Here Are The Honda Passport Years To Avoid
Source: Pixabay
Wondering which Honda Passport years to avoid? We have the answers. Honda has been a major player in the automotive world for more than 70 years. And while the brand is nearly synonymous with compact cars, it has expanded its offerings in recent years and now produces a full range of vehicles for a variety of needs and budgets.
Enter: the Honda Passport. As Honda’s first SUV, there is a fair bit of history behind this vehicle. Production began in 1993 and ended in 2002, only to be reintroduced in 2018. Today, the Passport is still going strong as a reliable SUV for Honda.
But it wasn’t always like this. The Passport saw its fair share of problems in its beginning years. Some of which would follow the SUV around until its discontinuation and subsequent reintroduction into the market.
As someone interested in buying a Honda Passport, it’s safe to assume that you have questions. So to help you avoid buying a lemon, we’ve outlined which years to avoid and what you should know before buying a Passport.
THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE HONDA PASSPORT
For today’s buyers’ guide, we walk you through all Passport generations to determine which is the most reliable Honda Passport year for buying used and which ones you should skip.
Quick Answer: The Honda Passport years to avoid include 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001.
For an SUV that technically entered the market in 1994 and exited it in 2002, the Passport doesn’t have the greatest of track records, especially when you learn that the primary concern with these vehicles is a rusting frame.
That isn’t something that’s easily fixed. And in the case of the Passport, the problem becomes so severe that there’s really no option but to junk it. When it comes to the safety of the driver and passengers, there’s no debating this matter.
The good news is that there are Passport models that are reliable vehicles. So let’s take a closer look at which Passports you should consider and which ones are better left avoided.
Which Honda Passports Are Safe to Buy Used?
The initial production run of the Passport can be broken down into two generations. The 2018 to present run is the SUV’s third generation, which doesn’t yet have enough data to report on potential issues.
As for the initial run, the first generation ranks the highest in terms of reliability, safety, and overall quality. Those years include:
- 1994 Honda Passport
- 1995 Honda Passport
- 1996 Honda Passport
- 1997 Honda Passport
The only notable year of concern from the first generation is 1995, which has reports of body problems. Once again, the frame rusting is a potential issue you might run into, although it isn’t nearly as widespread as later Passport models.
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Honda Passport Years to Avoid
The Honda Passport years to avoid are largely among the second generation of production, which spans the following models:
- 1998 Honda Passport
- 1999 Honda Passport
- 2000 Honda Passport
- 2001 Honda Passport
- 2002 Honda Passport
Of the second run, the 1999 model has the longest list of consumer complaints. Chief among them are transmission failure and rusting of the frame.
But that isn’t all that you have to worry about. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) also reports a significant number of brake problems.
When you factor in the existing frame rusting with the additional reports of faulty braking, the ‘99 Passport is one to avoid. There are reports of several issues, including the ABS light staying on and faulty brake equipment.
According to CarComplaints, a large portion of ’99 Passport owners reports extended stopping distances, with this issue persisting even after taking the vehicle in for repairs. The same was found true regarding users who reported their ABS lights staying on.
CarComplaints also cites NHTSA data on both hydraulic and air service brakes as being one of the major concerns in the ’99 Passport. In fact, over 80 complaints have been logged on service brakes alone.
Moreover, there are consumer reports of the antilock brakes activating for no reason while driving or simply not working at all.
As far as the rusting frame issue is concerned, multiple users have experienced this problem and have taken appropriate action by taking their vehicles in for repair. But the rusting is so bad that there’s no viable way to weld or strengthen the weakened frame.
As such, the SUVs are deemed unsafe to drive. Also according to CarComplaints, 34 NHTSA reports echo the body and frame complaints from consumers. Both the rear and upper sections of the frame are the most widely reported areas, with many of them eaten completely through the frame.
Trailing closely behind the 1999 model of Honda Passport years to avoid is the 2001 model. According to CarComplaints, there are no less than 69 NHTSA complaints pertaining to body and paint problems.
What’s more, some drivers report losing control of their vehicles as a result of the frame rusting. The issue appears to be the quality of the material used in the frame’s manufacturing, as other metals on the ’01 Passport are just as solid and sound as the day they came off of the production line.
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Overview of Honda Passport Problems by Year
Now that you know the primary points of concern with the second generation production run of the Honda Passport, let’s examine an overview of each problem by year.
1998 Honda Passport: Transmission Failure/Frame Rusting
1999 Honda Passport: Transmission Failure/Frame Rusting
2000 Honda Passport: Frame Rusting
2001 Honda Passport: Frame Rusting Completely Through
These aren’t cheap fixes, either. In some cases, there are no fixes. The most expensive repairs fall under the 1998 and 1999 Passports due to transmission failure. The average cost of repair is $4,300 and $4,000, respectively.
The rusting frame issue can cost upwards of $1,000, but only if it’s caught early enough. And even then, the repairs won’t prevent further rusting elsewhere on the frame.
8 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN BUYING A USED CAR
So you’re in the market for a used vehicle? We’ve gone ahead and prepped some essential questions to ask when buying a used car.
In Closing
Due to the nature of the rusting on the Passport models covered, you are better off avoiding Passports produced between 1998 and 2002.
As far as newer models go, we’re hopeful that Honda addressed the issue that led to so many consumers experiencing rusting and transmission problems in earlier models. As more data is released, we will update our reporting accordingly.
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