Honda Passport Complaints (2020)

105 consumer complaints on file.

#11774008October 27, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Passport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several warning lights illuminated, and the message that the safety features were deactivated was displayed on the instrument panel. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered a discount on the repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failure in the camera for the safety features. The failure mileage was 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11771608October 16, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2020 Honda Passport (approximately 52,000 miles) has experienced recurring Auto Idle Stop/engine restart failures in May 2023, November 2024, and October 2026, despite multiple repairs by an authorized Honda dealership. The latest incident occurred in October 2026, immediately after a routine state inspection. While stopped with my foot on the brake, the dashboard unexpectedly displayed "N" (Neutral) and instructed me to remove my foot from the accelerator, although I was not accelerating. The electronic gear selector would not respond, requiring me to turn off the vehicle. Shortly afterward, while stopped at a traffic light, the brake pedal became extremely stiff, and the engine would not restart. The dashboard, radio, and other accessories remained operational. The battery warning light appeared only during restart attempts. I eventually restarted the vehicle and returned home. These failures pose a serious safety risk, potentially leaving the vehicle immobilized in active traffic and compromising normal brake assistance. In May 2023, Honda performed a PGM-FI software update under Service Bulletin 23-008. When the problem returned in November 2024, Honda replaced the starter assembly and starter relays and performed an engine valve adjustment under Service Bulletin 23-009. Despite these repairs, similar symptoms returned in October 2026. Another driver had also noticed hesitation and unusual cranking sounds during automatic restarts approximately one month earlier. I contacted American Honda, reported the recurring failure, and requested a manufacturer-level technical inspection. Although my case was escalated, I have received no substantive follow-up despite multiple calls and written inquiries. The vehicle has remained parked without a confirmed manufacturer inspection or repair plan. The vehicle remains available for inspection. I am concerned that Honda's prescribed repairs have not resolved this recurring safety-related malfunction.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770068October 9, 2026
ENGINE
I have a 2020 Honda passport elite with a 3.5L V6 J35Y6 with 108k miles on it which is similar to the engines that have been recalled in other models like the pilot, ridgeline, and odyssey, and I have researched multiple vehicles with a similar problem of spun rod bearings which has left metal debris in my engine. I have found hundreds of passports that have been reported with the same issue. My vehicle is currently sitting at the dealership and they said it needs a new engine due to this issue. My vehicle is not drivable until the engine is replaced. The dealership estimated a cost of over $5k.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768131September 30, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The improperly designed or manufactured MOST coaxial cable can deform its terminals. This leads to intermittent connection losses between the audio display unit and the vehicle cable connector. If connection loss lasts for more than 20 seconds while the vehicle is in reverse, the rearview camera image fails to display. This increases the risk of a crash or injury. Honda issued a recall notice to replace with a new harness. The replacement did not fix the underlying problem. Our vehicle was “repaired” under the recall but the problem persisted. We were told by our local Honda dealership that we would need to replace the entire AV system to remediate the issue. We paid to have that work done, and the issue has started again. The dealership called Honda to consult with its technicians and they say that the issue is caused by the replacement harness. The work completed under the recall did not remediate the underlying safety issue, we paid thousands of dollars to try to fix it, and are now being told we would have to pay $5000 to repair a manufacturing defect
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11767136September 26, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This is the third time that the Auto Idle Engine has caused an issue while driving. If I attempt to turn the system off at a stop light it will automatically force my car into neutral and will not allow me to put my car back into drive. I have to turn the car off completely which it also does NOT allow easily and takes several attempts while I’m sitting in the middle of the road with my hazards on and praying I don’t get rear ended! Once I finally get the car to turn off it then allows me to restart and drive again. This should not be happening and is very unsafe yet when I took it into Honda they couldn’t replicate the issue so they said they couldn’t fix it even though it is a very common and known problem with the Auto Idle Engine!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11764118September 14, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle has excessive battery drain at times. Auto start-stop causes car to stop in traffic and difficult to restart. The original battery was replaced at 3 1/2 years of age. The replacement battery failed after about 2 years of service and replaced under warranty. That battery has now failed again. The car is a little over 6 years old and by all rights should only now need a replacement battery. I suspect parasitic drain problem but the dealer has only replaced the battery and no other parts I'm aware of.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763794September 12, 2026
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Began to have a small shake in the steering wheel at first I thought i had thrown a tire weight on the front. The shaking became increasing worst to the point I felt unsafe driving the vehicle. I took it to a service center on February 2, 2026 to have it inspected. They informed me a belt in the driver's side tire had shifted, causing the steering shimmy while driving. They said that there was no visual damage to the outside of the tire. When ask they cause the reply that it sometimes happens. I had to have the tire replaced as well as a second for balance. The thread on the tire was recorded at 5/32nds. The tires that were replaced were: Continental CrossContact LX Sport 265/45/R20, DOT A3XKD8WV 2120 104H. I have seen that a similar tire that was produced by Continental the same year was recalled by your organization
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762858September 8, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The 9-speed transmission in my vehicle has been acting very strange after owning it since March 2026.These issues did not start until May 2026. When driving the vehicle at low speeds (under 30mph) the transmission is very jumpy and jerky. When you let off the gas the vehicle rocks back and forth and the rpms drop dramatically. It often feels like the transmission is skipping gears. I took my vehicle to the honda dealership to address the issue and they said there was nothing they could do to fix or look into my issue. I am very upset and I feel like I’ve been cheated out of my hard earned money. Honda needs to address this issue and provide relief for all of the owners who are in the same predicament. Be accountable Honda!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762628September 7, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
Adaptive Cruise Control Automatic Emergency Braking Forward Collision Warning Lane Departure Warning Lane Keeping Assistance Auto -high beams Every time I start up my car all the above error messages come up stating there is a problem. My cruise control is not able to be used at all. This appears to be a very common issue amongst Honda Sensing from the research I have done. Honda was even taken to court over this issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762440September 6, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This is a failure of 2019-2020 Passport Pilot MOST Bus Network Recall of 2021. My Passport was serviced for 23-047 1923 FAKRA Service Cables at MOST Bus Network on October 26, 2023. The system has failed again. The Most system has popping, crackling and then goes out. Takes several minutes to recover. Presents the same safety hazard as the original recall I have video which I will show to the dealer on Thursday September 10, 2026
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762262September 4, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
I am experiencing a sudden and total failure of the front windshield-mounted camera sensor on my 2020 Honda Passport. Without warning, the vehicle's dashboard displays a cascade of simultaneous critical system errors as documented in my attachments. When this camera fails, it completely disables the entire Honda Sensing safety suite. The vehicle abruptly loses critical crash-avoidance features, including Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, and Lane Keep Assist. Operating the vehicle with a constantly flashing dashboard while suddenly lacking the advertised safety features poses an immediate safety hazard. My local Honda dealership confirmed the front camera component is defective. However, Honda refuses to issue a safety recall or cover the full cost of the repair, offering only a partial "goodwill" assistance gesture that forces me to pay out-of-pocket for an inherently dangerous factory defect. This camera architecture mirrors the exact defect currently being litigated in active California class action lawsuits (e.g., Jones, et al. v. American Honda Motor Co. Inc.) for other Honda models. The Passport should be included in a safety recall immediately.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11761808September 3, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I own a 2020 Honda Passport Elite with approximately 63,000 miles. The infotainment display intermittently goes completely black while driving. When this occurs, the rearview camera also becomes unavailable. I have also experienced crackling or electrical-type noise through the speakers during the problem. The problem is intermittent. The system may operate normally for an extended period and then suddenly fail. On several occasions, the display went black, returned to normal, and then went black again several times while driving. After the vehicle was stopped and later restarted, the system returned to normal operation. This is a safety concern because the rearview camera can become unavailable, particularly when the vehicle is being operated normally and the driver cannot predict when the failure will occur. Honda Safety Recall 23-047 was previously performed on this vehicle. I contacted American Honda Customer Service, and Honda's records show that the recall repair was completed on June 30, 2023. Honda currently shows no open recall or warranty coverage for this problem. The symptoms I am now experiencing are similar to those associated with the MOST bus/FAKRA connector problem addressed by Honda, including display problems, audio problems and intermittent or blank rearview-camera operation. The vehicle has not yet been diagnosed or repaired for this current occurrence. I am requesting that NHTSA review this complaint to determine whether this may represent a recurring safety-related defect after the previous recall repair and whether further investigation or action by Honda is warranted.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756246August 11, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
The front multipurpose camera system failed, triggering multiple safety warning lights simultaneously, including ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control), LKAS (Lane Keeping Assist System), and related camera-dependent safety systems, along with a "Multipurpose Camera Unit" fault code U3000-49. The failure pattern has been intermittent and inconsistent: on some drives, warning lights are absent at startup and appear after several minutes of driving; on other occasions the warnings appear immediately at startup; duration before onset varies from trip to trip. This vehicle falls within the range covered by a prior Honda recall (Recall 19-020 / NHTSA Campaign for 2019-2020 Passport) addressing software programming errors in the front control module causing improper display of instrument panel and delayed or missing rearview camera images. The current failure presents similar camera-related safety system symptoms. A dealership inspection recommended replacement of the multipurpose camera unit at an estimated cost of approximately $2,000, without confirming the root cause of the failure. Safety concern: Loss of ACC, LKAS, and related driver-assist camera systems while driving, with warnings appearing unpredictably during operation, some minutes into a drive rather than at startup, suggesting a fault that may not always be evident during a pre-drive check.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754332August 2, 2026
ENGINE
In April 2024 on a road trip to [XXX], the engine suffered a catastrophic failure without warning near [XXX]. The connecting rod or rods broke, and one of them exited the engine. State Police and Local Fire Department responded because a passer-by saw smoke from the expired engine and reported a fire - there was no fire, but the engine oil was leaking down onto the exhaust pipes, causing smoke. The local Honda dealership in Bloomington, IL and Honda itself were not very cooperative, claiming the engine was not maintained properly. I submitted our mechanic's records as proof twice to Honda, yet they still resisted. Finally I contacted the original Honda of Naperville dealership where we bought the vehicle, and that got Honda to partially refund the money (under extended warranty) that we spent to repair the motor. In the end, the motor was replaced with a used 25,000 mile unit, which was the only option under the warranty. That did not sit well with us, so we capitulated, accepted the used engine, then sold the Passport back to the Bloomington Honda. Overall, we had to pay for towing 35 miles, the expense of renting a vehicle for about 1 week, and other extra costs plus the time and hassle associated with multiple phone calls to Honda. The total expenses incurred was $1,738 for towing and a rental vehicle to complete the trip. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752644July 24, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
Multipurpose camera stopped working and most of the safety systems alerts are on now and don’t work
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746675June 26, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was at a red light and all of a sudden my car switched to neutral. I could not get out of neutral and tried unsuccessfully to get my car into drive. I finally was able to shut the car off (not sure if opening the door helped reset the system) and start it again. I now turn off the idle option
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11744941June 18, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
It's a sunny day in Florida and approximately at [XXX] while traveling straight on a public roadway, the vehicle directly in front of me moved into the left-turn lane, completely clearing my lane of travel. As I actively accelerated to pass the turning vehicle, my Honda’s Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) inadvertently activated despite my lane being completely clear and unobstructed. The emergency automatic braking engaged forcefully just after I passed the vehicle in the left-turn lane. This unexpected, false-positive braking event caused a severe, rapid deceleration that nearly resulted in a rear-end collision by the vehicle traveling behind me. This exact situation has occurred on 3 other separate occasions. I'm in fear of being rear-ended, especially with my kids in the car, because my vehicle body language prior to the forceful braking has been acceleration. The drivers behind me are likely to see my acceleration and proceed with their own acceleration just to be blind-sided with my vehicles sudden and hard braking. It's a disaster waiting to happen, especially on busy roadways. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11744752June 17, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Passport. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle with the Push-To-Start feature, the Adaptive Cruise Control, Road Departure Mitigation, Collision Mitigation Brake System, and Lane Keeping assist system, and the high beam messages were displayed on the instrument panel. An audible alarm sounded while the messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the multipurpose camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost, and because the parts were on back order. Upon further investigation, the contact stated that the windshield heat exposure might have caused the failure in the hotter weatehr. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,078.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11743870June 13, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Car tried to start on its own, set off the alarm multiple times and killed a new battery after 6 months. Would not allow me to enter car by remote had to unplug battery. issue with Start/stop idle system, it is know issue with Honda ridgeline but having same issue with passport.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738769May 19, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
1. Component/System: Multipurpose Camera Unit (IDAS/ADAS system) — U3000-49 "Internal Electronic Failure" + cascading CAN communication faults. The vehicle and diagnostic data (May 15, 2026 scan) are available for inspection upon request. 2. Safety Risk: Warning lights for LKAS (Lane Keeping) and ACC (Adaptive Cruise) disabled those systems. No crash or loss-of-control occurred; the issue was discovered post-service before driving. 3. Reproduction/Confirmation: Confirmed by dealer lights absent at drop-off (their photo, Exhibit A), present after oil change. Diagnostic scan at dealer (2:26 PM May 15) verified U3000-49 + codes. Not independently reproduced. 4. Inspections: Scanned by Germain Honda dealer only. No manufacturer (Honda Corporate), police, or insurance inspection yet. This complaint package is being submitted to Honda Customer Relations. 5. Warnings/Symptoms: None prior. Vehicle had no ADAS issues or lights at drop-off (dealer photo + advisor confirmation). Lights appeared during/after the May 15, 2026 oil change
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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