Passport (2nd)
Verdict Step past the 2019 launch cars, which carry the structural frame recalls, and shop 2020 or later. On any year, confirm the Denso fuel-pump recalls were performed.
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
J35Y6
3.5L 6-cyl / 280 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
Show 1 additional engine variant with limited data
Honda Passport Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
Reliability Overview
The second-generation Passport spreads its 572 complaints fairly evenly across five categories rather than piling them into one failure, which is the profile of a broadly sorted vehicle instead of a lemon. Its single powertrain, the 3.5-liter V6 paired with a nine-speed automatic, accounts for nearly every complaint on file because it is the only engine Honda offered. Across seven model years there are no reported fires and no recorded deaths, a clean sheet on the outcomes that matter most.
For a midsize SUV built on the Pilot's bones, the Passport's mechanical core is steady. The V6 is a known Honda quantity, and while it draws 100 engine complaints, that figure trails the safety-system and electrical categories above it. Brakes and the transmission sit lower still, at 76 and 68. Nothing here points to a systemic drivetrain defect. The reports read as the ordinary spread of a high-volume family hauler rather than a specific weak link owners should fear.
The largest single category is safety systems, at 165 complaints, and it is the one area where the Passport's behavior frustrates owners more than its hardware fails. Honda's driver-assistance suite generates the bulk of these reports. Electrical issues follow at 143. The recall record leans heavily on fuel-system campaigns, three in all, and most of these trace to the industry-wide Denso low-pressure fuel-pump problem that swept across nearly every Honda and Acura line in 2021 and 2023 rather than to anything unique to the Passport. A separate 2024 campaign addresses a fuel-filler neck tube on 2023 and 2024 trucks. Steering appears once, a 2024 recall covering an inner ball-joint housing in the gearbox on 2023 cars.
The 2019 launch year carries the structural recalls, covering front-frame upper members and a hood-latch striker, the kind of early-build correction that tends to fade as a model settles. Rearview-camera and display recalls surface twice, in 2020 and 2023, tied to instrument-panel and media-system software. By the middle of the generation the pattern shifts toward shared-platform campaigns issued across the Pilot, Ridgeline, and Odyssey, which says more about Honda's parts commonality than about the Passport on its own.
Buyers who want a two-row midsize SUV with proven mechanicals, and who can live with a driver-assistance system that cries wolf, will find the Passport a sound used pick. Anyone who leans hard on adaptive cruise and automatic braking should spend real time with those features before committing.
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Honda Passport, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
Buyer's Guide
There is one engine and one transmission across the whole run, so the choice comes down to model year, not powertrain. Step past the 2019 launch cars if you can, since they carry the structural frame recalls, and confirm those repairs were completed on any 2019 you do consider. From 2020 on the build settles, and the 2022 refresh changed the styling without touching the mechanical package.
On any Passport, verify the Denso fuel-pump recalls were performed, because an unaddressed low-pressure pump can stall the engine without warning. Check that the rearview-camera and display campaigns were closed out, and on 2023 cars confirm the steering-gearbox ball-joint recall was handled. During the test drive, pay attention to how Honda Sensing behaves, since false forward-collision alerts and phantom braking dominate the complaint file. Feel for smooth shifts from the nine-speed automatic under both light and heavy throttle.
The Passport earns its used-market value precisely because its problems are well understood and mostly addressed through recalls rather than costly out-of-pocket repairs. A well-maintained example with a documented recall history is a low-risk midsize SUV. Weigh service records over a slightly lower asking price, and treat the driver-assistance quirks as a livability question rather than a reliability one.
What to check on a used 2019-2025 Honda Passport
On a used 2019-2025 Honda Passport, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the airbags and driver-assist systems (194), the electrical system (182) and the engine (131). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 194 owner complaints on the 2019-2025 Honda Passport about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
- Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 182 owner complaints on the 2019-2025 Honda Passport about the electrical system.
- Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 131 owner complaints on the 2019-2025 Honda Passport about the engine.
- On an empty road, brake firmly from 40 mph with a light grip on the wheel.Safety. NHTSA has 83 owner complaints on the 2019-2025 Honda Passport about the brakes.
- Accelerate gently through every gear, then once at full throttle. Shift into Reverse and back to Drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 75 owner complaints on the 2019-2025 Honda Passport about the transmission and drivetrain.
Recalls (16)
American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
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.
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.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Show 11 older recalls
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
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, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.
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 fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Passport, 2016-2019 Pilot, and 2017-2020 Ridgeline vehicles. The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Passport and Pilot vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 Passport and Pilot vehicles. The certification label may have been printed with ink that can be wiped away with a solvent, removing the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) information.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Pilot and 2019 Passport vehicles. The front frame left and right side upper members may not have been welded completely to the unibody. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 219, "Windshield Zone Intrusion."
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2019-2025 Honda Passport complaints?
Owners have filed 683 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019-2025 Honda Passport. The systems they name most often are the safety systems, the electrical system and the engine.
Is the 2019-2025 Honda Passport a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 683 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019-2025 Honda Passport. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2019-2025 Honda Passport have?
NHTSA has 683 owner complaints on file for the 2019-2025 Honda Passport as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2019-2025 Honda Passport?
NHTSA lists 16 recalls covering some 2019-2025 Honda Passport vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Honda Passport?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the safety systems, the electrical system and the engine, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.
What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Passport?
The 2025 Honda Passport received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 4 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (16.4% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Standard. Lane Departure Warning: Standard. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 683 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.