Head-to-head reliability
Honda Passport vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Honda Passport and Chevrolet Silverado compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Honda Passport vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Passport averages 84.4 complaints per year with 43 recalls, while the Silverado averages 134 complaints and 100 recalls. Passport owners report phantom braking and electrical failures; Silverado owners face transmission leaks and engine knock. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Passport or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Passport
The Honda Passport has a high complaint rate of 84.4 per year, with electrical system and forward collision avoidance issues dominating. Owners report sudden dashboard warning lights, phantom braking, and engine stalling, which can be alarming and potentially dangerous. The vehicle also has 43 recalls, including for suspension and fuel system problems, suggesting ongoing reliability concerns.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado averages 134 complaints per year, with powertrain, service brakes, and engine failures being most common. Owners describe transmission fluid line failures, engine knocking requiring replacement, and electrical system glitches that cause brake lock-up. With 100 recalls, including for airbags and engine block heaters, the Silverado shows a pattern of serious mechanical and safety issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Passport | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 844 Better | 1,340 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 43 Better | 100 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 43 Better | 80 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 84.4 Better | 134.0 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 29 Better | 33 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Honda Passport
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM170
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE163
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER117
- 04ENGINE112
- 05SERVICE BRAKES94
Owners report repeated intermittent failures causing multiple dashboard warnings (electric power steering, hill start assist, etc.) and sudden loss of drive power, which can leave you stranded or unable to control the vehicle.
The collision mitigation system triggers phantom braking with no obstacles, causing sudden stops that could lead to rear-end collisions. This occurs often on windy or hilly roads.
The auto stop/start feature causes hesitation or failure to restart, and some engines stall completely in traffic, leading to loss of motive power and a crash risk.
“My 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite (purchased new May 2025) has repeated, intermittent failures of the electrical system and drive-power (propulsion) function, beginning at ~16,700 miles. Severe symptoms first appeared in May 2026: multiple dashboard war…”
“On 05/05/2026 I was driving my 2026 Honda Passport, while driving I suddenly had multiple warning lights display. The following alerts popped up on my dash, electric power steering problem, hill start assist problem, road departure mitigation system problem,…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01POWER TRAIN339
- 02SERVICE BRAKES300
- 03ENGINE257
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM214
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER146
Transmission fluid lines fail without warning, rapidly leaking fluid and causing loss of drive. Some trucks lose power while towing, even with light loads, indicating drivetrain weakness.
Brakes can lock up or fail to release, making the vehicle undriveable. High-voltage battery faults in EV models also cause sudden loss of vehicle control.
Engines develop loud knocking noises and require complete replacement as early as 3,000 miles. Some lose power at highway speed with no warning lights.
“Vehicle: 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Incident Description: While driving at highway speed, the transmission fluid line failed and transmission fluid rapidly leaked from the vehicle. There were no warning lights, alerts, or messages before the failure occurr…”
“On XXX I was driving from [XXX] to my sister's house in [XXX]. I was relocating to [XXX] for a job. I was pulling a U-haul trailer (6x12) that contained significantly less weight than the truck can handle. About halfway there, on back roads, the truck suddenl…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Honda Passport — 43 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2026 Pilot and Passport vehicles. The rear subframe bolts may have been tightened improperly.
The risk: Loose rear subframe bolts can lead to a loss of vehicle stability or rear subframe detachment, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rear subframe bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 24, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Passport and 2023-2025 Pilot vehicles. The fuel filler neck tube and fuel filler pipe may separate, allowing fuel to leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the fuel filler neck tube and pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this r…
The defect: ISUZU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2002 ISUZU RODEO AND MODEL YEAR 2002 ISUZU AXIOM VEHICLES, AND HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN 1998-2002 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES, THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED, IN THE STATES OF MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND…
The risk: EXCESSIVE CORROSION MAY RESULT IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE FRAME, WHICH CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AREA. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH LITTLE OR NO CORROSION IS FOUND, THE AREA WILL BE TREATED WITH AN ANTI-CORROSIVE COMPOUND. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH CORROSION HAS DAMAGED THE REAR SUSPENS…
The defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO FUEL CONTAMINATED WITH SILICON MAY DEVELOP SMALL PIN HOLES IN THE FUEL PUMP FEED PORT. SILICON HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE FUEL SYSTEMS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES AND IN CERTAIN FUEL AVAILABLE IN THE REGION OF TYLER, TEXAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNC…
The risk: A FUEL LEAK COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.
The fix: FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE STATES IDENTIFIED ABOVE, DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A NEW COVER OVER THE EXISTING FEED PORT ON THE FUEL PUMP OR, IF THE EXISTING FEED PORT HAS ALREADY BEEN DAMAGED, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL PUMP THAT IS EQUI…
Chevrolet Silverado — 100 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500 and 2017-2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with a Duramax diesel 6.6 liter engine and an optional engine-block heater cord. An electrical short-circuit may occur in the engine-block heater cable or…
The risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace engine block heaters and heater cords. Vehicles that have this feature disabled as a remedy to the safety condition will be contacted and offered replacement block heaters and heater cords under a separate customer sat…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 vehicles and 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with Duramax 6.6 liter diesel engines and an optional engine-block heater. The engine block heat…
The risk: A short-circuit may damage the engine components and increase the risk of fire.
The fix: GM will contact owners, dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Additionally, in Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles, dealers will install a new rerouted heater cord. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 Crew Cab trucks. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall m…
The risk: A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC Customer Service at 888-988-7267.…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 vehicles equipped with a dual fuel tank option. The rear fuel tank may collapse and prevent the fuel pump from transferring fuel to the front tank, resulting in an engine stall.
The risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and fuel pump module, replacing them as necessary. Dealers will also add a vent hose to the rear tank assembly. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter informing own…
Buyer analysis
Honda Passport or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Honda Passport has fewer complaints per year (84.4 vs 134.0) and fewer recalls (43 vs 100), suggesting a lower overall failure rate. However, both vehicles have serious safety-related issues that buyers should investigate thoroughly before purchase.
Key differences
- Honda Passport has more electrical system and forward collision avoidance complaints; Silverado has more powertrain and brake complaints.
- Silverado's engine failures often require complete replacement; Passport's engine issues are more about stalling and hesitation.
- Passport's phantom braking is a unique safety hazard; Silverado's transmission fluid line failures can cause sudden loss of drive.
- Silverado has 100 recalls vs Passport's 43, indicating more widespread manufacturing defects.
- Test drive to check for phantom braking events, especially on winding roads.
- Inspect the electrical system by starting the car multiple times and watching for dashboard warning lights.
- Check transmission fluid lines for leaks and listen for engine knocking at idle and under load.
- Test brakes for proper release after pressing the pedal; ensure no unexpected lock-up.
Before you buy
- Request service records for any recall repairs, especially for suspension, fuel pump, and airbags.
- On the Passport, verify that the forward collision avoidance system has been updated or recalibrated.
- On the Silverado, ask about transmission fluid line inspections and engine replacement history.
- Take both vehicles for an extended test drive including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on electrical and powertrain systems.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Honda Passport | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 44 | 70 |
| 2025 | 26 | 118 |
| 2024 | 15 | 0 |
| 2023 | 34 | 0 |
| 2022 | 55 | 0 |
| 2021 | 130 | 0 |
| 2020 | 91 | 0 |
| 2019 | 268 | 0 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Honda Passport or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Passport vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Honda Passport total complaints
- 844
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 1,340
- Honda Passport total recalls
- 43
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 100
- Honda Passport avg complaints/year
- 84.4
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 134.0
- More reliable overall
- Honda Passport
- Honda Passport top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN