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Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2020 Honda PassportRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls and 104 owner complaints for the 2020 Honda Passport. Most complaints involve forward collision avoidance (34) and electrical system (32). The EPA rates it 21–22 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
21–22mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
10campaigns
Latest Jun 2026
Owner complaints
104
Top: forward collision avoidance
Fuel cost / yr
$2,900est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

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

Structure: frame and members

Remedy pending

American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.

StructureReported Jun 5, 2026NHTSA 26V365000

Air bags: front passenger

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

Air bagsReported May 22, 2026NHTSA 26V332000

Air bags: front passenger

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.

Air bagsReported Feb 2, 2024NHTSA 24V064000
See all 10 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

104 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jun 2020 – Oct 2026
  1. Forward collision avoidance34
  2. Electrical system32
  3. Engine18
  4. Lane departure9
  5. Service brakes8
  6. Power train6
  7. Fuel/propulsion system4
  8. Tires3
  9. Air bags3

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
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Forward collision avoidance

34 reports1 crash
“Adaptive Cruise Control Automatic Emergency Braking Forward Collision Warning Lane Departure Warning Lane Keeping Assistance Auto -high beams Every time I start up my car all the above error messages come up stating there is a problem. My cruise control is not able to be used at all. This appears to be a very common issue amongst Honda Sensing from the research I have done. Honda was even taken to court over this issue.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2026Forward collision avoidance, Lane departureODI 11762628

Electrical system

32 reports
“My 2020 Honda Passport (approximately 52,000 miles) has experienced recurring Auto Idle Stop/engine restart failures in May 2023, November 2024, and October 2026, despite multiple repairs by an authorized Honda dealership. The latest incident occurred in October 2026, immediately after a routine state inspection. While stopped with my foot on the brake, the dashboard unexpectedly displayed "N" (Neutral) and instructed me to remove my foot from the accelerator, although I was not accelerating. The electronic gear selector would not respond, requiring me to turn off the vehicle. Shortly afterward, while stopped at a traffic light, the brake pedal became extremely stiff, and the engine would not restart. The dashboard, radio, and other accessories remained operational. The battery warning light appeared only during restart attempts. I eventually restarted the vehicle and returned home. These failures pose a serious safety risk, potentially leaving the vehicle immobilized in active traffic and compromising normal brake assistance. In May 2023, Honda performed a PGM-FI software update under Service Bulletin 23-008. When the problem returned in November 2024, Honda…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2026Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11771608

Engine

18 reports
“I have a 2020 Honda passport elite with a 3.5L V6 J35Y6 with 108k miles on it which is similar to the engines that have been recalled in other models like the pilot, ridgeline, and odyssey, and I have researched multiple vehicles with a similar problem of spun rod bearings which has left metal debris in my engine. I have found hundreds of passports that have been reported with the same issue. My vehicle is currently sitting at the dealership and they said it needs a new engine due to this issue. My vehicle is not drivable until the engine is replaced. The dealership estimated a cost of over $5k.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2026EngineODI 11770068
All 2020 Passport problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S9)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 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 30, 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 FWD
Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202522$2,900407
Passport AWD
Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
192421$3,050427
  • Passport FWD
    Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    20 city · 25 hwy · $2,900/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Passport AWD
    Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    19 city · 24 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Honda PASSPORT SUV AWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
17.4%
Overall
5 / 5
Honda PASSPORT SUV FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
16.9%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 30, 2026Vehicle 14961Vehicle 14959
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

2020 Passport questions

How many recalls does the 2020 Honda Passport have?

10 safety recalls as of Oct 30, 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 2020 Honda Passport problems?

Owners filed 104 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are forward collision avoidance (34), electrical system (32), engine (18). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2020 Honda Passport get?

The EPA rates the 2020 Honda Passport at 21–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

How safe is the 2020 Honda Passport?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2020 Honda Passport 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 30, 2026