Table 1 shows two common power train related problems of the 2026 Honda Passport.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Power Train problems | |
| Automatic Transmission Control Module problems |
My 2026 Passport has severe transmission issues that the dealership and Honda north America are not acknowledging. The shifts are harsh at any speed. The downshifts (especially from 40-0 mph) are consistently violent and jerky. I cannot drive this car smoothly enough to keep my newborn baby in it because the car rocks and lunges enough to disturb him. I have driven two other brand new Passports and have been able to replicate the same issues. I have also driven with a Honda tech in the car and he has said the transmission is way too harsh although he can’t do anything about it because Honda north America has to send software updates to fix the issue. I have 3,600 miles on the odometer.
While passing at highway speeds under heavy acceleration, the transmission system on my 2026 Honda Passport with approximately 7,000 miles malfunctioned. Multiple warning messages appeared, including “transmission system problem. Reverse gear not available. See your dealer,” “transmission system problem. Avoid heavy acceleration and high speed. See your dealer,” “transmission system problem. Paddle shifters not available. See your dealer,” and “emissions system problem. Power may be reduced. See your dealer. ” the vehicle then shifted into a middle gear and remained there, reducing normal drivability during a passing maneuver. I was able to pull over safely. After turning the vehicle off and back on, the warnings cleared temporarily, but the failure repeated multiple times. The safety concern is that the malfunction occurred during highway-speed passing and affected propulsion/gear availability. No crash or injury occurred. A Honda dealer pulled diagnostic codes p097f-17 and u3500-16 and stated that the tcm inside the transmission needed replacement. A second Honda dealer later reproduced the problem, consulted Honda technical support, and Honda approved replacement of the full transmission under warranty. The vehicle has been repaired and is available for inspection upon request. The failed transmission was replaced under warranty, so whether the original failed component remains available for inspection is unknown.