Fair. I wasn't being precise with my language.
As I understand it, the Element has a mostly aluminum receiver that encases (and is somehow bonded to) a stainless steel barrel sleeve, or whatever the correct word would be. Whatever bonds the steel sleeve to the aluminum action broke after it was exposed to a significant amount of force/pressure opposite the direction it would encounter during normal operation.
I don't fault the design of the action. Actually, I think they're cleverly designed and well built. I haven't heard of anyone else breaking one.