Problems · NHTSA complaints

1996 Honda Passport problems

Owners filed 48 complaints about the 1996 Honda Passport with NHTSA between Oct 1996 and Jul 2015. The most-cited component is structure (12).

Complaints
48
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
People reported injured
Deaths
4
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure12
  2. Engine and engine cooling7
  3. Air bags7
  4. Suspension5
  5. Electrical system4
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic4
  7. Vehicle speed control3
  8. Visibility3
  9. Steering3
  10. Power train2
  11. Tires1
  12. Latches/locks/linkages1
  13. Wheels1
  14. Seat belts1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19965
19978
19987
19992
20002
20011
20022
20032
20043
20051
20062
20070
20080
20090
20103
20116
20121
20132
20140
20151

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Structure

12 reports
“THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING EXTREME FRAME CORROSION OF BOTH THE FORWARD AND REAR FRAME MEMBER. THERE ARE LARGE PERFORATIONS IN MULTIPLE AREAS ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE FRAME, AND I DON'T SEE ANY WAY TO REPAIR OTHER THAN A COMPLETE FRAME REPLACEMENT. WHY IS THE DIVIDING LINE FOR THE RECALL 10V436000 SET AT THE 1998 MODEL YEAR? THIS IS THE SAME BASIC VEHICLE WITH THE SAME ROTTED FRAME AS THOSE INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE DOORS SHOULD ROT OF A VEHICLE LONG BEFORE THE FRAME BECOMES AN ISSUE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 20, 2011Suspension, StructureODI 10440544

Engine and engine cooling

7 reports
“CHECK ENGINE KEEPS COMING ON & OFF.. WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND/OR ENGAGING THE LEFT HAND TURN SIGNAL; THIS CAUSES THE HORN TO SOUND. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE IN NUMEROUS TIMES COSTING $130.00 TO RUN THE TEST I AM TOLD THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS IS VERY TROUBLING AS I HAVE A TODDLER AND THIS IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY CONCERN NOT TO MENTION A BUDGET BREAKER AS THIS HAS COST ME APPROXIMATELY $1000.00. I FINALLY DECIDED TO STOP TAKING IT IN AS THE ONLY OUTCOME WAS A LITTLE LESS MONEY IN MY MONEY AND THE FAILURES STILL OCCURRING. THIS AS BEEN ON GOING SINCE 2003 WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 9, 2006Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10154918

Air bags

7 reports5 crashes
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON A DRY COUNTRY ROAD AT 30 MPH; THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE INJURIES SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE HOWEVER THEY DID WORK PROPERLY. THERE WERE NO AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2006Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10166311

Suspension

5 reports
“THE FRAME ON MY PASSPORT BROKE. COME TO FIND OUT MY FRAME IS ROTTED. I'M HAPPY I WASN'T ON THE INTERSTATE AND GOING A REASONABLE SPEED OR WHO KNOWS WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME AND MY FAMILY. I SEE NOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON THING WITH THESE PASSPORTS. I FIND IT CRAZY THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 1998 BUT NOT THE YEARS BEFORE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. HONDA OUTSOURCED THE WORK TO ISUZU TO BE CHEAP AND ENDED UP WITH A DEFECTED PRODUCT. SO HONDA WICH IS A MAJOR CORPORATION GETS REWARDED FOR BEING CHEAP WHILE US NORMAL PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET END UP WITH A JUNK CAR THAT'S WORTHLESS. I SEE THESE ON THE ROAD STILL AND I KEEP MY FINGERS CROSSED FOR THE PEOPLE DRIVING THEM. PLEASE MAKE HONDA FIX THIS PROBLEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 3, 2015SuspensionODI 10731900

Electrical system

4 reports
“ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON/OFF. ALSO, RADIATOR LEAKAGE/REPLACED HORN. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 18, 1997Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 523951

Service brakes, hydraulic

4 reports1 crash
“WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 90 MPH, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.BRAKING SYSTEM COULD NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE APPLIED, AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT OFF, TO STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 8, 1999Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed controlODI 847157
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.