Honda Passport problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 7 model years (2019–2025), NHTSA has logged 652 owner complaints and 16 safety recalls for the Honda Passport. That averages 17.6 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.42 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Midsize SUVs segment it ranks #2 of 14 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 53.1.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Across seven model years from 2019 to 2025, the Honda Passport has logged 652 owner complaints and 16 safety recalls, averaging 17.6 complaints per year which is far fewer than typical at an index of 0.42 against all tracked vehicles. The trend is improving with the 2023 and 2024 models running 69% below the 2019 and 2020 models, while the 2019 model year has the highest rate at 35.7 complaints per year and should be researched most carefully. The most common problem areas are Engine at 18.9%, Electrical at 18.7%, and Driver-assist systems at 15.6%, with recurring terms including "system", "idle", "restart", "auto" and "brake". Owners report 19 injuries and 0 deaths, though the complaint pace is rising in the last 12 months with 175 filings versus 132 previously, and 2 of 3 NHTSA defect investigations remain open.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 69% below the 2019 and 2020 models (13 early complaints per model year versus 41).
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (35.7 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (6.0). The 2019 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully. Model years 2023 and 2024 sit well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (18.9% of complaints), followed by Electrical (18.7%) and Driver-assist systems (15.6%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “system”, “idle”, “restart”, “auto” and “brake”. 24 complaints (3.7%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 19 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 175 complaints versus 132 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising. The 2019 model year generated the most recent reports (40). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 39 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 16 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2023 (4). 3 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 2 still open; the latest is “No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages” (opened 2025-03-26, still open).
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Dodge Durango; Nissan Pathfinder, Kia Sorento, Ford Edge and Chevrolet Traverse have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Years to research carefully | 274 | 35.7 | 0.85 | 66 | 0.82 | 40 | 10 | Electrical | View › |
| 2020 | 93 | 13.9 | 0.33 | 17 | 0.3 | 25 | 10 | Driver-assist systems | View › |
| 2021 | 139 | 24.5 | 0.58 | 37 | 0.61 | 38 | 7 | Driver-assist systems | View › |
| 2022 | 58 | 12.4 | 0.29 | 20 | 0.27 | 17 | 4 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 37 | 10.1 | 0.24 | 16 | 0.19 | 17 | 5 | Brakes | View › |
| 2024 Fewest complaints | 16 | 6.0 | 0.14 | 11 | 0.16 | 7 | 1 | Brakes | View › |
| 2025 | 35 | 20.9 | 0.5 | — | — | 31 | 0 | Engine | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 175 · Previous 12 months: 132 Rising
Problem areas
Electrical ›
122 · 18.7% · 1.19 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- infotainment26
- crackling16
- speakers18
- audio19
Driver-assist systems ›
102 · 15.6% · 2.73 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- collision46
- mitigation26
- lane43
- braking42
Transmission / powertrain ›
50 · 7.7% · 0.66 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- transmission28
- neutral13
- gear15
- shifted9
Fuel system ›
43 · 6.6% · 1.53 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- fuel38
- system gasoline23
- gasoline recall18
- distribution disconnect18
Body & structure
24 · 3.7% · 0.4 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- driver's side4
- mirrors3
- wasn't3
- defect5
Wheels, tires & suspension
15 · 2.3% · 0.92 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- continental8
- tires10
- sidewall4
- tire flat3
Airbags & seat belts
13 · 2.0% · 0.52 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- air9
- bags6
- seat5
- received notification5
Steering
10 · 1.5% · 0.24 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- steering7
- safety5
- right3
- wheel3
Lighting
8 · 1.2% · 0.78 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- headlights5
- condensation3
- inside4
- enough3
Other
4 · 0.6% · 0.34 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- system227
- idle61
- restart95
- auto93
- brake135
- collision96
- mitigation44
- neutral55
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 39 months
What owners report
these cars require a seat calibration after a deer collision. they say your seat sensors are shot and want $900 to fix your seat and recalibrate the system. they also say your passenger airbags will not work without fixing the seat. pure safety for ransome.
The push button gearshifting. I have accidentally hit reverse about 100 times since I’ve owned this car in six months. It ended up in a rear end collision with a parked car. Then when I tried to drive forward, I backed up again.
“Idle-Stop” feature stays on per factory installation. However when car is stopped and brake is released to proceed with acceleration, the feature automatically throws the transmission into “Neutral” and will not go forward, allow shifting of gears or…
This is related to service bulletin, 23–010 Honda will not fix my vehicle under the extended warranty unless the problem is replicated while they are doing a performance test
Car began making loud rattling noise which proceeded to a larger grinding noise in the engine. Car sudden wouldn’t accelerate and had to be shut off. It wouldn’t restart and once it did get jumped produced an intensely loud grinding rattling noise.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Midsize SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dodge Durango | 752 | 15.2 | 0.36 | Improving | Steady | 18 | Lighting |
| 2 | Honda Passport | 652 | 17.6 | 0.42 | Improving | Rising | 16 | Engine |
| 3 | Nissan Pathfinder | 566 | 20.1 | 0.48 | Worsening | Rising | 12 | Engine |
| 4 | Kia Sorento | 1,382 | 36.2 | 0.86 | Stable | Rising | 17 | Engine |
| 5 | Ford Edge | 2,164 | 43.6 | 1.04 | Improving | Steady | 20 | Engine |
| 6 | Chevrolet Traverse | 1,657 | 43.8 | 1.04 | Stable | Steady | 13 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 7 | Toyota Highlander | 2,062 | 44.5 | 1.06 | Improving | Rising | 21 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 8 | Hyundai Santa Fe | 1,968 | 58.3 | 1.38 | Worsening | Rising | 26 | Engine |
| 9 | Ford Explorer | 3,122 | 65.6 | 1.56 | Improving | Steady | 70 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 10 | Honda Pilot | 2,824 | 67.4 | 1.6 | Stable | Steady | 26 | Engine |
| 11 | Kia Telluride | 1,945 | 73.6 | 1.75 | Improving | Rising | 17 | Body & structure |
| 12 | Subaru Outback | 3,749 | 77.0 | 1.83 | Improving | Steady | 15 | Body & structure |
| 13 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 3,335 | 85.9 | 2.04 | Worsening | Rising | 49 | Electrical |
| 14 | Hyundai Palisade | 2,277 | 102.2 | 2.43 | Worsening | Steady | 13 | Airbags & seat belts |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 16
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2019 (10) · 2020 (10) · 2021 (7) · 2022 (4) · 2023 (5) · 2024 (1) · 2025 (0)
Investigations
- No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages Open
On June 3, 2022, the Oï¬ce of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several ï¬eld reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traï¬c light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The su…
- Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking Open
On March 7, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24008) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system in model year 2019-2022 Honda Insight and 2019-2022 Honda Passport vehicles. The complainants allege activation of the AEB system with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's path, resulting in rapid vehic…
- Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking Closed
On March 7, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24008) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system in model year 2019-2022 Honda Insight and 2019-2022 Honda Passport vehicles. The complainants allege activation of the AEB system with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's path, resulting in rapid vehic…
Frequently asked questions
Which Honda Passport model year has the most complaints?
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (35.7 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (6.0).
Is the Honda Passport getting better or worse?
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 69% below the 2019 and 2020 models (13 early complaints per model year versus 41). In the last 12 months owners filed 175 complaints versus 132 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising.
What are the most common Honda Passport problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (18.9% of complaints), followed by Electrical (18.7%) and Driver-assist systems (15.6%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “system”, “idle”, “restart”, “auto” and “brake”.
How does the Honda Passport compare with other Midsize SUVs?
Within the Midsize SUVs segment it ranks #2 of 14 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 53.1. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Dodge Durango; Nissan Pathfinder, Kia Sorento, Ford Edge and Chevrolet Traverse have more.
Does the Honda Passport have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 16 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2023 (4). 3 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 2 still open; the latest is “No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages” (opened 2025-03-26, still open).