2020 Honda Passport Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe two kinds of problems: the Honda Sensing collision-mitigation and adaptive cruise systems giving false brake warnings or briefly applying the brakes when nothing is in the way, and the infotainment/audio system cutting out with loud crackling, a blank screen and, in some cases, the instrument panel going dark. A separate and frequently reported complaint involves the idle stop feature failing to restart the engine after a stop; engine noise and failures at higher mileage, plus several open recalls on cameras, sensors and fuel pumps, also come up.

1. 1
   Forward collision avoidance

   False collision warnings and unexpected automatic braking

   • 45 complaints (43%)
   • median 8,000 mi at 3.0 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe the brake warning light flashing and the steering wheel shuddering when no obstacle is present, most often on two-lane roads with oncoming traffic, in curves, or when changing into a center turn lane. In some cases the vehicle briefly applies the brakes on its own, including with adaptive cruise engaged, where complaints say it sometimes reacts late to stopped traffic and then slows sharply. Dealers, according to the complaints, often said the system was operating as designed, adjusted the camera, or could not reproduce the problem. Reported from a few hundred miles up to roughly 35,000 miles, with many complaints filed in the first couple of years of ownership.

   What to check: During a test drive, try the adaptive cruise and collision-mitigation settings on a two-lane road and in normal traffic, and ask whether any camera or radar module has been replaced or recalibrated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The cmbs keeps flashing the brake warning light when I’m changing lanes to a center turn lane. This happens at least 2-3 times weekly. I’ve also had it brake going through a stop light when no one was in front of me and almost got me rear ended. I have not taken it to a dealer or shop to have them reproduce it because I know there’s nothing they will do to fix it so I’m not going to waste the money until I know it will be fixed by taking it in.”

   NHTSA complaint #11496485, filed 2022-12

   “On Nov 9, 2024 I was pulling into a parking spot in a public parking garage, after turning 2 tight corners to approach the parking spot. About half way into the parking spot, the car suddenly lurched and accelerated and I crashed into a 90 degree concrete corner wall! It happened SO fast, without any warning sounds or ABS brakes deploying. The entire front passenger corner of my car was badly damaged. Luckily I was not injured, nor were there any other vehicles or persons involved. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11639151, filed 2025-01
2. 2
   Engine

   Idle stop fails to restart engine after a stop

   • 21 complaints (20%)
   • median 31,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   With the auto idle stop engaged at a light or in traffic, complaints describe the engine shutting off and then not restarting when the brake is released; a message may appear asking to shift to Park. Owners say they sometimes have to cycle the ignition several times, or wait a few minutes, before the vehicle restarts, and that dealers either could not reproduce the problem or found nothing wrong. Described across a wide mileage range, from vehicles with a few thousand miles to around 90,000; several owners say it has happened repeatedly since the vehicle was new.

   8 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any idle stop software update or product update has been performed, and test the feature at a stop with no traffic behind you.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11675755, filed 2025-07

   “While stopped at a busy intersection under a red light our 2020 Honda Passport's 'Auto Idle Stop Function' had automatically stopped the engine with the brakes applied, upon releasing the brakes the engine did not restart as it was supposed to. I reapplied the brakes which were no longer 'powered brakes' and tried ot restart the vehicle but it would not start. A message came up on the dash to put the vehicle in park which I did. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11652033, filed 2025-04
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Infotainment cuts out with crackling and blank screen

   • 17 complaints (16%)
   • median 3,200 mi at 0.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Complaints describe loud popping or crackling through the speakers, even with the audio off, followed by a message such as network connection lost and the screen shutting down and rebooting, sometimes several times per trip. Some owners also report the display going black while driving, with the rearview camera and instrument gauges affected in the same episodes. Reported from under 1,000 miles up to about 63,000 miles, sometimes beginning within weeks of purchase.

   Recall 20V440000Recall 20V439000Recall 23V4310006 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the radio screen and speaker behavior on a longer drive, and ask whether audio or display software updates or the rearview camera cable recall work have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am reaching out to you because I have no options further and am very frustrated with this never ending problem going on with the electrical system in my vehicle. I leased this vehicle brand new in August of 2020, starting in February 2021 started coming across this persistent problem with the Infotainment system where it will shut off unexpectedly followed by loud crackling and popping noises that emit from the speakers. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11502532, filed 2023-01

   “My infotainment system cracks and blanks out often. It makes a very loud noise and seems to be even lounder than the radio is set at the time. It is very distracting. This is a new vehicle to me and when it happens, especially the first time, it scared me tremendously. It has also completely blanked the screen out from time to time as well. After researching online, this seems to be a common problem but no recall has been issued. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11518930, filed 2023-04
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine noise or failure at higher mileage

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe a ticking or rattling noise that rises with engine speed and, in some cases, sudden loss of power or a stalled engine requiring a tow. Complaints report dealers diagnosing connecting-rod bearing wear or a failed engine needing replacement; in the cases described, the repair was not covered and owners were quoted engine replacement at their own cost. Typically reported between roughly 35,000 and 108,000 miles, often around 65,000 to 90,000 miles.

   What to check: Listen for a rhythmic tick or rattle at idle and under light throttle, check oil level and service records, and ask whether the engine has had any noise-related diagnosis.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11714777, filed 2026-02

   “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 dealership advised that the only recourse is to replace the engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11704578, filed 2025-12

Buying note. Check that the open recalls for the passenger-seat sensor, rearview camera cable and fuel pump have been completed, and test the collision-mitigation, idle stop and audio systems on a real drive. Service records showing software updates and any starter or engine work give the clearest picture of how the specific vehicle has been treated.

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.