267 of the
2,340 complaints filed about the Honda Passport
are about the engine —
100% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2019.
The contact owns a 2019 HONDA Passport. The contact stated while driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, he noticed that the vehicle had reduced power and could not accelerate very well, accompanied by an odd noise coming from the engine bay. The contact stated that he had an independent mechanic confirm that the noise was a possible engine issue leading to the destruction of the camshaft and other components. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where they confirmed a main bearing connecting rod failure and a code stating a lack of oil in the engine, although the vehicle has shown a good history of maintenance. The contact stated he had gotten an emissions warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated the issue he noticed was the odd sound, which first sounded like a ticking noise and became louder over time. The contact also noted the dealer had discovered metal shavings in the oil pan. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The dealer confirmed the failure. The vehicle was not repaired.
NHTSA complaint #11763473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Failed engine rod bearing, And a full engine replacement is needed. As I was driving it completely lost acceleration power and became difficult to manage. The dealer verified the issue. All the warning lights including engine flashed on and off as the vehicle lost acceleration power.
NHTSA complaint #11763205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The Auto Idle Stop feature failed to restart the car after sitting at a stoplight twice this past week. The dealer (Frank Leta Hoda) diagnosed the problem as a "bad starter". I believe this falls under the active investigation EA22005 - No Start After Auto Start/Stop Engages. The vehicle is two years old with 40,378 miles at the time of reporting the problem to the dealer. I reported this to Honda Corp and was assigned case number 16619534 which is being reviewed. The two incidents happened without warning during drives when I had already pushed the button to disengage the Auto Idle Stop feature and was not expecting the engine to turn off at all.
NHTSA complaint #11763158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I purchased the 2023 Honda Passport used with 47,500ish miles. It came with a factory 60,000 5-year powertrain warranty. The ONLY reason i paid cash for this vehicle. At 49,900 miles, the engine developed a subtle engine knock. At 50,460 miles, engine has clearly audible knock at idle - 2,000 RPM in gear (under load). 9/1/26 Antrim Honda, [XXX] denied hearing obvious noise. They did not collect oil or oil filter but charged a $190.00 diagnosis fee. The dealer’s conclusion: the noise is a “common engine characteristic of the 3.5" but is contradicted by the presence of bearing material in the oil. With 1,000 remaining on the previous oil change, completed by Keystone Ford, prior to my purchase, XXX, I changed the oil myself. I changed it into a new, cleaned pan, inspected and found heavy metallic “gold dust” bearing material suspended in the used oil. I have retained both the used oil and the oil filter for Honda’s inspection and independent laboratory analysis. No warning lights or codes on the dash. [XXX] [XXX] my work email if you can: [XXX] (work) [XXX] (personal) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11762763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have a 2025 Honda Passport with approximately 22,776 miles. Over the past several weeks, the vehicle has developed a progressively worsening starting problem that appears to be heat-related. After the vehicle is driven normally and reaches full operating temperature, then is shut off and allowed to sit for approximately 10 to 30 minutes, the engine will sometimes crank very slowly and sound as though the starter is laboring to turn the engine. The frequency and severity have increased over time. On two recent occasions, the engine barely turned over before starting. After the vehicle sits overnight and cools completely, it starts normally and cranks smoothly. A second related problem occurs when the Auto Idle Stop/Start system is active. Both my wife and I have experienced very slow restarts at stoplights. More recently, the engine failed to restart automatically after Auto Idle Stop shut the engine off. I had to shift the vehicle into Park and press the engine START/STOP button multiple times before the engine finally turned over and restarted. This created a safety concern because the vehicle was temporarily unable to move while stopped in traffic. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Honda dealer for three full working days. The dealer reported that the battery, alternator, starter, charging system, and starting system all tested normal, and no diagnostic trouble codes were present. However, the dealer’s written repair description does not state that the vehicle was road-tested and then allowed to sit through the 10–30 minute hot-soak period that consistently produces the problem. The dealer stated that they allowed the vehicle to idle for an extended period and performed multiple starts, but this did not reproduce the conditions under which the problem occurs. I also opened a case with American Honda. Honda advised that they would not escalate the issue to engineering until the vehicle had been returned to the dealer one or two additional times. The probl
NHTSA complaint #11762545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This is related to service bulletin, 23–010 Honda will not fix my vehicle under the extended warranty unless the problem is replicated while they are doing a performance test
NHTSA complaint #11761384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Car began making loud rattling noise which proceeded to a larger grinding noise in the engine. Car sudden wouldn’t accelerate and had to be shut off. It wouldn’t restart and once it did get jumped produced an intensely loud grinding rattling noise. Car had to be towed to Honda which upon diagnosis was found to have metal shards in the oil pan and diagnosis to replace entire engine. Honda is denying recall on this engine though it is very similar engine to what they currently have recalled for their V6 engines in Pilots, Odysseys ect
NHTSA complaint #11761155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have a 2025 Honda Passport. When the start stop shuts off car it will crank very slow or not start at all and have to wait a few minutes for started to cool. After I did some testing on my own then went to the dealer with an appointment, they confirmed this is a know problem with Honda. They did some testing and assured me that my starter is bad. No light or warnings until it would not restart at the stop light. The dealer pulled information off the cars computer and showed me a graph on how low the voltage goes below the threshold.
NHTSA complaint #11760808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On August 14th I brought the vehicle to Coconut Point Honda after having the vehicle stall with the auto stop feature. At that time, I also noticed that the car had trouble starting at times. After being there for four days, I was asked to come pick up the vehicle. Yesterday, on August 27th, the vehicle stalled again, this time at a busy intersection. This narrowly missed causing my wife to get hit at high speeds. The car shifted itself to neutral, the battery and warning light came on, and a message saying “shift into park” appeared on the dash. Despite several attempts, the car would not restart until it finally sat a moment and then powered back on. The car was brought back to Coconut Point Honda where I again voiced the complaint and safety concerns regarding the vehicle stalling out and shifting itself into park.
NHTSA complaint #11760468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Timing belt tensioner is failing on my 2023 Honda passport. I have read this to be a common problem on many Honda passports enough where a recall would be justified. If it fails the engine will completely implode causing the car to come to a complete stop even on the highway. The problem can be easily be confirmed to be a widespread issue through searching the Internet for the same vehicle. Yes my vehicle may be inspected. No it has not been in any accidents.
NHTSA complaint #11759448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle struggles to start after sitting for around an hour. A new battery has been installed after only 3.5 years and 75k miles. A new starter was installed after the same interval. Problems have not been fixed. Probably all stemming from the auto start stop system
NHTSA complaint #11758899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There is a known issue with auto idle feature. If you do not manually turn off every time it stays on and occasionally will cause car issue when stopping. I have had it happen in vehicle about a dozen times. When you fully depress brake engine is suppose to i gel to save gas however on occasion the vehicle will completely stall out. I have had this issue happen when approaching stop signs or in traffic situations. The biggest problem is trying to reengage car. Sometimes you can feel it starting to do this and if you quickly apply gas you can avoid it however sometimes the car will lock up with display lights and you have to keep pushing the Engine stop button to turn off the vehicle and turn vehicle back on. It is sometimes difficult to even turn off engine vehicle when this happens but seems to be only way to get vehicle to respond. I have had vehicles behind me almost hit me while I try to get vehicle out of this mode. I know it’s an issue as it’s all over the forums when you search for fix.
NHTSA complaint #11758706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The car has failed to start on numerous occasions. The car has stalled due to the auto start/stop and the dealership told me that the battery needs to fail testing in order to replace under warranty. This is a major safety risk and the dealership said it’s a known issue but they can’t fix it. A recall needs to be put out immediately.
NHTSA complaint #11757484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Over the past two weeks we have been experiencing issues with the Auto Idle Stop device on my 2025 Honda Passport. This has resulted in being temporarily stalled at several busy intersections. I have reported this issue to a Honda dealership where the issue was verified and it is scheduled for a Starter replacement when the part is received from back order.
NHTSA complaint #11756352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle engine is dying at intersections and going into “neutral” on its own when stopped. This has been ongoing for over a year, Honda denies any issues. It is becoming more of a safety problem more recently as the vehicle “downshifted” on its own while driving on the highway. (On that instance, the vehicle went from approx 45 mph to a slow crawl - just enough to pull off the road to safety).
NHTSA complaint #11755903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The engine experienced a catastrophic lower-end bearing failure at approximately 63,000 miles. The vehicle had been maintained according to the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule at the dealership service department. There were no missed oil changes. The failure occurred without any prior indication that a major internal engine problem was developing. The vehicle was taken to a Honda dealership, where the engine was disassembled. The dealer confirmed a lower-end bearing failure and reported significant metal debris inside the engine. The engine was determined to require complete replacement. A sudden internal engine failure creates the risk of an unexpected loss of power while driving, which can increase the risk of a crash, especially in traffic or at highway speeds. The failed engine is available for inspection through the servicing dealership if requested. The failure has been confirmed by the Honda dealership. No warning lamps or messages provided sufficient advance notice to prevent the failure beyond symptoms associated with the engine failure itself. I am submitting this report because I believe this may represent a manufacturing or design defect rather than normal wear and tear. I request that NHTSA investigate whether similar connecting rod bearing failures are occurring in other Honda Passport vehicles with this engine.
NHTSA complaint #11755201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The starter motor on my 2022 Honda Passport failed, causing a complete 'no-restart' condition after entering Auto Idle-Stop mode. The vehicle previously received the mandatory PGM-FI idle-stop software update under Honda Service Bulletin 23-008, proving that the software fix does not protect the hardware from failing. The dealership diagnosed a failed starter but stated that my 2022 model is excluded from the 10-year starter warranty extension under Service Bulletin 23-009, leaving me to pay out-of-pocket for a known defect. I am filing this to support the ongoing NHTSA Engineering Analysis regarding Honda Auto Idle-Stop system failures, as the defect creates a dangerous stall risk at intersections
NHTSA complaint #11755375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Description: The vehicle suffers from an intermittent and dangerous "no-restart" defect involving the Auto-Idle Stop (AIS) system. When the vehicle comes to a complete stop and the automated stop-start system shuts off the engine to conserve fuel, the engine frequently fails to automatically restart upon release of the brake pedal. This results in a sudden, unexpected loss of engine power and complete immobilization in live traffic or intersections. This exact failure mode is the subject of an active federal Engineering Analysis by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA EA25004, covering ~2.2 million Honda and Acura vehicles). Prior manufacturer service bulletins and part-replacement attempts have proven ineffective at permanently resolving the hazard, creating an ongoing and unacceptable collision risk.
NHTSA complaint #11755360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In April 2024 on a road trip to [XXX], the engine suffered a catastrophic failure without warning near [XXX]. The connecting rod or rods broke, and one of them exited the engine. State Police and Local Fire Department responded because a passer-by saw smoke from the expired engine and reported a fire - there was no fire, but the engine oil was leaking down onto the exhaust pipes, causing smoke. The local Honda dealership in Bloomington, IL and Honda itself were not very cooperative, claiming the engine was not maintained properly. I submitted our mechanic's records as proof twice to Honda, yet they still resisted. Finally I contacted the original Honda of Naperville dealership where we bought the vehicle, and that got Honda to partially refund the money (under extended warranty) that we spent to repair the motor. In the end, the motor was replaced with a used 25,000 mile unit, which was the only option under the warranty. That did not sit well with us, so we capitulated, accepted the used engine, then sold the Passport back to the Bloomington Honda. Overall, we had to pay for towing 35 miles, the expense of renting a vehicle for about 1 week, and other extra costs plus the time and hassle associated with multiple phone calls to Honda. The total expenses incurred was $1,738 for towing and a rental vehicle to complete the trip. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11754332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle experienced a catastrophic internal engine failure caused by connecting rod bearing failure. Prior to the failure, the engine developed abnormal internal knocking/noise, indicating bearing deterioration. The engine is currently available for inspection. While traveling approximately 55 mph on [XXX], the check engine warning light illuminated. Within about one mile, the engine rapidly lost power and developed a severe knocking noise. The sudden loss of power at highway speed created a serious safety hazard by reducing my ability to maintain traffic speed and safely maneuver the vehicle. I had my child in the vehicle, and both we and surrounding motorists were placed at risk of a collision while I attempted to move to exit traffic. The failure has been confirmed by an independent repair facility, Absolute Automotive LLC in Parker, Colorado. Their inspection determined the engine suffered internal damage due to connecting rod bearing failure. I have the engine replacement invoice, technician's diagnostic notes, and photographs documenting the engine damage. The vehicle has not been inspected by Honda. I contacted Honda to report the failure and request assistance, but I was informed there was no recall for the 2021 Honda Passport equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine and that Honda would not provide assistance unless a recall existed. Before the engine failed completely, the engine developed abnormal internal knocking/noise. While driving on [XXX], the check engine warning light illuminated, and within approximately one mile the engine lost power and produced a heavy knocking noise, rendering the vehicle unsafe to operate. I am submitting this complaint because a sudden internal engine failure resulting in loss of power at highway speeds presents a significant safety hazard and should be investigated. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11753735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.