2021 Honda Passport Driver assistance Problems

Honda has a recall on certain vin numbers for the starter. My starter i was told to replace at a $2500 fee from reggie jackson honda in raleigh nc. I had to visit the dealership 3 times, they said its the battery, replaced the battery at my cost, now they said its the starter. They said there is a recall but my vin number was not included in the recall. The starter is worn out from the auto start and stop feature at stop lights. My issue is it will stop at a stop light and it wont start again then a warning comes on the screen about collision detection issue, then the warning goes away quickly and eventually i will get it to start but it is a safety issue that honda is aware of. I am asking honda to do partial credit on repair costs, but i dont understand why my vin number was excluded. The managers name was ruben lopez who informed me that the starter is causing issues, and sometimes its the battery, but that my vin wasnt covered. I just want my vehicle to not get stuck at after stopping in traffic when honda knows of the issue it should be covered for a lifetime warranty or recall. The stopping issue where it wont start again happens approximately 1 time per month, and seems to be in warmer weather but i cannot confirm this nor do i keep an exact log of when it happens. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11751380

Incident

Feb 2, 2026

The multipurpose front camera on my 2021 Honda Passport failed without warning, causing mutliple Honda sensing safety systems to become inoperative. Warning messages appeared indicating failures of the collision mitigation braking system, adaptaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist system, road departure mitigation system, and other driver assistance features. The vehicle has not been involved in a front end collision and the camera failure was diagnosed by a Honda dealership as requiring replacement of the multipurpose camera assembly. This is a significant safety concern because the failure of a single component disables numerous advanced driver assistance systems that are designed to help prevent crashes. I have learned that similar front camera failures have been reported by owners of other Honda models using comparable Honda sensing technology. Because this failure affects critical safety systems and appears to be more than an isolated incident, I am submitting this complaint so it can be documented and investigated.

NHTSA ID

11751267

Incident

Jun 23, 2026

The CMBS malfunction lights come on every time I start my car. The only time it went off was when I drove straight for about 15 minutes without stopping at a light It started a few months ago out of nowhere. I thought it was my camera, I took it to a Honda dealer and they said I needed to buy another camera for 2500 dollars. I don't have 2500 dollars they told me I could drive it but I won't have that safety feature. I only had this car 6 months and already the camera is acting up. Another dealer said it could be the battery. I really don't know why at this point that everyone is having these issues with the Honda sensing camera. I think it is a safety issue because it should be working at all times

NHTSA ID

11734873

Incident

Feb 1, 2026

Driving to work in normal speeds and conditions. The emergency braking enabled and slammed on the brakes to my car - despite there being no threat or need. The brake was with such force that I jerked forward. This is the third time this has happened with this car in the past week. Car is available for inspection if needed. The car has not yet been inspected by Honda for this situation.

NHTSA ID

11732628

Incident

Apr 21, 2026

I bought my car in 2021. Two weeks ago 4-5 dashboard signs came up on my screen. I contacted local dealer and they said they need nearly $3000 to fix it. I told them it’s a safety issue and they refused to budge. I complained to Honda through X and they refused to help me. They are not taking it seriously

NHTSA ID

11728301

Incident

Mar 6, 2026

I purchased a used 2021 Passport the end of May 2025. While driving, the 'collision mitigation braking system' or CMBS would activate the braking system and would intermittently just brake, causing panic for not only myself, but I'm sure drivers behind me for suddenly braking with no imminent threat in from of me. This happened multiple times without receiving any warning or notifications, just suddenly. It would happen without warning, or sometimes nearing a bridge or a cover plate on the road, which almost caused accidents multiple times to get rear ended. I have driven for decades and never felt anxiety until I drove this vehicle for a few months. I felt scared driving this vehicle, feeling uncertain when it would suddenly just brake. Eventually after a few months of driving, I got a reading that said CMBS problem on the screen. I scheduled an appointment with the dealer. The dealer suggested a near $3000 replacement for a camera (on a 2021 vehicle). At the appointment, I ultimately returned this vehicle to the dealer where I bought it and unfortunately lost out on thousands of dollars after having the vehicle about 6 months. I have always liked Honda, and have had 2 prior Hondas, but with this vehicle purchase, I felt the most unsafe I have ever felt in a vehicle, and moving forward will not feel comfortable purchasing Honda.

NHTSA ID

11725679

Incident

Aug 1, 2025

One day the lights just started flashing. Took to dealer and was told that someone must have backed into me and would be about $2500 to replace the camera (which is behind the windshield). Occasionally it will function but clearly seems to be a malfunction. In research online there appear to be many others that have experienced the same issue - can’t just be a coincidence. Shouldn’t happen on a reliable four/five year old car

NHTSA ID

11715469

Incident

Sep 1, 2025

Was driving 47 mph at 12:35 EST on a clear sunny day and car braked automatically. No car in front of me.

NHTSA ID

11711261

Incident

Jan 15, 2026

Car slammed on brakes while on interstate, the system likes to say brake, brake, brake, when there is nothing to brake for but a few days ago it actually took action and slammed on brakes on the freeway.

NHTSA ID

11699998

Incident

Nov 15, 2025

CMBS (Collision Mitigation Braking System) Problem

NHTSA ID

11689377

Incident

Sep 19, 2025

When I turn on the car, the "BRAKE SYSTEM" warning light appears, along with several alerts that disable all Honda safety features, including: 1. Road Departure Mitigation System Problem 2. Auto High-Beam Problem 3. Adaptive Cruise Control Problem 4. Lane Keeping Assist Problem 5. Collision Mitigation System Problem After taking the vehicle to a Honda dealership, the diagnosis was a failure of the Multipurpose Camera Unit and/or the Millimeter Wave Radar. Unfortunately, this is a common issue affecting several Honda models, including the Clarity, Fit, Pilot, Passport, and CR-V. Due to high demand and limited supply, the camera unit is currently sold out nationwide with no estimated restock date. Repairing this issue is expected to cost approximately $2,600, with no set timeline for when the parts will become available.

NHTSA ID

11685524

Incident

Jul 31, 2025

Owned the 2021 Honda Passport for 4 years and have had multiple issues over that time. 1st. Electrical issues. Randomly while driving the center/head unit will continuously restart on a loop until vehicle is turned off and turned back on. 2nd. The speakers make crackling noises randomly while driving. Even when the audio/speakers are turned off the crackling continues. (Very loud and annoying) 3rd. The Passport sometimes shuts off completely when stopped at red lights and has difficultly turning back on / restarting. This showed an error that there was a battery issue, which the battery had just been replaced a month or two earlier. It said something about being in accessory mode. 4th. The sensor that tracks oncoming traffic goes off sporadically. There are times on single lane roads that the car forces the breaks on because it senses cars on the other side. 5th. There has been issues while accelerating that feel like the car is having trouble shifting. It continues to rev but not go, when letting off the gas it almost feels like its doing an engine break to get back down to a certain rpm or something. Had the whole car bouncing, had to pull over and turn off the car to get it to start working properly. *** All of that said, this car has been and continues to feel unsafe to drive for multiple reasons listed above. I'd be more than happy to go into more detail for them if needed. ***

NHTSA ID

11672023

Incident

Jun 23, 2025

The vehicle infotainment system froze. Several minutes later after driving, I pressed the brakes but they did not function. The vehicle would not stop and crashed into the vehicle in front of me. Emergency braking did not engage or otherwise show signs of activation. After turning off the car and dealing with the accident, I restarted the vehicle and the brakes and infotainment system operated normally.

NHTSA ID

11653080

Incident

Apr 4, 2025

My automati braking has repeatedly malfunctioned and deployed emergency braking when no other vehicle is in the front of mine

NHTSA ID

11648143

Incident

Mar 13, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Passport. The contact stated while driving at 22 MPH, "The Collision Mitigation Braking System" warning message illuminated. The contact stated the vehicle applied the emergency brakes independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 25,950.

NHTSA ID

11634919

Incident

Jan 5, 2025

Mileage

25,950 mi

The automatic emergency brake system will randomly activate despite there being nothing in the way, no car in front, and no obstruction. It causes the car to slam on the brakes for no reason which I’m afraid will cause someone to hit me from behind.

NHTSA ID

11622119

Incident

Sep 17, 2024

- Automatic braking system flashes warnings for no reason, with no cars around me - Parking break hasn’t taken a handful of times - No collision warning when parking brake didn’t take, front end is now damaged ** I have dash cam proof I hit the parking brake before I collided with the vehicle in front of me in the school line. Husband glued the grill pieces together to keep them from overlapping.

NHTSA ID

11617018

Incident

Feb 6, 2024

Driving on [XXX] in New York State and the car started to break and no objects or cars in front of us. Dash-broad light came on and it said Break. Traveling doing 70 MPH and car went to 50 or so in seconds. This goes on about once a week in different areas. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11604722

Incident

Jul 25, 2024

On my way to work I was on the highway and five warning lights came on out of no where. All five warnings were the safety assist systems had problems. I drove to the Honda dealership and found out it was my microchip for my honda,the main microchip for all of the safety and system controls were dead/bad and that it would need to be replace. I was told by the service manager that without the micro chip the vehicle would no longer be drivable as it controls power steering system, brakes system, lane departures, etc. If I would have ignored those warning lights, all of those systems all systems would have failed putting my life at risk and others in their vehicles as well . My vehicle was bought with 3 miles on the speedometer and was only 2 years old at the time of this occurrence.

NHTSA ID

11602841

Incident

Jun 27, 2023

I have encountered two types of brake issues: 1) my vehicle seems to flash BRAKE occasionally when oncoming vehicles pass by for no reason - they are not entering my lane or doing anything that should cause the message to flash. The vehicle type does not seem to matter - they have been old and new models, and have been both cars and trucks. My vehicle has only visually warned, but does not engage brakes, so no further safety issue is involved. It has done it frequently on some days and then none for awhile. We have tried to make note of vehicle type and model for consistency, but have not found any. 2) If my vehicle has its cruise control on (which is often) and a vehicle in front of me moves into a left-turn lane to turn - often with plenty of notice - my vehicle will engage it’s brakes and slow down even though there is no danger of hitting the other vehicle. So long as I take it out of cruise control, it will continue on driving. I suspect that if cruise control is not disengaged, it could fully brake and cause a bigger issue of an injury or accident.

NHTSA ID

11586363

Incident

Apr 25, 2024

I’ve had several incidents where my vehicle has forced me to a screeching hault when not needed. Most recently it did, and I was almost rear ended by a large UHaul truck while my baby was in the backseat. This is extremely dangerous. This anti-collision system activates while on turns and when nothing else is happening around the vehicle. This is a safety feature that makes the vehicle more unsafe.

NHTSA ID

11584192

Incident

Mar 23, 2024

I have had multiple instances where the car appears to engage the brakes to prevent a collision, although I don't see any obstruction. It also makes the alarm sound indicating that I should brake as well. This occurs only on highways at highway speeds. It lasts for a few seconds and the car slows down significantly.

NHTSA ID

11584159

Incident

Apr 17, 2024

Since purchasing the vehicle in December 2023 with ~36,000 miles there have been two instances where the automatic brake warning has activated. Both events occurred while entering a corner between 30-50 mph with no other vehicle in the area or obstructions to be noted. The passport briefly activated the automatic brake warning, with the flashing indicator occuring on the main dash display for roughly 3-5 seconds. Following this brief period of indication the vehicle returned to it's normal operation. No accidents or injuries were sustain from these spurious events.

NHTSA ID

11583971

Incident

Apr 13, 2024

The forward colision warning comes on for no reason and brakes are getting applied for no reason. Very dangerous and can cause a rear end crash.

NHTSA ID

11583738

Incident

Oct 16, 2023

The automatic emergency braking system will turn on when there is no danger. It happens often. The system is fooled easily. Yes it’s available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? With normal driving conditions this is not a huge problem but if this were to happen with slick roads. I could see this causing an accident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No - I’m not sure how this would be done. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No

NHTSA ID

11583718

Incident

Apr 15, 2024