Most common 1997 Honda Passport problems
Share of the 56 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Honda Passport complaints by model year
Best Passport years: 2024. Years to avoid: 2019, 2021, 2020, 2025, 2022. Compare all years →
What 1997 Honda Passport owners say
Body & structure
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.
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. …
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. …
Excessive gasoline usage (10-13 mpg) and chronic "check engine light" despite repeated trips to garage. Problem still occurring; can't wait to trade this beast in. Very disappointed by Honda for cloaking their label on an Isuzu/Mitsubishi built vehicle. Others on the net are just as fed up with this scrap of iron. May never buy from Honda and certainly not local dealer again. Engine ticks due to valve/lifter damage.
Transmission & drivetrain
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.
Consumer complained about electrical system and power transmission problems. When applying brakes, dash lights, headlights and brake lights went dim. When pressing on brake pedal radio cut off, and sometimes the vehicle shut off. Also, when driving at 30 MPH or above there was a transmission problem, vehicle did not shift gears. Consumer took vehicle to dealer, and couldn't find anything wrong.
1997 Honda Passport engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 20 / 18 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 17 / 16 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 17 / 16 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Honda Passport a good car?
Based on 56 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Passport rates average: 20% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Passport at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Honda Passport?
The body & structure — 13 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frame and members. Next are the engine & cooling (12) and transmission & drivetrain (8).
How many recalls does the 1997 Honda Passport have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 Honda Passport. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Honda Passport?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2021, 2020, 2025 and 2022. See the full Honda Passport years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Honda Passport problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.