1999 Honda Passport Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe rear-frame and rear-suspension corrosion, frequently found during routine service or when a rear link, spring mount or shock separates from the frame; many note the rust seems out of proportion to mileage and that shops decline to weld on it. Brake and transmission complaints are the next most common, with ABS-related braking concerns often raised after recall work and automatic transmissions described as jerking or shifting hard. Engine oil consumption, stalling and fuel gauge failures round out the picture, typically appearing well under 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Rear frame and suspension mount rust-through

   Mentioned in 34 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the rear frame, trailing-arm brackets, coil-spring and shock mounts rusting through so that a rear lower link, spring mount or shock separates from the frame, sometimes while driving. Owners report swaying, clunking, hard steering or sudden loss of control beforehand, and say independent shops and dealers told them the frame was too corroded to weld or repair. Several mention being told the vehicle was not covered because a recall campaign had expired or their state or VIN was not included. Mostly reported between about 100,000 and 160,000 miles, on vehicles in rust-belt states or coastal areas, often discovered during routine service or inspection.

   Recall 10V436000Recall 00V058000

   What to check: Have the rear frame, trailing-arm brackets and spring/shock mounts inspected on a lift before buying, and ask whether recall 10V436000 was performed and when. Look for flaking rust, holes or fresh undercoating that could mask corrosion.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Last year I noticed rust that had become a gaping hole in the upper part of my Honda Passport's upper frame. Then I noticed there were rust locations at various parts of the roof and rear. This car has been driven solely on oahu, so there is no issue of deicer or road salt having caused this, and I live miles from the ocean. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10514685, filed 2013-06, 80,000 miles

   “I bought this 1999 Honda Passport from a friend knowing it had some frame repair that was needed which I had done at a cost of $800. Recently(1 week ago) the vehicle was hit on the rear bumper. Upon taking it to a repair shop I was informed that the rear portion of he frame was severely rusted perhaps beyond the point of repair short of having the entire frame repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10344183, filed 2010-07, 113,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS braking problems and long pedal

   • 49 complaints (21%)
   • median 68,396 mi at 5.0 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2021

   Owners describe the ABS light coming on, a brake pedal that pulsates, sinks toward the floor or requires pumping, and braking that feels weak or grabs on dry pavement. Many say the trouble continued after the ABS recall work was completed, with dealers replacing rotors and pads or pointing to a rear switch or wiring harness instead. Some complaints describe the vehicle not stopping within the expected distance at low speed. Reported from roughly 27,000 to 70,000 miles in most of the sampled complaints, often shortly after recall service.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for records showing whether the ABS recall and any module replacement were completed, then test the brakes from low speed on a dry surface. Confirm the ABS warning light goes out after startup and that the pedal stays firm.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “About a month after purchasing vehicle, brakes failed or shuddered a couple of times when braking at low speeds. Finally ABS light went on and according to the manual this means the ABS brake system is no longer working - have had no braking problems since. Dealer says it's a rear switch that's out, and wants over $200 to replace, but I haven't fixed it since research leads me to believe the ABS system is faulty anyway. Have a daughter I don't want injured in a crash due to faulty brakes.”

   NHTSA complaint #10107695, filed 2005-01, 33,000 miles

   “My Passport has issues with rear axels and suspension/bolts. Also one day when it had been raining I applied my breaks to stop for a red traffic light and the car went right through the light. The other times I have had to pump the breaks to get car to stop and it made an awful noise. My biggest fear is that I will be driving the car and the rear suspension/support is going to fall apart. A gentleman whose wife was drivind a Passport said that her cars front wheel fell off. She did not have an accident as she was backing out of the driveway. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10850917, filed 2016-03, 150,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Oil consumption, stalling and coolant loss

   • 18 complaints (8%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 5.1 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2013

   Complaints describe the engine using oil quickly with no visible leak, stalling or coughing while driving, and coolant loss traced to a blown head gasket or cracked cylinder head. One owner reported rod bearing damage after heavy oil use, and another reported the engine quitting at highway speed with fluids escaping. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 70,000 miles, with several owners noticing oil use within the first few years.

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for milky residue under the oil cap or in the coolant, and ask for oil-change records. Watch for a check-engine light or rough idle during the test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After a year of owning this vehicle, started stalling out even while driving (automatic trans). Check engine light came on, and was told by dealer that the manifold gasket needs to be replaced. Wants over $600 to do so. I can't afford it yet, so I'm dealing with the stalling until I can pay to have it fixed, but I'm wary of it because I've researched the problem and found the defect is repetitive in this vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10107698, filed 2005-01, 65,000 miles

   “This car burns oil at a very fast rate, with no sign of leaks, etc. Took to dealer and they can't find source. I have to check oil level and usually replace each week - I drive about 150 miles weekly. Seems very excessive to me, especially w/ no suggestion on how to fix.”

   NHTSA complaint #10107697, filed 2005-01, 32,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel gauge reads empty or fluctuates

   • 18 complaints (8%)
   • median 58,500 mi at 5.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2010

   Complaints describe the fuel gauge reading empty soon after a fill-up, swinging wildly, or the low-fuel light coming on with a full tank. Owners say dealers attributed it to a faulty sending unit in the tank and quoted a substantial repair, with at least one noting the replacement part was the same design that had already failed. Typically reported between about 40,000 and 80,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Fill the tank during the test drive and watch whether the gauge reads full and stays stable. Ask whether the fuel sending unit has been replaced and keep track of fuel level by mileage until it is.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The fuel gauge reads empty on my vehicle even when the tank is completely full. This condition has existed for over 60,000 miles and I have not had it serviced because the dealer wants $700 for parts and labor and informed me that they will be using the exact same parts that might fail again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10025367, filed 2003-07, 40,000 miles

   “My fuel gauge has started fluctuating wildly. The most common thing though, is that it reads out of gas shortly after a fill up. This is the same model as an isuzu rodeo and the problems are duplicated there. I want to make sure a recall happens and that it covers the hondas as well.”

   NHTSA complaint #10061918, filed 2004-03, 58,500 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission jerks or shifts hard

   • 18 complaints (8%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2013

   Owners describe the automatic transmission jerking or slamming into gear at low speeds and when slowing down, with some reporting grinding noises during acceleration or stopping. Several say the dealer could not reproduce or diagnose the problem and called the behavior normal for the model, while others were told a transmission oil gasket or similar part was at fault. Reported from about 50,000 to 70,000 miles in the sampled complaints, mostly at low-speed gear changes.

   What to check: Drive at low speed and feel for harsh 1-2 shifts and downshift clunks, and check the transmission fluid level and condition. Ask whether the fluid has been serviced and whether any prior diagnosis was recorded.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This Passport have been having (automatic) transmission problems at around 15 to 20 miles and at 25 to 30 miles. The mileage on this car now is about 50,200 miles. When I take to the dealer the problem is gone and they cannot diagnose the problem. The gears slams or jerks when it shifts and it also does when you slow down. The problem does not happen on higher gears. I have serviced the transmission and also put a new battery since the dealer said this might be the problem...but...the problem is still there. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10088402, filed 2004-08, 50,000 miles

   “Vehicle jerks & shifts hard at various speeds during gear changes. Vehicle was taken to dealership 1 yr before the jerks became violent due to decrease in smoothness of gear changes. The dealer informed me that it was normal in the Passport/isuzu & that it wouldn't get any worse. It has!”

   NHTSA complaint #10080401, filed 2004-07, 114,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection that includes the rear frame and suspension mounts is the most useful step for this model year, since corrosion there is the most frequently described concern and can make a vehicle uneconomical to repair. Records for the rear-suspension recall and the ABS campaign, plus a check of oil use and transmission behavior, will tell you most of the rest.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.