The Honda Passport is a midsize SUV with a spacious interior and advanced technology. In fact, automobile enthusiasts regard it as one of the most affordable & reliable off-roaders to buy as used. You’ll enjoy this ride, whether you’re an adventurous driver or a family person; the Passport has a strong towing capacity and comfortable seats. Its multiple features cater to both urban and off-road lifestyles.
But which Honda Passport years to avoid. When you understand how unresolved defects, recalls, and repeat repairs turn a used SUV into a financial headache, what happens if a dealership can’t fix your car explains why certain model years should be avoided entirely.
Knowing which model years to avoid ensures you don’t accidentally buy a lemon and protects your resale value.
The Honda Passport years to avoid fall into three windows. Skip 1995 and 1998 through 2002 for severe frame rust and transmission failure on the Isuzu-based first and second generations. Be cautious with 2019 and 2020, the first two years of the modern unibody Passport, which drew complaints for jerky ZF9 transmission shifting and glitchy infotainment displays. The best used years are 2022 through 2026, after Honda’s mid-cycle refresh resolved most early third-generation complaints and standardized all-wheel drive.
If you already own a 2019 or 2020 Passport with a transmission that won’t stop misbehaving after repeated dealer visits, that repair history may qualify the vehicle for a lemon law claim under Magnuson-Moss or your state’s lemon law, regardless of the model’s overall reputation.
The Honda Passport made its debut in 1993 as a midsize SUV made primarily for people in need of a rugged, off-road-capable car. The 1994 model was a badge-engineered version of the Isuzu Rodeo. This model reflected the partnership that let Honda enter the SUV market without developing a 100% unique vehicle from the ground up on their own. These first-generation models feature body-on-frame construction that lends durability for all sorts of off-road adventures. This choice set the Passport apart from Honda’s car-like SUVs. Under the hood, you would see a 2.6-liter inline-4 or a more powerful 3.2-liter V6 engine. It’s often paired with rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive layouts. You’d also notice features like decent towing capability and trims like leather seats for comfortable driving. These features helped the Passport carve a niche for itself. However, these first-generation models also had problems like frame rust or a bad transmission. These problems influenced model years 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997. So, you should avoid these years! The second generation includes model years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002. But we will treat this generation as the first generation (mainly because of the long hiatus).
Honda revived the Passport in 2019 after a lengthy hiatus. It was reimagined as a modern midsize crossover SUV built on a unibody platform shared with the Honda Pilot. This new generation marked a major departure from the truck-based body-on-frame design of the originals. In fact, this revived model implemented a more car-like chassis for better comfort and handling. This model was also more fuel-efficient with respectable off-road capabilities. The revived Passport comes with a potent 3.5-liter V6 engine that delivers around 280 hp, paired with a smooth 9-speed automatic transmission. The model lineup focuses on safety, technology, and a superior interior quality by adding advanced driver-assistance systems & spacious seating for five individuals. Some other telltale features of this generation include:
Honda gave the Passport a substantial mid-cycle update for the 2022 model year, adding new front-end styling and introducing the Passport TrailSport trim, its first adventure-focused variant. The early TrailSport was mostly a styling package with orange accents and unique wheels rather than a mechanical upgrade. For 2023, Honda made all-wheel drive standard across the entire Passport lineup, ending the front-wheel-drive option that carried some of the reliability complaints on 2019 to 2021 models.
The 2024 model year is where the TrailSport trim became a genuine off-road package. Honda added an off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, and a wider center console that addressed a common complaint about the previous generation’s cramped armrest area. The Black Edition replaced the Elite as the top trim.
Honda replaced the Passport with a full fourth-generation redesign for 2026, moving away from the previous rounded styling toward a more traditional, squared-off SUV shape. The redesign increases ground clearance to 8.3 inches, up from 8.1, and adds 1.3 inches of rear-seat legroom on a longer wheelbase. The 3.5-liter V6 gets a modest bump to 285 horsepower, and the outgoing 9-speed automatic transmission has been replaced entirely by a new 10-speed unit built for smoother shifts (CarGurus, 2026). All-wheel drive is now standard across every 2026 trim.
Because the 2026 Passport is brand new, there is not yet enough owner or complaint data to name it a year to avoid or a year to buy with confidence. Buyers considering a 2026 model should treat it the way any first-year redesign deserves to be treated: watch for the first 12 to 18 months of NHTSA complaint filings before assuming it inherited the outgoing generation’s clean record.
In December 2024, Honda recalled 205,760 vehicles, including 2023 and 2024 Honda Passport and 2023 through 2025 Honda Pilot models, because an out-of-sequence assembly step could leave the fuel filler neck tube incompletely connected to the fuel filler pipe. The concern is a crash-related fuel leak rather than a leak during normal driving. If the connection separates in an impact, fuel can escape near an ignition source, raising fire risk. Honda estimated only about 1 percent of the recalled vehicles were actually affected and began mailing owner notification letters in January 2025, with dealers inspecting and reconnecting the parts at no cost.
This recall does not indicate an ongoing defect pattern the way the frame rust or ZF9 transmission issues do. It is a single assembly-line correction rather than a design flaw, and owners of affected vehicles should confirm the recall repair was completed rather than avoid the model years outright.
A major source of concern for these new Honda models (chiefly the 2019 and 2020 models) involves the ZF 9-speed automatic transmission. This transmission system has caused folks to report issues like:
Drivers on Reddit have talked about how their vehicles slipped into neutral out of the blue as they were trying to speed up; these experiences are accompanied by warning lights and the inability to shift gears properly. Many car owners filed class-action lawsuits alleging “design and/or calibration defects” in the transmission’s control software. These lawsuits highlight the transmission control module’s failure to communicate correctly with the powertrain control module.
Honda addressed the harsh-shifting complaints through a series of technical service bulletins and a software recalibration, and owner-reported transmission complaints drop sharply for Passports built after the 2020 model year. Owners of 2019 and 2020 units who still experience rough shifting after a dealer recalibration should keep detailed repair records, since a persistent defect surviving a documented repair attempt is a stronger basis for a lemon law claim than a one-time complaint.
When transmission defects continue despite multiple repair attempts, vehicle owners may qualify for relief under state lemon law protections. Know about how a lemon law claim works and what documentation is required.
Electric defects go beyond transmission woes. They also surface frequently. These issues encompass malfunctioning infotainment systems that display blank or frozen screens. You may also find the audio system behaving erratically. The rearview camera might fail. If you notice frequent dashboard warning lights, you may have a lemon in your hands. These have been incidents of battery drainage and the engine idle-stop system not working properly. These issues can strand owners unexpectedly and raise severe safety flags. Also, they’ve triggered recalls involving fuel pump defects, instrument panel software glitches, and rear camera display compliance violations. That’s why these models are included in our list of the key Honda Passport years to avoid if you don’t wish to buy a used lemon car. Many reviews note that these particular models (the third-gen ones) have solid construction & performance. However, the prevalence of transmission & electrical issues means you have to be extra careful when buying a used Honda Passport of model years 2010-20.
One of the most widespread and severe problems affecting the early models (not the first- but the second-generation ones) is frame rust. Model years 1998-2001 often face rust. Extensive frame rust happens to car owners residing in regions with harsh winters or high road salt usage. Frame rust in the second-generation Passport was quite unique! Frame rust reached alarming levels in these models and led to major recall campaigns. It demanded costly structural repairs. This corrosion was a major safety risk that undermined crash protection and sometimes rendered these cars unroadworthy prematurely.
Just like the 2021 Honda CR-V, many Passport models also experienced recalls. But these recalls help us understand which years to avoid when purchasing a used vehicle. Last year, Honda recalled over 205k models over fuel leak concerns; these models included Passport 2023-24 and Pilot 2023-25 years. Read this brief table that gives you an overview of which years to avoid due to what issue.
| Years | Known Problems | Repair Costs & Observations |
| 1998 | Frame rust and transmission failures | High repair costs and structural safety issues |
| 1999 | Transmission and brake problems, as well as frame rust | Frequent repairs are needed, and the reliability is reduced |
| 2000 | Rust issues and mechanical wear | Multiple recalls, along with safety concerns |
| 2001 | Major rust complainants and transmission reliability | Often cited as the worst year for structural integrity |
| 2002 | Declining reliability and multiple recalls | Avoid unless the car is well-maintained & inspected |
Among the 1998-2002 generation, the 1999 model year carries the most total owner complaints, while CarComplaints rates the 2001 model as the more severe of the two due to a higher share of frame-rotted-through cases. The 1999 model also carries a distinct cluster of brake system complaints, including extended stopping distances and ABS warning lights that stay illuminated, separate from its frame and transmission issues.
One of the most notorious issues affecting the second generation of Passport models is (as we explained earlier) severe frame rust. If you recall that these SUVs had a body-on-frame, truck-based construction. So, they were vulnerable to corrosion in areas exposed to road salt & moisture. Excessive rust near the lower trailing link front brackets weakens the car’s body structure. Therefore, it compromises vehicle safety and stability. When multiple car owners complained about this problem, Honda issued recalls right away under NHTSA campaign number 10V436000 in 2010. This campaign covered more than 149,000 Isuzu Rodeo and Passport vehicles made between 1998 and 2002.
The 2019 and 2020 Passport carry their own distinct recall history, including NHTSA campaign 20V-439 for instrument panel software errors, 20V-440 for rearview camera display failures, and 21V-215 and 20V-314 for fuel pump defects that could cause stalling. The 2019 Passport alone has been the subject of 10 separate NHTSA recall campaigns to date (Consumer Reports).
Honda recalls inspected vulnerable frame areas and mandated repairs. In extreme cases where the frame was deemed unsafe, Honda bought back affected models from owners. This recall prevented potential suspension failures while safeguarding occupants by neatly addressing the compromised structural integrity. The persistence and scale of the frame rust issue depreciated the value of these particular model years. Moreover, Honda CR-Vs faced this problem as well; Honda recalled 564,000+ model years 2007-11 in 2023 because of the frame rust issue. So, you must be extra careful when buying used CR-Vs. 
Passport models launched after 2019 also experienced transmission issues. In fact, these issues were so severe that they triggered recalls and widespread service campaigns. Key issues with the ZF 9-speed automatic transmission (as explained above) included:
Honda responded with recalls and technical service bulletins targeting software recalibration & hardware inspection to mitigate these transmission risks. But these efforts didn’t prevent many vehicle owners from claiming that their Passport models were still faulty. We learn that ongoing transmission issues highlight the critical nature of these vehicular defects.
Both the 2019 and 2022 Passport models have faced recalls related to electrical system issues. These issues include defective fuel pumps & instrumental panel software glitches. These problems cause inaccurate warning displays and rearview camera malfunctions; these problems violate Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Each of these recalls addresses safety-critical systems with direct impact on driver awareness & control.
These car recalls collectively stem from essential vehicle systems (frame and suspension integrity, transmission reliability, and critical electronics). The safety implications are quite substantial, exposing owners to risks of crashes, loss of vehicle control, or being stranded.
When you want to determine which Honda Passport years to avoid, you need to learn how to even spot a potential lemon. After all, Honda is willing to pay millions to settle these lawsuits with disgruntled car owners. But you must learn how to tell if a Honda Passport model is not okay. This section will give you some hints and help you avoid buying a faulty model.
One of the most important things to examine is the frame of your Honda Passport (especially if you own a second-generation model). This frame could be corroded. Frame rust weakens structural integrity and often leads to dangerous safety risks if left unchecked. That’s why we suggest doing these things:
The 9-speed automatic transmission in the 2019 and 2020 Passport models often behaves in an erratic manner. This behavior affects the drivability and safety of these models. That’s why you should test the drive and pay attention to how smoothly the vehicle shifts gears. Be alert for delayed engagement. Watch out for rough/abrupt shifts. Do you notice unexpected jolts, slipping gears, or something else? Did the engine suddenly lose all power? Do the check engine or transmission warning lights come on during the drive? Listen for all sorts of unusual noises like clunks or whining from the transmission area. Do you hear any weird vibrations during acceleration or gear changes? Ask the current owner for the Honda model’s service records to see if the transmission software was updated or not.
Let’s not forget about the rust problem. It often goes beyond the frame and affects different components. Rust can speed up the rust in your car and lead to vehicular failure. That’s why you should inspect leaf springs, trailing arms, & bolts for heavy rust that leads to suspension failure in Passport models. Look for surface rust around the battery tray, radiator support, and fluid reservoirs that could indicate poor maintenance or water intrusion. Corroded brake lines affect braking safety and require immediate attention.
The Honda Passport has witnessed many notable reliability improvements compared to its earlier first-generation and second-generation models since its revival in 2019. Newer cars benefit from modern engineering and refined drivetrain components (sharing them with the better-received Honda Pilot models). That’s why post-2019 models have a RepairPal rating of 4.5/5, making the third-generation Passport models the best SUVs for dependability. Vehicular advancements include better transmission software, robust V6 engines, and more refined electronic systems. However, early production years like 2019/20 had some bugs in them (related to transmission & infotainment systems) that have been addressed in different model updates & recalls. You must still try to understand federal lemon laws regarding used cars and how they affect you. These tips will help you buy a used car that’s not a lemon.
You should also approach Passport purchases with due diligence. Due diligence can help a buyer spot potential lemons. A comprehensive inspection lets you identify hidden issues that could lead to costly repairs. We recommend you take the following steps:
You should walk away from a deal when you notice these issues:
The numbers below cover the current, most-searched third-generation Passport (2019-2025) alongside the outgoing and incoming generations for quick comparison.
Spec | 1994-2002 (Gen 1-2) | 2019-2025 (Gen 3) | 2026-present (Gen 4) |
Engine | 2.6L I4 or 3.2L V6 | 3.5L V6, 280 hp | 3.5L V6, 285 hp |
Transmission | 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual | 9-speed automatic | 10-speed automatic |
Drivetrain | RWD or 4WD | FWD or AWD (AWD standard from 2023) | AWD standard |
Ground clearance | Body-on-frame, off-road oriented | 7.5 to 8.1 in. | 8.3 in. |
Towing capacity | Moderate, model-dependent | Up to 5,000 lb. | Up to 5,000 lb. |
Seating | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Cargo space | N/A (discontinued spec) | 41.2 cu ft behind 2nd row, 77.9 cu ft folded | Larger, exact figures pending full spec release |
RepairPal reliability | Not separately rated | 4.5 / 5 (Excellent, #1 of 29 compact SUVs) | Not yet rated |
The Passport does not offer a third row in any generation. Buyers who need three-row seating from Honda should look at the Pilot instead, which shares its platform and engine with the third-generation Passport.
Shoppers cross-shopping the Passport most often compare it against the Honda Pilot, the Toyota 4Runner, and the Nissan Murano. Each trades off differently against the Passport’s reliability profile.
Model | Seating | Notable reliability concern |
Honda Pilot | 7 or 8 | Shares the Passport’s V6 and transmission on recent generations; similar recall pattern. |
Toyota 4Runner | 5 or 7 | Body-on-frame construction like the original Passport, generally strong long-term reliability record. |
Nissan Murano | 5 | CVT transmission failure is the defining defect pattern across multiple model years. |
If a CVT failure pattern sounds familiar from a vehicle you already own, our breakdown of Nissan Murano years to avoid covers that transmission’s specific failure points and what they mean for a lemon law claim. If you’re deciding between the Passport and the three-row Pilot, our Honda Pilot reliability coverage walks through the shared platform’s recall history.
If you want to buy a midsize SUV but are hesitant about the Honda Passport because of its multiple problematic years, we’ve got your back. You can easily purchase an alternative to a traditional Honda Passport. These alternatives offer similar advantages to a Passport model but without the usual associated defects. Check out these five models in your spare time.
If your Honda Passport ends up a lemon, you must know your rights and available remedies. A lemon is a vehicle with persistent defects that impact its use and safety, and don’t go away even after multiple repair attempts (because these defects are caused by the manufacturer).
That’s why many states have lemon laws that protect consumers in these situations. These laws state that if the manufacturer fails to repair these defects after several attempts, you’re entitled to a full refund. You may ask for a replacement vehicle or cash compensation. Therefore, if your Honda Passport has ongoing problems that affect its reliability or safety, it is prudent not to wait and contact Lemon My Vehicle right away. We know what to do! Avoid the stress of dealing with a defective vehicle alone.
If you are located in California, California lemon law protection allows eligible owners to seek a full buyback, replacement vehicle, or cash compensation when manufacturers fail to fix recurring defects.
Lemon My Vehicle specializes in helping owners like you make sense of lemon laws and file claims efficiently. We receive no upfront fees, but offer expert legal guidance (and free case reviews) to help our clients. Protect your investment and your peace of mind—reach out to Lemon My Vehicle now for a free case evaluation. When life gives you lemons, file a lawsuit and get financial aid.
1. What common faults should I inspect on a used Honda Passport?
Check for frame rust (especially undercarriage and suspension points), test transmission shifting for delays/rough engagement, examine electrical systems/infotainment, inspect for service recall completion, and verify maintenance records.
2. Which Passport model years have the most safety recalls?
1998-2002 had major frame rust recalls (NHTSA campaign 10V436000 covering 149,000+ vehicles), while 2019-2020 faced transmission and electrical recalls, and 2023-2024 had fuel leak recalls affecting 205,000+ models.
3. How to perform a rust inspection on older Passports?
Use a flashlight to inspect undercarriage/frame rails, check wheel wells and suspension points for orange-red flaking or penetrating rust, tap rusty areas with a hammer to test metal solidity, and look for misaligned doors/body panels.
4. Average repair costs for the 1998 to 2002 Honda Passport?
Reported repair costs for the worst-affected years average around $4,300 for 1998 transmission failures and about $4,000 for 1999 transmission failures (CoPilot, 2023), on top of separate frame rust repairs that can run over $1,000 if caught early and are often not cost-effective once corrosion is advanced.
5. Are there drivetrain differences across Passport generations?
Yes—1st gen (1994-97) had body-on-frame with 2.6L inline-4 or 3.2L V6, RWD/4WD; 2nd gen (1998-2002) similar truck-based; 3rd gen (2019-25) switched to unibody platform with 3.5L V6 and 9-speed automatic.
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