HONDA PASSPORT · model year

1997 HONDA PASSPORT

69 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997HONDAPASSPORT carries 69 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries, and 0 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 1997 PASSPORT is structure:frame and members with 7 filings, followed by suspension (5) and engine and engine cooling:engine (5). 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 1997 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.

69
Complaints
3
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

69 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS7
SUSPENSION5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH2
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS2
TIRES2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20160410UNKNOWN OR OTHER

IN 2015 I BOUGHT A 1997 HONDA PASSPORT FROM SOMEBODY AND NOTICED THE FRAME HAS EXTREME ROT AND ITS SO BAD IT ROTTED A FUEL LINE CAUSING A LEAK NOW, I OWNED A 1995.5 ISUZU RODEO WITH EXCESIVE FRAME ROT AS WELL TO WHERE THE FRAME BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING. THESE FRAMES USED IN ALL OF THE ISUZU RODEOS AND HONDA PASSPORTS AREN'T TREATED PROPERLY BEFORE THEY WERE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC, THERE ARE HOLES IN THE FRAME AS LONG AS A FOOT, THESE NEED TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR INJURED BECAUSED OF IT, I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE YET DUE TO THIS FACT OR THE BREIF MOMENTS I DO DRIVE IT I FEEL AS IF ITS GOING TO BREAK IN HALF. IT WONT LET ME PUT THE MILEAGE IT HAS 176009.

20150419SUSPENSION

FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN LEFT REAR AREA NEAR LEAF SPRING HANGER. SHOULD THE FRAME FAIL IN THIS AREA, THE AXLE WILL NO LONGER BE SECURED TO THE VEHICLE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN MADE FOR YEARS STARTING 1998 OF THE SAME VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

20150419STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN LEFT REAR AREA NEAR LEAF SPRING HANGER. SHOULD THE FRAME FAIL IN THIS AREA, THE AXLE WILL NO LONGER BE SECURED TO THE VEHICLE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN MADE FOR YEARS STARTING 1998 OF THE SAME VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

20141014STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

1997 HONDA PASSPORT WITH 122,000 MILES. THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LOOKS LIKE NEW. BUT THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED THROUGH I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. FROM ALL OF THE STORIES I HAVE SEEN WHY WAS THEIR NOT A RECALL ON THE HONDA PASSPORT AND ISUZU RODEO? ARE THEY WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO DIE? *TR

Mileage: 122,000

20120108STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

THE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE LEAF SPRING IN THE BACK TO FALL DOWN. MY REAR END IS NO LONGER HELD IN PLACE AND CAN FALL OUT FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. MY CAR IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. IT'S A 97 HONDA PASSPORT. OTHER WISE MY VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT WHICH MAKES ME SICK TO KNOW THAT THE FRAME IS GONE. *TR

20120108SUSPENSION

THE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE LEAF SPRING IN THE BACK TO FALL DOWN. MY REAR END IS NO LONGER HELD IN PLACE AND CAN FALL OUT FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. MY CAR IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. IT'S A 97 HONDA PASSPORT. OTHER WISE MY VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT WHICH MAKES ME SICK TO KNOW THAT THE FRAME IS GONE. *TR

20111221SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHEN CHANGING THE BRAKES I NOTICED A LOT OF SURFACE RUST WHEN I INSPECTED FURTHER I FOUND TWO HOLES IN FRAME ONE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BEHIND THE WHEEL AND THE SECOND IN THE REAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE INFRONT OF THE BACKSIDE OF THE LEAF SPRING SHACKLE THE HOLE IN THE BACK IS AS TALL OF THE FRAME RAIL AND ABOUT 10 INCHES LONG ONLY ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRAME THE HOLE IN THE FRONT IS ONLY A FEW INCHES TALL AND 6 INCHES LONG ON THE OUTSIDE OF FRAME AND STARTING ON THE BOTTOM OF FRAME RAIL THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE BUT MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION I INSPECT IT DAILY TO CHECK FOR ANY DISFORMING OF THE FRAME. *TR

Mileage: 125,000

20111202STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V436000 (SUSPENSION:REAR). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

20110911FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

LEFT HOUSE AND PROCEEDED DOWNHILL ON GRAVEL DRIVEWAY AND THEN TURNED LEFT ONTO MAIN ROAD WHICH IS A HILL RISING APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET OVER .5 MILES. AT TOP OF HILL LET OFF ACCELERATOR BUT THE SPEED WAS STILL INCREASING. TAPPED ACCELERATOR, PULLED FLOOR MAT AWAY FROM GAS/BREAK PEDDLE AREA, TAPPED ACCELERATOR, WHOLE TIME DEPRESSING BREAK WITH BOTH FEET. FINALLY CUT OFF IGNITION AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR. I COASTED THE CAR BACKWARDS WITH ENGINE OFF AND TURNED IT AROUND. WHEN I RESTARTED CAR THE ENGINE WAS AT IDLE AND I DROVE IT HOME WITHOUT DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR. WHEN I CHECKED CAR AT HOME I OBSERVED THAT THE RUBBER THIMBLE COVERING THROTTLE CABLE AT THROTTLE WAS DETERIORATED. I PULLED THE RUBBER THIMBLE OFF AND OBSERVED THAT THE RUBBER HAD ENTERED THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING AND WAS THE CAUSE, JAMMING THE CABLE AT THE ACCELERATED SPEED. I CLEARED THE CABLE AND HOUSING OF THE EMBEDDED RUBBER AND CAR ACCELERATED/DECELERATED NORMALLY. A PRECURSOR TO THIS WAS THAT MY GAS M

Mileage: 166,340

20110911ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

LEFT HOUSE AND PROCEEDED DOWNHILL ON GRAVEL DRIVEWAY AND THEN TURNED LEFT ONTO MAIN ROAD WHICH IS A HILL RISING APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET OVER .5 MILES. AT TOP OF HILL LET OFF ACCELERATOR BUT THE SPEED WAS STILL INCREASING. TAPPED ACCELERATOR, PULLED FLOOR MAT AWAY FROM GAS/BREAK PEDDLE AREA, TAPPED ACCELERATOR, WHOLE TIME DEPRESSING BREAK WITH BOTH FEET. FINALLY CUT OFF IGNITION AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR. I COASTED THE CAR BACKWARDS WITH ENGINE OFF AND TURNED IT AROUND. WHEN I RESTARTED CAR THE ENGINE WAS AT IDLE AND I DROVE IT HOME WITHOUT DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR. WHEN I CHECKED CAR AT HOME I OBSERVED THAT THE RUBBER THIMBLE COVERING THROTTLE CABLE AT THROTTLE WAS DETERIORATED. I PULLED THE RUBBER THIMBLE OFF AND OBSERVED THAT THE RUBBER HAD ENTERED THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING AND WAS THE CAUSE, JAMMING THE CABLE AT THE ACCELERATED SPEED. I CLEARED THE CABLE AND HOUSING OF THE EMBEDDED RUBBER AND CAR ACCELERATED/DECELERATED NORMALLY. A PRECURSOR TO THIS WAS THAT MY GAS M

Mileage: 166,340

20110830STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

EXCESSIVE RUSTING ON STEEL CHASSIS OF 1997 HONDA PASSPORT TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. HONDA HAS RECALL ON '98 AND ABOVE FOR FRAME RUST ISSUES BUT NOT ON 95-97 MODELS. IF THIS VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE IT IS HIT BROADSIDE FROM PASSENGER SIDE, THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED (CAN PUT WHOLE FIST INTO IT) THAT IT WILL MOST LIKELY SPLIT THE CAR IN HALF. HONDA WANTS TO CHARGE ME A DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE VEHICLE. OBVIOUSLY, OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE (NHTSA'S INTERNAL REFERENCE NUMBER : 10262212 ). WHERE THIS GENTLEMAN SEEMED TO BE ORIGINAL OWNER REFERENCING NO OFFROADING HISTORY, I CANNOT VOUGE SINCE I JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FOR MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE TO COLLEGE. AT THIS TIME, I HAVE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND PROHIBITED HER FROM DRIVING IT. *TR

Mileage: 176,843

20110428SUSPENSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HE CONTACT HEARD A CRACKING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A CRACKED SUSPENSION LINK IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE SUSPENSION CRACK WAS DUE TO RUST BUILD UP ON THE FRAME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS VERY UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Mileage: 170,000

20110405STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED TO PERFORM ANY REPAIRS. THEY ALSO ADVISED THAT HE SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

Mileage: 68,000

20100806STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

1997 HONDA PASSPORT - BODY IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. INTERIOR - VERY NICE. FRAME IS IN HORRIFIC CONDITION. THE COMPLETE FRAME IS EXTREMELY RUSTED FROM FRONT TO REAR AND IN A VERY WEAKENED STATE. TRANSMISSION CROSS-MEMBER SUPPORT AT FRAME IS ALSO RUSTED VERY BAD. FRONT CAB SUPPORTS RUSTED VERY BAD. THE REAR SPRING ATTACHMENT, LEFT SIDE, RUSTED AND COLLAPSED. IT CAME UNATTACHED FROM THE BADLY RUSTED FRAME. RIGHT SIDE, REAR, APPEARS IN VERY BAD SHAPE ALSO. THIS FRAME HAS BEEN PATCHED AND WELDED MANY TIMES. IT WILL CONTINUALLY NEED TO BE PATCHED AND REPAIRED. AFRAID IF I HIT A POTHOLE, THE SUSPENSION WILL RIP AWAY FROM THE FRAME DUE TO THE SEVERE RUSTED CONDITION OF THE FRAME. NOTICE MANY PASSPORTS IN AUTO SALVAGE YARDS WITH RUSTED FRAMES. SAMPLE FRAME PIECES FROM PASSPORTS NEED TO BE CUT OUT AND THE METAL ANALYZED FOR QUALITY OF MATERIALS THAT WERE USED. I BELIEVE MANUFACTURER IS WELL AWARE OF THIS SITUATION AND SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS POOR PRODUCT AND RECALL BY SENDING NOTICE TO ALL OWNE

Mileage: 60,000

20100520STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH AND BASICALLY DETERIORATING. I CAN LOOK UNDERNEATH MY VEHICLE AND SEE HOLES WHERE THE METAL SHOULD BE AND SEE IT FLAKING OFF. I COULD EASILY POKE A HOLE RIGHT THROUGH IT ON JUST ABOUT ANY POINT ON BOTH THE FRONT AND THE REAR. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A FEW YEARS NOW BUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE, TO THE POINT WHERE I DON'T THINK IT IS REALLY SAFE TO DRIVE. I SAW ON THE NEWS RECENTLY WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES LITERALLY FALLING APART AND BREAKING IN TWO. THE NEWS STORY STATED THE YEARS 1998-2008 BUT MY 1997 IS EXACTLY THE SAME UNDERNEATH. *TR

20090318STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I TOOK MY "97 HONDA PASSPORT TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE MY WATER PUMP LOOKED AT. WHILE THE CAR WAS ON HIS LIFT, HE NOTICED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE FRAME. THERE WERE PLACES WHERE THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT COMPLETELY. I HAVE NEVER USED THIS SUV OFF ROAD AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT WELL. A FRIEND OF MINE ALSO HAD A PASSPORT LIKE MINE THAT DID THE SAME THING. *TR

Mileage: 99,800

20070728POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

CHECK ENGINE OFF AND ON, NORM REEVES HONDA CHECK AND ADVISE PULLED CODE:P0304 CYLINDER 4 MISFIRE. TECH CHECK THE COILS THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE FUEL PRESSURE. EVERYTHING IS GOOD.PERFORMED COMPRESSION TEST. PULLED UP SERVICE BULLETIN TO UP DATE THE PCM BROAD CAST CODES. PCM HAS TO BE REPLACE IF LIGHTS BACK ON AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 108,000

20070619STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH THE BACK LEFT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. IT TORE THE SKIRT AROUND THE BACK WHEEL FROM THE HOLDING SCREWS ,CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE LEFT BUMPER. ALSO, IT TORE THE BLACK BORDER PANELS FROM DOOR AND BUMPER. THE AMAZING PART WAS THAT THE TIRE NEVER WENT FLAT. HAVE PHOTOS. *AK

20070619TIRES

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH THE BACK LEFT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. IT TORE THE SKIRT AROUND THE BACK WHEEL FROM THE HOLDING SCREWS ,CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE LEFT BUMPER. ALSO, IT TORE THE BLACK BORDER PANELS FROM DOOR AND BUMPER. THE AMAZING PART WAS THAT THE TIRE NEVER WENT FLAT. HAVE PHOTOS. *AK

20060213SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS ENGAGES ON DRY ROADS INCREASING REQUIRED STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM OCCURS MOST OFTEN WHEN TURNING INTO PARKING SPACE,BUT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHILE STRAIGHT LINE BRAKING. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB

Mileage: 90,000

Compare 1997HONDAPASSPORT to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 HONDA PASSPORT have?
The 1997 HONDA PASSPORT has 69 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 1 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 HONDA PASSPORT?
The most-complained component for the 1997 HONDA PASSPORT is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1997 HONDA PASSPORT safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.