2021 Honda Passport Powertrain (other) Problems

The vehicle experienced a catastrophic internal engine failure caused by connecting rod bearing failure. Prior to the failure, the engine developed abnormal internal knocking/noise, indicating bearing deterioration. The engine is currently available for inspection. While traveling approximately 55 mph on [XXX], the check engine warning light illuminated. Within about one mile, the engine rapidly lost power and developed a severe knocking noise. The sudden loss of power at highway speed created a serious safety hazard by reducing my ability to maintain traffic speed and safely maneuver the vehicle. I had my child in the vehicle, and both we and surrounding motorists were placed at risk of a collision while I attempted to move to exit traffic. The failure has been confirmed by an independent repair facility, Absolute Automotive LLC in Parker, Colorado. Their inspection determined the engine suffered internal damage due to connecting rod bearing failure. I have the engine replacement invoice, technician's diagnostic notes, and photographs documenting the engine damage. The vehicle has not been inspected by Honda. I contacted Honda to report the failure and request assistance, but I was informed there was no recall for the 2021 Honda Passport equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine and that Honda would not provide assistance unless a recall existed. Before the engine failed completely, the engine developed abnormal internal knocking/noise. While driving on [XXX], the check engine warning light illuminated, and within approximately one mile the engine lost power and produced a heavy knocking noise, rendering the vehicle unsafe to operate. I am submitting this complaint because a sudden internal engine failure resulting in loss of power at highway speeds presents a significant safety hazard and should be investigated. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11753735

Incident

Apr 11, 2026

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO A SECONDARY ROAD AFTER EXITING THE INTERSTATE ENGINE POWER WASNT THERE AND THE CAR FELT AS IT WAS GOING TO EVENTUALLY JUST DIE. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN OVER 50 MILES, SO IT WAS AT OPERATING TEMP.. REMOVING FOOT OFF THE THROTTLE AND REALPPLYING SEVERAL TIMES HAD THE CAR RETURN TO FULL POWER. LUCKILY, FOR THIS INCIDENT, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND THE MERGE LANE WAS LONG. SO FAR THIS HAS OCCURED TWICE IN THE MONTYH OF JANUARY 2026.

NHTSA ID

11714354

Incident

Jan 29, 2026

During a winter storm in approximately 10°F weather, my vehicle became immobilized due to a no-start condition. The starter initially engaged and cranked the engine several times, then failed and would only free-spin without turning the engine. After this occurred, the vehicle could not be shifted into neutral because it is equipped with an electronic shift-by-wire transmission. The only method to move the vehicle requires a proprietary Honda mechanical neutral-release tool (07AAA-TZ3A100). This tool was not supplied with the vehicle, was not available to the owner or responding tow operators, costs over $200, and local Honda dealerships do not carry it in stock. As a result, it was not possible to obtain the tool in an emergency situation. Two flatbed tow trucks responded. Both operators stated the only way to load the vehicle would be to drag it while locked in park, which would likely cause damage to the transmission, drivetrain, or tires. This was not a safe or acceptable option. As a result, occupants were stranded from approximately 1:00 PM until 6:30 PM in 10°F weather with no heat, because the vehicle could not be moved. A single common mechanical failure should not render a vehicle completely immobile with no accessible emergency override. Requiring a costly, proprietary tool that is not provided with the vehicle and not available to dealers or emergency responders creates a serious safety risk due to cold exposure and inability to move or clear the vehicle during emergency conditions.

NHTSA ID

11713500

Incident

Jan 26, 2026

I own the 2021 Honda Passport (Touring). On numerous occasions while making left or right turns. The truck will decelerate by itself, and the engine will rev up and the RPM increase but the truck fails to respond when the accelerator pedal is depressed. I continue to press the accelerator pedal, and the truck eventually appears to catch up with its speed. Very dangerous when trying to enter from expressway lane. There also are occasions on straight lane take offs that truck appears sluggish in normal gear shifting.

NHTSA ID

11690407

Incident

Sep 23, 2025

I was driving along at 65 miles an hour when the car randomly threw itself into neutral. I turned the car off restarted it drive a little bit. It continued to happen over and over and it usually does not matter on the speed. After the transmission replacement, the transmission still continues to hit hard on third and fourth gear..

NHTSA ID

11676726

Incident

Jul 1, 2025

The rod bearings failed requiring a new motor. The vehicle is available for inspection. My safety is at risk as well as the risk of others because the vehicle is not able to be driven. The problem has been confirmed by Ziegler Honda of Racine. They formed a diagnostic test and quoted me $6K+ repair. There were no warning lamps and this issues started about 1 week ago.

NHTSA ID

11675980

Incident

Jul 18, 2025

TRANSMISSION SLOW TO ENGAGE FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. SO SLOW THAT ONCOMMING VEHICLE HAD TO STOP QUICKLY. RIDING AT ABOUT 30MPH ON A DOWNHILL GRADE THE TRANSMISSION IS CONFUSED AND IT FEELS LIKE IT CAN'T FIND A GEAR TO STAY IN THUS CAUSING MUCH DISTRESS TO DRIVER IT FEELS LIKE CAR IS BREAKING AND SURGING FOWARD WITH DRIVER HAVING LITTLE CONTROLL OVER SITUATION. REPORTED TO HONDA IN COMPLAINT AND WAS TOLD THAT IS THE WAY TRANSMISSION IS

NHTSA ID

11656451

Incident

Oct 20, 2024

Vehicle engine keeps stopping while in drive and puts itself in neutral and turn offs, metal flying around the engine, vehicle jumps and makes loud rattling noise, vehicle electrical issue all components turned themselves off, Catalyst converter and several other vehicle issues alarm safety , vehicle gets stuck on hill

NHTSA ID

11647468

Incident

Feb 22, 2023

- 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

Hard inadequate shifting on ZF9 transmission between 4th and 5th gear with audible loud metal chunk from the transmission with jerk (break and sudden acceleration) of whole car. It could cause serious incident on icy surface to loose control on the car. America Honda case # 14390220

NHTSA ID

11614724

Incident

Apr 16, 2024

I have experienced multiple instances where the vehicle's transmission abruptly downshifts into lower gears, significantly reducing speed and creating a hazardous situation. This unexpected behavior has occurred on the Interstate, both while merging onto the highway and during regular driving conditions. On two separate occasions, my daughter was driving the vehicle when the transmission malfunctioned while driving on the Interstate. She was terrified as she believed she was losing traction and was unable to accelerate properly, putting her life and the lives of others at risk. I have personally experienced this issue as well when attempting to merge onto the Interstate under clear and dry road conditions. The vehicle would not exceed 35 mph, creating a dangerous situation. To rectify the issue, I had to pull over to the side of the road, place the car in park, and then put it back in drive to regain normal acceleration. I have used a code reader to check for any diagnostic trouble codes, but none were present. However, a blinking traction control light illuminated during these incidents, indicating a potential issue. I am deeply concerned about the safety implications of this problem.

NHTSA ID

11604992

Incident

Jun 23, 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Passport. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds and making left or right turns, the vehicle independently decelerated. The contact stated that the engine revved, and the RPMs increased; however, the vehicle failed to respond with the accelerator pedal depressed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle for the vehicle to return to normal operation. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened; however, the contact was recently informed that the case was closed. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

NHTSA ID

11543278

Incident

Sep 6, 2023

Mileage

30,000 mi

This car accelerates when down shifting in mid to higher gears. We were in the snow on a steep decline and when I downshifted into 4th gear the car immediately accelerates ( Not Coasted ) but accelerated increasing my speed before finally downshifting. It is also having similar issues with the 7th, 6th, and 5th gears. We lost traction immediately after shifting when the car accelerates and I have no drought that we would have crashed if we were approaching or in a turn at the time. 12/28/22 I spoke with the dealer today and he was aware of other complaints. I made an appointment to have them check it out tomorrow 12/29/22. I have repeated this issue multiple times and plan to show them. This also happens every time you downshift into 4th gear etc on dry or wet pavement, even on flat surfaces.

NHTSA ID

11499256

Incident

Dec 23, 2022

We were driving at 55mph and every warning light came on. It quickly decelerated to 20mph then wouldn't shift from first gear. We were in an area where there was no places to pull over. We pulled over and the car wouldn't shift from park. We were told to let it sit 15min then try again. After 20 min the car worked normally. The computer system deletes all the errors once it sits. The dealership says there is nothing wrong. This is the 2nd time it's done it. We were told to check the battery. It's new and we do not trust this vehicle. If it does it on the freeway it would be catastrophic. Honda needs to fix this problem. The crash avoidance also says to brake at every car in the opposite lane. I purchased a code reader to try and save all the codes when the car acts up.

NHTSA ID

11498892

Incident

Dec 26, 2022

My 2021 Honda Passport first shifted itself into neutral and displayed a message on the instrument panel saying “Stop Driving When Safe. Transmission Problem. See Manual” in February 2022. My dealer inspected the vehicle and said no problem codes were stored and returned the vehicle to me. In May 2022, my vehicle displayed the same message and shifted itself into neutral while backing out of a parking space. This resulted in my vehicle rolling forward into the curb. Luckily my vehicle was parked by a curb and not in front of another vehicle where a collision could occur or pin a pedestrian between the two vehicles. My dealer inspected the vehicle again and stated no codes were stored and returned the vehicle to me. Honda has been contacted twice regarding the issue and on the fourth repair attempt, a field engineer inspected the vehicle and could not find any codes stored. The engineer also recommended the vehicle be kept in park while it is not moving.

NHTSA ID

11490754

Incident

Feb 7, 2022

My 2021 Honda Passport with under 12K miles has gone into Neutral on its own twice in the past year ( May and October of 2021) It has also slipped into low gear on its own (D1 of an automatic transmission from D3 or D4 in Oct 2021 and March 18 2021. The last incident forced me onto the shoulder to avoid serious injury as I was gaining speed to merge from an entry ramp to a 50 mph, 3 lane Rd. I brought it back to the Honda dealer after the March 18 incident and they told me they couldn't find anything wrong with it. I don't trust this transmission and will be forced to sell it back to Honda but am leery of it happening to someone else who may not be able to avoid an accident like I did. I also reported these incidents to Honda on 03/24/22 (case# 12912165)

NHTSA ID

11459260

Incident

Mar 18, 2022

Had the optional transmission cooler installed at the Honda dealership to help increase vehicle towing capacity. After install, when the vehicle shifts from 7-8 gear at light throttle application (approx. 45mph) the transmission makes a grinding noise. Took vehicle back to dealership and they inspected. They contacted Honda tech support and they stated it is a known design defect. They will not address it in anyway even though there are many possibilities to address this. Noise is energy and energy has to dissipate. I am concerned the grinding noise will start to wear something out and cause a failure later in the life of the transmission or the cooler.

NHTSA ID

11456572

Incident

Apr 5, 2021

Multiple times when my car is in drive I will receive a message on the dashboard saying "Transimission Problem. See Manual" When this happen the car automatically shifts into Neutral and will not shift back into any gear other than Park unless I completely restart the car. Many other people have also had this problem, can be seen here https://www.passportforums.com/threads/major-transmission-failure.2984/ I believe there is a major issue with the transmission on some Honda Passports that is potentially fatal. I took the car in once to get it looked at and they could not find anything wrong with the car, it has happened since I took the car in to repair.

NHTSA ID

11440641

Incident

Oct 6, 2021

Car shifted into neutral on its own while accelerating up a freeway on ramp with a transmission error warning light on dash and could not get the vehicle to go back into gear until ignition was cycled a couple times. Obvious safety risk as any vehicle movement was impossible, and was not able to completely coast out of the traffic lane. There was no known symptom prior to this event and the vehicle is currently at the dealership for repair/warranty evaluation though they state "it is not showing any error codes on the diagnostics plug in", they did state that on test drive it "behaved perfectly until coming back to the dealership and acted up again....again showing a dash warning but no diagnostic code."

NHTSA ID

11422638

Incident

Jun 26, 2021

THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO PARK IF THE DRIVER STOPS THE VEHICLE AND EXITS THE VEHICLE WITHOUT TAKING IT OUT OF DRIVE, REVERSE, OR NEUTRAL. IT'S DESIGNED TO DO THAT ON THE PUSH BUTTON TRANSMISSIONS USED IN THIS VEHICLE. THE SENSOR THAT DOES THIS IS ACTIVATED BY UNBUCKLING THE SEAT BELT. IF SOMEONE IS USING A SEAT BELT EXTENDER AND UNBUCKLES THE SEAT BELT FROM THE EXTENDER AND LEAVES THE EXTENDER PLUGGED IN THIS SYSTEM IS DEFEATED. THE VEHICLE CAN MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS CREATING A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE USE THESE EXTENDERS DUE TO WEIGHT ISSUES, WEARING BULKY CLOTHING, AND VARIOUS OTHER REASONS. THE SENSOR SHOULDN'T BE IN THE SEATBELT, IT SHOULD BE IN A PRESSURE SWITCH IN THE SEAT MEASURING THE ABSENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE SEAT. THE SAME TYPE OF SENSOR THAT ACTIVATES THE AIRBAGS.

NHTSA ID

11398931

Incident

Jan 22, 2021

Mileage

5 mi

BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALER DROVE GREAT ! WEEKS INTO OWNING IT TRANSMISSION IS CLICKING BANGING AND DRIVING ROUGH MOST OF THE ISSUES ARE SECOND AND THIRD GEARS . STREET OR HIGHWAY . SERVICE CAN'T SEEM TO FIX IT VEHICLE IS ALSO SOME TIMES SLUGGISH AND DOESN'T HAVE THE PEP THAT IT SHOULD . TEST DROVE 2 OTHER PASSPORTS AND THEY BOTH HAD GREAT POWER AND NO TRANSMISSION ISSUES PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA ID

11394358

Incident

Jan 22, 2021

Mileage

700 mi