AI Damage1996 Honda Passport: common problems
Owners of the 1996 Honda Passport filed 41 complaints with NHTSA, most often about structure and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 41
- involving a crash
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Structure 29% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 12% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 12% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 7% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- Structure: 12 complaints (29% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 7 complaints (17% of all).
- Air bags: 5 complaints (12% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 5 complaints (12% of all).
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (10% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3.2 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 41 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Suspension | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving on a dry country road at 30 mph; the front driver's side tire blew out causing the vehicle to rear end another vehicle and neither air bag deployed. There was extensive damage done to the front of the vehicle. There were injuries sustained and a police report was taken.
I was driving on [address] on june 22, 03 at 11:15 a.m. When the rear right tire rubber came out. I lost control and hit a car.
While traveling 40 mph on black ice and as a result of an accident air bags did not deploy at any time. Please provide further informtion.
During frontal impact 30 to 35 mph, the driver's and passenger's side air bags did not deploy, resultin gin injuries.
Poor abs brake performance, the brake pedal went to the floor and complete brake failure was experienced. Vehicle kept on going an smashed into another vehicle.
The frame on my passport broke. Come to find out my frame is rotted. I'm happy I wasn't on the interstate and going a reasonable speed or who knows what might have happened to me and my family. I see now that this is a common thing with these passports.
Defect consequence: excessive corrosion may result in the left or right rear suspension lower link bracket becoming detached from the frame, which can affect vehicle handling and potentially cause a crash.
This vehicle is experiencing extreme frame corrosion of both the forward and rear frame member. There are large perforations in multiple areas along the entire length of the frame, and I don't see any way to repair other than a complete frame replacement.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,891 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 16% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Passport has 85 complaints (20 years in the data). This year has 41, below average.
What to check before buying
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
- Passport 199436 sources
- Passport 199560 sources
- Passport 199756 sources
- Passport 1998229 sources
- Passport 1999228 sources
- Passport 2000102 sources
- Passport 2001134 sources
- Passport 200223 sources
- Passport 2019401 sources
- Passport 2020219 sources
- Passport 2021239 sources
- Passport 2022149 sources
- Passport 2023117 sources
- Passport 202453 sources
- Passport 202566 sources
- Passport 202685 sources
- Passport 99995 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Honda Passport?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: structure, engine and cooling, air bags. Total complaints: 41. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rust, corrosion (22%), airbags did not deploy (7%), vibration (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1996 Honda Passport?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1996 Honda Passport from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1996 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.