RoadVitals

2020 Honda Passport Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
100
Latest Sep 14, 2026
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
12
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.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2020 Honda Passport, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical2926.4%
  • Engine1614.5%
  • Brakes98.2%
  • Fuel system54.5%
  • Powertrain (other)54.5%
  • Airbags32.7%
  • Tires & wheels32.7%
  • Body & structure10.9%
  • Steering10.9%
  • Visibility10.9%
  • Exterior lighting10.9%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

36
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Sep 7, 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 · filed Sep 4, 2026
All 36 reports naming driver assistance →

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

29
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Sep 14, 2026

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 · filed Sep 6, 2026
All 29 reports naming electrical →

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

16
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Aug 2, 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 · filed Feb 1, 2026
All 16 reports naming engine →

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

9
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Dec 3, 2025

On Nov 9, 2024 I was pulling into a parking spot in a public parking garage, after turning 2 tight corners to approach the parking spot. About half way into the parking spot, the car suddenly lurched and accelerated and I crashed into a 90 degree concrete corner wall! It happened SO fast, without any warning sounds or ABS brakes deploying. The entire front passenger corner of my car was badly damaged. Luckily I was not injured, nor were there any other vehicles or persons involved. It is just not possible that I could have personally pulled into a parking spot at such a high speed as to cause such extreme damage to the vehicle! I drove the vehicle to a body shop on 11/11/24, which was one recommended by my insurance company. The vehicle was inspected by the body shop, which was directly in contact with my insurance company. I did ask the shop to make sure the mechanic checked for any safety issues during repair, as I was concerned as to the cause of the accident. I have an impeccable driving record and I cannot explain how such an accident could happen! I had no issues with the car previously. Upon further inspection into the damage, on 1/3/25 it was finally evaluated as a total loss, as there was damage to the frame and other issues! I did receive a statement on 1/3/25 from the body shop that there was a "fault in the system, causing gas pedal lock, which might be cause of accident". I felt I had to report this possible issue that resulted in a total loss and obviously could have injured myself, others or other vehicles!

NHTSA ID 11639151 · filed Jan 28, 2025
All 9 reports naming brakes →

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Dec 5, 2025

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID 11623606 · filed Nov 5, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Sep 8, 2026

2020 Honda Passport VIN [XXX] engine start stop system fails at stop in a crossroad light. Vehicle becomes inoperable, on screen instructions not executable. After several attempts of turning vehicle off / on it finally starts. Stranded vehicle at light causes traffic to start swerving to avoid stalled vehicle - unsafe condition. No warning lights nor messages were observed in driver information system previous to failure occurrence. Malfunction has happened at least 3 times in last 6 months INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID 11695725 · filed Oct 27, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Passport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts needed for the recall repair were not yet available. The dealer advised the contact not to have a passenger seated in the front passenger’s seat due to the risk associated with the recall. The dealer recommended that the vehicle be inspected to verify if the vehicle was affected by the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and a case was opened. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID 11691631 · filed Oct 6, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Passport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags). The contact called the local dealer, who confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact to continue checking back with the dealer. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID 11690292 · filed Sep 29, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Sep 12, 2026

Driving in neighborhood suddenly Tire pressure light came on. Tire flat with 4 ruptures on sidewall of tire. Continental cross contact LX sport 265/45 R20. This incident happened in Jan 2022 had similar episode in August of 2021 with rupture in sidewall.

NHTSA ID 11447968 · filed Jan 18, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I JUST BOUGHT THIS 2020 HONDA PASSPORT EXL 4DAYS AGO. I DECIDED TO CLEAN IT AND WENT IN A TOUCH LESS CARWASH (NO BIG BRUSHES ROLLING TO PAINT). AND THEN AFTER, WE WENT HOME. UPON LEAVING THE CAR, I SAW A DARK SPOT BY THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND IT WAS THE PAINT CHIPPING OFF. IT WASN'T THERE SINCE. ITS A BRAND NEW CAR AND ITS JUST DAYS OLD SO I LOOK AT IT AND CHECK LIKE EVERY 2HRS. I MEAN ITS A $40K CAR AND WITH JUST A SIMPLE CARWASH IT CHIPPED OFF? I'VE READ THIS ISSUE TO SOME OTHERS AND ITS CRAZY THAT IT HAPPENED TO ME. ITS JUST 4DAYS OLD.

NHTSA ID 11343444 · filed Aug 5, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

Compliance bushing cracked and coming apart which is a known common issue with Honda Passports from the 2020 timeframe. Thank you for your time!

NHTSA ID 11680829 · filed Aug 15, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

My 2020 Honda Passport was recalled to replace the two side mirrors in May 2023. I took my vehicle to Autonation Honda Dulles, VA to have the recall performed. After the recall was performed I was driving home when the glass on both side mirrors fell out. I take the car in for a safety recall and the work performed by the dealer is substandard in completing this recall. This could have led to a catastrophic incident. I had to return back to Autonation Honda to have the work done properly.

NHTSA ID 11540400 · filed Aug 23, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

Upon many vehicles flashing headlights coming towards me, and the driver in front of me pulling over, I investigated once I reached my destination. It soon was evident that the water inside my driver's side headlamp had frozen and was creating a prismatic effect and reflecting light all over the road. This created significant safety risks to my family and other motorist. Honda investigated and acknowledged a TSB for water in the headlights due to a manufacturing defect. However the cost of replacement and the availability of a replacement lamp are prohibitive.

NHTSA ID 11555655 · filed Nov 17, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .