VehicleVerdict

2001 Honda Passport problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 160 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.1 times the median Passport year — the 2001 model ranks #5 of 18 Passport years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

The trouble concentrates in one system: body & structure issues account for 44% of all reports (70 of 160), far ahead of suspension at 34.

160

NHTSA complaints

3

Recalls

3

Investigations

10

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

6

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2001 compare to other Passport years?

See all Passport years to avoid →

What are the most common 2001 Honda Passport problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Body & Structure7044%
Suspension3421%
Speed Control128%
Fuel System96%
Engine64%
Brakes64%
Transmission64%
Other53%
Airbags32%
Seat Belts32%
Tires & Wheels21%
Electrical System21%
Steering11%
Visibility & Wipers11%

Does the 2001 Honda Passport have recalls?

3 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.

02V213001AirbagsAugust 9, 2002 · 5 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WERE MANUFACTURED AND SHIPPED WITHOUT A NECESSARY COMPONENT KNOWN AS A CHECK VALVE PIN.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT INFLATE PROPERLY OR SUFFICIENTLY RESULTING IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 7, 2002. 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.

01V055000AirbagsFebruary 22, 2001 · 3 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE INFLATORS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULES HAVING THE WRONG AMOUNT OF GENERANT.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT WOULD TRIGGER A PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, TOO MUCH GENERANT CAN CAUSE THE INFLATOR MODULE TO EXPLODE. IF THE AIR BAG MODULE EXPLODES, METAL AND PLASTIC DEBRIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG UNIT.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

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

ON JUNE 18, 2015, WHILE ON THE BRAKE AND STOPPING BEHIND A VEHICLE AT AN INTERSECTION (MOVING AT A CRAWL SPEED, LESS THAN 0.5 MPH), MY HONDA PASSPORT LUNGED FORWARD HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR WAS CONTAINED THE DRIVER AND A PASSENGER. BELIEVING AT THAT TIME MY BRAKES JUST FAILED (I…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · June 29, 2015 · crash

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT, VEHICLE HAS HAD 2 SEPARATE WHEEL ALIGNMENTS PERFORMED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN OFF PAVEMENT/ROAD AND HAS BEEN USED ONLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE IS STILL EXPERIENCING A NOTICABLE DRIFT TO THE RIGHT AND WILL…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · December 1, 2001

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR HAD SUDDENLY RUNAWAY, AND WHILE THE CONSUMERS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THESE PROBLEMS HAD OCCURRED ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT DUPLICATE BUT THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED/ADJUSTED. THE DEALER FOUND THE POTENTIOMETER CIRCUIT BOARD CONTAMINATED WITH…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · January 15, 2002 · crash

THIS MODEL 2001 HONDA PASSPORT HAS A HISTORY OF FRAME RUST. THERE WAS ONE RECALL 2010 BUT IT DID NOT ADDRESS TANK SHIELD RUST - ONLY REAR AXLE PARTS. THE PASSPORT HAS 72373 MILES AND THE HONDA DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE FOR A REPORT REQUESTED BY HONDA MOTORS. [REDACTED]AT THIS POINT I DO NOT KNOW IF…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · November 17, 2011

2001 HONDA PASSPORT USED OIL 1 QT. AND HALF EVERY TWO WEEKS, BOUGHT 2001 USED ABOUT 1/2 A QT. BETWEEN OIL CHANGE AT FIRS. AT THIS POINT IT USED MORE DURING THE YEARS. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · June 28, 2010

2001 Honda Passport — common questions

Is the 2001 Honda Passport reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 160 complaints put the 2001 model at #5 of 18 Passport years. It is one of the Passport years to avoid.

What are the most common 2001 Passport problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are body & structure (70 complaints), suspension (34 complaints), speed control (12 complaints).

Does the 2001 Honda Passport have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns affecting the 2001 Honda Passport. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2001 Honda Passport under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 3 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.