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: The Passport averages 84.4 complaints per year with 43 recalls, while the Camry averages 208.1 complaints with 28 recalls. The Passport's electrical and braking failures are more safety-critical, but the Camry has a dangerous rollaway defect. 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 midsize SUV with a high complaint rate of 84.4 per year, dominated by electrical system and forward collision avoidance issues. Owners report sudden dashboard warning cascades, phantom braking, and engine stalling in traffic, making it a vehicle that demands vigilance from its driver.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular sedan with 208.1 complaints per year, but its issues are less safety-critical on average. The top problems involve powertrain quirks like key removal while in drive, spontaneous moonroof shattering, and brake noise, though the volume of complaints is higher.
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 | 844 Better | 2,081 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 43 | 28 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 43 Better | 177 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 84.4 Better | 208.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 29 Better | 161 |
| 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 SYSTEM170
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE163
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER117
- 04ENGINE112
- 05SERVICE BRAKES94
Owners report sudden, intermittent failures where multiple warning lights illuminate (power steering, hill start assist, road departure mitigation) and the vehicle loses drive power, sometimes stalling in intersections.
The collision mitigation system frequently engages phantom braking with no obstacle, causing the car to brake hard unexpectedly on highways or hills, which can lead to rear-end collisions.
The auto stop/start system hesitates or fails to restart smoothly, and some owners report sudden stalling under acceleration or during turns, resulting in loss of motive power.
Brake-related complaints often tie into the forward collision system, but also include general braking issues that may be linked to the electrical gremlins.
“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,…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN384
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER332
- 03ENGINE309
- 04SERVICE BRAKES288
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM233
A dangerous defect allows the engine to be turned off and key removed while the vehicle is still in Drive, with no warning, risking rollaway. Also, the ignition key can become stuck even when in Park.
The moonroof can spontaneously shatter while driving, sounding like a gunshot, with no external cause. Also, the hybrid driver-assist features may malfunction, causing unintended braking.
Some owners report excessive engine noise, musty smells from the trunk, and vibration sounds when braking, though these are less severe than stalling.
Brake systems can produce grinding or thumping noises, and some owners experience unintended braking activation similar to the Passport but less frequent.
“The vehicle allows the engine to be turned off, key removed, while the vehicle is still in drive with no warning lights or sounds. I have tested and the vehicle can roll away. Complained to the toyota dealership and they said the service tech consulted with t…”
“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…”
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…
Toyota Camry — 28 recalls
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 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…
Buyer analysis
Honda Passport or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Honda Passport has fewer complaints per year (84.4 vs 208.1) but its issues are more safety-critical, involving sudden loss of power and phantom braking. The Camry's higher complaint count includes many less urgent problems, but the rollaway defect is a serious safety concern.
Key differences
- Passport has 43 recalls vs Camry's 28, indicating more widespread manufacturing issues.
- Passport's phantom braking and stalling are immediate safety hazards; Camry's rollaway defect is also dangerous but less common.
- Camry has 1 death reported; Passport has 0, but both have crash and injury numbers.
- Passport's electrical system failures cause cascading warning lights; Camry's powertrain issue is a single, specific defect.
- Test drive to see if the forward collision avoidance system triggers phantom braking on open roads.
- Check for any history of electrical system repairs or warning light issues in the service records.
- Verify that the key can only be removed when the transmission is in Park, and test for any sticking.
- Inspect the moonroof for cracks or previous replacements, and listen for unusual noises.
Before you buy
- Request a full service history and check for recall completion on both vehicles.
- Test the Passport's auto stop/start system for smooth restarts and the Camry's key removal in all gears.
- Drive the Passport on a winding road to assess phantom braking; drive the Camry at highway speed to check for moonroof integrity.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Passport's electrical system and the Camry's powertrain control module.
- Check NHTSA.gov for any open recalls on the specific VIN.
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 | 44 | 97 |
| 2025 | 26 | 140 |
| 2024 | 15 | 46 |
| 2023 | 34 | 60 |
| 2022 | 55 | 57 |
| 2021 | 130 | 154 |
| 2020 | 91 | 264 |
| 2019 | 268 | 387 |
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
- 844
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,081
- Honda Passport total recalls
- 43
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 28
- Honda Passport avg complaints/year
- 84.4
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 208.1
- More reliable overall
- Honda Passport
- Honda Passport top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN