Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| At 160,000 mi | Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed) |
Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 Element.
The 2009 Honda Element is an SUV equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission and an engine requiring 4.4 quarts of 5W-20 API oil, delivering EPA ratings of 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. Produced toward the end of the model’s 2003–2011 production span, this model year accumulated just 29 owner complaints—a dramatic improvement from the 449 logged for the debut 2003 model and approaching the series low of 11 seen in the final 2011 year. This placement in the timeline indicates a matured platform with most early-production issues resolved, though the nine recalls and brake-related complaints still warrant scrutiny during pre-purchase inspection.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
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.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd |
| Overall length | 169.3 in |
| Overall width | 71.7 in |
| Overall height | 70.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 101.6 in |
| Curb weight | 3384 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 62.2 / 62.2 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 57/43 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 20 / 25 / 22 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Regular Gasoline |
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.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | EX-P 2.4L I-4 | 9.50 sec | 17.30 sec | 156 hp | FWD |
| 2003 | EX 2.4L I-4 | 8.10 sec | 16.20 sec | 160 hp | FWD |
| 2003 | EX 2.4L I-4 | 8.40 sec | 16.60 sec | 160 hp | FWD |
| 2003 | EX 2.4L I-4 | 8.70 sec | 16.60 sec | 160 hp | FWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 4.4 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, USE HONDA PART NO. 08200-9007 OR EQUIVALENT in the differential, 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.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | ATF |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 2.7 |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | ATF |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 2.8 |
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Differential Gear Oil | USE HONDA PART NO. 08200-9007 OR EQUIVALENT |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 2.1 Pints |
| Engine Oil | 5W-20 · API |
| Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs | 8mm Bolts: 20 ft-lbs, 6mm Bolts: 9 ft-lbs |
| Engine Flywheel Bolts | AT: 54 ft-lbs, MT: 76 ft-lbs |
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | 16 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 33 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 33.0 ft-lbs |
| Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs | 8mm Bolts: 20 ft-lbs , 6mm Bolts: 9 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 80 ft-lbs |
| Automatic Transmission Drain Plug | 36.0 ft-lbs |
| Front Wheel Hub | 181 ft-lbs |
| Rear Wheel Hub | 134 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-3-4-2 |
| Curb Idle Speed (No Load) | 700 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load) | 50 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load) | 720 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load) | 50 rpm |
| Ignition Timing | 8, Not adjutstable degrees |
| Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance | 2 degrees |
| Ignition Timing Reference RPM | Idle rpm |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.10-1.21 lbs |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Oil Type | 46 |
| Oil Capacity | 5.33-5.83 oz |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 51R |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 410 cca |
| Pressure Test | 14-18 psi |
| Radiator Cap Pressure Relief | 14-18 psi |
| Thermostat Opening Temperature | 169-176 °F |
| Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum) | 48.0 |
| Engine Compression | 135 Minimum PSI. 28 Maximum variation PSI |
| Engine Oil Pressure | 10 psi @ idle, 44 psi @ 3000 rpm psi |
| Intake Valve Lash | 0.110-0.130 in |
| Exhaust Valve Lash | 0.110-0.130 in |
| Torque Caliper to Bracket | 25 ft-lbs / 17 ft-lbs |
| Torque to Knuckle | 79 ft-lbs / 41 ft-lbs |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.063; Rear: 0.040 in |
| Rotor Max Parallel Variation | 0.0006 in |
| Rotor Runout Limit | 0.0016 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness From | 0.91 in / 0.36 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness To | 0.91 in / 0.36 in |
| Rotor Discard at or Under | 0.83 in / 0.3 in |
| 1 | 14 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 | 14 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 36 ft. lbs., step 2: 90 | 36 ft. lbs |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| At 160,000 mi | Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Across the 2003–2011 Element generation, complaints declined steadily and dramatically—from 449 in 2003 down to just 11 by 2011—while recalls remained consistently elevated (ranging from 9 to 13 every year), suggesting Honda addressed many issues through recall campaigns rather than leaving them as unresolved owner complaints. The 2009 model year marks a notable inflection point: complaints dropped sharply from 110 in 2008 to 29, and recalls fell to a generation-low of 9, indicating that by this point the platform had matured and most earlier defects had been identified and remedied. The 2009's top complaint areas are Service Brakes (5 complaints), Air Bags (4), and Suspension (3), with 4 crash-related complaints and zero fire complaints—a relatively modest profile. Compared to the adjacent 2010 model year (30 complaints, 11 recalls), the 2009 is nearly identical in complaint volume but has fewer recalls, reinforcing that it sits in the most stable portion of the generation's arc. The data does not specify root causes for any of these complaint areas. **Bottom line: the 2009 Element is one of the strongest years in this generation to buy used, offering the lowest recall count of the entire run and a complaint volume that suggests most early-generation issues had been engineered out by this point.**
All 29 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 9 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
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…
Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain Accelerator Pedal Assemblies part numbers 699-114 and 825-5029-1, sold as replacement parts for 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2004-2008 Acura TL and TSX, 2003-2007 Honda… Remedy: Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may…
Showing 5 of 49 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| A18-050 | 2026-06-30 | Air Bags | Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's… |
| A21120B | 2023-06-13 | Electrical System | Service News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS… |
| A20-015 | 2022-05-03 | Air Bags | Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating… |
| A21120B | 2022-01-29 | Electrical System | ServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited… |
| A07-030 | 2021-01-23 | Equipment | "Service Bulletin - There are several A/C leak detection tools available. -Refrigerant… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
4.4 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 20 city / 25 highway / 22 combined mpg.