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 2010 Element.
The 2010 Honda Element is a compact SUV powered by a 5W-20 API-grade oil system requiring 4.4 quarts, paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission and achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 20 city/25 highway/22 combined mpg. In terms of reliability, the model year recorded 30 owner complaints with Air Bags representing the most frequent concern, alongside 11 total recalls issued for the vehicle. When viewed within the Element's full production run from 2003 to 2011, complaint volumes showed a clear downward trend from a peak of 449 in 2003 to a low of 11 in 2011, placing the 2010 model in the middle of this trajectory and suggesting meaningful improvement in owner satisfaction over time.
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 | 3578 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.
The 2010 Honda Element sits near the end of the model run with 30 complaints, essentially unchanged from 2009’s 29 and well below the 110-plus complaints logged in 2006–2008; only the final 2011 model is quieter, with 11 complaints. Across the generation, owner complaints trended sharply downward from 449 in 2003 to roughly 30 by 2009–2010, while recalls held steady in the 9–13 range and technical service bulletins fell from 178 in 2003 to about 50 from 2007 onward. In 2010, the top reported issues were air bags (6), suspension (4), service brakes (2), and visibility (2), with 2 crash-related complaints and 0 fire complaints; the federal data does not specify root causes. Although complaints are low, the 11 recalls and 3 investigations are consistent with the model’s long-term baseline, so this is not a zero-risk year. For a used buyer, a 2010 Element looks like one of the better years in the generation, provided its recall campaigns have been completed and the specific suspension, brake, and air-bag complaints are checked in the vehicle’s history.
All 30 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 11 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles nationwide. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2012 Acura RL, 2011 Honda Element and 2011-2013 Ridgeline vehicles in Arizona… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer…
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…
Showing 5 of 52 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 11 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 20 city / 25 highway / 22 combined mpg.