Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Honda Passport problems
Owners filed 238 complaints about the 1999 Honda Passport with NHTSA between Jan 1999 and Sep 2021. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (61).
Complaints
238
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
33
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes, hydraulic61
- Suspension49
- Structure34
- Power train29
- Engine and engine cooling28
- Fuel system, gasoline14
- Fuel system, other12
- Vehicle speed control11
- Electrical system7
- Tires6
- Service brakes, air6
- Air bags5
- Visibility4
- Engine3
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 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
8
37
18
24
44
22
11
3
4
6
2
22
13
8
6
2
1
1
2
1
2
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 8 |
| 2000 | 37 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 24 |
| 2003 | 44 |
| 2004 | 22 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes, hydraulic
61 reports14 crashes1 related recall
“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...”
Suspension
49 reports2 related recalls
“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.”
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”
Power train
29 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE TRANSMISSION OIL GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,000. ..UPDATED 07-17-13 *BF THE BALL JOINTS, EXHAUST, TIE ROD END, ENGINE GASKETS, SWAY BAR LINKS AND TIMING BELT ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.”
Engine and engine cooling
28 reports1 crash
“THIS CAR BURNS OIL AT A VERY FAST RATE, WITH NO SIGN OF LEAKS, ETC. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY CAN'T FIND SOURCE. I HAVE TO CHECK OIL LEVEL AND USUALLY REPLACE EACH WEEK - I DRIVE ABOUT 150 MILES WEEKLY. SEEMS VERY EXCESSIVE TO ME, ESPECIALLY W/ NO SUGGESTION ON HOW TO FIX. *NM”
Fuel system, gasoline
14 reports1 crash
“NOTICED THAT FUEL GAUGE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY BECAUSE IT WENT EMPTY EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A TANK FULL OF GAS. I DID SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS RELATED TO A DEFECTIVE 'FUEL SENDING UNIT'. IT AFFECTS HONDA PASSPORTS AND ISUZU RODEO VEHICLES . *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.