Power Train Problems of Honda Passport - part 1

My vehicle has experienced multiple dangerous incidents where it shuts down or shifts into neutral while driving. This has happened on highways, tunnels, busy on-ramps and main streets. The car loses power and requires restarting, which takes about 30 seconds. On a busy highway or street, this is enough time for a serious accident to occur if other vehicles cannot switch lanes on time. This has happened multiple times with my child in the car, and me being currently pregnant. The vehicle has never given me a warning prior. The issue appears to be related to the auto start/stop system and/or electrical drivetrain controls. The vehicle is unsafe to operate because the driver can forget to disable auto start/stop and the car can suddenly lose power in traffic. There was also a separate incident (in between the multiple incidents above) where I was on the highway, my car accelerated, brakes wouldn't work, and my foot wasn't on the gas. The car then shifted to neutral and the only way I could stop was by shutting it off and moving to the breakdown lane. There have been two repair attempts. The first repair was done in 2024 after the initial loss-of-power incident related to the auto start/stop feature. In this repair, the battery was replaced and I was told a full diagnostic was run and the car was safe to drive. On 11/11/25 the serious incident with acceleration/ loss of brake function on the highway occurred. A full diagnostic was run and the transmission was replaced under warranty. However, a month after the transmission replacement, the loss of power issue returned. It has now been at least 4 incidents since the transmission was changed. I reported this to Honda corporate and received a case number, but despite multiple attempts to receive an update over the past 2 months, I have not been contacted by Honda, and no resolution has been provided. I do not feel safe driving this vehicle and no longer trust further repairs.

See all problems of the 2019 Honda Passport 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2021 Honda Passport 🔎.

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.

2022 Passport was driven from indianapolis in to naperville IL on the evening of Jan 24th experiencing snowy and freezing conditions. Car was left overnight outside and would not start on the morning of the 25th. Warning lights displayed were battery and flashing engine light, one click on start up but no other noises. On the morning of the 26ths aaa provided services to try and jump the battery and eventually had to tow vehicle to valley Honda aurora IL for service. Vehicle under went troubleshooting on the morning of the 28th after being left outside. Vehicle still refused to start tech suggested replacement of starter or iaw Honda service bulletin 23-010 and 23-023 letting vehicle starter thaw. Vehicle was brough inside into a warm environment overnight and started on Thursday the 29th. There were no prior indicators of issues until the morning of the 25th.

See all problems of the 2022 Honda Passport 🔎.

Our vehicle experienced total transmission failure with no warning while I was driving on a narrow country road. The car shifted into neutral, and I was unable to go anywhere, so I sat in the middle of the road with hazard lights on in a state of panic. We had the car towed to a nearby Honda dealership and were informed of the transmission failure, which was identified through a diagnostic test. Codes that failed were listed p0730; p0700; p07a6; p07a8; p07a4. I have owned the car for one year and three months (purchased October 2024 for $34,000). I am being told it is just past the power train warranty, and Honda is not offering any assistance in covering the repair cost - $10,000.

Vehicle has 11,500 miles on it and constantly pulls to the right. Pulls harder under hard acceleration, requiring steering correction when accelerating hard and again correcting when backing off the accelerator. Have had to dealer multiple times. They claim they can't fix. Correcting to the left under load and back to the right can cause car to weave at highway speeds and cause it to be unstable. Car is available for inspection upon request.

See all problems of the 2025 Honda Passport 🔎.

The auto stop/start feature caused my vehicle to stall in the middle of the road. I had stopped at an intersection and just as the engine shut off, traffic cleared and I went to accelerate, and the engine shut off completely. I had to shift to park to start the engine.

2020 Honda Passport VIN [xxx] engine start stop system fails at stop in a crossroad light. Vehicle becomes inoperable, on screen instructions not executable. After several attempts of turning vehicle off / on it finally starts. Stranded vehicle at light causes traffic to start swerving to avoid stalled vehicle - unsafe condition. No warning lights nor messages were observed in driver information system previous to failure occurrence. Malfunction has happened at least 3 times in last 6 months information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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My 2023 Honda Passport is having shifting problems (high revs, slow nd unpredictable power to wheels)   harsh acceleration (not easy to safely /smoothly gauge power and speed from acceleration to wheel) high revs "stuck" --not shifting down smoothly/safely these issues are on going. I also researched and saw this has been reported b y other Honda Passport( 2023)  owners. I contacted dealer 10/16/25 to document the complaint and asked dealer to call me back if any service advisories or recalls, they said no, but a service advisor wuld contat me if they felt a follow up was needed.     also, the vehicle had 'catastrophic' computer failure with power lost and warning lights within first 2 years --transmission lost power/engine still ran and forced into the breakdown lane and have vehicle towed.   . Dealer did some type of reset. VIN # 5fnyf8h59pb027063.

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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.

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.

The auto-start/stop function sometimes fails to restart the engine after coming to a complete stop. Vehicle is left stranded in a traveling lane.

The auto idle stop failed to restart at a traffic light. This happened at a busy intersection in heavy traffic. The date given below is the most recent incident; it has happened twice now. Usually I try to remember to disable the idle stop feature, but this time I forgot, and it failed. The first time it happened was November 2024.

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.

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. .

The contact owns a 2022 Honda Passport. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the transmission shuddered. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel injectors needed to be flushed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the same diagnostic information was provided. The contact stated that the fuel injectors were flushed again. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,300.

Car feels sluggish and delays accelerating when driven. Occasionally will make a strange sounds when trying to accelerate. The automatic brake will engage when there no obstacle in front of me while I’m driving- has happened a few times since I bought the car. At times, the car will not turn on when the ignition button is selected for no apparent reason.

Description: I have a concern that I will follow-up with a letter via usps. Imagine driving your 2019 Honda Passport on an interstate, speed limit is set at 70; your speed is 75; you're in the middle of the three lanes of travel; and your vehicle suddenly decelerates and every warning the vehicle is equipped with start giving alerts in rapid succession. This is what happened to me on [xxx] at approximately [xxx]. What is concerning is that this exact same thing happened April 2023 and I was told it was the idle control sensor. The dealership that sold me the vehicle was gracious enough to let me bring it to them for repair, without charging the full cost of the part but, labor cost I incurred. When a consumer purchases a vehicle, the second most expensive purchase in one's lifetime, it is implied that outside of normal and routine maintenance, the car has been assessed and inspected for drivability. Being that this is the second occurrence, I am questioning if this vehicle was thoroughly inspected for this issue? I had my vehicle towed to the greensboro Honda dealership, 3633 w. Wendover Ave. , greensboro nc 27407. Although my faith and loyalty to the Honda brand has diminished, the customer service provided by ms. Karen was comforting and reassuring. She understood my concerns and was phenomenal in letting me know what to expect. Surprising for a weekend as, most employees are not wanting to work. The reason for this email is two fold, notification of the issue and hoping that Honda will take accountability financially and resolve whatever "root" issue(s) that could be cause. Thank you and if my life has any significance to you, I hope to hear from you regarding this serious concern. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

When backing out of a driveway onto a busy street, I put the car in reverse and back out into the lane of traffic. I then put the car into drive and try to pull forward into the lane of traffic with cars coming up behind me but the car does not respond to the gas pedal for many seconds. I have almost been rear ended because of this several times.

See all problems of the 2024 Honda Passport 🔎.

Traveling up a hill of 5-degree incline. 20 mph speed limit. Came to complete stop, pushed reverse button. Back over prevention camera did not activate. Did not depress gas pedal. Vehicle rolled backward 35 feet before coming to rest partially in traffic and partially in private driveway. Instrument panel indicated vehicle p for park throughout the entire event. After coming to rest: (partially in traffic) vehicle would not shift out of park. Error messages on instrument panel stated: "stop driving when safe. Transmission problem. See manual. " check engine was not illuminated. Turned off car and back on. Same error message was still present. Gear selector buttons would not respond and vehicle remained in park, partially stuck in traffic. Repeatedly attempted to get vehicle to shift out of park. Eventually the battery positive terminal was removed and reapplied and tightened vehicle started, error message no longer present. Vehicle shifted out of park into reverse. Back over prevention camera activated at this time.

Transmission rolls freely when on an incline. Will roll backward when in drive also will roll forward when in reverse. Could easily roll over small children or animals. Yes problem was confirmed by dealer has not been inspected by others dealer tested other new vehicles and found same problem. Insisted this is normal with all electronic transmissions. Although manfacturer has added a button in later vehicles to fix the problem. No warnings or messages.

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.

The idle stop system comes on when I must apply my brakes and stop - for example at a red light. This week, more than once, after when the idle stop system came on, the care stalled. Both times, I was in traffic and this created a dangerous situation for me. When I took my foot off the brake and touched the gas to proceed when the light turned green, the car stalled. I had to put the car in park and restart the engine. When this happened, the cars behind me assumed I was going to move forward, and they had to hit their brakes to avoid hitting me. A warning light came on behind my steering wheel and said the idle stop was interrupted. The message said I needed to put the car in park and restart the car. I am sure the traffic behind me at rush hour was not happy. Thank goodness this did not happen while I was starting to make a left turn, I could have been hit if the car stalled in the intersection.

The car behind me was very close. I wanted to get up to the speed limit and pressed the gas. The car did not accelerate. I heard.

When engaging the accelerator after auto-stop the entire vehicle stalled. Nothing was displayed on the dash or media console, the vehicle cut off, no steering, and no acceleration. When attempting to restart the vehicle it failed multiple attempts until about 45-60 seconds later. Thankfully this occurred at a redlight, but it was a single lane and other drivers behind me were not pleased. This has happened twice now.

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.

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.

Sloppy gear changes/hangs. Popping occasionally occurs when going into park/drive.

Was driving at highway speed on the garden state parkway when the vehicle went into limp mode and many errors codes appeared. Was barely able to get on the shoulder then limp to a parking lot at an exit. Car had to be towed to the dealer where it is in the process of having a rocker arm spooler valve replaced that controls the vcm in the bank one cylinders. This created an extremely unsafe condition that nearly caused me to have a high speed accident.

- 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.

The engine lost power and shut down while driving on the highway. The vehicle has been at a Honda dealership since this date (so about 8 weeks now). It can be inspected but I am on the verge of replacing the engine at my cost. The loss of power resulted in putting the vehicle on the side of and icy highway at night and at risk of being hit or sideswiped. There was very little cell service which meant that a tow truck couldn't be called right away. There were no warning signs that the engine was experiencing trouble before this engine failure. The problem has not been reproduced by the dealership. They have inspected the vehicle and have only pointed to low oil/leaking oil as the issue. I myself have no evidence of leaking oil or low oil. There again, were no warnings/symptoms prior to the failure. The problem occurred at the moment that the engine supposedly failed completely. The dealership and american Honda have not entertained any failure other than the low oil and my oil change which occured 5300 miles and over three months prior. I cannot understand as a consumer with a powertrain warranty and a car with some known recalls (fuel pump/ connecting rod) refuse to be concerned for the safety of their customers and use my vehicle to determine what the real issue was or is.

Vehicle has a delayed response to accelerate as if the transmission doesn’t want to shift or missing the next up shift. Starting from a stop position you have to press further down on the accelerator to get the vehicle to move which could lead you to accident either hit someone in front of you cause the vehicle lurched forward or possibly hit from the side or rear cause the vehicle won’t accelerate.

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.

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Passport. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle inadvertently shifted from drive to neutral and the vehicle stalled. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that he was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that he was advised by the dealer to replace the battery; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the rear-view camera screen intermittently illuminated and displayed a blank screen. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number and advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 50,100.

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Passport. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v858000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling at a stop light the vehicle stalled. The contact noticed the instrument panel showed the vehicle had shifted into neutral. The message to shift to park(p) was then displayed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle to shift to park. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle decelerated before lunging forward and accelerating. The dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer had not diagnosed the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 34,000. Parts distribution disconnect.