If you are considering buying a famous Honda Passport but can not decide on which model year to choose, it is better you learn everything about Honda Passport years to avoid and buy. Honda Passport is an impressive SUV offering the reliability of Japanese technology and the security of USA manufacturing.
This five-seater ride is ideal for solo rides as well as growing families. Over the years since its launch in 1993, the Honda Passport has offered its buyers top features with a hint of luxury.
So, if you desire an advanced ride with comfort and support for you all the time, the Honda Passport is an excellent option in both the new and used car market.
However, not every Passport is built equally. Some come with better usage outcomes than others, while some simply cause more trouble to their owners.
Thus, to ensure you are not among the buyers getting scammed with a burdensome ride, I bring you the best and worst years for a Honda passport in 2024.
You will learn about Honda Passport’s generations, the best Honda Passport years, the worst Honda Passport years, and the issues associated with them.
Honda Passport Generations – All Model Years
Passport is a sport utility vehicle engineered by Japanese automaker Honda to enter the competitive SUV market in the United States in the 1990s. The Honda Passport was introduced in 1993 for the model year 1994. It was Honda’s first SUV model for North America.
Honda was producing Passport in partnership with American automaker Isuzu. However, when this partnership ended in 2002, there was a discontinuation of the Passport lineup as Honda set its focus on its upcoming Honda Pilot lineup.
But in 2018, Honda announced the revival of the Passport nameplate as a two-row mid-size crossover SUV, placing it cleverly between the Honda CR-V and Honda Pilot lineups.
To this date Passport lineup has been made, restyled, and refurbished across three generations only, as the model was not produced between 2002 and 2018.
Thus, this makes it a lot more crucial for you to not only learn about Honda passport years to avoid but also the most concerning Honda passport issues.
- Model Years 1994-1997: 1st Generation
- Model Years 1998-2002: 2nd Generation
- Model Years 2018-2024: 3rd Generation
Honda Passport Years To Buy – Best And Worst Years
SUVs are one of the best vehicles you can own. They not only offer ample space and cargo hold but come with comfort and sometimes luxury you could only imagine. Even in the used market, you can find a vehicle that serves its purpose well and does not trouble you like what most people misconception about second-hand rides.
A brand-new car can be just as troublesome as a used one if you go for a ride that comes with more issues than endearing features. Thus, whether you decide to buy the Honda Passport’s brand new model from the latest releases or a used one from previous years, knowing which one is a better option than the other is always a great help.
To help you understand which Honda passport years to avoid and which ones are your best bet, I have taken help from several well-renowned sources that are well-reputed and established in the American automotive industry.
So before you go ahead and start looking for a Honda Passport for sale, here is the list of credible sources you can refer to:
- J.D. Power owner ratings
- Cars.com owner ratings
- NHTSA ratings, complaints, recalls, & investigations
- Consumer Reports owner satisfaction scores & reliability scores
- Edmunds owner ratings
- Kelley Blue Book owner ratings
The following are the Honda Passport lineup’s generations divided into the Honda Passport years to buy and avoid
Model Years 1994-1997: 1st Generation
- Best Years: 1994, 1996, 1997
- Worst Years: 1995
Model Years 1998-2002: 2nd Generation
- Best Years: 2002
- Worst Years: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
Model Years 2019-2024: 3rd Generation
- Best Years: 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024
- Worst Years: 2021, 2023
Honda Passport Years To Avoid And Buy – 1st Generation (1994-1997)
The first generation of Honda Passport was launched in the model year 1994. This ride featured a sturdy body, a spacious interior for seating five adults, and ample cargo space behind the second row.
The first generation of the Passport lineup is a definition of retro aesthetics any SUV can hold, making it an excellent choice for college-going students, teenage drivers, and parents with their hands filled with kids & household chores.
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1994, 1996, and 1997 are the best Honda Passport years from the first generation, offering reliable & sturdy build, whereas 1995 is the year you need to steer clear of.
Best Honda Passport Years (1st Generation): 1994, 1996, 1997
When it comes to reliability, safety, and overall quality, the first-generation Honda Passport is among the best. The models come with rugged looks, power, and decent handling. As per average consumer rating, the owners have found these Passport model years safe, reliable, fun, potent, and engaging.
With the releases from the best years of first generation Honda Passport, you will get a ride that is solid, great in snow, affordable, and child seat compatible.
Worst Honda Passport Years (1st Generation): 1995
The model year 1995 is the worst year of Passport’s first generation. The 1995 Honda Passports came with issues like problematic transmission, electrical malfunctions, and structural build quality.
Thus, getting a 1995 Passport for a price as low as $1,935 in the used car market might seem tempting, but it will not flourish, especially with the issues this year bears.
Best And Worst Years For Honda Passport – 2nd Generation (1998-2002)
The second generation of Honda Passport was quite disappointing, with only one good year to buy, with others filled with plagued issues. 2002 is the best Honda Passport year for the second generation, whereas 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 are the years you need to walk away from.
Best Honda Passport Years (2nd Generation): 2002
The model years 2000 and 2002 are the best second-generation years or, should I say, the least problematic ones. While almost every second generation came with issues related to engine, suspension, and transmission, the model year 2002 was the least affected by them.
The 2002 year Passports offer good reliability, great buying prices, ample praise from previous consumers, and newer variants compared to the first generation.
Worst Honda Passport Years (1st Generation): 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
The second-generation Passport has been affected by several issues that have caused nothing but headaches for the owners. The issues related to anti-lock brakes, traction control, rear suspension, engine cooling system, rusting & corrosion in the structure’s frame, fuel system, and vehicle speed control are scattered around these years.
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Thus, you can see the second generation of Honda Passport was not as good as most people expect from a vehicle’s new generation.
Honda Passport Years To Avoid And Buy – 3rd Generation (2019-2024)
After being discontinued in 2002, Honda Passport made a comeback in the model year 2019. The new generation not only showcases the Honda Passport reliability but also lets the buyers enjoy the latest technology, upgraded looks, and advanced features.
2021 and 2023 are among the Honda Passport years to avoid in the latest generation. Whereas 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2024 are all great years to own.
Best Honda Passport Years (3rd Generation): 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024
After being on hiatus for over a decade, Passport finally came back into being. 2019 was the introductory year, whereas 2020 was the second model year of production of the third generation.
Both these years offered notable features like well-rounded performance, impressive cargo hold, and user-friendly technological features. The following model years from 2022 and 2024 are all Honda Passport’s best years and great buys for this SUV.
2022 came with a new, fresh look comprising of rugged exterior styling, a comfortable interior, a potent V6 engine, and a Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistance technology ensuring your safety under all circumstances.
If you are wondering which Honda Passport will be right for you, the answer is the best years of the third generation. Furthermore, the Passport’s latest release, the 2024 Honda Passport, is also here. This release of this mid-size SUV again comes with plenty of space, a potent powertrain, and lengthy standard features.
However, this does not mean these years are entirely devoid of the issues. They sure have their quirks but they are not as severe to label them as worst.
Worst Honda Passport Years (3rd Generation): 2021, 2023
Model years 2021 and 2023 are the Honda Passport years to avoid in the latest generation. As per NHTSA, both these model years have the most user complaints and the most recalls. Thus, despite earning five-star overall safety ratings, the 2021 and 2023 Honda Passport should be off your list.
The common problems with the 2023 Honda Passport and the 2021 Honda Passport were related to transmission, electric system malfunctions, engine misfires, and brake system troubles.
What Are The Problems With The Honda Passport?
The Honda Passport is a sturdy SUV that offers ample cabin and cargo space with several advanced tech & safety features. However, not every Honda is built the same. Some were sitting on issues compared to assisting features.
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Honda Passport is a rugged ride offering reliability and durability. Still, the lineup has been plagued by some issues that have hindered its full potential over the years. Some of those issues still exist in the lineup, making people look for Honda Passport years to avoid and the ones to buy.
Like any other automobile in the market, the Honda Passport has been haunted by some big and small problems. Still, there are some significant issues that every buyer needs to be aware of, especially if you are considering buying a used Honda Passport.
– Rust & Corrosion
The Passport lineup has had issues related to frame structure, leading to rusting and corrosion. Some model-year releases showed these issues more than others.
– Transmission Issues
One of the most prominent issues that have created headaches not only for Passport buyers but also for Nissan Altima and many more is related to transmission.
In many cases, the transmission shifted from driving to neutral when the car was in motion. Other than this transmission slipping, rough shifting with grinding noises or difficulty in shifting gears were prominent, especially in model year 2021.
– Brake Issues
Another reason you need to know about Honda passport issues is that not every issue can be handled by an everyday driver, like the ones related to the brake system.
The brake system issues include premature wear of brake pads, squeaking or grinding noises, or brake pedal pulsation. These get even worse if you use contaminated brake fluid and do not practice proper maintenance.
– Electrical System Malfunctions
Many Honda Passport customers have complained about electrical system malfunctions causing problems with door locks, power windows, windshield wipers, and infotainment systems.
– Engine Misfires
Another common yet annoying issue that most cars come with is engine misfire. This issue, if it becomes a regular occurrence, can lead to rough idling, a decrease in fuel efficiency, and reduced power.
– Air Conditioning Problems
Many Passport owners have had a hard time with their vehicle’s air conditioning system. The AC problems range from inadequate cooling performance to total failure of the system.
– Fuel System Hardships
Substantial Honda Passport owners reported issues with the fuel system. They were facing problems like fuel leaks and difficulty in getting the engine running.
Top FAQs About Honda Passport Issues
Should I buy a used Honda Passport?
Any car buyer should resort to buying a used car only if they can not afford a new one. One should buy a brand new car on one condition, and that is, it should not break their bank balance.
And Honda Passport is a splendid sport utility vehicle. If the starting price of around $40,000 is too much for you and you do not care much about a ride being new or used, go for the second-hand version.
You will benefit in many ways:
- A used Honda Passport will cost much less than a new one except for the used variant of the latest release.
- You can thoroughly inspect the ride beforehand to learn if there are any issues and in-depth problems with the ride.
- You do not have to worry about the depreciation of a ride that has already set its course by entering the used market.
- You can sell a used car just as quickly as a brand new one because of the growing used car market in the USA.
Are 2021 Honda Passport years to avoid?
2021 is among the worst Honda Passport years for the third generation. The model sure comes with a rugged outlook, a comfortable & spacious interior, and plenty of features.
Still, the severity of the issues it carries, like transmission failure & wearing, electric system malfunctioning, engine misfiring, and more, take it farther away from being labeled as the best.
Is the Honda Passport reliable?
When it comes to reliability, no one does it like the Japanese automakers. The Honda Passport reliability is you can trust.
The latest 2024 Honda Passport’s J.D. Power reliability rating is 84 out of 100 reliability, making it a great ride.
Not only this, all the third-generation Passport models hold ratings above 80, making them better than most of their competitors.
They, indeed, are not the best or top-rated, but they are above most models in the market.
What is the major problem with the Honda Passport?
The biggest challenge that the Passport line is facing is related to transmission. Buyers have several complaints regarding being unable to shift gears, having difficulting while shifting gears, hearing grinding noises while changing gears, and unwanted gear shifting to neutral while they are driving.
What is the life expectancy of a Honda Passport?
A vehicle can only survive as long as it is taken good care of. A well-maintained Passport can last around 250,000 miles. In contrast, this number can decrease for owners who are either too lazy or too busy to upkeep their ride.
Thus, it is better to begin a robust maintenance regime where you clean your ride every week inside out, use top-quality products for its cleaning, and have a professional examine it at least once every three months.
Did Honda discontinue Passport?
Honda introduced the Passport in the American market in 1998 as a 1999 model in partnership with Isuzu. However, the partnership ended in 2002, and the lineup was taken out of the market.
But in 2018, Honda reintroduced an all-new Passport lineup for the model year 2019 featuring two-row seating, a comfortable interior, ample passenger & cargo space, and placement of several tech & safety features.
Does the Honda Passport hold its value?
Vehicles depreciate over time. Depreciation is the difference between the original sales price of the ride and what it will be worth in the upcoming years.
A brand new Honda Passport will depreciate by $9,793 after 5 years. So, let us suppose you bought the brand new 2024 Honda Passport for its base price of $41,900.
If you own it for over five years, its market value will reduce to $32,107. However, if it is not well-maintained, this number can decrease more.
Thus, to ensure you get the maximum value of your ride, maintain it well and keep it in great shape.
Conclusion
To ensure you get the worth of the money you are spending on a car purchase, knowing which Honda passport years to avoid and which ones to consider becomes more crucial than ever.
Knowing what issues you might encounter with a particular release will give you a better idea of how to proceed with your purchase.
This article covers all the Honda Passport’s best years and worst years, ensuring you know everything before you make the purchase.
