Honda Passport

Is your Honda Passport a lemon?

The Honda Passport is engineered and built by Isuzu, and although it resembles the Isuzu Rodeo, the Honda Passport is considered a very versatile, dual purpose SUV. Its dependable four-wheel drive system allows owners to enjoy a comfortable ride both on the highways as well as on rough tracks.

The Honda Passport has responsive handling and a stable ride. The solid feel of driving a Passport is due to its ladder frame with eight cross members and box-section side rails. In addition, the vehicle has steel tubes in the doors, making the body of the SUV rigid and increasing passenger safety.

Despite these attributes, the Honda Passport has come under tremendous criticism, with many consumers reporting that this SUV is a lemon. Government bulletins and online forums list a range of problems plaguing the Honda Passport.

Common Problems

• Problems in Fuel Pump
• Side Air Bag Inflator Modules Without Valves
• Side Air Bag Inflator Modules and Generant
• Anti Lock Braking System (ABS)

The severity of some of these problems endangers drivers and passengers, and has led to several recalls. For example, some Honda Passports that have been exposed to fuel contaminated with silicon may develop small pinholes in the fuel pump feed port. This can lead to fuel leakage, which in turn could cause vehicle fires.

In some SUVs, the passenger side air bag inflator modules were manufactured and shipped without a necessary component called the check valve pin. As a result, during a crash, the air bag does not sufficiently inflate, resulting in an increased risk of injury to the occupants.

Another problem has been found with the inflators in the passenger side air bag modules. During a crash, as the passenger air bag is deployed, an excessive amount generant can cause the inflator module to explode if the air bag module explodes. As a result, metal and plastic debris can cause serious injuries to passengers.

It is no surprise that a number of online forums are dedicated to the Honda Passport's problems, and that government bulletins are full of such complaints. Owners have posted the following comments online:

"I thought it was a Honda and did not research it like I did my other vehicles, thought it was a good deal, the body and the mech seemed great. Then after three weeks after purchase I had to change the transmission. Then seven months later my motor went. So now I have to pay $2500 for a used motor so I can get rid of the thing."

"It jerks when switching gears and every time I bring it to the dealership they keep it for about two weeks and then come up with a lame excuse to why it was jerking, and then tell me it's ok. I have brought it to the dealership about three times in the past five months so that they can figure out what's wrong. I saw someone say that the whole truck should've been recalled. I AGREE!!"

Legal Rights

See the listing at the above right for things you can do.