33 involved a crash · 5 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 449 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Visibility224
Air Bags48
Latches/Locks/Linkages23
Electrical System20
Suspension12
Unknown Or Other12
Structure11
Power Train11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 12 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V182000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 06/03/2019

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may…

19V499000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 27/06/2019

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 178 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
A18-0512026-06-30Air BagsService Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's…
A07-0302021-01-23Equipment"Service Bulletin - There are several A/C leak detection tools available. -Refrigerant…
A20-0092020-03-10Air BagsService Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating…
A20-0142020-03-10Air BagsService Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating…
A18-0512018-06-01Air BagsService bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Element. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2003 Element take?

4.4 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2003 Element have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 12 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Element get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 24 highway / 21 combined mpg.