RoadVitals

1997 Honda Passport Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
12
Latest Sep 11, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
21%
of 56 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Honda Passport submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
Engine
Filed Oct 6, 2005

ALWAYS OIL CHANGES ON TIME AND MAINTENANCE. SINCE I HAD IT, THERE WAS ALWAYS A VALVE KNOCKING. SPARK PLUG MELTED FROM EXTREME HEAT THEN EXPLODED INTO CYLINDER THE PULVERIZE. SO I REBUILT THE ENTIRE MOTOR INCLUDING NEW OIL PUMP, TIMING BELT, CAM INTAKES, ECT. AND HAD VALVES PROFESSIONALLY REBUILT. I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR YEARS AND CAN NOT FIGURE WHY THEY STILL KNOCK AFTER $2,300.00 IN ENGINE COMPONENTS AND SUCH. I TOOK IT TOO A SHOP AND THEY ARE BAFFLED ALSO. *JB

NHTSA ID
10138769
Incident
Aug 8, 2004
Body & structureEngine
Filed Oct 1, 2004

I BOUGHT THE CAR AT 74,671 MILES, IT WAS BURNING 1/2 QUART EVERY 500 MILES. AT 80,044 MI THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT WITH NEW RINGS, VALVE SEALS AND THE WHOLE WORKS. THE ENGINE IS STILL BURNING THE SAME AMOUNT OF OIL, AND HAVE TROUBLES WITH OTHER THINGS. SUCH AS BELTS,CRANK PULLEY,INSTRUMENTS,4X4 VALVES AND FRAME CORROSION.*AK

NHTSA ID
10093455
Incident
Apr 14, 2004
Mileage
80,894 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 29, 2004

CAMSHAFT BOLT SPLIT IN HALF CAUSING MY ENGINE TO SEIZE UP WHEN THE BOLT FEEL DOWN INTO THE PULLEY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10060050
Incident
Jan 7, 2004
Mileage
90,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 8, 2004

EXCESSIVE GASOLINE USAGE (10-13 MPG) AND CHRONIC "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" DESPITE REPEATED TRIPS TO GARAGE. PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING; CAN'T WAIT TO TRADE THIS BEAST IN. VERY DISAPPOINTED BY HONDA FOR CLOAKING THEIR LABEL ON AN ISUZU/MITSUBISHI BUILT VEHICLE. OTHERS ON THE NET ARE JUST AS FED UP WITH THIS SCRAP OF IRON. MAY NEVER BUY FROM HONDA AND CERTAINLY NOT LOCAL DEALER AGAIN. ENGINE TICKS DUE TO VALVE/LIFTER DAMAGE. *LA

NHTSA ID
10052691
Incident
Nov 1, 2003
Mileage
73,501 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 15, 2003

VEHICLE CONSUMES EXCESSIVE OIL THAT CAN CAUSE A POTENTIAL ENGINE FAILURE, PER MANUFACTURER/DEALERSHIP. THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10039988
Mileage
54,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 10, 2002

THE VALVES RATTLE IN THE ENGINE. WHEN THEY RATTLE I CHECK THE OIL LEVEL AND IT'S FINE. I FOUND OUT... BY NO OTHER CHOICE....THAT IF I GET ON THE INTERSTATE (CAUSING THE RPM'S TO GO UP) FOR A FEW MILES, AND THEN EXIT THE INTERSTATE THE VALVES STOP RATTLING. EVERYONE I TALK TO SAYS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I HAVE LOOKED FOR HONDA SUPPORT EVERYWHERE! DEALERS CAN'T EVEN HELP! NOW I THINK I AM JUST GOING TO JOIN A GROUP THAT'S PLANNING A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT! MAYBE MR. HONDA CAN FIX THE PROBLEM THEN! IF NOT I WILL USE THE MONEY FROM THE LAWSUIT TO BUY A CHEVY...OR DODGE!ANYTHING BUT ANOTHER HONDA!. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***768317

NHTSA ID
10007139
Engine
Filed Jun 5, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
762665
Incident
Jan 3, 2002
Engine
Filed Aug 3, 2000

ENGINE WAS TICKING, AND DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF HONDAS. *AK

NHTSA ID
866768
Incident
May 15, 2000
Engine
Filed Apr 4, 2000

ENGINE HAS ROUTINELY EMITTED ENGINE TICKING SOUND DEGRADING PERFORMANCE AND RESULTING IN 50% LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN #2 CYLINDER. DEALER SUGGESTING THAT ENGINE SHORT BLOCK MAY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. REPAIR MAY EXCEED $5K. DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS CONSIDERED ABOVE BOARD WHEN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO DEALERS INDICATING THAT THE ENGINE HLA'S ARE STARVING THE CYLINDERS. LOSS OF AN ENGINE AT SPEED CAN RESULT IN SEVERE MANEUVERABILITY AND BRAKING LOSS. ENGINE HAS BEEN ROUTINELY SERVICED WITH HIGHEST GRADE OIL (MOBILE 1). SAFETY/QUALITY ISSUE. DEALER RECOMMENDING BUYERS BEWARE AND TO PURCHASE EXTENDED WARRANTY PLANS FOR THIS VEHICLE. (UNSATISFACTORY!). *AK

NHTSA ID
720989
Incident
Apr 2, 2000
Engine
Filed Aug 27, 1999

THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON AND REMAINS ON. TOOK TO AT LEAST 3 DEALERS. THEY JUST KEPT TURNING IT OFF. NOW THE CANISTER VALUE AND VENT VALUE ARE FILLING WITH RAW FUEL AND ARE CLOGGED. 

NHTSA ID
710598
EngineSuspension
Filed Oct 7, 1998

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING . DEALER CONTACTED THREE TIMES AND REMEDIED THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALSO A RATTLE NOISE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. ALSO, REPLACED EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
827944
Incident
Feb 1, 1997

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .