2022 Honda Passport: What to check before buying

Hesitation and lost drive power make up most reports. The transmission delays upshifts, needs extra throttle to move from a stop, jerks into reverse, and can feel worse in cold weather. Some cars stall or lose power on the highway and in traffic, nearly causing rear-end crashes. One transmission failed outright and dropped into neutral, with a $10,000 repair quote just past warranty. Other reports describe stalling after idle stop, limp mode at highway speed tied to a VCM rocker arm valve, and a cold no-start linked to starter service bulletins. Dealers often find no fault.

The audio system crackles through the front speakers and cuts out completely, sometimes daily, until the unit is switched off. Cold-weather no-starts blamed on a frozen starter also appear. Complaints cite Honda bulletin 23-023 and say a new battery or a jump start does not help. Headlight condensation is covered by bulletin 23-024. One case appeared at 38000 miles, just outside warranty, with a $1400.00 repair quote. Less common reports include a hard brake pedal that blocks push-button starting and a stall while slowing for a light.

False automatic braking is the core complaint. The system brakes for oncoming cars on two-lane roads, on gentle curves, and with nothing ahead, at speeds from 30 to 75 mph. Drivers describe near rear-end collisions and following cars having to swerve. A road departure mitigation error can also cancel cruise control and slow the car. On curves, a brake warning and beeping may appear while the steering wheel jiggles. Dealer responses range from refusing repairs to replacing the front sensors and cameras, and even that did not fully cure the problem.

Two separate problems show up here. Phantom automatic braking slams on the brakes with no traffic ahead, on curves as oncoming cars approach, or because of a shadow, at both city and highway speeds. That creates a real rear-end crash risk. There are also hydraulic faults at very low mileage. In one, the pedal sinks to the floor and the car creeps forward at a light, fixed with a new master cylinder and VSA modulator. In another, a squeaking pedal was traced to pins missing from the master cylinder. One braking report actually concerns a Pilot.

Sudden power loss is the main pattern. The car stops responding to the accelerator and either tops out around 40 mph or slows sharply from highway speed, sometimes with cruise control on. Restarting can clear it, but it may come back. The most serious report describes a seized engine after a lifter failed, requiring a full engine replacement with no dealer help. In another case, a sensor bolt backed out at 70 mph. That disabled the safety features and threw off the speed reading until the part was reinstalled.

Both complaints concern a recall repair, not a failure on the road. Federal recall campaign 23V431000 covers the back over prevention system. Dealers could not schedule the fix because parts were not available. One dealer estimated a wait of 90 days, longer than the 60 days owners say the law allows. Neither report describes the system actually failing. The issue is a parts shortage and repair delays.

Free play and a loose feel develop over time. One report describes loose handling and a pull to the right at 20000 miles. Another describes a clanking gap before the tires respond at 62,000 miles, most noticeable when parked or below 30 mph. A mechanic blamed the rack and pinion and warned it could lead to loss of control and a crash. Dealers either found nothing wrong or declined to fix it, in one case because the car is a 2022 rather than a 2023.

Water intrusion and a faulty door latch are the two issues. A leaking body seam let water under the driver's seat, where it froze the parking brake cables and kept the car from moving in freezing weather. The problem returned the next winter. The dealer said it pointed to either a major collision or a defect. A separate complaint reports a rear passenger door that will not open from inside, which could trap a passenger, often a child, in an emergency.