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Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2021 Honda PassportRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls and 145 owner complaints for the 2021 Honda Passport. Most complaints involve forward collision avoidance (52) and engine (29). 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
7campaigns
Latest Jun 2026
Owner complaints
145
Top: forward collision avoidance
Fuel cost / yr
$2,900est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

7 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 4, 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 21, 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 1, 2024NHTSA 24V064000
See all 7 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

145 complaints filed with NHTSA · Feb 2021 – Oct 2026
  1. Forward collision avoidance52
  2. Engine29
  3. Electrical system27
  4. Power train23
  5. Service brakes21
  6. Lane departure10
  7. Fuel/propulsion system7
  8. Air bags4
  9. Seats3

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
10
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
3
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

Forward collision avoidance

52 reports4 crashes
“This has happened several times but today it was dangerous. I was doing around 40mph and there were some changes in the concrete color and my car slammed on the breaks (again) for no reason. I was almost hit. This keeps happening in my vehicle and I am terrified to drive it. Please help get this recalled. I have a child with cancer and I bought this safer vehicle to transport her to the hospital.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 30, 2026Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11760788

Engine

29 reports1 crash
“I was at a traffic light, when the light turned green I gave the car gas it hesitated, then went into neutral, the battery sign showed on the dash, the car would not go. I was 1 line under half a tank of gas, so I wasn’t empty. Also, just before this happened the radio became full of static on an FM channel. It wouldn’t allow me to switch to park to try and restart it. Scary and Frustrating!!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2026Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11770229

Electrical system

27 reports2 crashes
“My 2021 Honda Passport experiences a sudden, complete failure of the digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen while driving. The dashboard controls go pitch black without warning, resulting in an immediate and dangerous loss of the speedometer, critical vehicle safety warnings, and the federally mandated rearview backup camera. The system stays dark for 3 to 4 minutes before attempting a forced system reboot. This matches the exact failure mode of NHTSA Recall 23V-431 (MOST Bus Network Connectors). However, both the dealership and American Honda Corporate refuse to cover the repair, stating my specific VIN is excluded from the current recall footprint. This is a severe, active driving hazard that removes critical speed and safety information while traveling at highway speeds.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2026Electrical system, Lane departureODI 11767013
All 2021 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

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 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 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 28, 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 28, 2026Vehicle 15370Vehicle 15369
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

2021 Passport questions

How many recalls does the 2021 Honda Passport have?

7 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 2021 Honda Passport problems?

Owners filed 145 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are forward collision avoidance (52), engine (29), electrical system (27). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2021 Honda Passport get?

The EPA rates the 2021 Honda Passport at 21–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

How safe is the 2021 Honda Passport?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2021 Honda Passport 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026