2020 Honda Passport Safety Report
2020 HONDA PASSPORT SAFETY REPORT
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2020 Honda Passport
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2020 Honda Passport. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (8) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (84) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 1 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Forward Collision Avoidance | Compare forward collision avoidance issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2024 | Compare against the 2024 Honda Passport with 13 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Honda Passport before buying across this generation. |
Honda Passport Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Honda Passport years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Honda Passport | 122 | 5 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Honda Passport | 257 | 8 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2022 Honda Passport | 47 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2023 Honda Passport | 27 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2024 Honda Passport | 13 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2025 Honda Passport | 15 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2020 Honda Passport Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2020 Honda Passport, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Forward Collision Avoidance
15 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Forward Collision Avoidance issues Honda onlyElectrical System
13 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Honda onlyUnknown Or Other
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Honda onlyEngine
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Honda onlyElectrical System,Engine
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Engine issues Honda onlyFuel/Propulsion System
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Fuel/Propulsion System issues Honda onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2020 Honda Passport
Reliability Score
The 2020 Honda Passport receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2020 Honda Passport
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2020 Honda Passport
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2020 Honda Passport:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance System False warnings have been reported, potentially distracting the driver. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Software and fuel pump failures have been reported, posing safety risks. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Engine Engine failures and rattling noises have been reported, indicating potential mechanical issues. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Fuel System Fuel pump failures have caused vehicles to stall mid-drive, leading to dangerous situations. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2020 Honda Passport:
False warnings have been reported, potentially distracting the driver.
Software and fuel pump failures have been reported, posing safety risks.
Engine failures and rattling noises have been reported, indicating potential mechanical issues.
Fuel pump failures have caused vehicles to stall mid-drive, leading to dangerous situations.
Recall Details for the 2020 Honda Passport
The following 8 recalls have been issued for the 2020 Honda Passport by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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."
Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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."
Consequence: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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."
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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 Vehi...
Consequence: Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: If the operator is unable to refer to the label information, the vehicle may be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2020 Honda Passport
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2020 Honda Passport with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes.
Brakes were being applied when no cars were around me. Now, 5 warnings were given to me as I drove down the highway. The warnings were as follows: Adaptive Cruise Control Problem Collision Mitigation System Problem Road Departure Mitigation System Problem Lane Keeping Assist ProblemAuto High-Beam Problem Brake System Light
Engine failed and now the piston rod is knocking inside the engine. Engine failure while operating a vehicle is extremely dangerous and could cause an accident or death to myself and anyone else around my vehicle while its being operated. This type of issue can even cause a fire in the engine bay. When the issue presented itself I was going 60 down the highway. Yes, the vehicle has been in two i...
Car shuts down and does not restart. Also goes to neutral and does not allow car to be steered. Also seems to be related to auto restart.
Was at a red light and the car just shut off. NOTHING! After about 5-10 seconds I pushed the start stop button and it hesitated for a few seconds and I let go and then tried it again. It hesitated and then came on. No problem the rest of the day. I have had the car for a year and zeo issues with the. My Mother had it for 3 years previously and she never had the issue. The battery is good (and only...
At approx. 5 years of age & 67,500 miles, the engine began to make rattling or ticking noises that were in sync with engine speed (RPM). Within 1 day of noting the noise, I took the first available appointment to bring the vehicle to my local Honda dealership, Napleton Honda in Loves Park, IL. Napleton Honda diagnosed the issue as "rod knock" due to failing connecting rod bearings. The dealersh...
Fuel pump failure mid-traffic in busy two lane road, unable to start vehicle. The engine sputtered and then halted with all warning lights on dashboard lighting up. Full propulsion of the vehicle ceased while in traffic causing car to be dead on the side of the road until police and tow truck could be dispatched. If this occurred on a busier road or in a 65 mile per hour divided highway, this coul...
The brake system is not working properly when stopped on a hill. The vehicle will roll backwards after pushing the brake. If you are stopped on a hill you have to keep the brake engaged while also accelerating to keep from rolling backwards and hitting the car behind you.
Burnt Oil Smell Inside Cabin (When Heater Is on High) I frequently notice a burnt oil smell inside the cabin, especially during the first hour of driving in the morning with the heater set to high. My local Honda dealership inspected the vehicle but did not find a specific cause, attributing it instead to a “Honda smell.” They demonstrated a similar odor on a new Passport and suggested using a cha...
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.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Passport. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle began to shake. The vehicle was steered into a parking lot and the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The man...
2020 Honda Passport VIN [XXX] engine start stop system fails at stop in a crossroad light. Vehicle becomes inoperable, on screen instructions not executable. After several attempts of turning vehicle off / on it finally starts. Stranded vehicle at light causes traffic to start swerving to avoid stalled vehicle - unsafe condition. No warning lights nor messages were observed in driver information ...
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)
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Passport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts needed for the recall repair were not yet available. The dealer advised the contact not to have a passenger seated in the front passenger’s seat due to t...
The Nidec OEM part number 36160-TGS-A03-M1 has failed and causing all five of these alerts to appear as warnings: 1.Road departure mitigation problem 2.Collision Mitigation problem 3. Lane keeping assist problem. 4. Auto high beam problem. 5 Adaptive cruise control failure I don't know if the Nidec part is OEM from Honda and I believe the materials used by Nidec are creating the issue. I thought ...
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Passport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags). The contact called the local dealer, who confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact to continue checking back with the dealer. The contact had not experienced a failure.
On 4-5 occasions, the auto shutoff system will shut the vehicle down at a stop light when the brake is depressed. The vehicle did not restart as normal. In order to get the vehicle to restart, the vehicle has to be turned completely off and allowed to sit for 1 minute. The battery was fully charged and less than 1 yr old. The dealer was asked and did not find any problems and could not determi...
Component Affected: Engine / Auto Idle Stop (AIS) system Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: No Deaths: No Incident 1 •Date: January 30, 2025 •Time: ~9:45 AM •Location: Dysart Rd & E Van Buren St, Avondale, AZ •Witness: Taylor (passenger) •Speed: 0 mph (stopped at red light) •Weather: 49°F ambient temperature Description: While stopped at a red light, the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) system engaged. When I att...
The first major issue I just started running into at about 90,000 miles is the engine auto start stop feature. I usually disable it when I drive due to the inability for the car to provide adequate start from a stop, but when I don’t, I’ve had the vehicle completely stall on me at a stoplight and won’t let me restart the vehicle for several minutes leaving me stranded and vulnerable sitting in a l...
Compliance bushing cracked and coming apart which is a known common issue with Honda Passports from the 2020 timeframe. Thank you for your time!
The auto idle stop failed to restart at a traffic light. This happened at a busy intersection in heavy traffic. The date given below is the most recent incident; it has happened twice now. Usually I try to remember to disable the idle stop feature, but this time I forgot, and it failed. The first time it happened was November 2024.
Showing 20 of 84 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2020 Honda Passport
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
Opened 2024-03-07 · Closed 2025-01-17
On March 7, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24008) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system in model year 2019-2022 Honda Insight and 2019-2022 Honda Passport vehicles. The complainants allege activation of the AEB system with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's path, resulting in rapid vehicle deceleration. Honda indicated that it is aware of a total of 412 reports that may relate to the a...
Component: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Crank/Camshaft Position Sensor
Opened 2025-03-26
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, ...
Component: Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
Opened 2025-01-17
On March 7, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24008) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system in model year 2019-2022 Honda Insight and 2019-2022 Honda Passport vehicles. The complainants allege activation of the AEB system with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's path, resulting in rapid vehicle deceleration. Honda indicated that it is aware of a total of 412 reports that may relate to the a...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2020 Honda Passport
Has the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT been recalled?
Yes, the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT has 8 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT have?
The 2020 HONDA PASSPORT has 84 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 1 involved crashes. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT?
The 2020 HONDA PASSPORT received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT involve forward collision avoidance (15 complaints), electrical system (13 complaints), unknown or other (8 complaints). Other affected components include engine, electrical system,engine, fuel/propulsion system.
How many crash reports does the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT have?
There are 1 crash reports associated with the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT out of 84 total complaints (1.2% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT have?
There are no fire reports for the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT.
How many injuries are reported for the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT?
No injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT.
Should I buy a 2020 HONDA PASSPORT?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT is acceptable with caveats. It has 84 complaints, 8 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT?
The components with the most failures on the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT are: 1. FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (15 complaints), 2. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (13 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (8 complaints), 4. ENGINE (7 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE (5 complaints). FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE is the single most-reported problem area with 15 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2020 HONDA PASSPORT?
Be cautious of false warnings from the Forward Collision Avoidance system and be aware of potential electrical and engine issues, especially around 30,000 to 60,000 miles. The 2020 HONDA PASSPORT has 84 NHTSA complaints and 8 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT?
The 2020 HONDA PASSPORT receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 84 owner complaints, 8 recalls, and 1 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Forward Collision Avoidance System and Electrical System.
What are the known issues with the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT?
Known issues with the 2020 HONDA PASSPORT include: Forward Collision Avoidance System, Electrical System, Engine, Fuel System. These are based on patterns found across 84 NHTSA complaints. 8 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues reported with the 2020 Honda Passport?
The most common issues include false warnings from the Forward Collision Avoidance system, electrical system failures, engine failures, and fuel pump malfunctions.
Are there any recalls for the 2020 Honda Passport?
Yes, there are recalls for issues related to the Forward Collision Avoidance system and air bags, but check if your specific model is included.
What should I do if I experience engine failures or false warnings?
If you experience engine failures or false warnings, have your vehicle inspected by a professional mechanic to ensure safety.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of false warnings from the Forward Collision Avoidance system and be aware of potential electrical and engine issues, especially around 30,000 to 60,000 miles.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2020 Honda Passport
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2020 Honda Passport. The data includes 84 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 8 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 reported crashes, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2020 Honda Passport an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16