Last updated: 2026-03-04
Honda Passport vs Toyota Highlander: Reliability Compared
Honda Passport
Toyota Highlander
Choosing between the Honda Passport and the Toyota Highlander? 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. Both models currently share an average reliability score of 72/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Honda Passport and Toyota Highlander Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Honda Passport and Toyota Highlander are evenly matched with a reliability score of 72/100.
The Toyota Highlander and the Honda Passport both offer commendable reliability for midsize SUVs, with average reliability scores of 84 and 83 out of 100, respectively. However, the Highlander has a lower owner complaint rate of 5.8 per 10,000 sold compared to the Passport's 11.6, indicating fewer issues per vehicle sold. Additionally, the Highlander has a slightly lower estimated annual repair cost at $489 versus the Passport's $521. While both vehicles show common issues in power train and service brakes, the Highlander's overall lower complaint rate and repair cost make it a marginally more reliable choice.
Key Differences
- 1Honda Passport has 37 fewer total recalls
- 2Toyota Highlander costs $32 less per year to repair
- 3Toyota Highlander has 5.8 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Honda Passport vs Toyota Highlander: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Honda Passport | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 72/100 | 72/100 |
| Years Tracked | 8 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 29 | 66 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 11.6 | 5.8 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $521/yr | $489/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Year Wins | 3 (1 tied) | 3 (1 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the Honda Passport and Toyota Highlander?
The Toyota Highlander registers a higher total complaint count than the Honda Passport, with notable issues in the power train and air bags, the latter having a significant 41 crash-linked complaints. In contrast, the Honda Passport's most frequent issues are with the electrical system and forward collision avoidance, though these categories have relatively few crash-linked complaints. While both vehicles experience power train and service brake problems, the Highlander shows a higher incidence and crash linkage in these areas. The Passport's complaints are generally less severe in terms of crash linkage, indicating a potentially less critical impact on safety compared to the Highlander.
| Component | Honda Passport | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2.6Low | 0.4Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 1.2Low | 1.5Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1.3Low | 0.7Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1Very Low | 0.6Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 1.4Low | —None |
| ENGINE | 0.7Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.2Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.2Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 0.5Very Low | —None |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| LANE DEPARTURE | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| VISIBILITY | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —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 Toyota Highlander?
How Does Honda Passport vs Toyota Highlander Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Honda Passport | Toyota Highlander | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 82/1000R / 11C | 76/1008R / 40C | Honda Passport |
| 2024 | 79/1001R / 12C | 67/10016R / 198C | Honda Passport |
| 2023 | 75/1004R / 24C | 73/10013R / 140C | Honda Passport |
| 2022 | 74/1003R / 45C | 74/1007R / 186C | Tie |
| 2021 | 68/1005R / 119C | 70/1006R / 403C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2020 | 68/1008R / 84C | 71/1008R / 269C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2019 | 59/1008R / 253C | 70/1003R / 414C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2026(predicted) | 79/100(predicted) | 72/100(predicted) | Honda Passport |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Honda Passport scored 82/100 and the 2025 Toyota Highlander scored 76/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Honda Passport vs the Toyota Highlander?
Honda Passport vs Toyota Highlander: Common Questions
- Is the Honda Passport more reliable than the Toyota Highlander?
- They're very close — both average 72/100 in our reliability scoring. Other factors like repair costs and specific year models may tip the decision.
- Which has more recalls, the Honda Passport or the Toyota Highlander?
- The Toyota Highlander has more recalls (66) 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 Toyota Highlander?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Toyota Highlander has a lower complaint rate at 5.8 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 Toyota Highlander?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Toyota Highlander is cheaper to maintain at $489/year versus $521/year for the Honda Passport.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Honda Passport 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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