Everything NHTSA's vPIC database knows about this exact vehicle:
Decoding from NHTSA…
Vehicle history — accidents, title & owners
The decode above is what this vehicle is. For what it's been through — accidents, title brands, odometer, theft/total-loss and previous owners — pull a full history report.
NHTSA publishes the first 11 characters of the VIN with every complaint — that identifies the plant, model year, body and engine. So these are reports from cars built exactly like this one, not an average across the whole model.
5J6YH18543L••••••2003 Honda ELEMENT
That is about average for the 2003 Honda ELEMENT — 4 complaints per build across 77 builds.
5on this build
326on the model
77builds in total
Most reportedVisibility 2Electrical System 2Service Brakes 1Air Bags 1
What owners of this build wrote
Electrical SystemSep 2016
Driver side door lock no longer working when alarm is activated. Key gets stuck sometimes in the lock. I then have to go around to passenger side to get in to open driver side door from the inside
Service BrakesSep 2012
The contact owns a 2003 honda element. The contact stated that while the engine was running and as the brake was depressed, there was smoke seen coming from under the hood. As a result, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the vehicle and stated…
VisibilityDec 2003
Windshield cracked below both wipers. Started below plastic trim, both went vertical, and finally a horizontal crack connected them. Windshield has other "star" cracks that have remained static. Dealer is replacing is as "goodwill," says its not the same as listed in the honda…
Electrical SystemFeb 2015
The contact owns a 2003 honda element. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 10V364000 (electrical system), 14V351000 (air bags), and 14V700000 (air bags). The parts were not available within a reasonable timeframe to schedule the recall repairs. The…
VisibilityDec 2003
Crack windshield on honda element. Dealer refused to fix. Claimed impact caused, but only pointed out a subjective pinhead sized pit at start of crack, claiming it was from an impact. Based on frequent similar complaints from other elemnt owners with identical cracks in…
Owner complaints…
Now the whole model — all 77 builds of it, not just this build. Same NHTSA reports, wider net:
Loading owner complaints…
PRO
Upgrade to Pro
You know what it is. Find out what it's worth.
Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
The original window sticker and factory options
Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
Decoded via NHTSA vPIC. Recalls, complaints and safety from NHTSA; MPG from EPA fueleconomy.gov. Full history reports from our partner. VIN 5J6YH18543L009623 · decoded Aug 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.