YearToAvoid

2021 Honda Passport Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 29 engine complaints for the 2021 Honda Passport, 21% of its 141 total complaints for the year. Owners commonly report knocking noises tied to connecting rod or crank bearing wear, and unexpected engine shutdowns, with a median failure mileage of 36,850 miles. No related recall is listed.

Engine complaints
29
21% of 141
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
36,850 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a knocking noise from the engine, sometimes diagnosed as connecting rod or crank bearing wear on cylinders such as #3 or #6.
  • Some owners describe the engine suddenly turning off while driving or idling, occasionally putting the vehicle into neutral.
  • Owners report the auto idle-stop feature malfunctioning, with the engine shutting off at a stop and taking several minutes to restart.
  • One owner reported the engine racing to full throttle unexpectedly while parking, resulting in a crash.
  • Owners describe catastrophic engine failure requiring full engine replacement after knocking noises were dismissed as normal by dealers.

When 2021 Honda Passport engine complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 2, 2021, latest Sep 18, 2026.

2021 Honda Passport engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2021Jul 2022Jul 2023Mar 2025Oct 2025Feb 2026Aug 2026
29 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Sep 2026 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2021 Honda Passport

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Passport model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201958 (21%)
  2. 202019 (19%)
  3. 202129 (21%)
  4. 202213 (21%)
  5. 20237 (18%)
  6. 20242 (12%)
  7. 202516 (41%)

Frequently asked questions

How many 2021 Honda Passport owners reported engine problems?
NHTSA lists 29 engine complaints for the 2021 Honda Passport, which is 21% of all 141 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2021 Honda Passport engine?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint area on the 2021 Honda Passport.
At what mileage do 2021 Honda Passport engine problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this engine complaint area is 36,850 miles.
What kind of engine failures do 2021 Honda Passport owners describe?
Owners describe knocking noises linked to connecting rod or crank bearing wear, sudden engine shutdowns while driving, and auto idle-stop malfunctions.
Did any 2021 Honda Passport engine complaints involve a crash?
Yes, NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires or injuries associated with the 29 engine complaints for this model year.

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.