Last updated: 2026-03-04
Honda Passport vs Jeep Grand Cherokee: Reliability Compared
Honda Passport
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Choosing between the Honda Passport and the Jeep Grand Cherokee? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Honda Passport currently leads with an average score of 72/100 compared to 66/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Honda Passport and Jeep Grand Cherokee Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Honda Passport is more reliable than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, scoring 72/100 vs 66/100.
The Honda Passport demonstrates superior reliability with an average score of 83/100 compared to the Jeep Grand Cherokee's 67/100. Although the Passport has a higher owner complaint rate of 11.6 per 10,000 sold versus the Grand Cherokee's 6.8, it significantly outperforms in recall history with only 29 recalls over eight years compared to 97 for the Grand Cherokee. Additionally, the Passport's estimated annual repair cost is lower at $521, making it a more cost-effective choice for maintenance. Overall, the Honda Passport offers better reliability, despite a slightly higher complaint rate, with fewer recalls and lower repair costs being key differentiators.
Key Differences
- 1Honda Passport costs $145 less per year to repair
- 2Honda Passport has 68 fewer total recalls
- 3Honda Passport scores 6 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Honda Passport vs Jeep Grand Cherokee: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Honda Passport | Jeep Grand Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 72/100 | 66/100 |
| Years Tracked | 8 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 29 | 97 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 11.6 | 6.8 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $521/yr | $666/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Year Wins | 5 | 2 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Honda Passport and Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The Jeep Grand Cherokee exhibits a higher volume of complaints, particularly in the electrical system with 846 total issues, 15 of which are crash-linked, compared to the Honda Passport's 123 complaints with 2 crash-linked incidents. The Grand Cherokee also encounters significant issues in the steering and service brakes categories, with 14 and 18 crash-linked complaints respectively, which are areas of concern not as prominently reported in the Passport. In contrast, the Honda Passport's most reported problem is in the electrical system, but it generally has fewer complaints across all categories and lower crash-linked incidents. Notably, the Jeep Grand Cherokee's airbag complaints have a high crash-link rate with 37 of 63 complaints linked to crashes, indicating a severe safety issue not mirrored in the Honda Passport.
| Component | Honda Passport | Jeep Grand Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2.6Low | 2.2Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1.3Low | 0.9Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 1.2Low | 0.7Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 1.4Low | 0.1Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.7Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.6Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 0.5Very Low | —None |
| AIR BAGS | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| LANE DEPARTURE | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| VISIBILITY | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Honda Passport or Jeep Grand Cherokee?
How Does Honda Passport vs Jeep Grand Cherokee Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Honda Passport | Jeep Grand Cherokee | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 82/1000R / 11C | 75/1003R / 59C | Honda Passport |
| 2024 | 79/1001R / 12C | 66/10020R / 204C | Honda Passport |
| 2023 | 75/1004R / 24C | 63/10022R / 363C | Honda Passport |
| 2022 | 74/1003R / 45C | 62/10014R / 192C | Honda Passport |
| 2021 | 68/1005R / 119C | 63/10015R / 427C | Honda Passport |
| 2020 | 68/1008R / 84C | 72/1003R / 207C | Jeep Grand Cherokee |
| 2019 | 59/1008R / 253C | 67/1007R / 336C | Jeep Grand Cherokee |
| 2026(predicted) | 79/100(predicted) | 68/100(predicted) | Honda Passport |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Honda Passport scored 82/100 and the 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee scored 75/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Honda Passport vs the Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Honda Passport vs Jeep Grand Cherokee: Common Questions
- Is the Honda Passport more reliable than the Jeep Grand Cherokee?
- Based on our data, the Honda Passport is more reliable with an average score of 72/100 compared to 66/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Honda Passport or the Jeep Grand Cherokee?
- The Jeep Grand Cherokee has more recalls (97) compared to the Honda Passport (29). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Honda Passport or the Jeep Grand Cherokee?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has a lower complaint rate at 6.8 per 10,000 sold versus 11.6 for the Honda Passport. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Honda Passport or the Jeep Grand Cherokee?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda Passport is cheaper to maintain at $521/year versus $666/year for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Honda Passport comparisons
More Jeep Grand Cherokee comparisons
How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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