2019 Honda Passport Reliability Report

The transmission can suddenly shift into neutral or stall while driving, sometimes on highways and on-ramps, with a "Transmission Problem" message and a cascade of other warnings. Some owners report the transmission failing outright, including one $7,700 out-of-warranty repair after jerky shifts at 30-35 mph. One report describes the SUV rolling backward while the display showed Park. Engine restart failures after Auto Idle Stop also appear here, and one dealer could not repair a car because ECU modules were out of stock.

Phantom braking is the main complaint. A red BRAKE warning flashes, the steering wheel shakes, and the SUV sometimes brakes hard with nothing ahead. Oncoming cars in the next lane and curves are common triggers. Dealers often cannot reproduce it. A second pattern is a front camera fault that lights up warnings and shuts off collision braking, adaptive cruise and lane keeping. Owners quote replacement costs of $1,800 to $2,500. One complaint ties false braking to a crash.

The most common failure is the engine staying off after Auto Idle Stop, often in the middle of an intersection, with the transmission in neutral until the car is fully restarted. Dealers try batteries, software updates and starters, and the stalling still comes back for some owners. Separate reports describe sudden power loss on the highway with a flashing check engine light and ticking from the engine. A leaking timing belt tensioner is also reported, with a $2,000 repair quote.

Automatic emergency braking engages with no obstacle ahead, often at highway speeds. Drivers see a flashing BRAKE warning and a shaking wheel, then feel light or hard braking that risks a rear-end crash. Many now switch the system off, and dealers often find nothing wrong. Another pattern: after sitting overnight, the brake pedal is rock hard and too stiff to press, so the push-button start will not work. One report describes a front caliper bolt falling out.

Popping and cracking noises around the windshield and A-pillars point to a body weld recall, 19V784000. One owner says the remedy was a replacement vehicle, while others report noise even when their VIN was not covered. Other complaints are scattered: white paint peeling to bare metal near the spoiler, loose trim above a headlight, and a tailgate that closes by itself. One crash report blames false automatic braking in the rain.

These reports center on fuel pump recall 23V-858 and dealers that have no parts to fix it, in some cases for over a year. Meanwhile, owners describe stalling at startup and after Auto Idle Stop. Others describe a loss of power at 55 mph with a check engine light. One owner smelled gasoline fumes after a dealer visit. Separate repairs include a $1,500 forward radar sensor and a broken fuel lid.

Airbags failing to deploy in crashes is the main concern, including a multi-car collision at about 20,530 miles that caused injuries. Another crash report with three injuries blames a loss of control and power on the unrepaired fuel pump recall. Other owners report an airbag system warning appearing alongside camera and driver-assist faults, and curtain and seat airbags deploying after a tire blowout from road debris.