Total Complaints
55 filings
HONDA PASSPORT · model year
55 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996HONDAPASSPORT carries 55 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 0 fires, 10 injuries, and 4 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 PASSPORT is engine and engine cooling:engine with 6 filings, followed by structure:frame and members (4) and structure:frame and members:underbody shields (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 4 investigation files overlapping the 1996 PASSPORT, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
55 filings
Crashes Reported
7 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 6 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 4 |
| SUSPENSION | 4 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| STRUCTURE | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
THE FRAME ON MY PASSPORT BROKE. COME TO FIND OUT MY FRAME IS ROTTED. I'M HAPPY I WASN'T ON THE INTERSTATE AND GOING A REASONABLE SPEED OR WHO KNOWS WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME AND MY FAMILY. I SEE NOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON THING WITH THESE PASSPORTS. I FIND IT CRAZY THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 1998 BUT NOT THE YEARS BEFORE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. HONDA OUTSOURCED THE WORK TO ISUZU TO BE CHEAP AND ENDED UP WITH A DEFECTED PRODUCT. SO HONDA WICH IS A MAJOR CORPORATION GETS REWARDED FOR BEING CHEAP WHILE US NORMAL PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET END UP WITH A JUNK CAR THAT'S WORTHLESS. I SEE THESE ON THE ROAD STILL AND I KEEP MY FINGERS CROSSED FOR THE PEOPLE DRIVING THEM. PLEASE MAKE HONDA FIX THIS PROBLEM.
Mileage: 125,000
SAME AS NHTSA: 10V436000 CAMPAIGN. DEFECT 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. *TR
Mileage: 138,441
SAME AS NHTSA: 10V436000 CAMPAIGN. DEFECT 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. *TR
Mileage: 138,441
FRAME ROTTING AWAY AND MAKING PASSPORT UNSAFE TO DRIVE RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR
Mileage: 167,653
BEARINGS FAIL, SEALS FAIL, LASH ADJUSTERS FAIL, EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, POORLY DESIGNED OIL CIRCULATION SYSTEM. *JS
Mileage: 90,000
THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING EXTREME FRAME CORROSION OF BOTH THE FORWARD AND REAR FRAME MEMBER. THERE ARE LARGE PERFORATIONS IN MULTIPLE AREAS ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE FRAME, AND I DON'T SEE ANY WAY TO REPAIR OTHER THAN A COMPLETE FRAME REPLACEMENT. WHY IS THE DIVIDING LINE FOR THE RECALL 10V436000 SET AT THE 1998 MODEL YEAR? THIS IS THE SAME BASIC VEHICLE WITH THE SAME ROTTED FRAME AS THOSE INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE DOORS SHOULD ROT OF A VEHICLE LONG BEFORE THE FRAME BECOMES AN ISSUE. *TR
THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING EXTREME FRAME CORROSION OF BOTH THE FORWARD AND REAR FRAME MEMBER. THERE ARE LARGE PERFORATIONS IN MULTIPLE AREAS ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE FRAME, AND I DON'T SEE ANY WAY TO REPAIR OTHER THAN A COMPLETE FRAME REPLACEMENT. WHY IS THE DIVIDING LINE FOR THE RECALL 10V436000 SET AT THE 1998 MODEL YEAR? THIS IS THE SAME BASIC VEHICLE WITH THE SAME ROTTED FRAME AS THOSE INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE DOORS SHOULD ROT OF A VEHICLE LONG BEFORE THE FRAME BECOMES AN ISSUE. *TR
THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING EXTREME FRAME CORROSION OF BOTH THE FORWARD AND REAR FRAME MEMBER. THERE ARE LARGE PERFORATIONS IN MULTIPLE AREAS ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE FRAME, AND I DON'T SEE ANY WAY TO REPAIR OTHER THAN A COMPLETE FRAME REPLACEMENT. WHY IS THE DIVIDING LINE FOR THE RECALL 10V436000 SET AT THE 1998 MODEL YEAR? THIS IS THE SAME BASIC VEHICLE WITH THE SAME ROTTED FRAME AS THOSE INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE DOORS SHOULD ROT OF A VEHICLE LONG BEFORE THE FRAME BECOMES AN ISSUE. *TR
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1996 HONDA PASSPORT AND WAS TOLD "YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH A HONDA"--DROVE GOOD, BODY GOOD, INTERIOR IMMACULATE, ETC. A MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT FOR RECENT REPAIRS NEEDED ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND I WAS SHOWN THE HORRIFIC RUSTED FRAME, HE ACTUALLY PUT HIS HAND THROUGH IT!!! AND NOT JUST IN ONE AREA, THE WHOLE FRAME!! UNBELIEVABLE! I AM A SERVICE TECH THAT DRIVES A VEHICLE, ON AVERAGE, 500 TO 700 MILES A WEEK. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70MPH WHEN THE FRAME COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE--OR ANYONE ELSE'S THAT COULD HAVE BEEN IN MY PATH. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS SINCE RECEIVING THIS INFORMATION ABOUT MY PASSPORT, AND IT'S OBVIOUS HONDA IS AWARE OF THE FAULTY STEEL THAT WAS USED ON THESE FRAMES. THEY SHOULD COMPENSATE ANYONE STILL DRIVING ONE OF THESE MORBIDLY UNSAFE VEHICLES AND GET THEM OFF THE ROAD! THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. RECALLS WERE ISSUED ON MANY OTHER MODELS AND MAKES, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT INCLUDE TH
Mileage: 145,321
THIS VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS RUST ISSUES FOR ITS AGE. THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH IN MANY SPOTS WHICH MAKES IT A HAZARD TO DRIVE. IN APRIL OF 2011 THE SHOCK TOWER BROKE FREE OF THE FRAME AND NOW WOBBLES FREE IN THE WHEEL WELL. WE FIRST NOTICED A RUST PROBLEM SOME YEARS BACK WHEN MY BROTHER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. HE WAS THE SECOND OWNER OF IT AT APPROX. 50K MILES. *TR
Mileage: 60,000
THIS VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS RUST ISSUES FOR ITS AGE. THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH IN MANY SPOTS WHICH MAKES IT A HAZARD TO DRIVE. IN APRIL OF 2011 THE SHOCK TOWER BROKE FREE OF THE FRAME AND NOW WOBBLES FREE IN THE WHEEL WELL. WE FIRST NOTICED A RUST PROBLEM SOME YEARS BACK WHEN MY BROTHER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. HE WAS THE SECOND OWNER OF IT AT APPROX. 50K MILES. *TR
Mileage: 60,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HAVING HIS VEHICLE SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY COVERED WITH RUST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 161,000.
Mileage: 161,000
AFTER EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I REMOVED MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO INSPECT BRAKES, BEARINGS, ETC. I IMMEDIATELY DISCOVERED A LARGE RUST HOLE IN MY FRAME RIGHT WHERE IT BENDS UP TO THE HEIGHT OF THE ENGINE MOUNT. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT HOLE, AS WELL AS, HOLES ON THE TOP AND BOTTOM IN THE SAME VICINITY. I REPLACED THE TIRE, REMOVED THE PASSPORT FROM SERVICE AND REPLACED IT WITH A RELIABLE VEHICLE. SINCE THEN I HAVE MONITORED THE WEB TO SEE IF ANY OTHERS HAD EXPERIENCED FRAME RUSTING ON HONDA PASSPORTS OR ISUZU RODEOS. THERE WERE MULTITUDES. TODAY I TOOK THE PASSPORT TO A BODY SHOP FOR A PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION OF THE FRAME. THE RESULTS WERE THAT THE TOTAL RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRAME WAS FULL OF RUST HOLES AND THE LEFT SIDE TO A LESSER EXTENT. I AM TRULY FORTUNATE THAT I NOTICED THE PROBLEM BEFORE SERIOUS INJURY TO MYSELF AND FAMILY OR OTHERS OCCURRED. I HAVE ALSO RECENTLY NOTICED THAT HONDA AND ISUZU HAVE ISSUED RECALLS FOR 1998-2002 DUE TO FRAME RUST
Mileage: 157,600
AFTER EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I REMOVED MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO INSPECT BRAKES, BEARINGS, ETC. I IMMEDIATELY DISCOVERED A LARGE RUST HOLE IN MY FRAME RIGHT WHERE IT BENDS UP TO THE HEIGHT OF THE ENGINE MOUNT. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT HOLE, AS WELL AS, HOLES ON THE TOP AND BOTTOM IN THE SAME VICINITY. I REPLACED THE TIRE, REMOVED THE PASSPORT FROM SERVICE AND REPLACED IT WITH A RELIABLE VEHICLE. SINCE THEN I HAVE MONITORED THE WEB TO SEE IF ANY OTHERS HAD EXPERIENCED FRAME RUSTING ON HONDA PASSPORTS OR ISUZU RODEOS. THERE WERE MULTITUDES. TODAY I TOOK THE PASSPORT TO A BODY SHOP FOR A PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION OF THE FRAME. THE RESULTS WERE THAT THE TOTAL RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRAME WAS FULL OF RUST HOLES AND THE LEFT SIDE TO A LESSER EXTENT. I AM TRULY FORTUNATE THAT I NOTICED THE PROBLEM BEFORE SERIOUS INJURY TO MYSELF AND FAMILY OR OTHERS OCCURRED. I HAVE ALSO RECENTLY NOTICED THAT HONDA AND ISUZU HAVE ISSUED RECALLS FOR 1998-2002 DUE TO FRAME RUST
Mileage: 157,600
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY COVERED WITH RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE FAILURE BECAUSE A LATER YEAR OF THE SAME MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR A SIMILAR FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Mileage: 110,000
WE HAVE A 1996 HONDA PASSPORT THAT WE RECENTLY HELPED OUR DAUGHTER BUY. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL ON THESE, AND FOUND THAT OUR MODEL YEAR (1996) WAS NOT INCLUDED. TODAY WE WERE HAVING NEW TIRES PUT ON HER CAR AND OUR MECHANIC CALLED TO LET US KNOW THAT THE FRAME ROT WAS MORE THAN WE INITIALLY THOUGH, SO MUCH SO THAT HE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT THE CAR NOT BE DRIVEN ANY LONGER AS IT WAS NOT ROAD SAFE. WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH HONDA, AND WERE TOLD TO DIRECT OUR EFFORTS TO THE NHTSA. THIS CAR IS NOW CAN NO LONGER BE DRIVEN SAFELY, AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE NHTSA TO HAVE THIS RECALL EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE 1996 MODEL YEAR. THIS PAST WEEKEND WE RAN INTO ANOTHER 1996 PASSPORT OWNER, AND FOUND THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. NOW WE HAD SOME OF THE FRAME ROT REPAIRED AT A LOCAL WELDING SHOP, BUT DID NOT KNOW THE FULL EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE UNTIL TODAY WHEN OUR MECHANIC CALLED US. THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE CURRENT RECALL FOR THE HONDA PASSPORT/ISUZU RODEO IS 10V436000. *TR
Mileage: 187,251
WE HAVE A 1996 HONDA PASSPORT THAT WE RECENTLY HELPED OUR DAUGHTER BUY. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL ON THESE, AND FOUND THAT OUR MODEL YEAR (1996) WAS NOT INCLUDED. TODAY WE WERE HAVING NEW TIRES PUT ON HER CAR AND OUR MECHANIC CALLED TO LET US KNOW THAT THE FRAME ROT WAS MORE THAN WE INITIALLY THOUGH, SO MUCH SO THAT HE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT THE CAR NOT BE DRIVEN ANY LONGER AS IT WAS NOT ROAD SAFE. WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH HONDA, AND WERE TOLD TO DIRECT OUR EFFORTS TO THE NHTSA. THIS CAR IS NOW CAN NO LONGER BE DRIVEN SAFELY, AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE NHTSA TO HAVE THIS RECALL EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE 1996 MODEL YEAR. THIS PAST WEEKEND WE RAN INTO ANOTHER 1996 PASSPORT OWNER, AND FOUND THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. NOW WE HAD SOME OF THE FRAME ROT REPAIRED AT A LOCAL WELDING SHOP, BUT DID NOT KNOW THE FULL EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE UNTIL TODAY WHEN OUR MECHANIC CALLED US. THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE CURRENT RECALL FOR THE HONDA PASSPORT/ISUZU RODEO IS 10V436000. *TR
Mileage: 187,251
FRAME RUST AND ROT AT REAR OF VEHICLE. *TR
SEVERE FRAME RUST NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AREAS OF THE BOX FRAME AROUND THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT ARE COMPLETELY MISSING AND FALLING OFF DUE TO RUST. *TR
Mileage: 208,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON A DRY COUNTRY ROAD AT 30 MPH; THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE INJURIES SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE HOWEVER THEY DID WORK PROPERLY. THERE WERE NO AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.
Mileage: 157,990
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.