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Research · Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD

1998 Honda PassportRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 244 owner complaints for the 1998 Honda Passport. Most complaints involve service brakes, hydraulic (58) and suspension (46). The EPA rates it 16–17 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
16–17mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
6campaigns
Latest Sep 2010
Owner complaints
244
Top: service brakes, hydraulic
Fuel cost / yr
$3,800est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

6 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Suspension: rear

Free remedy

ISUZU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2002 ISUZU RODEO AND MODEL YEAR 2002 ISUZU AXIOM VEHICLES, AND HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN 1998-2002 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES, THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED, IN THE STATES OF MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WEST VIRGINIA, OHIO, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, IOWA, MISSOURI, AND KENTUCKY. VEHICLES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED SUSTAINED EXPOSURE TO HIGHLY CORROSIVE MATERIALS USED IN SOME JURISDICTIONS FOR ROAD DEICING PURPOSES MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CORROSION IN THE VICINITY OF THE FORWARD MOUNTING POINT BRACKET FOR THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK PRIOR TO THE TIME THAT SUCH CORROSION WOULD NORMALLY BE EXPECTED.

SuspensionReported Sep 22, 2010NHTSA 10V436000

Service brakes

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). THE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES IN CERTAIN TYPES OF BRAKING EVENTS.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Jun 3, 2002NHTSA 02I002001

Suspension: rear

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. PAINT WAS APPLIED UNEVENLY ON THE REAR AXLES, RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT PAINT HARDNESS. SHOULD THIS OCCUR ON THE SURFACE THAT CONTACTS THE REAR AXLE LOWER LINK BRACKET BOLT HEAD AND/OR NUT, THE NUT MAY LOOSEN.

SuspensionReported Mar 2, 2000NHTSA 00V058000
See all 6 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

244 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 1998 – Dec 2018
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic58
  2. Suspension46
  3. Structure35
  4. Engine and engine cooling21
  5. Power train19
  6. Electrical system18
  7. Vehicle speed control15
  8. Fuel system, gasoline14
  9. Fuel system, other10

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

By model year

Complaints for each Passport model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
199648
199763
1998244
1999238
2000112
2001144
200235
2019282
2020104
2021145
202264
202340
202420
202548
202669
Crashes reported
25
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
19
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Service brakes, hydraulic

58 reports12 crashes
“I FOUND OUT THAT THE ANTI-SKID BRAKE SYSTEM ON MY CAR HAD PROBLEMS, WHICH COMES WITH A RECALL BY NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY. I CONTACTED MY DEALER(HONDA) BUT I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. I READ YOUR RECALL HISTORY, WHICH INDICATES THAT MY CAR BELONGS TO THOSE HAVING THIS PROBLEM LATELY. HOWEVER, SINCE THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO PROVIDE FREE SERVICE AND PARTS AS TO MY REQUEST, I HAVE TO REPORT THIS ISSUE TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPT. THE FOUND PROBLEM IS WHEN I WAS SLOWLY DRIVING THIS CAR AND NEEDED TO PRESS BRAKE, BUT THE CAR KEPT MOVING FORWARD, WHICH I DID NOT FEEL THE BRAKE APPLIED. I ALMOST HIT BYPASSING. IT TOOK UNEXPECTED LONG TIME TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT THERE MUST BE PROBLEMS EXISTING WITH MY CAR. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 24, 2006Service brakes, hydraulicCrash reportedODI 10151177

Suspension

46 reports1 crash
“DRIVING STARTED TO SWAY SLIGHTLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON, ON THE WAY HOME THERE WAS A SUDDEN GRINDING AND LOSS OF CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE STAYING IN ONE LANE, I PULLED IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LOOKED AT IT. THE REAR TRAILING ARM RUSTED AND SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OVER THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS COMPLAINTS THAT CANADA IS REIMBURSED AND IN THE US IT IS HARD TO GET THE PROPER COMPENSATION. HAD THE VEHICLE FOR TWO YEARS, WERE ASSURED THERE WERE NO RECALLS WHEN WE BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALER, WE WERE NEVER INFORMED OF ANY RECALLS WHILE OWNING IT. VEHICLE HAS RECALLS ON RUST AND THE FRAME THAT HONDA SAID EXPIRED, BUT THEY HAD US TOW OUR VEHICLE TO HONDA CENTER THEN OFFERED 100 DOLLARS TO US AFTER THE TOW FEE WAS DEDUCTED OR WE COULD PAY 1800 TO FIX IT. WE HAD IT IN A SAFE PLACE THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN US MUCH MORE MONEY FOR TOTALING IT OUT BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T FIX IT DUE TO THE REPAIR STILL BEING UNSAFE. THIS IS THIS PARTICULAR SERVICE CENTERS WAY OF GETTING UNSAFE HONDA'S OFF THE ROAD. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 29, 2014SuspensionODI 10629390

Structure

35 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SEVERE RUST ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FRAME. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V436000 (SUSPENSION) WAS RECEIVED BACK IN 2011 AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT WILLIAMS HONDA IN TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TREATED WITH AN ANTI-CORROSIVE COMPOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 11, 2017StructureODI 11004267
All 1998 Passport problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD, Special Purpose Vehicle 4WD
Engines
3.2L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Passport 2WD
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
161917$3,800523
Passport 4WD
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
161917$3,800523
Passport 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
151916$4,000555
Passport 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
151916$4,000555
  • Passport 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    16 city · 19 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Passport 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    16 city · 19 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Passport 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $4,000/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • Passport 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.2 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $4,000/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1998 Honda Passport as of Oct 28, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 28, 2026Vehicle 3861
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

1998 Passport questions

How many recalls does the 1998 Honda Passport have?

6 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 1998 Honda Passport problems?

Owners filed 244 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are service brakes, hydraulic (58), suspension (46), structure (35). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1998 Honda Passport get?

The EPA rates the 1998 Honda Passport at 16–17 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026