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Honda Passport: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Honda Passport problems by model year, from 623 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2021 (37%, 50 drivetrain complaints). 1 of the 5 Honda Passport years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2023 (22%), 2020 (24%) and 2019 (30%). 2023 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2019 drew the most drivetrain complaints (80 of 181 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Honda Passport year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Passport | no elevated signal | 30% | 80 | 278 | 3/5 | 10 |
| 2020 Passport | no elevated signal | 24% | 24 | 102 | 4/5 | 10 |
| 2021 Passport | elevated | 37% | 50 | 142 | 1/5 | 7 |
| 2022 Passport | no elevated signal | 33% | 19 | 62 | 2/5 | 4 |
| 2023 Passport | no elevated signal | 22% | 8 | 39 | 5/5 | 5 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Honda Passport years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Honda Passport fuel system recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Honda Passport involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 16 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2021 | 21V215000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V858000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019–2021 |
| Nov 2024 | 24V900000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap | 2023 |
13 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2019 | 19V784000 | structure: body | 2019 |
| Feb 2020 | 20V067000 | equipment: other: labels | 2020 |
| Jul 2020 | 20V439000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2019–2020 |
| Jul 2020 | 20V440000 | electrical system: software | 2019–2020 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V165000 | tires | 2019–2020 |
| Nov 2021 | 21V932000 | structure: body: hood | 2019 |
| Mar 2023 | 23V174000 | visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior | 2020–2022 |
| Jun 2023 | 23V431000 | back over prevention: display function | 2019–2023 |
| Jun 2023 | 23V458000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder | 2021–2023 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V064000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2020–2021 |
| Mar 2024 | 24V184000 | steering: rack and pinion | 2023 |
| May 2026 | 26V332000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2019–2021 |
| Jun 2026 | 26V365000 | structure: frame and members | 2019–2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Honda Passport
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Honda Passport
What are the worst years for the Honda Passport?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Honda Passport years are the 2021 (37% of relevant complaints, elevated). 1 of 5 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Honda Passport?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Honda Passport years are the 2023 (22%), the 2020 (24%) and the 2019 (30%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Honda Passport have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 5 scored years, 181 of 611 relevant NHTSA complaints (30%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2021.
Is the Honda Passport reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 1 of 5 Honda Passport years we score have an elevated complaint share and 4 do not. Pooled across those years, 30% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Honda Passport?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Honda Passport years we track, out of 16 in total: 21V215000 (Mar 2021, 2019), 23V858000 (Dec 2023, 2019–2021), 24V900000 (Nov 2024, 2023). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.