2020 Honda Passport Owner Complaints

Vehicle has excessive battery drain at times. Auto start-stop causes car to stop in traffic and difficult to restart. The original battery was replaced at 3 1/2 years of age. The replacement battery failed after about 2 years of service and replaced under warranty. That battery has now failed again. The car is a little over 6 years old and by all rights should only now need a replacement battery. I suspect parasitic drain problem but the dealer has only replaced the battery and no other parts I'm aware of.

NHTSA ID

11764118

Incident

Sep 1, 2026

Began to have a small shake in the steering wheel at first I thought i had thrown a tire weight on the front. The shaking became increasing worst to the point I felt unsafe driving the vehicle. I took it to a service center on February 2, 2026 to have it inspected. They informed me a belt in the driver's side tire had shifted, causing the steering shimmy while driving. They said that there was no visual damage to the outside of the tire. When ask they cause the reply that it sometimes happens. I had to have the tire replaced as well as a second for balance. The thread on the tire was recorded at 5/32nds. The tires that were replaced were: Continental CrossContact LX Sport 265/45/R20, DOT A3XKD8WV 2120 104H. I have seen that a similar tire that was produced by Continental the same year was recalled by your organization

NHTSA ID

11763794

Incident

Jan 1, 2026

The 9-speed transmission in my vehicle has been acting very strange after owning it since March 2026.These issues did not start until May 2026. When driving the vehicle at low speeds (under 30mph) the transmission is very jumpy and jerky. When you let off the gas the vehicle rocks back and forth and the rpms drop dramatically. It often feels like the transmission is skipping gears. I took my vehicle to the honda dealership to address the issue and they said there was nothing they could do to fix or look into my issue. I am very upset and I feel like I’ve been cheated out of my hard earned money. Honda needs to address this issue and provide relief for all of the owners who are in the same predicament. Be accountable Honda!

NHTSA ID

11762858

Incident

Sep 7, 2026

Adaptive Cruise Control Automatic Emergency Braking Forward Collision Warning Lane Departure Warning Lane Keeping Assistance Auto -high beams Every time I start up my car all the above error messages come up stating there is a problem. My cruise control is not able to be used at all. This appears to be a very common issue amongst Honda Sensing from the research I have done. Honda was even taken to court over this issue.

NHTSA ID

11762628

Incident

Nov 1, 2025

This is a failure of 2019-2020 Passport Pilot MOST Bus Network Recall of 2021. My Passport was serviced for 23-047 1923 FAKRA Service Cables at MOST Bus Network on October 26, 2023. The system has failed again. The Most system has popping, crackling and then goes out. Takes several minutes to recover. Presents the same safety hazard as the original recall I have video which I will show to the dealer on Thursday September 10, 2026

NHTSA ID

11762440

Incident

Sep 2, 2026

I am experiencing a sudden and total failure of the front windshield-mounted camera sensor on my 2020 Honda Passport. Without warning, the vehicle's dashboard displays a cascade of simultaneous critical system errors as documented in my attachments. When this camera fails, it completely disables the entire Honda Sensing safety suite. The vehicle abruptly loses critical crash-avoidance features, including Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, and Lane Keep Assist. Operating the vehicle with a constantly flashing dashboard while suddenly lacking the advertised safety features poses an immediate safety hazard. My local Honda dealership confirmed the front camera component is defective. However, Honda refuses to issue a safety recall or cover the full cost of the repair, offering only a partial "goodwill" assistance gesture that forces me to pay out-of-pocket for an inherently dangerous factory defect. This camera architecture mirrors the exact defect currently being litigated in active California class action lawsuits (e.g., Jones, et al. v. American Honda Motor Co. Inc.) for other Honda models. The Passport should be included in a safety recall immediately.

NHTSA ID

11762262

Incident

Jun 11, 2026

I own a 2020 Honda Passport Elite with approximately 63,000 miles. The infotainment display intermittently goes completely black while driving. When this occurs, the rearview camera also becomes unavailable. I have also experienced crackling or electrical-type noise through the speakers during the problem. The problem is intermittent. The system may operate normally for an extended period and then suddenly fail. On several occasions, the display went black, returned to normal, and then went black again several times while driving. After the vehicle was stopped and later restarted, the system returned to normal operation. This is a safety concern because the rearview camera can become unavailable, particularly when the vehicle is being operated normally and the driver cannot predict when the failure will occur. Honda Safety Recall 23-047 was previously performed on this vehicle. I contacted American Honda Customer Service, and Honda's records show that the recall repair was completed on June 30, 2023. Honda currently shows no open recall or warranty coverage for this problem. The symptoms I am now experiencing are similar to those associated with the MOST bus/FAKRA connector problem addressed by Honda, including display problems, audio problems and intermittent or blank rearview-camera operation. The vehicle has not yet been diagnosed or repaired for this current occurrence. I am requesting that NHTSA review this complaint to determine whether this may represent a recurring safety-related defect after the previous recall repair and whether further investigation or action by Honda is warranted.

NHTSA ID

11761808

Incident

Sep 2, 2026

The front multipurpose camera system failed, triggering multiple safety warning lights simultaneously, including ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control), LKAS (Lane Keeping Assist System), and related camera-dependent safety systems, along with a "Multipurpose Camera Unit" fault code U3000-49. The failure pattern has been intermittent and inconsistent: on some drives, warning lights are absent at startup and appear after several minutes of driving; on other occasions the warnings appear immediately at startup; duration before onset varies from trip to trip. This vehicle falls within the range covered by a prior Honda recall (Recall 19-020 / NHTSA Campaign for 2019-2020 Passport) addressing software programming errors in the front control module causing improper display of instrument panel and delayed or missing rearview camera images. The current failure presents similar camera-related safety system symptoms. A dealership inspection recommended replacement of the multipurpose camera unit at an estimated cost of approximately $2,000, without confirming the root cause of the failure. Safety concern: Loss of ACC, LKAS, and related driver-assist camera systems while driving, with warnings appearing unpredictably during operation, some minutes into a drive rather than at startup, suggesting a fault that may not always be evident during a pre-drive check.

NHTSA ID

11756246

Incident

Aug 3, 2026

In April 2024 on a road trip to [XXX], the engine suffered a catastrophic failure without warning near [XXX]. The connecting rod or rods broke, and one of them exited the engine. State Police and Local Fire Department responded because a passer-by saw smoke from the expired engine and reported a fire - there was no fire, but the engine oil was leaking down onto the exhaust pipes, causing smoke. The local Honda dealership in Bloomington, IL and Honda itself were not very cooperative, claiming the engine was not maintained properly. I submitted our mechanic's records as proof twice to Honda, yet they still resisted. Finally I contacted the original Honda of Naperville dealership where we bought the vehicle, and that got Honda to partially refund the money (under extended warranty) that we spent to repair the motor. In the end, the motor was replaced with a used 25,000 mile unit, which was the only option under the warranty. That did not sit well with us, so we capitulated, accepted the used engine, then sold the Passport back to the Bloomington Honda. Overall, we had to pay for towing 35 miles, the expense of renting a vehicle for about 1 week, and other extra costs plus the time and hassle associated with multiple phone calls to Honda. The total expenses incurred was $1,738 for towing and a rental vehicle to complete the trip. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11754332

Incident

Apr 4, 2024

Multipurpose camera stopped working and most of the safety systems alerts are on now and don’t work

NHTSA ID

11752644

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

I was at a red light and all of a sudden my car switched to neutral. I could not get out of neutral and tried unsuccessfully to get my car into drive. I finally was able to shut the car off (not sure if opening the door helped reset the system) and start it again. I now turn off the idle option

NHTSA ID

11746675

Incident

Jun 25, 2026

It's a sunny day in Florida and approximately at [XXX] while traveling straight on a public roadway, the vehicle directly in front of me moved into the left-turn lane, completely clearing my lane of travel. As I actively accelerated to pass the turning vehicle, my Honda’s Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) inadvertently activated despite my lane being completely clear and unobstructed. The emergency automatic braking engaged forcefully just after I passed the vehicle in the left-turn lane. This unexpected, false-positive braking event caused a severe, rapid deceleration that nearly resulted in a rear-end collision by the vehicle traveling behind me. This exact situation has occurred on 3 other separate occasions. I'm in fear of being rear-ended, especially with my kids in the car, because my vehicle body language prior to the forceful braking has been acceleration. The drivers behind me are likely to see my acceleration and proceed with their own acceleration just to be blind-sided with my vehicles sudden and hard braking. It's a disaster waiting to happen, especially on busy roadways. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11744941

Incident

Jun 18, 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Passport. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle with the Push-To-Start feature, the Adaptive Cruise Control, Road Departure Mitigation, Collision Mitigation Brake System, and Lane Keeping assist system, and the high beam messages were displayed on the instrument panel. An audible alarm sounded while the messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the multipurpose camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost, and because the parts were on back order. Upon further investigation, the contact stated that the windshield heat exposure might have caused the failure in the hotter weatehr. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,078.

NHTSA ID

11744752

Incident

Jun 14, 2026

Mileage

94,078 mi

Car tried to start on its own, set off the alarm multiple times and killed a new battery after 6 months. Would not allow me to enter car by remote had to unplug battery. issue with Start/stop idle system, it is know issue with Honda ridgeline but having same issue with passport.

NHTSA ID

11743870

Incident

Jun 8, 2026

1. Component/System: Multipurpose Camera Unit (IDAS/ADAS system) — U3000-49 "Internal Electronic Failure" + cascading CAN communication faults. The vehicle and diagnostic data (May 15, 2026 scan) are available for inspection upon request. 2. Safety Risk: Warning lights for LKAS (Lane Keeping) and ACC (Adaptive Cruise) disabled those systems. No crash or loss-of-control occurred; the issue was discovered post-service before driving. 3. Reproduction/Confirmation: Confirmed by dealer lights absent at drop-off (their photo, Exhibit A), present after oil change. Diagnostic scan at dealer (2:26 PM May 15) verified U3000-49 + codes. Not independently reproduced. 4. Inspections: Scanned by Germain Honda dealer only. No manufacturer (Honda Corporate), police, or insurance inspection yet. This complaint package is being submitted to Honda Customer Relations. 5. Warnings/Symptoms: None prior. Vehicle had no ADAS issues or lights at drop-off (dealer photo + advisor confirmation). Lights appeared during/after the May 15, 2026 oil change

NHTSA ID

11738769

Incident

May 15, 2026

don’t have the exact locations,date or time but this has happened around 5 times where I am driving and comes to a come a complete stop and my engine wouldn’t start,I had to put on my hazard lights turn off the vehicle then restart it

NHTSA ID

11727178

Incident

Mar 26, 2026

Brakes were being applied when no cars were around me. Now, 5 warnings were given to me as I drove down the highway. The warnings were as follows: Adaptive Cruise Control Problem Collision Mitigation System Problem Road Departure Mitigation System Problem Lane Keeping Assist ProblemAuto High-Beam Problem Brake System Light

NHTSA ID

11717124

Incident

Feb 10, 2026

Engine failed and now the piston rod is knocking inside the engine. Engine failure while operating a vehicle is extremely dangerous and could cause an accident or death to myself and anyone else around my vehicle while its being operated. This type of issue can even cause a fire in the engine bay. When the issue presented itself I was going 60 down the highway. Yes, the vehicle has been in two independent shops which have both confirmed the engine failure due to premature connecting rod bearing wear which was most likely caused by manufacturer crankshaft issues. No it has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance, or others. No there were not any warning lights, messages, or sysmptoms prior to the failure.

NHTSA ID

11714777

Incident

Jan 29, 2026

Car shuts down and does not restart. Also goes to neutral and does not allow car to be steered. Also seems to be related to auto restart.

NHTSA ID

11711008

Incident

Jan 14, 2026

Was at a red light and the car just shut off. NOTHING! After about 5-10 seconds I pushed the start stop button and it hesitated for a few seconds and I let go and then tried it again. It hesitated and then came on. No problem the rest of the day. I have had the car for a year and zeo issues with the. My Mother had it for 3 years previously and she never had the issue. The battery is good (and only 1 year old) because I put it on my tester a few months ago. 70,000 miles. I looked up the symptoms and found that this has been an on going issue for a few years. NOT NEW. I reached out to Honda and they said I have to have it diagnosed and pay for it.

NHTSA ID

11705925

Incident

Dec 17, 2025

At approx. 5 years of age & 67,500 miles, the engine began to make rattling or ticking noises that were in sync with engine speed (RPM). Within 1 day of noting the noise, I took the first available appointment to bring the vehicle to my local Honda dealership, Napleton Honda in Loves Park, IL. Napleton Honda diagnosed the issue as "rod knock" due to failing connecting rod bearings. The dealership advised that the only recourse is to replace the engine. Honda Motor Corp (manufacturer) was notified by me about the issue, but they declined to make any substantive effort to assist with the repair costs despite the fact that the issue is increasingly known and documented as per NHTSA campaign # RQ24013

NHTSA ID

11704578

Incident

Nov 10, 2025

Fuel pump failure mid-traffic in busy two lane road, unable to start vehicle. The engine sputtered and then halted with all warning lights on dashboard lighting up. Full propulsion of the vehicle ceased while in traffic causing car to be dead on the side of the road until police and tow truck could be dispatched. If this occurred on a busier road or in a 65 mile per hour divided highway, this could have caused a major mukti-vehicle accident and placed me in significant danger.

NHTSA ID

11703262

Incident

Nov 26, 2025

The brake system is not working properly when stopped on a hill. The vehicle will roll backwards after pushing the brake. If you are stopped on a hill you have to keep the brake engaged while also accelerating to keep from rolling backwards and hitting the car behind you.

NHTSA ID

11702848

Incident

Oct 7, 2025

Burnt Oil Smell Inside Cabin (When Heater Is on High) I frequently notice a burnt oil smell inside the cabin, especially during the first hour of driving in the morning with the heater set to high. My local Honda dealership inspected the vehicle but did not find a specific cause, attributing it instead to a “Honda smell.” They demonstrated a similar odor on a new Passport and suggested using a charcoal cabin filter. However, I remain concerned about a potential fire risk. Auto Idle Start-Stop Feature Unavailable The Auto Idle Start-Stop system rarely functions properly—it has worked approximately 10% of the time I’ve owned the vehicle. After each service visit, it temporarily resumes operation, then soon displays the message “Auto Idle Start-Stop Feature Not Available.” Blank Center Display / ‘MOST Net Off’ Message The center display intermittently goes blank or reboots repeatedly, showing a “MOST Net Off” message. This makes it difficult and distracting to navigate while driving. I understand a previous recall was intended to resolve this issue, but the problem persists.

NHTSA ID

11698869

Incident

Nov 12, 2025

My Honda is 3.5 L V6 engine blew up I know there’s a recall for the 3.5 L V6 engine on my Honda. However, the recalls don’t include the passport, which is what I have but the connecting rods blue causing engine failure.

NHTSA ID

11696963

Incident

Oct 27, 2025