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KLUNK
KLUNK

2020 Honda Passport

The Verdict

75 Solid Pick

The 2020 Honda Passport has 90 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (38 complaints) and electrical (21 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 75/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Honda Passport, consider the 2024 model year which has 83% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2024 has 83% fewer complaints

View the 2024 Honda Passport dashboard →

75

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20006469249
200111048167
2002153557
20199023558414
202038821203
20214620172618
202220910124
20231510233
202426241
202592463

By Category

Body
38
Electrical
21
Engine
20
Brakes
8
Transmission
3

By Severity

1
41
2
48
4
1

Worst Problems

Complaints

Body 1

I was at a red light and all of a sudden my car switched to neutral. I could not get out of neutral and tried unsuccessfully to get my car into drive. I finally was able to shut the car off (not sure if opening the door helped reset the system) and start it again. I now turn off the idle option

22d ago
Body 2

It's a sunny day in Florida and approximately at [XXX] while traveling straight on a public roadway, the vehicle directly in front of me moved into the left-turn lane, completely clearing my lane of travel. As I actively accelerated to pass the turning vehicle, my Honda’s Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) inadvertently activated despite my lane being completely clear and unobstructed. The emergency automatic braking engaged forcefully just after I passed the vehicle in the left-turn lane. This unexpected, false-positive braking event caused a severe, rapid deceleration that nearly resulted in a rear-end collision by the vehicle traveling behind me. This exact situation has occurred on 3 other separate occasions. I'm in fear of being rear-ended, especially with my kids in the car, because my vehicle body language prior to the forceful braking has been acceleration. The drivers behind me are likely to see my acceleration and proceed with their own acceleration just to be blind-sided with my vehicles sudden and hard braking. It's a disaster waiting to happen, especially on busy roadways. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

1mo ago
Electrical 1

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Passport. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle with the Push-To-Start feature, the Adaptive Cruise Control, Road Departure Mitigation, Collision Mitigation Brake System, and Lane Keeping assist system, and the high beam messages were displayed on the instrument panel. An audible alarm sounded while the messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the multipurpose camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost, and because the parts were on back order. Upon further investigation, the contact stated that the windshield heat exposure might have caused the failure in the hotter weatehr. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,078.

1mo ago
Electrical 2

Car tried to start on its own, set off the alarm multiple times and killed a new battery after 6 months. Would not allow me to enter car by remote had to unplug battery. issue with Start/stop idle system, it is know issue with Honda ridgeline but having same issue with passport.

1mo ago
Body 1

1. Component/System: Multipurpose Camera Unit (IDAS/ADAS system) — U3000-49 "Internal Electronic Failure" + cascading CAN communication faults. The vehicle and diagnostic data (May 15, 2026 scan) are available for inspection upon request. 2. Safety Risk: Warning lights for LKAS (Lane Keeping) and ACC (Adaptive Cruise) disabled those systems. No crash or loss-of-control occurred; the issue was discovered post-service before driving. 3. Reproduction/Confirmation: Confirmed by dealer lights absent at drop-off (their photo, Exhibit A), present after oil change. Diagnostic scan at dealer (2:26 PM May 15) verified U3000-49 + codes. Not independently reproduced. 4. Inspections: Scanned by Germain Honda dealer only. No manufacturer (Honda Corporate), police, or insurance inspection yet. This complaint package is being submitted to Honda Customer Relations. 5. Warnings/Symptoms: None prior. Vehicle had no ADAS issues or lights at drop-off (dealer photo + advisor confirmation). Lights appeared during/after the May 15, 2026 oil change

2mo ago
Body 1

don’t have the exact locations,date or time but this has happened around 5 times where I am driving and comes to a come a complete stop and my engine wouldn’t start,I had to put on my hazard lights turn off the vehicle then restart it

3mo ago
Body 2

Brakes were being applied when no cars were around me. Now, 5 warnings were given to me as I drove down the highway. The warnings were as follows: Adaptive Cruise Control Problem Collision Mitigation System Problem Road Departure Mitigation System Problem Lane Keeping Assist ProblemAuto High-Beam Problem Brake System Light

5mo ago
Engine 2

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. Yes, the vehicle has been in two independent shops which have both confirmed the engine failure due to premature connecting rod bearing wear which was most likely caused by manufacturer crankshaft issues. No it has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance, or others. No there were not any warning lights, messages, or sysmptoms prior to the failure.

5mo ago
Engine 1

Car shuts down and does not restart. Also goes to neutral and does not allow car to be steered. Also seems to be related to auto restart.

6mo ago
Electrical 2

Was at a red light and the car just shut off. NOTHING! After about 5-10 seconds I pushed the start stop button and it hesitated for a few seconds and I let go and then tried it again. It hesitated and then came on. No problem the rest of the day. I have had the car for a year and zeo issues with the. My Mother had it for 3 years previously and she never had the issue. The battery is good (and only 1 year old) because I put it on my tester a few months ago. 70,000 miles. I looked up the symptoms and found that this has been an on going issue for a few years. NOT NEW. I reached out to Honda and they said I have to have it diagnosed and pay for it.

7mo ago
Engine 1

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. Honda Motor Corp (manufacturer) was notified by me about the issue, but they declined to make any substantive effort to assist with the repair costs despite the fact that the issue is increasingly known and documented as per NHTSA campaign # RQ24013

7mo ago
Engine 1

Fuel pump failure mid-traffic in busy two lane road, unable to start vehicle. The engine sputtered and then halted with all warning lights on dashboard lighting up. Full propulsion of the vehicle ceased while in traffic causing car to be dead on the side of the road until police and tow truck could be dispatched. If this occurred on a busier road or in a 65 mile per hour divided highway, this could have caused a major mukti-vehicle accident and placed me in significant danger.

7mo ago
Brakes 1

The brake system is not working properly when stopped on a hill. The vehicle will roll backwards after pushing the brake. If you are stopped on a hill you have to keep the brake engaged while also accelerating to keep from rolling backwards and hitting the car behind you.

7mo ago
Body 2

Burnt Oil Smell Inside Cabin (When Heater Is on High) I frequently notice a burnt oil smell inside the cabin, especially during the first hour of driving in the morning with the heater set to high. My local Honda dealership inspected the vehicle but did not find a specific cause, attributing it instead to a “Honda smell.” They demonstrated a similar odor on a new Passport and suggested using a charcoal cabin filter. However, I remain concerned about a potential fire risk. Auto Idle Start-Stop Feature Unavailable The Auto Idle Start-Stop system rarely functions properly—it has worked approximately 10% of the time I’ve owned the vehicle. After each service visit, it temporarily resumes operation, then soon displays the message “Auto Idle Start-Stop Feature Not Available.” Blank Center Display / ‘MOST Net Off’ Message The center display intermittently goes blank or reboots repeatedly, showing a “MOST Net Off” message. This makes it difficult and distracting to navigate while driving. I understand a previous recall was intended to resolve this issue, but the problem persists.

8mo ago
Engine 1

My Honda is 3.5 L V6 engine blew up I know there’s a recall for the 3.5 L V6 engine on my Honda. However, the recalls don’t include the passport, which is what I have but the connecting rods blue causing engine failure.

8mo ago
Engine 1

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Passport. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle began to shake. The vehicle was steered into a parking lot and the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

8mo ago
Transmission 2

2020 Honda Passport VIN [XXX] engine start stop system fails at stop in a crossroad light. Vehicle becomes inoperable, on screen instructions not executable. After several attempts of turning vehicle off / on it finally starts. Stranded vehicle at light causes traffic to start swerving to avoid stalled vehicle - unsafe condition. No warning lights nor messages were observed in driver information system previous to failure occurrence. Malfunction has happened at least 3 times in last 6 months INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

8mo ago
Electrical 2

Car would not start. Jump start immediate remedy, also same as before. Symptoms identical to those that occurred prior to the service work performed by Elmhurst Honda for the Honda Idle Stop Recall (Service Bulletin 23-009)

9mo ago
Electrical 2

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Passport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts needed for the recall repair were not yet available. The dealer advised the contact not to have a passenger seated in the front passenger’s seat due to the risk associated with the recall. The dealer recommended that the vehicle be inspected to verify if the vehicle was affected by the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and a case was opened. The contact had not experienced a failure.

9mo ago
Body 1

The Nidec OEM part number 36160-TGS-A03-M1 has failed and causing all five of these alerts to appear as warnings: 1.Road departure mitigation problem 2.Collision Mitigation problem 3. Lane keeping assist problem. 4. Auto high beam problem. 5 Adaptive cruise control failure I don't know if the Nidec part is OEM from Honda and I believe the materials used by Nidec are creating the issue. I thought the Honda OEM part for this camera came from Bosch. The German part appears to made from aluminum, the Nidec part might be a plastic or other material. I am researching the failure rate on your part as I don’t believe there is a heat sink as part of the configuration and the part seems to be out of stock everywhere I look.

9mo ago

90 total

1/ 5
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