Production Numbers & Rarity Database
The Definitive Reference — Model Years 2003–2011 | All Trims, Colors, Drivetrains & Transmissions
| Year | US Sales | Production Bar | Trims Available | Colors | SC Est. | FWD Est. | AWD Est. | Manual Est. | Auto Est. | Confidence |
|---|
Note: Annual US sales totals are HIGH confidence (official Honda/GCBC data). SC, FWD/AWD, and Manual/Auto splits are LOW confidence estimates. No official Honda trim-level breakdown has been published.
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| Year | Trim | Drivetrain | Transmission | Color | Est. Production | Confidence | Rarity Score | Notes |
|---|
Rarity Score Methodology: Scores from 1–100 (100 = rarest). Components: production year volume (lower years score higher) + trim rarity (SC=25pts, DX=15pts, EX-P=10pts, EX=5pts, LX=0pts) + AWD (+5pts) + Manual transmission (+15pts) + AWD Manual bonus (+10pts) + color rarity (1–22pts based on years available and trim restriction). All scores above 80 represent configurations with estimated production under 100 units.
| Rank | Year | Trim | Drivetrain | Transmission | Color | Est. Production | Rarity Score |
|---|
Data Confidence Framework
| Level | What It Covers | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| HIGH | Annual US sales totals by model year | Official American Honda Motor Co. press releases, confirmed by GCBC and CarFigures.com quarterly data |
| MEDIUM | Trim-level production estimates | Used market inventory ratios, enthusiast community surveys, Honda pricing tier analysis |
| LOW | Drivetrain split, transmission split, color distribution | Enthusiast community surveys, forum discussions, used market analysis, community consensus (~50% AWD, ~10% manual) |
Key Production Facts
Total US Production: ~337,126 units (2003–2011) based on confirmed annual sales. Wikipedia and Reuters cite ~325,000 through late 2010, consistent with this figure when 2011’s 11,534 units are added.
SC Production Estimate: The SC trim was offered 2007–2010. Based on trim mix analysis, SC is estimated at 10–18% of annual production during those years, totaling approximately 14,000–18,000 units across all four years.
Manual Transmission: Community consensus estimates ~10% of all Elements had manual transmissions, totaling approximately 33,000–34,000 units. The 2010 model year was the last for manual on non-SC trims (EX-4WD only), making 2010 manual Elements extremely rare. 2011 was automatic-only.
AWD Production: Community consensus estimates ~50% AWD overall, totaling approximately 168,000 units. The SC was FWD-only. AWD was more popular in northern and mountain states.
Rarest Configuration: A 2009 or 2010 SC FWD Manual in Midnight Red Pearl is estimated at approximately 30–35 units produced, making it the rarest factory configuration.
Important Disclaimers
No Official Breakdown: Honda has never published official trim-level, color, drivetrain, or transmission production breakdowns for the Element. All sub-annual figures are estimates.
Estimate Methodology: Estimates use a multiplicative model: Annual Sales × Trim% × Drivetrain% × Transmission% ÷ Colors Available. This assumes independence between variables, which may not be accurate in practice.
Color Distribution: Color production is assumed to be equally distributed among available colors for a given trim/year. In reality, some colors (silver, black) were almost certainly more popular than others (green, khaki).
Survivorship: This database reflects production estimates, not surviving vehicles. Actual surviving examples may differ due to accidents, rust, and attrition over 15–22 years.
Primary Sources
- Good Car Bad Car (GCBC) — Annual US sales figures (HIGH confidence)
- CarFigures.com — Monthly/quarterly US sales data
- Wikipedia — Honda Element — Model year history, trim details, production notes
- Rambler Dan Color Guide — Authoritative paint color and interior reference
- Honda Element Parts — Color codes, rarity ratings, and trim availability
- Element DIY — Color codes and trim details
- Honda Newsroom — Press releases including SC prototype announcement
- JD Power Model Year History — Year-by-year changes
- WardsAuto — Production end announcement (Dec 2010)
- Reuters — ~325,000 total US production figure
- Honda Element Owners Club — Community production discussions and surveys
- r/HondaElement — Community surveys and discussions
Interested in Paint Codes?
See every factory color, official paint code, trim availability, and rarity rating for the Honda Element from 2003–2011 — plus a full touch-up paint buying guide.
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