1999 Honda Passport problems & reliability
228 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1999 Honda Passport, alongside 2 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
13 complaints report injuries (14 injured, 1 deaths reported).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 1999 Honda Passport vehicles were involved in 8 fatal crashes with 5 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic → | 62 | 27% |
| Suspension → | 51 | 22% |
| Structure → | 33 | 14% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling → | 27 | 12% |
| Power Train → | 26 | 11% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline → | 15 | 7% |
| Fuel System, Other → | 12 | 5% |
| Vehicle Speed Control → | 11 | 5% |
| Unknown OR Other | 8 | 4% |
| Service Brakes, Air | 6 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 99,000 miles (middle 50% between 60,605 and 131,250 miles), based on 96 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“my frame was rusted throughout at 130k miles the car's rear trail arm mount on the frame detached and almost caused me to run into on by traffic numerous times at 25 mph. only once I stopped to pick up my sons from school the car's rear trail arm detached completely from the frame, I had deemed it undrivable and…”
Structure · filed Sep 5, 2021
“I noticed that my 1999 honda passport had a recall for the suspension. I called the dealer here in lexington ky don jacobs and set up an appointment. The day before my appointment I called to verify that they had the parts that was needed and was told that they could not fix my vehicle because they could not get the…”
Suspension · filed Apr 13, 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 honda passport. The contact stated that the son was driving and the rear drivers side suspension detached from the frame. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was towed back to the contacts residence. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced…”
Suspension · filed Apr 13, 2017
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- Rear Suspension Lower Link Detachment
Engineering Analysis EA09018 · opened Dec 7, 2009 · closed Oct 15, 2010 · led to recall 10V436000
- REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK FAILURE
Preliminary Evaluation PE09030 · opened Jun 16, 2009 · closed Dec 8, 2009 · led to recall 10V436000
- BRAKING SYSTEM/ABS
Engineering Analysis EA99008 · opened Mar 31, 1999 · closed Jul 31, 2002 · led to recall 02I002001
Technical service bulletins
71 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1999 Honda Passport. The 10 most recent:
Service bulletin - The MIL comes on and DTC P1441 (EVAP System Flow During Non-Purge) is set. The PCM software does not compensate for signal variation in the fuel tank pressure sensor when fuel sloshes in a nearly full…
Service Bulletin · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 4, 2014
Honda: due to mil coming on and dtc p1441 is set, pcm software will not compensate for variation in fuel tank pressure sensor, when fuel sloshes in full fuel tank. Model 1998-1999 passport. *pe
SB-00-011 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 4, 2014
C0282, 285, 274 4wd module in 2wd vehicle. *tt
1205 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 16, 2005
C0285, c1999, 2wd module in 4wd vehicle. *tt
1205 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 16, 2005
Anti-lock brake system diagnostic trouble code c0265. Honda. Servicenews. *tt
01012004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 1, 2004
Diagnostic trouble code c0265, open relay circuit. *nm
1203 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 16, 2003
Heater blower motor gets hot or blows a fuse. Honda. Servicenews. *tt
11012003 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 1, 2003
Identifying automatic transmission shift solenoids. Honda. Servicenews. *tt
11012003 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 1, 2003
Heater blower motor overheats or blows fuse. Various models including the 2004 insight and s2000. *tt
1003 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 16, 2003
Descriptions for the automatic transmission shift solenoids. *tt
1003 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 16, 2003
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 1999 Honda Passport has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1999 Honda Passport?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 99,000 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.