2020 Honda Passport: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 84 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, automatic emergency braking, and engine. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2020- Owner complaints
- 84
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes reported
- 1
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2020 Honda Passport: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/3
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Passport is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2020 Honda Passport. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 21–22 mpg |
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Passport that averages well under the EPA 21 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Idle stop restart failure
55,000–70,000 miles
Connecting rod bearing engine failure
65,000–67,500 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Honda Passport, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Electrical23No crashes
Auto Idle Stop shuts the engine off at a light, and then the engine will not restart. The car can sit stalled in a travel lane for minutes. Some reports say it shifts into neutral or park and will not steer. Getting it running again usually takes a full power-off, a wait, or several tries. Batteries test good, and dealers often find nothing wrong. One car had the same symptoms again after work under bulletin 23-009. Separately, the infotainment and driver screens go black while driving, take a long time to reboot, and send loud crackling through the speakers.
Automatic emergency braking19No crashes
The system flashes BRAKE, shakes the steering wheel, and sometimes brakes hard when nothing is ahead. Oncoming cars on two-lane roads, curves, and cars in nearby lanes set it off most often. Several drivers came close to being rear-ended. Reports start as early as 7,000 miles and run up to about 35,000. Dealers have called the sensor fine, blamed bugs on the camera, or adjusted the camera, and none of these fixed it for good. At high mileage the front camera can fail outright. That brings up warnings for adaptive cruise, lane keeping, collision mitigation, and auto high beams together.
Engine8No crashes
Worn connecting rod bearings cause engine failure. It starts as a rattle or knock that rises and falls with engine speed. Some cars also show a check engine light, shake, and stall at highway speed. Dealers and independent shops say the engine must be replaced. These failures cluster around 65,000 to 67,500 miles. One owner notes that a 3.5L V6 engine recall does not cover this model. The other reports describe Auto Idle Stop failing to restart the engine at lights, plus an engine that sometimes will not crank when hot.
Fuel system4No crashes
The fuel pump fails while driving. Power cuts out without warning and the car stops in traffic, in one case in a highway middle lane at 75 mph. A February 2024 fuel pump recall covers some 2020 cars, but at least one car that failed was not included. Two other reports describe a plastic fuel tank that was punctured and leaked fast. One happened at 570 miles with no impact felt. The other came from road debris hitting the unshielded driver side of the tank. Both leaks raise a fire risk.
Brakes4No crashes
The collision mitigation braking system brakes at random or flashes BRAKE warnings when nothing is ahead. Adaptive cruise can close too fast on stopped traffic, then brake hard with every warning light on. Oncoming cars and turning cars set off false alerts on two-lane roads and freeways. Dealers have said the system is working as designed or could not fix it. A separate report says the car rolls backward on a hill even after the brake is pressed.
Transmission4No crashes
Auto Idle Stop fails to restart the engine at intersections, and the car stays stalled in traffic until several off-and-on cycles bring it back. No warning comes first, and the problem repeats. Other reports describe the engine losing power and shutting down on the highway, which the dealer linked to low or leaking oil. Another describes the transmission slipping into neutral while the display still shows drive, at around 40,000 miles. Dealers could not reproduce these faults.
Airbags3No crashes
These reports are about a recall, not about air bags failing in use. Owners got notices for air bag campaign 24V064000, but dealers had no parts to do the repair. One dealer told the owner to keep the front passenger seat empty until the fix. Owners say the wait for parts has gone on too long. None of these reports describe an air bag actually failing.
Acceleration and cruise control21 crash
These reports describe both unexpected acceleration and unexpected braking. In one crash report, the car lurched forward while parking and hit a concrete wall with no warning first. No one was hurt. In another report, the front radar and collision avoidance system sensed objects that were not there and slowed the car almost to a stop. The instrument panel also showed the wrong speed. That driver turned the feature off to stop the false braking.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Passport owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
The Passport is equipped with an auto stop/start engine feature. In the last week, while stopped in traffic in the roadway the engine shut off, but did not turn back on causing the car to stall in traffic for several minutes before I was able to restart it. The vehicle shifted to neutral and wouldn't restart until the power was fully off and the door was opened and closed. Both times I was stuck in a travel lanes for approximately 3-5 minutes.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
Car would not start. Jump start immediate remedy, also same as before. Symptoms identical to those that occurred prior to the service work performed by Elmhurst Honda for the Honda Idle Stop Recall (Service Bulletin 23-009)
Filed with NHTSA, October 2025
Front radar camera is broken after 100000 miles. Errors include: adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, brake system, road departure mitigation system, auto high beam, collision mitigation.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2024
The cmbs keeps flashing the brake warning light when I’m changing lanes to a center turn lane. This happens at least 2-3 times weekly. I’ve also had it brake going through a stop light when no one was in front of me and almost got me rear ended. I have not taken it to a dealer or shop to have them reproduce it because I know there’s nothing they will do to fix it so I’m not going to waste the money until I know it will be fixed by taking it in.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2022
This has happened 3 different times starting on 5/28/23. While at a stop light the engine shut off function goes into effect. The engine then shuts off and won't restart until you put it back in park and restart the vehicle. This is dangerous and could cause accidents when in stop and go traffic.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2023
My Honda is 3.5 L V6 engine blew up I know there’s a recall for the 3.5 L V6 engine on my Honda. However, the recalls don’t include the passport, which is what I have but the connecting rods blue causing engine failure.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2025
How the 2020 compares with other Passport years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2020 ranks third for owner complaints among 7 Passport years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Electrical2317
- Automatic emergency braking198
- Engine85
- Fuel system45
- Brakes48
- Transmission49
Where the 2020 fits in the Passport's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2020 is the second model year of the Passport's third generation (2019–2025).
Honda updated the Passport for 2022, so a 2020 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2022 (not on a 2020)
- New front end design
- Introduction of TrailSport trim
Recalls to confirm (8)
Recall repairs are free at any Honda dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
24V064000AirbagsFeb 2024
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024, October 18, 2024, and August 2025. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
23V858000Fuel systemDec 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
23V431000Backup cameraJun 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility.".
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EEL, ZEM, and SFC.
23V174000Wipers and visibilityMar 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility.".
Risk: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FE5.
21V165000Wheels and tiresMar 2021
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Passport and Pilot vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Risk: Overcured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation, which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four tires and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 22, 2021. Owners may contact American Honda Motor Co. customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is UA2.
20V439000Backup cameraJul 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rearview Mirrors.".
Risk: Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is T89.
20V440000ElectricalJul 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors.".
Risk: A delayed or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners that updated software is available. Owners have the option to either follow the mailed instructions to download and update the software for free, or visit a dealer to have the software update performed, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is Y7Y.
20V067000EquipmentFeb 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 Passport and Pilot vehicles. The certification label may have been printed with ink that can be wiped away with a solvent, removing the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) information.
Risk: If the operator is unable to refer to the label information, the vehicle may be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the certification label, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is B6T.
Also looking at these instead of a Passport?
Cars shoppers compare with the Honda Passport, with their own 2020 checklists.
2020 owner complaints, side by side
- Toyota 4Runner30
- 2020 Honda Passport84
- Hyundai Santa Fe165
- Jeep Grand Cherokee207
- Toyota Highlander269
- Kia Telluride667
- Ford Explorer1,066
