2021 Honda Passport engine problems
22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the engine on the 2021 Honda Passport — 17% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The vehicle experienced a catastrophic internal engine failure caused by connecting rod bearing failure. Prior to the failure, the engine developed abnormal internal knocking/noise, indicating bearing deterioration. The engine is currently available for inspection. While traveling approximately 55…”
filed Jul 30, 2026
“4th occurrence. Car fails to start. The instrument display reads: AUTO ENGINE IDLE STOP SYSTEM PROBLEM. Electrical system including radio, A/C etc were working. (Including the car alarm which begins honking the horn as soon as I open the door) Repeated attempts to start the car failed to do…”
filed Jul 13, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque. Typically, the…
A23-009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 7, 2025Service Bulletin - MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power. After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather…
A24-085 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 20, 2024Service Bulletin - The MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power. After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather…
A24-085 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 19, 2024
Engine problems in other Passport years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Passport | 5 | 10% |
| 2025 Passport | 8 | 30% |
| 2023 Passport | 3 | 9% |
| 2022 Passport | 9 | 16% |
| 2020 Passport | 16 | 17% |
| 2019 Passport | 48 | 18% |
| 2002 Passport | 1 | 4% |
| 2001 Passport | 1 | 1% |
| 2000 Passport | 2 | 2% |
| 1999 Passport | 3 | 1% |
| 1998 Passport | 2 | 1% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2021 Honda Passport
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.