RoadVitals

1997 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.
56
Latest Apr 10, 2016
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.
4
5 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 56 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Honda Passport, most frequently naming the body & structure, engine and transmission 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

  • Engine1218.5%
  • Transmission710.8%
  • Visibility57.7%
  • Interior & seats57.7%
  • Suspension57.7%
  • Fuel system34.6%
  • Brakes34.6%

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

Filed Apr 10, 2016

IN 2015 I BOUGHT A 1997 HONDA PASSPORT FROM SOMEBODY AND NOTICED THE FRAME HAS EXTREME ROT AND ITS SO BAD IT ROTTED A FUEL LINE CAUSING A LEAK NOW, I OWNED A 1995.5 ISUZU RODEO WITH EXCESIVE FRAME ROT AS WELL TO WHERE THE FRAME BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING. THESE FRAMES USED IN ALL OF THE ISUZU RODEOS AND HONDA PASSPORTS AREN'T TREATED PROPERLY BEFORE THEY WERE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC, THERE ARE HOLES IN THE FRAME AS LONG AS A FOOT, THESE NEED TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR INJURED BECAUSED OF IT, I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE YET DUE TO THIS FACT OR THE BREIF MOMENTS I DO DRIVE IT I FEEL AS IF ITS GOING TO BREAK IN HALF. IT WONT LET ME PUT THE MILEAGE IT HAS 176009.

NHTSA ID
10854673
Incident
Jul 6, 2015
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Apr 19, 2015

FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN LEFT REAR AREA NEAR LEAF SPRING HANGER. SHOULD THE FRAME FAIL IN THIS AREA, THE AXLE WILL NO LONGER BE SECURED TO THE VEHICLE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN MADE FOR YEARS STARTING 1998 OF THE SAME VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10706565
Incident
Apr 1, 2015
Mileage
160,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 14, 2014

1997 HONDA PASSPORT WITH 122,000 MILES. THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LOOKS LIKE NEW. BUT THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED THROUGH I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. FROM ALL OF THE STORIES I HAVE SEEN WHY WAS THEIR NOT A RECALL ON THE HONDA PASSPORT AND ISUZU RODEO? ARE THEY WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO DIE? *TR

NHTSA ID
10644620
Incident
Oct 14, 2014
Mileage
122,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Jan 8, 2012

THE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE LEAF SPRING IN THE BACK TO FALL DOWN. MY REAR END IS NO LONGER HELD IN PLACE AND CAN FALL OUT FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. MY CAR IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. IT'S A 97 HONDA PASSPORT. OTHER WISE MY VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT WHICH MAKES ME SICK TO KNOW THAT THE FRAME IS GONE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10442830
Incident
Jan 4, 2012
Brakes
Filed Dec 21, 2011

WHEN CHANGING THE BRAKES I NOTICED A LOT OF SURFACE RUST WHEN I INSPECTED FURTHER I FOUND TWO HOLES IN FRAME ONE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BEHIND THE WHEEL AND THE SECOND IN THE REAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE INFRONT OF THE BACKSIDE OF THE LEAF SPRING SHACKLE THE HOLE IN THE BACK IS AS TALL OF THE FRAME RAIL AND ABOUT 10 INCHES LONG ONLY ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRAME THE HOLE IN THE FRONT IS ONLY A FEW INCHES TALL AND 6 INCHES LONG ON THE OUTSIDE OF FRAME AND STARTING ON THE BOTTOM OF FRAME RAIL THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE BUT MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION I INSPECT IT DAILY TO CHECK FOR ANY DISFORMING OF THE FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10440877
Incident
Oct 3, 2011
Mileage
125,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 2, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V436000 (SUSPENSION:REAR). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 180,000.

NHTSA ID
10438111
Incident
Dec 2, 2011
Mileage
180,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Sep 11, 2011

LEFT HOUSE AND PROCEEDED DOWNHILL ON GRAVEL DRIVEWAY AND THEN TURNED LEFT ONTO MAIN ROAD WHICH IS A HILL RISING APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET OVER .5 MILES. AT TOP OF HILL LET OFF ACCELERATOR BUT THE SPEED WAS STILL INCREASING. TAPPED ACCELERATOR, PULLED FLOOR MAT AWAY FROM GAS/BREAK PEDDLE AREA, TAPPED ACCELERATOR, WHOLE TIME DEPRESSING BREAK WITH BOTH FEET. FINALLY CUT OFF IGNITION AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR. I COASTED THE CAR BACKWARDS WITH ENGINE OFF AND TURNED IT AROUND. WHEN I RESTARTED CAR THE ENGINE WAS AT IDLE AND I DROVE IT HOME WITHOUT DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR. WHEN I CHECKED CAR AT HOME I OBSERVED THAT THE RUBBER THIMBLE COVERING THROTTLE CABLE AT THROTTLE WAS DETERIORATED. I PULLED THE RUBBER THIMBLE OFF AND OBSERVED THAT THE RUBBER HAD ENTERED THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING AND WAS THE CAUSE, JAMMING THE CABLE AT THE ACCELERATED SPEED. I CLEARED THE CABLE AND HOUSING OF THE EMBEDDED RUBBER AND CAR ACCELERATED/DECELERATED NORMALLY. A PRECURSOR TO THIS WAS THAT MY GAS MILEAGE HAD DECREASED DRAMATICALLY ON THE LAST FILL UP, SATURDAY, FROM 19MPG TO LESS THAN 12MPG. I WAS LOOKING FOR A LEAK AND HAD INTENTIONS OF BRINGING IT INTO THE REPAIR SHOP ON MONDAY (TOMORROW). *TR

NHTSA ID
10424671
Incident
Sep 11, 2011
Mileage
166,340 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 30, 2011

EXCESSIVE RUSTING ON STEEL CHASSIS OF 1997 HONDA PASSPORT TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. HONDA HAS RECALL ON '98 AND ABOVE FOR FRAME RUST ISSUES BUT NOT ON 95-97 MODELS. IF THIS VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE IT IS HIT BROADSIDE FROM PASSENGER SIDE, THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED (CAN PUT WHOLE FIST INTO IT) THAT IT WILL MOST LIKELY SPLIT THE CAR IN HALF. HONDA WANTS TO CHARGE ME A DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE VEHICLE. OBVIOUSLY, OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE (NHTSA'S INTERNAL REFERENCE NUMBER : 10262212 ). WHERE THIS GENTLEMAN SEEMED TO BE ORIGINAL OWNER REFERENCING NO OFFROADING HISTORY, I CANNOT VOUGE SINCE I JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FOR MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE TO COLLEGE. AT THIS TIME, I HAVE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND PROHIBITED HER FROM DRIVING IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10422675
Incident
Jun 15, 2011
Mileage
176,843 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
1997Viewing560035.7
1996410041.6
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.