Honda Passport Reliability by Year
Best & Worst Years, Problems & Recalls — NHTSA Data
Comparing used Honda Passport options? We analyzed 10 model years (2001–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
Model-year trends show patterns. Run a VIN check for the exact Honda Passport you plan to buy.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Honda Passport has 809 owner complaints and 42 safety recalls across model years 2001–2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2019 drew the most complaints; 2024 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Honda
- Model
- Passport
- Model years analyzed
- 2001–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 809
- Safety recall campaigns
- 42
- Crash-related complaints
- 42
- Fire-related complaints
- 0
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2019 (266 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2024 (15 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
Honda Passport: Which Years to Avoid & Which to Buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
⭐ NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
PoorThe HONDA PASSPORT has 809 NHTSA complaints and 42 recalls on record. 42 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 809 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 42 federal recall campaigns
- 42 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
🔔 NHTSA Safety Recalls
42 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2001–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
🔧 Most-Reported Problem Areas
Based on component keywords extracted from all 809 NHTSA complaints.
📋 NHTSA Complaint Reports
809 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The Idle-Stop feature is malfunctioning, the vehicle is equipped with an "Auto Idle Stop" feature that has a dangerous defect. The engine frequently fail to restart after shutting off at stops, unexpectedly leaving the driver stranded or immobile, with the risk of being hit from behind by incoming traffic.
At red light, foot on break, car in drive. Light turns green, I go to drive off. Car puts itself in neutral, dash says “shift to park”, I try to press to put it in drive, it won’t shift to “D”. I put it in park. Turned the vehicle off, car wouldn’t restart. Kept trying, wouldn’t start. Held my finger on the push to start for ~1 minute, it did not want to start at all. It was spitting trying to start, very very hesitant *car was in accident on 2/26/26 L front (driver side) was damaged Since accident, I have had issues even though car was repaired
25 Passport Black edition only 27k miles at a stop my vehicle won’t start back up kicks it from D to N will start flashing to put in P. Vehicle will not start back up until I turn off and back on. The second time it did this it wouldn’t even start back up battery light flashing. I try to remember to turn that stop/start button off. Very dangerous. Went to dealership. Says they can’t do nothing unless warning are on at the time of check. 4/24 was the second time this has happened. When I start the passport it’s like it has troubles and not wanting to start. Lights will start flashing braking system and blind spot all the safety feature lights. Something is wrong with these passports.
car transmission issue not getting enough power while putting foot on gas pedal rpm goes upto 5k for getting speed not shifting gear properly
Vehicle has stalled multiple times at stop lights after the automatic engine stop engaged. Vehicle will not restart when accelerator is pressed and has to be placed in park before the engine can be started again. This happened (4) times on the most recent trip yesterday 3/19/2026.
The car has an auto stop capability that engages during red light stops (etc.). The auto stop function automatically engages every time you start a new trip. Unfortunately, the car occasionaly fails to restart and displays emergency alerts. To restart the engine, the car must be put back into Park. This essentially results in the vehicle stalling out and it creates a significant safety risk. It happens on a somewhat regular basis. In addition, when starting the vehicle, it sounds as though the starter is having a difficult time powering up the engine.
2025 Honda Passport with 10k miles ***Braking issues - -Collision Mitigation System going off randomly and often, with no oncoming traffic, no obstacles or obstructions. -Phantom braking and “BRAKE” warning/steering wheel shake. Occurs often on windy, hilly roads with sharp curves, often to the right. Branches, guard rails, etc will activate the system at high speeds 50 mph and over, causing serious safety concerns of the vehicle stopping for no true cause. -White cars in oncoming traffic seemingly activate the “BRAKE” warning on occasion. -“BRAKE” warning went off and significantly slowed the car when a water filled pothole was to the right. -Issues have occurred with no cars ahead of the Passport. ***Engine issues after getting fuel - -After getting gas, check engine, power steering, and battery light will sometimes turn on. Only resolution is to restart the vehicle. -Brake pedal was also hard/stuck after getting gas, and vehicle could not be turned on until brake was pushed extremely hard/pumped. Power steering light came on after this incident. ***Lights- -Automatic adjusting high beams turn on and off erratically. Cannot use the automated system. ***Transmission- -Engine braking downhill on one or two occasions would not allow car to shift back up. Had to use paddle shifters to get the car moving again. Dealership cannot replicate these issues on a short ride with their tech, therefore the vehicle is “fine.”
There are major gaps on both top non rail tracks, this is the base exl model without rails. I have been having to remove debree and dirt where gaps located rear top spoiler where I was told by service manager that it looks defective but never got reply. Its been over a year now and honda keeps saying to contact dealership which I have done many times. There shouldn't be any gaps that would cause this issue that would cause dirt and possibly rust. I have owned several vehicles that had no gaps on top trim and am a loyal honda/Acura customer for decades. I just want this defect confirmed and fixed. The suv only has 6k and had nothing but problems with support from honda and dealership. They said due to no models of 2025 exl on lot would take pics and call me about this. Its been a year with only honda rep saying this is dealerships issue to diagnose? Always had great support from honda, but shouldn't honda know specs of this issue? Plan on keeping this great suv for decades but not wanting rust of body problems years down the road. Honda I am disappointed in how this has not been resolved in a timely matter.
I am reporting a serious nighttime visibility and driver-assistance safety issue with my 2025 Honda Passport. During evening driving, approximately 60% or more of the upper portion of the windshield appears blacked out or severely dimmed, significantly impairing forward visibility. This condition worsens on downhill grades, where an even greater portion of the windshield darkens. Visibility improves when high beams are manually activated; however, driving continuously with high beams is unsafe and inappropriate. This creates an unreasonable risk of collision, particularly on unlit roads and downhill grades, as pedestrians, road curvature, and hazards are difficult or impossible to see without improper use of high beams. In addition, multiple ADAS systems operate erratically. Adaptive cruise control delays braking on downhill grades until the vehicle accelerates approximately 9–10 mph above the set speed, delays acceleration after braking and resuming, and disengages with minor steering inputs. Automatic high beams operate inconsistently. These issues persist despite recalibration. The condition has existed since early ownership and continues at approximately 20,000 miles despite multiple service visits. A Honda field technician confirmed all systems were calibrated but did not perform a nighttime drive. A dealership shop foreman conducted a nighttime drive but did not share findings, and I was told he was unavailable and had already spent “enough time” on the vehicle. My initial service record included the notation “do not diagnose.” I was initially told the dealership had never encountered this issue; later I was told they had seen it on other vehicles but did not know how to fix it. A dealership-recommended nighttime comparison drive with a 2026 Honda Passport did not exhibit these issues. I also regularly drive a 2024 Honda CR-V that shows none of these nighttime visibility or ADAS problems.
Vehicle has 11,500 miles on it and constantly pulls to the right. Pulls harder under hard acceleration, requiring steering correction when accelerating hard and again correcting when backing off the accelerator. Have had to dealer multiple times. They claim they can't fix. Correcting to the left under load and back to the right can cause car to weave at highway speeds and cause it to be unstable. Car is available for inspection upon request.
The auto stop/start feature caused my vehicle to stall in the middle of the road. I had stopped at an intersection and just as the engine shut off, traffic cleared and I went to accelerate, and the engine shut off completely. I had to shift to Park to start the engine.
Having problems with sudden braking and not accelerating after stopping at lights or stop signs. No warning lights came on. I dropped it off at dealership. They are keeping the vehicle due to safety concerns while driving the vehicle
I am submitting this report regarding a serious safety issue with my 2025 Honda Passport related to the auto stop/start feature. When this feature is enabled, the vehicle frequently struggles to restart smoothly after coming to a stop. The engine often hesitates and sounds as if it may not start at all. On September 26, 2025, the problem escalated into a complete failure. While turning left at an intersection, the auto stop/start feature engaged, shutting off the engine. When I attempted to accelerate, the vehicle failed to restart and became fully disabled in the middle of traffic. This created an immediate and significant safety hazard. Law enforcement was called to the scene, and a tow truck was dispatched. However, due to incorrect information and safety concerns, I did not proceed with the tow. Fortunately, the police were able to jump-start the vehicle, allowing me to drive it directly to the dealership. The dealership confirmed that there is an issue but has been unable to replicate the complete failure. They have performed two battery tests, both of which returned normal results. While they acknowledge the problem, they have not been able to formally diagnose it. I have since learned that similar issues and recalls have been reported for earlier Honda model years, suggesting that this problem may still exist in newer vehicles, including the 2025 Passport. Since the incident, I have been disabling the auto stop/start feature every time I drive in order to avoid being stranded again. However, hesitation during restarts continues to occur daily when the feature is active. Given the severity of the safety risk and the inability of the dealership to diagnose or resolve the issue, I am requesting that Honda conduct a formal investigation into this malfunction and take appropriate corrective action. This issue should be fully addressed under warranty, as it directly affects the safety and reliability of the vehicle.
On Sunday 10/19/2025, estimated 11:15 a.m., while traveling on the 215 West in Riverside, California, my 17 year old granddaughter, riding in the passenger front seat of my 2025 Honda Passport, and I, heard an explosion overhead and immediately could hear the sound of wind. I knew immediately something had happened to the sunroof. I looked into the rear view mirror and traffic around me was unaffected, proof that nothing was flying thru the air needed to be avoided. I exited the freeway at the 1st available off-ramp. My granddaughter and I were quite shaken. We each began taking photos in disbelief. There was a large hole in the mid-section of the sunroof, and yet no sign of the piece that was blown out. I immediately thought of the missing piece of glass, if something had hit the sunroof from overhead, the glass would have fallen in as well as the object falling on it. The pictures also show a pattern of glass being lifted/ blown from inside out versus outside in. I began researching and found exploding sunroofs to be something known about since 2019. In addition, I found a Facebook group where other Passport owners have experienced and posted pictures of the same damage to their sunroofs - some have had Honda cover the costs, and others, like me were denied. The service representative where I purchased the Passport reached out to what he referred to as “his Honda rep” and was told Honda would NOT cover the $1K+ repair cost. This is a manufacturer/workmanship issue, not a customer issue. Please advise on my next steps of reporting.
While driving the sunroof exploded for no apparent reason. Honda dealer said that it was not their problem and not covered under warranty.
The shifting. The vehicle will shift to neutral without touching the brake. I had my puppy in the car with me and because of it being buttons he kept stepping on neutral and throwing my car into neutral almost causing a wreck when I was attempting to turn due to someone running a red light. Since you don’t automatically know that the car has been put into neutral and you just know that it is not accelerating it causes a major safety issue. My puppy should not have been able to accidentally put my vehicle into neutral without my awareness. I tested this later to see if I was just not aware that he did it while I was stopped and in fact I was able to put the car in neutral without having my foot on the brake.
We always keep this vehicle parked in our garage and I have been noticed strong smell of gasoline when entering the side door. I know that they have recalls on previous models with gas filler detaching but does not show in any recalls for this SUV. I will make sure that it will not be overfilled as I only fill until pump stops itself. We love this SUV and I am just worried for my family's safety. Honda had always been great about recalls. Hope that this was not an operator error. Will call dealership and report if it keeps happening.
The 2025 Honda Passport has developed an issue where the sunroof produces a popping or squeaking noise when it is being opened.
Emergency braking system activated for no apparent reason. Traveling at freeway speeds on a straight section of freeway when braking system briefly activated. There were no other vehicles or obstructions within 200yrds that might have triggered this. Had someone else been driving or if we had been in rain or snow conditions the outcome might have been different. Vehicle was approx 3 days old when this happened and brought back to the dealer to check. They could not reproduce. There were no prior symptoms or warning lamps
I bought the car brand new in the spring of 2024 and noticed shaking when braking after a few months. In January 2025 I had the rotors resurfaced at the dealer because they where warped. The brake shaking started again around March 2026. After searching several forums, turns out that this seems to be a common issue where the rotors warp constantly, requiring resurfacing several time or changing rotors every couple of years. The warping cause vibrations in the steering which affects handling. The vehicle shakes when braking at various speeds.
Showing 20 of 809 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Before You Buy, Check the Exact Honda Passport
These pages show model-year patterns across 10years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
📖 Understanding This Data
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Honda Passport has 809 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Honda Passport has 42 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 42 of the Honda Passport's 809 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Honda Passport vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Honda Passport vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Honda Passport has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
Buyers Also Compare
How does the Honda Passport stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
📍 Check a Honda Passport by State
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Honda Passport.