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2021 Honda Passport problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
37% of relevant owner complaints on the 2021 Honda Passport are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 58% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 8 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 35%).
Does the 2021 Honda Passport have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 50 of 134 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Passport concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (37%), and the largest group is filed under engine (27). For comparison, the 2020 scores 24% and the 2022 scores 33%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other Honda Passport years
Of the 5 Honda Passport years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the worst on engine and transmission share (37%). The best is the 2023 (22%). By volume, the 2021 drew 142 complaints (50 drivetrain), against 102 for the 2020 and 62 for the 2022.
Honda Passport years to avoid and best years →
2019 Passport problems · 2020 Passport problems · 2021 · 2022 Passport problems · 2023 Passport problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Honda Passport
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 50 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 Honda Passport fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Honda Passport involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.…
6 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Honda Passport? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2021 Honda Passport
Does the 2021 Honda Passport have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 50 of 134 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Passport concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (37%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Honda Passport?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Honda Passport is forward collision avoidance: 51 of 142 complaints (36%) name it, followed by engine (27) and electrical system (25). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 37% of the relevant total.
Is the 2021 Honda Passport reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 37% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 58% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 5 Honda Passport years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Honda Passport?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 Honda Passport involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total: 23V858000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Honda Passport years are better?
Among the Honda Passport years we track, the 2023 (22%), the 2020 (24%) and the 2019 (30%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (37%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/honda-passport
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.