YearToAvoid

2021 Honda Passport Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

83/100

#2 most-complained of 7 Passport years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2021 Honda Passport ranks 2nd-worst of 7 model years with a complaint index of 83 and 141 NHTSA complaints tied to 7 recalls. Collision avoidance and camera issues make up 36% of complaints, making this year a relative Avoid compared to other Passport years.

Complaints
141
Recalls
7
Crashes / fires
10 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21.5
19.5 city / 24.5 hwy

Top 2021 Honda Passport problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Collision Avoidance & Cameras51 (36%)
  2. Engine29 (21%)
  3. Electrical System27 (19%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain23 (16%)
  5. Brakes22 (16%)
  6. Other12 (9%)
  7. Lane Departure8 (6%)
  8. Fuel System7 (5%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers6 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of instrument panel, radio, horn, and window function while driving, with the vehicle losing all power on the highway.
  • Owners describe unintended acceleration while parking, with brakes failing to stop the vehicle before it struck a curb, pole, or wall.
  • Some drivers say the forward collision warning system flashed a brake alert too late to prevent a rear-end crash, even with adaptive cruise control engaged.
  • Owners report the automatic braking system triggering false warnings with no vehicles nearby, sometimes followed by unrelated crashes.
  • Several complaints describe brake pedals going to the floor without stopping the vehicle, including one case with no dashboard warning at all.
  • Owners mention headlights icing over completely in freezing drizzle, cutting off visibility at night.
2021 Honda Passport complaints: complaints filed per quarter232021 Q12021 Q42022 Q32023 Q22024 Q12024 Q42025 Q32026 Q2
202 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2021 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q2 (23).

2021 Honda Passport recalls

7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V365000Jun 4, 2026Structure & Body880,514 vehicles

    Structure:frame and members

    American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.

    Risk: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 26V332000May 21, 2026Airbags98,892 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

  3. NHTSA 24V064000Feb 1, 2024Airbags750,114 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.

    Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.

See all 7 recalls for the 2021 Honda Passport →

2021 Honda Passport fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19.5 MPG
Highway
24.5 MPG
Combined
21.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,025
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2021 compared with other Passport years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Avoid1002761021.5
2020Caution501001021.5
2021Avoid83141721.5
2022Best1761421.5
2023Caution6739521

All Honda Passport years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Honda Passport reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Passport ranks 2nd-worst out of 7 model years, with a complaint index of 83 and 141 complaints, making it a relative Avoid year.
What is the biggest problem area for the 2021 Honda Passport?
Collision Avoidance & Cameras is the top problem area, accounting for 51 complaints, or 36% of all complaints, and involved in 4 crashes.
How many recalls does the 2021 Honda Passport have?
NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2021 Honda Passport, covering structure and body, airbags, fuel system, brakes, collision avoidance cameras, and side mirrors, none marked do-not-drive.
How does the 2021 Passport compare to other years?
The 2021 Passport (complaint index 83, Avoid) ranks worse than 2020 (index 17, Best), 2022 (index 33, Good), and 2024 (index 0, Best), but better than 2019 (index 100, Avoid).
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Honda Passport?
EPA rates the 2021 Passport at 21.5 mpg combined (19.5 city / 24.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,025.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.