Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 55-75 STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES SHARPLY AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT, DEALER HAS REPLACED AND BALANCED FRONT TIRES AND ALIGNED FRONT END, AS WELL AS INSTALLED NEW GEAR RETURN SPRING. DEALERS EXPLANATION FOR THE PROBLEMS RANGE FROM UNEVEN PAVEMENT TO AGGRESSIVE TREAD PATTERN ON TIRES. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO MEET WITH THE MANUFACTURE'S AREA REPRESENATIVE. *AK
MASTER CYLINDER COMPLETELY WENT OUT, AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. NO PRIOR WARNING. *AK *ML
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. YH
BRAKES SEEM TO DISENGAGE EVERY TIME BUMBS ARE ENCOUNTERED. *AK
FUEL SENSOR IN TANK FAILED. YH
AUTOMATIC SHIFT CABLE IS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS MELTED THE INSULATION OFF THE CABLE, CAUSING PART OF THE CABLE TO RUST. OWNER DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WHILE REPLACING THE BULBS IN THE FOG LAMPS. TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. CABLE WILL BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK *ML
THE GAS GUAGE INACCURATELY READS THE AMOUNT OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE . MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
SLOWING TO MAKE RIGHT TURN, BRAKING OVER RIPPLES IN ROAD; ABS FAILED-BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP; PROCEEDED ABOUT 10' FURTHER THEN BRAKING WOULD HAVE PROVIDED. SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN PAST HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA AND HONDA DEALER. DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE PER HONDA DIRECTIONS; FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *AK
BRAKE FAILURE. *AK
IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE SUDDENDLY STARTED ACCELERATING. DRIVER HAD TO APPLY BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET , REAR WHEEL STARTED SPINNING AND ENGINE REVVED UP HIGH. DRIVER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK BEFORE VEHICLE WOULD GO BACK DOWN. *AK
WE RAN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AT AN INTERSECTION. HE WAS STOPPED AND WE ATTEMPTED TO STOP. THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND WE CONTINUED TO ROLL INTO THE CRV. WE HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIME TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIPS. THE PROBLEM IS THE BRAKES WILL RANDOMLY STOP WORKING EVEN THOUGH WE ARE APPLYING MAXIMUM PRESSURE, THEY WILL "CHATTER" AS THE DEALER DESCRIBED IT. THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE CHARACTERISTIC BUT SAY WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. IT SUPPOSEDLY IS A DESIGN ISSUE. THE ABS SENSES SOME WHEEL ANOMILY AND DISENGAGES THE BRAKES AND RE-ENGAGES THEM RAPIDLY BUT NOT RAPIDLY ENOUGH AND THE VEHICLE CONTIUES TO GO FORWARD. WE HAVE ROLLED THROUGH STOP SIGNS, LIGHTS, INTO INTERSECTIONS, ETC. THIS TIME INTO A VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT HURT BUT IT ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL A MAJOR INJURY OR DEATH OCCURS. AGAIN THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE CHARACTERISTIC BUT SAY THEY CAN DO NOTHING TO "FIX" IT BECAUSE TECHINICALLY IT IS NOT BROKEN. A TECHINICIAN SAID THE FIX IS "OFF THE RECORD" AND THEY DISCONNECT THE ABS DURING SERVICE AND DO NOT CONNECT IT AGAIN GIVING REGULAR BRAKES BACK WITHOUT THE ABS. I REQUESTED THIS TO BE DONE BUT THEY CANNOT DO IT LEAGALLY. MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS FARMERS INSURANCE AND THE AGENT WARREN ALDOUS IS LOCATED IN KEMAH/SEABROOK, TX AREA. *AK
NO SUMMARY
WHEN APPLYING ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, BRAKES WOULD RELEASE AND THEN GRAB, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *YC
WHILE ENTERING THE MAIN HIGHWAY IN RAINY CONDITIONS THE CAR DIED. CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING CONTROL, AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL.
NO SUMMARY.
BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPING DISTANCE WHICH AMY RESULT IN A CRASH. ALSO, BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER/FRONT AND REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS BECAME INOPERATIVE, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE, THE GAS PEDAL IS SOMETIMES PRESSED WHEN TRYING TO BREAK.
FUEL GAUGE INACCURATE.
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
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
WHILE DRIVING GAS PEDAL BROKE OFF WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER'S. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
EA9900; ABS BRAKING SYSTEM; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES UNDER UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE PEDAL IS SPONGY AND THE SYSTEM DOES NOT ENGAGE RIGHT AWAY, WHICH CAUSES THE DRIVER TO MISJUDGE A STOP. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE ANY FURTHER PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKES DISENGAGING WHENEVER VEHICLE GOES OVER A BUMP. *AK
VEHICLE SHIMMIES AND WOBBLES BETWEEEN 60 - 70 MPH. STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO VIBRATE AT 60-70 MPH. FIRST TRIP WAS TOLD TIRES NEEDED BALANCING. TIRES WERE BALANCED AND SERVICE INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. RETURNED LESS THAN A MONTH LATER AND WAS TOLD A "SLIGHT" VIBRATION WAS "NORMAL". HOWEVER THE VIBRATION IS EXTREME. CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED 3 - 4 TIMES SINCE INITIAL VISIT TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MANAGER HE WAS HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH AMERICAN HONDA AND HONDA ENGINEERS WERE WORKING ON A SOLUTION BUT A TIME FRAME FOR AN ANSWER WAS UNKNOWN. WAS CONTACTED BY AMERICAN HONDA AND TOLD TO RETURN THE VEHICLE FOR ADDITIONAL BALANCING. VEHILCE KEPT FOR A WEEK BUT THE PROBLEM WAS UNRESOLVED. HELP!!!! *AK
WAS TRAVELING 50-55MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT OF PASSPORT, CUTTING IT OFF AT 10-15MPH & WAS REARENDED. UPON IMPACT, THE PASSPORT'S AIR BAGS (DRIVER/PASSENGER) DID NOT DEPLOY. HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED. PASSENGER HAD FACIAL CUTS. DRIVER HAD DISC PROBLEMS, SOME DAMAGE TO LEFT ARM. *AK
WHEN CONSUMER STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP OR REDUCE SPEED, BRAKES DIDN'T STOP VEHICLE OR REDUCE SPEED, ESPECIALLY AFTER PASSING A BUMP. *AK
BAD VIBRATION AT 55MPH AND ABOVE, ALSO PULLS EITHER DIRECTION. DEALER CAN'T FIX THREE TIMES. CALLED MANUFACTURER. THEY SAY DEALER CAN INSTALL A "YOKE SPRING" TO CUT DOWN ON VIBRATION. SERVICE MNGR AT DEALERSHIP SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS YOKE SPRINGCALLED SERVICE DEPT 4 TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY SAY PART WILL BE IN 2-3 DAYS. IT HAS NOW BEEN 3 WEEKS STILL NO YOKE SPRING. *AK
EXTREME VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AT SPEEDS 55 TO 75 MPH. VEHICLE PULLS TO BOTH DIRECTIONS. DEALER HAS ALLIGNED, BALANCED AND REPLACED TIRES. AFTER THIRD ATTEMPT, DEALER INFORMS US THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER THEY CAN DO TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. ALSO, RIGHT FRONT AREA MAKES SQUEEKING SOUND. WE TEST DROVE A BRAND NEW PASSPORT LIKE OURS ON THE SAME LOT, IT HAD SLIGHT VIBRATION PROBLEM AS WELL. WE WERE TOLD BY SERVICE MANAGER THAT WITHIN 500 MILES THAT VEHICLE WOULD DO THE SAME AS OURS.*AK
SQUEAKY BRAKES SINCE INCEPTION. VIBRATION AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40MPH, WORSE AT 55-65. DEALER HAS BALANCED TIRES 3 TIMES, REPLACED BRAKE SHOES, PROBLEM STILL NOT CORRECTED. CONSTANT SHAKING. ADDITIONAL PROBLEM WHEN LETTING OFF THE BRAKE, FEEL BUMP IN BRAKE PEDAL.( DOT NUMBER: )
NO SUMMARY
MANY PROBLEMS WITH PASSPORT. ABS LIGHT STAYS ON (BAD REAR SENSOR FAILURE 3 TIMES), FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS (BUSHINGS ARE FAILING) PROBLEM HAPPENS 6 TIMES, VEHICLE MAY STALL WHILE DRIVING WHEN CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE, FUEL GUAGE WENT OUT (DEALER SAYS IT IS THE MAIN COMPUTER SYSTEM)
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ,HIT A VEHICLE HEAD-ON AND DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING SERIOUS BACK INJURIES. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
FUEL INDICATOR FAILED.
BATTERY CABLE FAILED.
FUEL GAUGE INOPERATIVE.
GAS GAUGE FAILED. *YC
FRONT SHOCK DAMPER FAILED. MJS
FUEL GAUGE SENSOR FAILED. YH
NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE FAILED. YH
HORN WORKS INTERMITTENT. *YC
PLASTIC INDOOR SIDE PANEL WHERE SEAT BELT ATTACHED FAILED. YH
GAS GAUGE HAS NEVER WORKED. YH
FUEL GAUGE NEDDLE MALFUNCTIONED. YH
GAS GAUGE FAILED. YH
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. *YC
GAS GAUGE FAILED. YH
BRAKES WEARING PREMATURLY CAUSING NOISE. YH
PE98051, BRAKING SYSTEM/ABS; WHEN MAKING A REGULAR BRAKING STOP, THE PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO THE FLOORBOARD. A NOISE CAME FROM THE ABS SYSTEM, BUT THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO TRAVEL AN ADDITIONAL DISTANCE, ABOUT 10 FEET BEFORE STOPPING. THE ROADS WERE COVERED WITH SNOW WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE PROLBEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
HIT BRAKES, PEDAL WENT DOWN TO FLOOR, DIDN'T STOP CAR, HIT TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.LOY.
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1998 Honda Passport → · Every Passport year → · How the figures are calculated →