Head-to-head reliability
Honda Passport vs Toyota Camry
How the Honda Passport and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: Over 10 years, the Passport had 924 complaints (92/year) and 43 recalls, while the Camry had 2,056 complaints (206/year) and 31 recalls. The Passport's top issues are electrical and forward collision avoidance; the Camry's are power train and engine. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Passport or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Passport
The Honda Passport is a mid-size SUV that, over the past decade, has generated 924 owner complaints—about 92 per year—along with 43 recalls. The most common trouble spots are the electrical system and forward collision avoidance, with owners describing random automatic braking and warning lights that won't turn off. Engine issues also appear, including a reported knock just past 50,000 miles. While the overall complaint rate is lower than some rivals, the nature of the electrical and braking complaints can be unsettling for a first-time buyer.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mid-size sedan with a much higher complaint volume: 2,056 over ten years, or about 206 per year, plus 31 recalls. Power train and engine complaints lead the list, with owners reporting stuck ignition keys, hesitation, and shuddering. Brake and electrical problems also show up, including parking brake failures and multiple warning systems malfunctioning at once. The Camry's higher complaint count doesn't automatically mean it's less reliable, but it does mean more owners have taken the time to report specific, often recurring, issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Passport | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 924 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 43 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 43 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 92.4 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 29 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
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 SYSTEM196
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE177
- 03ENGINE137
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER129
- 05SERVICE BRAKES98
Owners report the automatic emergency braking engaging randomly while driving, which can be scary and unexpected. They also describe emissions or other warning lights that stay on and won't reset, sometimes requiring a dealer visit.
Complaints include the collision mitigation system braking abruptly even when no objects are ahead, and backup cameras or sensors failing. This can happen repeatedly on clear roads, making the driver feel less in control.
Some owners report a subtle engine knock that develops around 50,000 miles, sometimes leading to more serious engine damage. This is a concern for buyers looking at higher-mileage examples without a warranty.
Braking issues are reported, including electrical malfunctions that cause braking failure. One owner said a collision was avoided only by their own quick reaction, highlighting a potential safety risk.
“My Auto-Electronic braking was randomly engaging while I was driving. It was unnecessary, & scary. It would just engage, then stop. Then, My Emissions Systems Light came on, & would NOT go off. I had to get to a safe place. The dealership told me to bring it…”
“On 11 Apr 2025, I was driving my 2023 Honda Passport at night on a toll road in clear weather when my infant son began screaming in distress. I pulled over onto the shoulder, partially onto a dirt area with bushes for more space. I pressed the “Park” button,…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners describe an intermittent defect where the ignition key gets stuck and cannot be removed even though the car is in Park. Another common complaint is hesitation and shuddering while driving, often accompanied by a check engine light.
Reports include delayed throttle response—pressing the gas and waiting several seconds for the car to move. This can be dangerous when merging or pulling out into traffic, and it has happened multiple times for some owners.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Owners also report a clicking or vibrating sound from the brake pedal area, which dealers attribute to the ABS system.
Multiple safety systems—including stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction simultaneously. This leaves the driver without key aids and can be alarming, especially at night.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
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 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles…
The risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-21…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, w…
The risk: Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall ar…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Passport and Ridgeline vehicles. The inner ball joint housing in the steering gearbox assembly may loosen and detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.
The risk: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering gearbox as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is LHY.
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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Honda Passport or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Honda Passport has far fewer complaints per year (about 92) than the Toyota Camry (about 206), but the Passport's complaints often involve unexpected braking and electrical glitches that can feel dangerous. The Camry's higher volume includes many power train and engine issues, some of which are annoying but less immediately startling. In practice, the Passport may have fewer reported problems overall, but the ones it has can be more disruptive to daily driving.
Key differences
- The Passport has about 92 complaints per year versus about 206 for the Camry, but the Passport's top issues are electrical and forward collision avoidance, which can cause random braking.
- Camry owners frequently report power train problems like a stuck ignition key and hesitation, while Passport owners more often report engine knock and brake failures.
- The Camry has more crash-related complaints (171) and injuries (158) than the Passport (43 crashes, 29 injuries), though these numbers don't prove fault.
- Both have recalls, but the Passport's recalls include back-over prevention and master cylinder issues, while the Camry's include air bag sensors and seat problems.
- Test the automatic emergency braking system at low speeds in an empty lot to see if it engages unexpectedly; also check for any warning lights that stay on.
- Listen for a subtle engine knock at idle and during acceleration, especially on models near or above 50,000 miles, and ask for maintenance records.
- Try removing the key from the ignition after parking to ensure it doesn't stick; also test the electronic parking brake to confirm it disengages properly.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any hesitation or shuddering when accelerating, and check that all safety systems (blind spot, lane keeping) are functioning without error messages.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially for the Passport's braking and back-over systems and the Camry's air bag sensors.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brakes, including the ABS and parking brake, on both vehicles, as both have reported brake-related complaints.
- For the Passport, test the forward collision avoidance and electrical systems thoroughly, including the backup camera and sensors.
- For the Camry, check the transmission for hesitation and shuddering, and verify the ignition key can be removed easily in Park.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and consider a pre-purchase inspection by a dealer familiar with the specific model's common issues.
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 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 63 | 0 |
| 2025 | 40 | 163 |
| 2024 | 17 | 50 |
| 2023 | 39 | 64 |
| 2022 | 62 | 61 |
| 2021 | 142 | 157 |
| 2020 | 102 | 274 |
| 2019 | 278 | 395 |
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Passport vs Toyota Camry
- Honda Passport total complaints
- 924
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Honda Passport total recalls
- 43
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Honda Passport avg complaints/year
- 92.4
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Honda Passport
- Honda Passport top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN