VehicleVerdict

1998 Honda Passport problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 315 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 4.1 times the median Passport year — the 1998 model ranks #2 of 18 Passport years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 28 injuries in total across these filings.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across brakes (73), suspension (50), and body & structure (36), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

315

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

5

Investigations

28

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

28

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 1998 compare to other Passport years?

See all Passport years to avoid →

What are the most common 1998 Honda Passport problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes7323%
Suspension5016%
Body & Structure3611%
Fuel System3210%
Engine289%
Electrical System227%
Transmission206%
Speed Control165%
Other113%
Tires & Wheels62%
Airbags52%
Steering41%
Visibility & Wipers31%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)31%
Seats21%
Latches & Locks21%
Seat Belts10%
Lighting10%

Does the 1998 Honda Passport have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

10V436000SuspensionSeptember 22, 2010 · 149,992 units

Defect

ISUZU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2002 ISUZU RODEO AND MODEL YEAR 2002 ISUZU AXIOM VEHICLES, AND HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN 1998-2002 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES, THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED, IN THE STATES OF MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WEST VIRGINIA, OHIO, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, IOWA, MISSOURI, AND KENTUCKY. VEHICLES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED SUSTAINED EXPOSURE TO HIGHLY CORROSIVE MATERIALS USED IN SOME JURISDICTIONS FOR ROAD DEICING PURPOSES MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CORROSION IN THE VICINITY OF THE FORWARD MOUNTING POINT BRACKET FOR THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK PRIOR TO THE TIME THAT SUCH CORROSION WOULD NORMALLY BE EXPECTED.

Consequence

EXCESSIVE CORROSION MAY RESULT IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE FRAME, WHICH CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AREA. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH LITTLE OR NO CORROSION IS FOUND, THE AREA WILL BE TREATED WITH AN ANTI-CORROSIVE COMPOUND. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH CORROSION HAS DAMAGED THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AND AFFECTED ITS CONNECTION TO THE VEHICLE FRAME, A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET WILL BE INSTALLED. IN THE RARE EVENT THE CORROSION IS SO SEVERE THAT THE REINFORCEMENT BRACKET REMEDY WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE, A REPURCHASE OFFER WILL BE EXTENDED TO THE VEHICLE'S OWNER. ALL INSPECTIONS AND REMEDIES WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE 10 YEARS OLD OR LESS. FOR VEHICLES OLDER THAN 10 YEARS, ISUZU WILL OFFER A FREE REMEDY, BUT ONLY IF THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTED TO AN ISUZU SERVICE FACILITY, OR HONDA DEALER (AS APPLICABLE), DEALER WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF WHEN OWNER NOTIFICATIONS WERE ISSUED. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 10, 2010. ISUZU OWNERS MAY CONTACT ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727. HONDA OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

02I002001BrakesJune 3, 2002 · 52,934 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). THE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES IN CERTAIN TYPES OF BRAKING EVENTS.

Consequence

EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT COMPUTER ALGORITHM FOR THE ABS THAT IS BASED ON THE ALGORITHM USED IN HONDA'S MY 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES, WHICH HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM. THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES, WITH THE MY 1998 2WD VEHICLES COVERED FIRST, SINCE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE MOST PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

00V058000SuspensionMarch 2, 2000 · 213,736 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. PAINT WAS APPLIED UNEVENLY ON THE REAR AXLES, RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT PAINT HARDNESS. SHOULD THIS OCCUR ON THE SURFACE THAT CONTACTS THE REAR AXLE LOWER LINK BRACKET BOLT HEAD AND/OR NUT, THE NUT MAY LOOSEN.

Consequence

THE BOLT COULD DETACH FULLY, CAUSING SEPARATION OF THE LOWER LINK FROM THE REAR AXLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR AXLE LOWER LINK JOINT NUT AND BOLT.

98V170000Electrical SystemJuly 24, 1998 · 55,475 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. A GROUND CONNECTION TERMINAL WAS NOT PROPERLY CRIMPED IN THE SUPPLIER'S ENGINE WIRING HARNESS MANUFACTURING LINE. THIS IMPROPER CRIMPING PROCESS CAN LEAVE AN IMPRESSION ON THE TERMINAL THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A STRESS FRACTURE. S

Consequence

IF A TERMINAL IS FRACTURED, THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) CAN RECEIVE AN ERRONEOUS SIGNAL INDICATING A HIGH VEHICLE SPEED, THEREBY CAUSING THE PCM TO CUT THE FUEL, CAUSING A 'NO-START' CONDITION, OR A POSSIBLE ENGINE STALL.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE VEHICLES.

98V170002Electrical SystemJuly 24, 1998 · 16,838 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. A GROUND CONNECTION TERMINAL WAS NOT PROPERLY CRIMPED IN THE SUPPLIER'S ENGINE WIRING HARNESS MANUFACTURING LINE. THIS IMPROPER CRIMPING PROCESS CAN LEAVE AN IMPRESSION ON THE TERMINAL THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A STRESS FRACTURE. S

Consequence

IF A TERMINAL IS FRACTURED, THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) CAN RECEIVE AN ERRONEOUS SIGNAL INDICATING A HIGH VEHICLE SPEED, THEREBY CAUSING THE PCM TO CUT THE FUEL, CAUSING A 'NO-START' CONDITION, OR A POSSIBLE ENGINE STALL.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE VEHICLES.

97V206002OtherNovember 13, 1997 · 30 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER'S SIDE OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT RUBBER FLOOR MAT. REPEATED MOVEMENT OF THE DRIVER'S FEET AND ACTUATION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN RESULT IN A SHIFTING OF THE MAT'S POSITION. THIS SHIFTING CAN CAUSE AN INTERFERENCE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

Consequence

THIS COULD CAUSE A RESTRICTION OF THE PEDAL'S RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

HONDA IS ASKING FOR THE RETURN OF THE FLOOR MAT SET AND WILL REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR THE COST OF THE RUBBER FLOOR MAT SET ALONG WITH ANY RETURN SHIPPING COSTS.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES WHICH FAILED ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS AND SLID FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THIS RESULTED IN A COLLISION. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE COLLISION, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 03012(MFR) 10001303(NHTSA) REGARDING BRAKE PROBLEMS. *AK *SCC *JB

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA PASSPORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARRANT AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO ROLL OVER ON ITS WHEELS.…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · December 15, 2010 · crash

PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE FITTED GRILLE GUARD ON VEHICLE. *MR (INSUFFICIENT WARNING) THE "GRILLE GUARD," SAFETY FEATURE WAS INOPERATIVE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED COMPENSATION FOR MEDICAL BILLS, LOSES, REPAIR, AND SUFFERING. *SC *JB

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · August 1, 2004 · crash

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT FUEL GAUGE DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE FUEL GAUGE NEVER REGISTERED A FULL TANK OF GAS. WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL WENT BELOW A HALF A TANK THE GAUGE REGISTERED ON EMPTY AND THE FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 99-004 WAS ISSUED RELATED…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · June 15, 2003

WHILE ENTERING THE MAIN HIGHWAY IN RAINY CONDITIONS THE CAR DIED. CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING CONTROL, AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · October 10, 1999 · crash

1998 Honda Passport — common questions

Is the 1998 Honda Passport reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 315 complaints put the 1998 model at #2 of 18 Passport years. It is one of the Passport years to avoid.

What are the most common 1998 Passport problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (73 complaints), suspension (50 complaints), body & structure (36 complaints).

Does the 1998 Honda Passport have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 1998 Honda Passport. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1998 Honda Passport under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 5 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Honda Passport years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Passport years to avoid are 2019, 1998, 1999, 2021, 2001, 2020, 2000, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2024. The cleanest record among Passport years belongs to 1981.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.