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 2008 Element.
The 2008 Honda Element is an SUV that pairs a 5-speed automatic transmission with EPA ratings of 20 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, requiring just 4.4 quarts of 5W-20 API oil at service intervals. Across the Element's 2003–2011 production history, the 2008 model year's 110 owner complaints and 13 recalls — concentrated in the air bag category — place it firmly in the middle of the reliability curve, well below the 2003 outlier's 449 complaints but notably above the final 2011 model year's low of just 11. That positioning makes the 2008 a moderately documented point in the Element's timeline, useful for researchers as a year that reflects the platform's settled but not yet trouble-free maturity.
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. 08200-9002 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. 08200-9002 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 Honda Element's generation, federal complaints show a steady downward trend from a peak of 449 in 2003 to 112 in 2007, with the 2008 model year continuing this stabilization at 110 complaints before a sharp drop to 29 in 2009. However, while 2008 represents the lowest complaint volume of the early production years, it notably carries the highest recall count of the entire generation at 13 recalls. For the 2008 model specifically, Air Bags and Service Brakes, Hydraulic are tied as the top complaint areas with 23 complaints each, followed by Suspension at 16 and Structure at 8. The provided data does not specify the root causes for these issues, but the generation-high recall figure implies that regulators and the manufacturer were actively addressing systemic defects. Given its position at the tail end of the higher-complaint production arc and its elevated recall volume, the 2008 Element is a reasonable year to buy provided all 13 recalls have been strictly verified as completed by the seller.
All 110 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 13 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 47 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… |
| A20-015 | 2022-05-03 | Air Bags | Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating… |
| A07-030 | 2021-01-23 | Equipment | "Service Bulletin - There are several A/C leak detection tools available. -Refrigerant… |
| A20-015 | 2020-03-10 | Air Bags | Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating… |
| A20-010 | 2020-03-10 | Air Bags | Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating… |
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 13 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 20 city / 25 highway / 22 combined mpg.