NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Honda Passport. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
The headlights iced over completely while driving in light freezing drizzle. When they iced over it was at night and I was no longer able to see well enough to drive safely. These all led headlights need a heating system like emergency lights to prevent this in freezing conditions.
Vehicle has LED headlights. In snowy conditions at night, buildup on headlights caused extremely reduced visibility. Required frequent pulling over, getting out of vehicle, and clearing headlights. Not a safe situation in the snow. Never had problems with halogen or HID lighting so I suspect it’s a heat issue due to LED lights operating much cooler. Also, snow buildup on grille emblem that houses radar for accident avoidance causes system failure which results in instrument display of failure. The warning box completely covers the speedometer so you have no idea of your speed. Also not good in snowy conditions. This can be turned off, but not while moving, and defeats the purpose of the avoidance system.
My 2021 Honda Passport first shifted itself into neutral and displayed a message on the instrument panel saying “Stop Driving When Safe. Transmission Problem. See Manual” in February 2022. My dealer inspected the vehicle and said no problem codes were stored and returned the vehicle to me. In May 2022, my vehicle displayed the same message and shifted itself into neutral while backing out of a parking space. This resulted in my vehicle rolling forward into the curb. Luckily my vehicle was parked by a curb and not in front of another vehicle where a collision could occur or pin a pedestrian between the two vehicles. My dealer inspected the vehicle again and stated no codes were stored and returned the vehicle to me. Honda has been contacted twice regarding the issue and on the fourth repair attempt, a field engineer inspected the vehicle and could not find any codes stored. The engineer also recommended the vehicle be kept in park while it is not moving.
Emission System Problem All Wheel Drive Problem Warning light on and off on Dashboard.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Passport. The contact stated while driving at a slow speed, the brake pedal would intermittently fail to operate as needed without warning. The contact stated that he had to repeatedly pump the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was made to inspect the braking system. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 400. Incident happened twice. Vehicle failed to stop when brakes were applied, brakes were applied several times before it stopped without a collision. Second incident happened while consumer shifted the gear in reverse in the parking lot brakes applied would not work. Consumer hit the bollard in front of the parking lot. Speed was approximately 5-10mph. Odometer reading was about 1600. No further occurrences after windshield replacement.
At highway speeds, example 70 mph, the driver side mirror vibrates so violently you cannot see clearly what is in the adjoining lane making lane changes difficult, the dealer will not replace the mirror claiming it will just happen again, the dealer claims that honda corporate is aware of the issue but they have bee telling me that for 21 months
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Passport. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a stop light, the brake pedal was depressed, and the wheels locked up. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to come to a gradual stop. The contact was able to continue driving after the brakes had been released. The failure occurred intermittently. The service brake warning light was illuminated. The dealer was unable to reproduce the failure and the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Passport. The contact stated that while driving the 49 mph they noticed their radio suddenly went off and the vehicle's instrument panel blacked out. The vehicle's horn no longer functions properly. The vehicle's windows failed to open and close and the vehicle turned completely off in the middle of the highway losing all power. The contact stated the failure caused an oncoming vehicle to end up rear-ending them. There were no injuries and no medical attention was needed. The vehicle was towed. A police report was filed. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who was informed by the manufacturer that they were not to proceed forward with any diagnosing or repairs for the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case regarding the matter. The failure mileage was 3,627.
Multiple times when my car is in drive I will receive a message on the dashboard saying "Transimission Problem. See Manual" When this happen the car automatically shifts into Neutral and will not shift back into any gear other than Park unless I completely restart the car. Many other people have also had this problem, can be seen here https://www.passportforums.com/threads/major-transmission-failure.2984/ I believe there is a major issue with the transmission on some Honda Passports that is potentially fatal. I took the car in once to get it looked at and they could not find anything wrong with the car, it has happened since I took the car in to repair.
When using the audio system (Apple Airplay, Bluetooth, Sirius Navigation, or FM Radio), the speakers or radio will at some point start to crackle and make noises similar to static noise, like wires sparking. which causes the music to cut out and shut off completely. Our safety is at risk because the noise is very distracting, it is very annoying, it makes me nervous and angry because it becomes unbearable. I have to stop and turn off the car, turn it back on because I can't use music or browser or anything. I took it to the dealer where I bought it and they told me that it was a factory defect due to poorly installed cables. That creak is now constant that the car is barely drivable in those conditions. The equipment has not been inspected. I was never warned about this defect of the car. And I am sure I am overpaying for this car for it to have such a major and obvious issue.
Tire Sidewall Blowout Drivers front 8/27/21 Continental cross contact LX 265 45 R 20 104H is the number after that. rode over a branch approx 3" in diameter at approx 10mph do not feel this should have caused a blow out on an SUV Could have caused loss of control
Tire Blowout on pothole with appox diameter less than 4" 265 45 R 20
Car shifted into neutral on its own while accelerating up a freeway on ramp with a transmission error warning light on dash and could not get the vehicle to go back into gear until ignition was cycled a couple times. Obvious safety risk as any vehicle movement was impossible, and was not able to completely coast out of the traffic lane. There was no known symptom prior to this event and the vehicle is currently at the dealership for repair/warranty evaluation though they state "it is not showing any error codes on the diagnostics plug in", they did state that on test drive it "behaved perfectly until coming back to the dealership and acted up again....again showing a dash warning but no diagnostic code."
When I bought vehicle it came rated with 5000lbs towing. To achieve that towing rating I had to buy and get installed the Honda Transmission Cooler. I got the kit installed and right after install there is a noise when the vehicle shifts from 7-8 gear. It sounds like rumble strips. I did some research and there are others who have the same issue. See link to Honda passport forum. https://www.passportforums.com/threads/noise-when-shifting-from-7th-to-8th-gear.2923/ Took vehicle to dealership and they looked it over. They checked fluid level and spoke to Honda tech support. The dealership told me that Honda knows about this and if they fix it they will let me know. To me this means that this is a known engineering defect and they didn’t say if they have a fix or not. The reason I bought the vehicle was because of the towing capacity. To get the towing capacity I had to install the trans cooler. I paid and had it installed and now the vehicle does not run like it did when I bought it. As for safety risks there could be unforeseen issues. Because the transmission is now making a noise of unknown origins it could get damaged and cause a loss of power/malfunction. The noise (through fluid dynamics) could also cause damage to the cooler causing the transmission fluid to leak out and cause the vehicle to lose power.
Forward Collision Warning (FCW): At random intervals, the FCW will give a false positive warning of an imminent collision with a car approaching from the opposite direction. This has occurred at various times over the past 2+ years. Comments to this effect to the Honda service representatives have indicated that this anomaly has been reported previously. They have not provided a fix or software update to correct this issue. The event is a safety issue because of the distraction from focusing on the road ahead. Although the automatic braking system has not been employed, the driver may in response to the false warning apply the brakes and cause an accident inadvertently.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Passport. The contact stated while driving 40-45 MPH, the instrument panel lights, and GPS navigator screen inadvertently turned black. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the dashboard wiring connectors were faulty. The contact stated that the vehicle was not repaired as the parts for repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring upon starting the vehicle and while driving. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 3,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM INADVERTENTLY AND FORCEFULLY ACTIVATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. NORM REEVES HONDA SUPERSTORE VISTA (401 W VISTA WAY, VISTA, CA 92083) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATED IN ERROR, SENSING A POSSIBLE COLLISION. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED OCCASIONALLY WITH CURVES IN THE ROADWAY OR WHEN A METAL SIGN WAS DETECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FEATURE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,300.
HELLO I'VE HAD MY 2021 PASSPORT AWD FOR ONLY A WEEK AND HAVE NOTICED IT PULLS NOTICEABLY TO THE RIGHT. THIS EVEN HAPPENS WHEN " THE LANE KEEP ASSIST" IS SWITCHED OFF. IT IS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE TO KEEP IT FROM DRIFTING INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND OTHER CARS. THIS HAPPENS ON ALL TYPES OF ROADS BUT IS MOST NOTICEABLE OF HIGHWAYS. THE PULL IS SO STRONG THAT IT MAKES THE LANE KEEP ASSIST SYSTEM (LKAS) UNUSABLE. WHEN USING LKAS ON CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE KEEPS DRIFTING INTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND EVEN CROSSES THE LINE. I WENT TO THE NHTSA.GOV WEBSITE AND FOUND THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE ON THE 2019 PASSPORT (OFF-CENTER STEERING /PULLING) AND HAS SENT COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT IT'S INVESTIGATION TO IT'S DEALERSHIPS. THE ALIGNMENT BEING OFF ON A FACTORY CAR THAT IS BUILT FOR OFF-ROADING IS HIGHLY IRREGULAR. FOR COMPARISON, MY HONDA HR-V WHICH I HAD FOR 3'YEARS HAS NEVER HAD ANY ALIGNMENT ISSUES..
Had the optional transmission cooler installed at the Honda dealership to help increase vehicle towing capacity. After install, when the vehicle shifts from 7-8 gear at light throttle application (approx. 45mph) the transmission makes a grinding noise. Took vehicle back to dealership and they inspected. They contacted Honda tech support and they stated it is a known design defect. They will not address it in anyway even though there are many possibilities to address this. Noise is energy and energy has to dissipate. I am concerned the grinding noise will start to wear something out and cause a failure later in the life of the transmission or the cooler.
Car will brake when no one is near sometimes jamming on brakes. I reported it to dealer 2 times. They said no software updates avalable and no codes showing a problem. I left the dealer and drove less than 2 miles down the road when the brakes can on again. I returned to the dealer again when they informed me there is nothing they can do. Maybe I have a fly on the sensor setting it off. I replied don't try to BS me, I'm a CDL Driver for over 40 years.
THE CAR IS PARK AT HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER THE PURCHASE FROM THE DEALER THE DAY BEFORE. I WENT TO START THE CAR IN THE MORNING THE BRAKE PEDAL IS STIFF, HARD, OR LOCKED CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT START WHEN START BUTTON IS PUSHED. I ENDED UP USING THE REMOTE START AND GOES IN THE CAR PUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL; THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NO LONGER STIFF, HARD, OR LOCKED AND THE CAR START WHEN I PUSHED THE START BUTTON. EVERY DAY IS THE SAME SINCE.
PURCHASED THIS AUTOMOBILE THAT HAVE A VIBRATION WHILE RIDING IN EVERY TYPE OF ROADS THAT I NOTED AFTER RIDING BACK HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP. AT THE MOMENT OF THE INITIAL TEST DRIVE THIS CONDITION WASN'T NOTED SINCE WE TEST DRIVE A PASSPORT EX-L TRIM MODEL. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP (APPOINTMENT ON RECORD) AND INFORMED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE ISSUES. I WAITED AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 2.5 HRS AND THEY INFORMED THAT THEY VERIFIED THE ALIGNMENT AND WHEEL BALANCES AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. I RETURNED HOME AND CALLED BACK THE DEALER AND INFORMED THAT VIBRATION CONDITION STILL OCCURRING. THEY SUGGESTED TO CHANGE THE 4 TIRES AND WHEELS SINCE MAYBE A FROM FACTORY ISSUE. I ASKED THE DEALER TO PERFORM A TEST RIDE ON A NEW SIMILAR UNIT. WE DID IT, DROVE THE NEW UNIT AND NO VIBRATIONS FOUND, SO THAT IS NOT A NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION. DEALER TEST DRIVE MY AUTOMOBILE AND NOTED THAT THE VIBRATION STILL THERE ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND LEFT THE CAR FOR CORRECTING THE VIBRATION ISSUE. THEY STILL WORKING ON THE SAME SERVICE ORDER AND DIDN'T CLOSED THE PREVIOUS ONE. TODAY, THEY CHANGED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE (DOESN'T LOOKS NEW) AND THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY REDO THE WHEEL BALANCES. AFTER A SECOND REPAIR ATTEMPT, WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME I NOTED THAT THE VIBRATION STILLS. DURING THE RIDE BACK HOME I NOTED THAT WHILE BREAKING, THE AUTOMOBILE WAS VIBRATING ALSO NOW. NEW ISSUE. MY AUTOMOBILE WAS LEFT AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A COMPLETE VERIFICATION WITH THEIR TECHNICIANS. I ASKED THEM BEFORE DELIVERING THE AUTOMOBILE TO ME TO PERFORM A FINAL TEST DRIVE INSPECTION WITH THE SHOP FOREMAN AFTER CORRECTING THE ISSUE. AS A NOTE, VIBRATION CONDITION HAPPENS IN NEWLY ASPHALTED ROADS, OLD ASPHALTED ROADS, HIGHWAYS, FL TURNPIKE, EVERYWHERE. I FEEL UNSAFE WITH THESE VIBRATION CONDITIONS.
BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALER DROVE GREAT ! WEEKS INTO OWNING IT TRANSMISSION IS CLICKING BANGING AND DRIVING ROUGH MOST OF THE ISSUES ARE SECOND AND THIRD GEARS . STREET OR HIGHWAY . SERVICE CAN'T SEEM TO FIX IT VEHICLE IS ALSO SOME TIMES SLUGGISH AND DOESN'T HAVE THE PEP THAT IT SHOULD . TEST DROVE 2 OTHER PASSPORTS AND THEY BOTH HAD GREAT POWER AND NO TRANSMISSION ISSUES PLEASE HELP!
THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO PARK IF THE DRIVER STOPS THE VEHICLE AND EXITS THE VEHICLE WITHOUT TAKING IT OUT OF DRIVE, REVERSE, OR NEUTRAL. IT'S DESIGNED TO DO THAT ON THE PUSH BUTTON TRANSMISSIONS USED IN THIS VEHICLE. THE SENSOR THAT DOES THIS IS ACTIVATED BY UNBUCKLING THE SEAT BELT. IF SOMEONE IS USING A SEAT BELT EXTENDER AND UNBUCKLES THE SEAT BELT FROM THE EXTENDER AND LEAVES THE EXTENDER PLUGGED IN THIS SYSTEM IS DEFEATED. THE VEHICLE CAN MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS CREATING A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE USE THESE EXTENDERS DUE TO WEIGHT ISSUES, WEARING BULKY CLOTHING, AND VARIOUS OTHER REASONS. THE SENSOR SHOULDN'T BE IN THE SEATBELT, IT SHOULD BE IN A PRESSURE SWITCH IN THE SEAT MEASURING THE ABSENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE SEAT. THE SAME TYPE OF SENSOR THAT ACTIVATES THE AIRBAGS.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026