1995 Honda Passport Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report rust in the frame and rear subframe, usually discovered on high-mileage vehicles during service, inspection or an unrelated repair. Engine complaints center on heavy oil use between changes and a ticking top-end noise that owners and mechanics link to the lifters. Rear door latches and power locks, and airbags that did not deploy in collisions, also come up repeatedly.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Rusted-through frame

   • 12 complaints (20%)
   • median 170,000 mi at 17.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2009–2015

   Owners describe heavy corrosion on the frame and rear subframe, often found while the vehicle was in for something else rather than from a symptom. Several say a mechanic told them the frame was rusted through, cracked or beyond welding, and that the vehicle could not be repaired. A few note the body panels and interior look fine while the frame underneath is badly corroded. Nearly all of these reports come from vehicles showing well over 100,000 miles, commonly around 150,000 to 200,000, and many were spotted during routine service or inspection.

   What to check: Have a shop put the vehicle on a lift and inspect the frame and rear subframe before buying, paying particular attention to the area above the rear axle and around the rear spring and shackle mounts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I just purchased this vehicle used for blue book value from a reputable dealer. I was told the only problems were the blower motor and rear doors were stuck closed. I fixed those problems easily and began driving it to work and back every day. After putting about 350 miles on it, I heard something smack the undercarriage and in my rearview I saw a chunk of rust on the road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10430372, filed 2011-10, 170,000 miles

   “I recently had work done on my 1995 1/2 Honda Passport for bad wiring on the fuel pump. Which turned out to be corrosion of the wiring on top of the pump. While under the vehicle my mechanic noticed how corroded the frame was and that it was rusting through. He called me out of concern and had me come down to look at it. He said it was bad behind the passenger side rear wheel and even worse behind the passenger side front wheel. It appears that the frame is almost completely rusted through. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10319323, filed 2010-03
2. 2
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Rear doors stick, power locks stop working

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 5.4 yrs old
   • filed 2000–2003

   Owners report rear doors that stay shut even with the lock knob raised, and that sometimes will not open from either the inside or the outside, so passengers climb out through the front. Door lock actuators stop working one door at a time, and one owner says cold weather keeps the electric lock from engaging. Complaints describe repeated dealer visits and owners paying for new actuators or latch assemblies themselves. Mileage is rarely given; several owners say the problem was there from new and continued after dealer repairs.

   What to check: Open and close each rear door from both the inside and the outside handle, work the central locking from the driver's door, and check that the child-lock lever is set where you want it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer was having problems with the back doors, they stick shut even when the locks are in the up position, sometimes the back doors would not open from the outside or inside, consumer states that the driver side rear power unit to the lock was inoperative and replaced, also the check lock cylinder on the left front door failed, consumer is requesting reimbursement for the repairs.”

   NHTSA complaint #566454, filed 2002-07

   “Nar 04/10/2003 the consumers back doors sticks shut and the child locks have never been engaged. It has been frustrating and disappointing for passengers to have to climb to the front doors to get out the vehicle. The consumer feel if the locks were properly fixed when they were under warranty the problem should not have continued. He is asking to be reimbursed for the amount of $313.14 for door latches.”

   NHTSA complaint #10015655, filed 2003-04
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Excessive oil consumption

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 4.2 yrs old
   • filed 1997–2000

   Owners report the engine using large amounts of oil between changes, with one describing adding a quart and a half for every 1,000 miles and another losing several quarts in a few months. Oil fouling shows up as poor running, a smell and smoke, and oiled spark plugs. According to the complaints, dealers and the manufacturer called the consumption normal for this engine, while owners suspect valve guides or piston rings. One owner dates the onset to roughly 40,000 miles, while others say the vehicle has used oil since they bought it.

   What to check: Check the oil level on the dipstick, look for smoke at start-up, and ask the seller how much oil is added between changes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At approximately 40000 miles the engine started to use an excessive amount of oil. It now takes an additional 1.5 - 2 qts every 3000 miles. I believe this is not normal vehicle operation. The manufacturer claims this is normal oil consumption. I have never owned a car that used oil like this. I believe there is something wrong with the valve guides or piston rings.”

   NHTSA complaint #712216, filed 1999-09

   “Vehicle has experienced a 1 to 1&1/2 quars oil loss for every 1k miles driven since purchased. Honda and isuzu have been contacted and stated this as normal usage.”

   NHTSA complaint #707614, filed 1999-06
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Engine ticking and lifter noise

   Mentioned in 4 of 46 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a ticking or tapping from the engine that gets louder over time, and the mechanics quoted in the complaints point to the lifters or valve train. One dealer told an owner the engine was simply noisy and nothing was done. Owners report repair estimates in the thousands of dollars, in one case close to the value of the vehicle. The complaints that state a mileage place the noise between roughly 70,000 and 85,000 miles, and owners describe it worsening as miles accumulate.

   What to check: Listen at idle and after a cold start with the hood open, and ask whether the lifters or valve train have ever been adjusted or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “From my understanding the premature failure of the lifters is quite extensive throughout the us. Why hasn't anything been done about this? Shouldn't the manufacturer have to cover the cost of this repair? It set me back $4,100.00.”

   NHTSA complaint #723987, filed 2000-06

   “I have a 1995 Honda Passport with a noticable clicking or ticking noise in the engine. I have done exaustive research with other owners through the internet. I believe a recall should be applied to this engine defect. There are simply too many other Passport drivers with the same problem. At this time I understand there is a bulletin from Honda about the clicking but no recall. I am forty years old and have never had to issue a complaint like this. I just have a true gut feeling that this defect is for real. …”

   NHTSA complaint #734912, filed 2000-10
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy in a crash

   Mentioned in 4 of 46 sampled complaints

   Several owners report the airbags not deploying in a collision: a rear-end impact at highway speed, a rollover after losing control on a curve, and a strike with an animal on the interstate. In each case the vehicle was damaged heavily, and one owner notes the ABS also did not hold. The complaints do not say what a dealer or the manufacturer concluded afterwards. Mileage is not stated in these reports; each describes a specific collision, at highway speed or after a loss of control.

   What to check: Watch the airbag warning light on start-up — it should come on briefly and then go out — and ask whether the airbags or the system's control module have ever been serviced or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer traveling at approximately 65 to 68 MPH on interstate and a cow crossed road in front of consumers vehicle. Airbags failed to deploy, and vehicle sustained approximately $8000.00 in damages. Please provide any additional information/attachments.”

   NHTSA complaint #883006, filed 2001-03

   “Consumer was going around a curve and lost control, car flipped over about 7 times. Consumer broke 7 ribs. Upon impact, airbags did not deploy, and car was totalled. Towed to police department and then to criders record service.”

   NHTSA complaint #852272, filed 1999-11

Buying note. Frame corrosion is the most frequently reported problem for this model year, so have the underside inspected on a lift before anything else, then check oil use and top-end noise on a test drive. Budget for possible door latch and lock repairs and an airbag system check.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 46 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.