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Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

1999 Honda PassportRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 238 owner complaints for the 1999 Honda Passport. Most complaints involve service brakes, hydraulic (61) and suspension (49). 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
3campaigns
Latest Sep 2010
Owner complaints
238
Top: service brakes, hydraulic
Fuel cost / yr
$3,800est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 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
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

238 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 1999 – Sep 2021
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic61
  2. Suspension49
  3. Structure34
  4. Power train29
  5. Engine and engine cooling28
  6. Fuel system, gasoline14
  7. Fuel system, other12
  8. Vehicle speed control11
  9. Electrical system7

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
33
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
15
Deaths reported
1
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

61 reports14 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA PASSPORT 4WD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME AND ITS BRACKETS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 12/12/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE RUST WENT FROM THE CROSS MEMBER, TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. . THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE GAS GAUGE NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY. UPDATED 06/13/12...”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2011Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Fuel system, gasoline, StructureODI 10434009

Suspension

49 reports
“my frame was rusted throughout at 130k miles the car's rear trail arm mount on the frame detached and almost caused me to run into on by traffic numerous times at 25 mph. only once I stopped to pick up my sons from school the car's rear trail arm detached completely from the frame, I had deemed it undrivable and called for someone to come by and tow it back home. on my own further inspection, I noticed an absurd amount of rust in the rear left side, and holes in the frame. as well as I said the rear trail arm detached from the frame.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 5, 2021Suspension, StructureODI 11431804

Structure

34 reports1 crash
“LAST YEAR I NOTICED RUST THAT HAD BECOME A GAPING HOLE IN THE LOWER PART- REAR AXLE FRAME OF MY HONDA PASSPORT'S . RECENTLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING REAL AXLE FRAME CRACKED WITH A LOUD NOISE. TEMPORARY WELDING IS DONE . I CHECKED WITH HONDA SERVICE, CAR BODY REPAIR AND LOCAL MECHANIC -NO ONE ASSURED THAT IT CAN BE FIXED. AND FINALLY IT MAKES THE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO SELL. PLEASE HELP ME ON THIS. I AM THE THIRD OWNER VIN NO: [XXX] *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 11, 2013Suspension, Structure, WheelsODI 10534797
All 1999 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
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility 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 1999 Honda Passport as of Oct 28, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 28, 2026Vehicle 4018
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

1999 Passport questions

How many recalls does the 1999 Honda Passport have?

3 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 1999 Honda Passport problems?

Owners filed 238 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are service brakes, hydraulic (61), suspension (49), structure (34). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1999 Honda Passport get?

The EPA rates the 1999 Honda Passport at 16–17 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026