RoadVitals

1996 Honda Passport

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
41
Latest Jul 3, 2015
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
7
10 injuries, 4 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 41 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Honda Passport, most frequently naming the body & structure, engine and airbags categories. 34 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure1225.0%
  • Engine714.6%
  • Airbags510.4%
  • Suspension510.4%
  • Electrical48.3%
  • Brakes36.3%
  • Steering36.3%
  • Driver assistance24.2%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 41
Suspension
Filed Jul 3, 2015

THE FRAME ON MY PASSPORT BROKE. COME TO FIND OUT MY FRAME IS ROTTED. I'M HAPPY I WASN'T ON THE INTERSTATE AND GOING A REASONABLE SPEED OR WHO KNOWS WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME AND MY FAMILY. I SEE NOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON THING WITH THESE PASSPORTS. I FIND IT CRAZY THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 1998 BUT NOT THE YEARS BEFORE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. HONDA OUTSOURCED THE WORK TO ISUZU TO BE CHEAP AND ENDED UP WITH A DEFECTED PRODUCT. SO HONDA WICH IS A MAJOR CORPORATION GETS REWARDED FOR BEING CHEAP WHILE US NORMAL PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET END UP WITH A JUNK CAR THAT'S WORTHLESS. I SEE THESE ON THE ROAD STILL AND I KEEP MY FINGERS CROSSED FOR THE PEOPLE DRIVING THEM. PLEASE MAKE HONDA FIX THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10731900
Incident
May 15, 2015
Mileage
125,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 26, 2013

SAME AS NHTSA: 10V436000 CAMPAIGN. DEFECT CONSEQUENCE: EXCESSIVE CORROSION MAY RESULT IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE FRAME, WHICH CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10531961
Incident
Jul 26, 2013
Mileage
138,441 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 22, 2013

FRAME ROTTING AWAY AND MAKING PASSPORT UNSAFE TO DRIVE RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10493745
Incident
Jan 18, 2013
Mileage
167,653 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 21, 2012

BEARINGS FAIL, SEALS FAIL, LASH ADJUSTERS FAIL, EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, POORLY DESIGNED OIL CIRCULATION SYSTEM. *JS

NHTSA ID
10455984
Incident
Mar 1, 2012
Mileage
90,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Dec 20, 2011

THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING EXTREME FRAME CORROSION OF BOTH THE FORWARD AND REAR FRAME MEMBER. THERE ARE LARGE PERFORATIONS IN MULTIPLE AREAS ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE FRAME, AND I DON'T SEE ANY WAY TO REPAIR OTHER THAN A COMPLETE FRAME REPLACEMENT. WHY IS THE DIVIDING LINE FOR THE RECALL 10V436000 SET AT THE 1998 MODEL YEAR? THIS IS THE SAME BASIC VEHICLE WITH THE SAME ROTTED FRAME AS THOSE INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE DOORS SHOULD ROT OF A VEHICLE LONG BEFORE THE FRAME BECOMES AN ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10440544
Incident
Dec 19, 2011
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Nov 18, 2011

THIS VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS RUST ISSUES FOR ITS AGE. THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH IN MANY SPOTS WHICH MAKES IT A HAZARD TO DRIVE. IN APRIL OF 2011 THE SHOCK TOWER BROKE FREE OF THE FRAME AND NOW WOBBLES FREE IN THE WHEEL WELL. WE FIRST NOTICED A RUST PROBLEM SOME YEARS BACK WHEN MY BROTHER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. HE WAS THE SECOND OWNER OF IT AT APPROX. 50K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10436425
Incident
Apr 4, 2011
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 18, 2011

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1996 HONDA PASSPORT AND WAS TOLD "YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH A HONDA"--DROVE GOOD, BODY GOOD, INTERIOR IMMACULATE, ETC. A MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT FOR RECENT REPAIRS NEEDED ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND I WAS SHOWN THE HORRIFIC RUSTED FRAME, HE ACTUALLY PUT HIS HAND THROUGH IT!!! AND NOT JUST IN ONE AREA, THE WHOLE FRAME!! UNBELIEVABLE! I AM A SERVICE TECH THAT DRIVES A VEHICLE, ON AVERAGE, 500 TO 700 MILES A WEEK. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70MPH WHEN THE FRAME COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE--OR ANYONE ELSE'S THAT COULD HAVE BEEN IN MY PATH. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS SINCE RECEIVING THIS INFORMATION ABOUT MY PASSPORT, AND IT'S OBVIOUS HONDA IS AWARE OF THE FAULTY STEEL THAT WAS USED ON THESE FRAMES. THEY SHOULD COMPENSATE ANYONE STILL DRIVING ONE OF THESE MORBIDLY UNSAFE VEHICLES AND GET THEM OFF THE ROAD! THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. RECALLS WERE ISSUED ON MANY OTHER MODELS AND MAKES, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT INCLUDE THIS YEAR OR MAKE. UNBELIEVABLE!! A COMPANY THAT USES INFERIOR PRODUCT AND IS MADE AWARE OF IT, SHOULD STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF IT. AS A BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF, I AM LIVID THAT HONDA DOES NOT FEEL RESPONSIBLE AND WE--CAR OWNERS STUCK WITH THEIR JUNK--HAVE TO TAKE A HUGE LOSS FOR THEIR INCOMPETENTLY. SHAME ON HONDA!!! I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER ONE! *TR

NHTSA ID
10436415
Incident
Nov 18, 2011
Mileage
145,321 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 21, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HAVING HIS VEHICLE SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY COVERED WITH RUST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 161,000.

NHTSA ID
10432302
Incident
Oct 20, 2011
Mileage
161,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

11012003

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

IDENTIFYING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT SOLENOIDS. HONDA. SERVICENEWS. *TT

11012003

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

HEATER BLOWER MOTOR GETS HOT OR BLOWS A FUSE. HONDA. SERVICENEWS. *TT

1003

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

HEATER BLOWER MOTOR OVERHEATS OR BLOWS FUSE. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING THE 2004 INSIGHT AND S2000. *TT

1003

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT SOLENOIDS. *TT

010103

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CHECK (ATF) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID CONDITION TO DIAGNOSE (A/T) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. *TT *JB

1202

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

A STICKING IDLE AIR CONTROL (IAC) VALVE CAN USE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0101. IF THE FUEL AND EMISSIONS MANUAL DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0101 TROUBLESHOOTING IS INCONCLUSIVE, REPLACE THE IAC VALVE. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Honda Passport by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026521043.5
2025290144.1
2024151156.0
2023355269.9
2022564360.7
20211337368.1
20209310365.3
201927210363.1
2002232356.4
20011343357.6
20001021245.6
19992283361.5
19982296562.4
1997560035.7
1996Viewing410041.6
1995601044.9
1994364162.8
1981100—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.