AI Damage2021 Honda Passport: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Honda Passport filed 145 complaints with NHTSA, most often about forward collision avoidance and engine. The maker issued 93 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 145
- involving a crash
- 10
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 93
What fails most often
- 1 Forward collision avoidance 36% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 20% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 19% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 16% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 15% of all complaints
- 6 Lane departure 7% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 5% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 4% of all complaints
- Forward collision avoidance: 52 complaints (36% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 29 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Electrical system: 27 complaints (19% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 29.
- Powertrain: 23 complaints (16% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 22 complaints (15% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 3 complaints
- automatic, 9-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 145 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward collision avoidance | 52 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine | 29 | 1 | 4 |
| Electrical system | 27 | 2 | 29 |
| Powertrain | 23 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 22 | 2 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 | 15 |
| Air bags | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Seats | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 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.
There were no warning light, malfunction errors or anything prior to 1/4/2025. My passenger seat weight sensor was supposedly finally replaced on 4/9/2025 (I kept being turned away due to the part not being available), but it is still not working, as it is not illuminating/communicating with the dashboard…
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.
- 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…
After turning a corner steering locked and unable to steer car . wrecked
The seat belt fractured. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The air bag deployed. The contact sustained bruises and bumps and medical attention was provided. A police report was filed. There were no reports of a fire. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The local dealer was not contacted.
Pulling into home garage vehicle suddenly surged forward. Brakes were applied and the brake peddle went to the floor and did not engage brakes to stop the Passport.
My son was driving on the highway with the adaptive cruise control on. The car in front of him stopped suddenly. The dashboard screen system flashed the word "brake" but not in enough time for him to react. He braked hard but he still rear-ended the car in front of him.
The idle went down and after smoke inside car cleared was able to stop engine. The Passport was towed away with extensive front end damage and minor property damage.
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 438 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 21% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Passport has 78 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 145, above average.
What to check before buying
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Service Bulletin - The wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops charging, even when the…
Service Bulletin - The wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops charging, even when the phone remains in the correct position on the charger due to software specifications that can cause some phones to…
- Service Bulletin - One or more accessory running board lights are flickering or not working due to a…
Service Bulletin - One or more accessory running board lights are flickering or not working due to a faulty running board light assembly.
- Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle…
Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque. Typically, the…
- Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear…
Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear differential pump motor connector area that corrodes the terminals.
- Service Bulletin - The wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops charging, even when the…
Service Bulletin - The wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops charging, even when the phone remains in the correct position on the charger.
- Service Bulletin - Customer complaint of the A/C not blowing cold air due to Oil/Refrigerant leak from the…
Service Bulletin - Customer complaint of the A/C not blowing cold air due to Oil/Refrigerant leak from the A/C compressor shaft seal.
- Service Bulletin - MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power
After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather (specifically near or below freezing temperatures). Usually after a long drive (around…
- Service Bulletin - The MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power
After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather (specifically near or below freezing temperatures). Usually after a long drive (around…
- Service Bulletin - Customer complaint received regarding the A/C not blowing cold air due to an…
Service Bulletin - Customer complaint received regarding the A/C not blowing cold air due to an oil/refrigerant leak from the A/C compressor shaft seal.
- Service NewsDue to On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) regulation change starting with 2019 vehicles, American…
Service NewsDue to On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) regulation change starting with 2019 vehicles, American Honda’s Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) On-Board Diagnostic monitors are now included in the…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2019-2023 Passports, 2016-2022 Pilots, & 2017-2023 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the front passengerâs power window inop from either the driverâs window switch, front…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2019-2023 Passports, 2016-2022 Pilots, & 2017-2023 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the passengerâs power window inop from driverâs master window switch. Customer may also…
NHTSA lists 93 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Honda Passport?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: forward collision avoidance, engine, electrical system. Total complaints: 145. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (20%), infotainment or screen glitches (10%), driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Honda Passport?
NHTSA lists 93 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 2021 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 2021 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 2026-11-04.