Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Honda Passport owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Honda Passport. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited severe rust on the rear passenger side frame. The contact received a recall notice in NHTSA campaign number: 10V436000 (suspension) was received back in 2011 and the vehicle was repaired at williams Honda in traverse city, michigan. The vehicle was treated with an anti-corrosive compound. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 179,000.
While driving (1/21/09), I felt like the Passport was "skating on ice" or being hit by wind. Sudden onset of this issue. Turning a corner and driving 5 MPH, I encountered a sudden loud "boom", and stopped the car immediately. The driver's back wheel stabilizer bar had fallen off of the body/frame of the Honda, completely rusted/rotted off. Had the car towed home only to discover that the frame was riddled with holes, some as large as 6" in the frame. One area of the back frame was held together was 2 small pieces, 1" wide, my husband noted numerous rusted through holes in the frame. The body looks new, no rust, no problems. We live in ky, not near an ocean, not where road salt is used a lot during the winter because the winters are not severe. The piece of frame in question is one section of frame, in the back by the rear tire, driver's side. …
I have a 1998 Honda Passport and the bottom frame is all rusted and the rear axle or rear suspension trailing arm rusted till it fell off. Luckily it happened while my son was leaving our driveway and he was not on a highway driving at highway speed. So it is no longer driveable and we tied up the falling part and it was parked in our yard for almost a year because we could not afford to get it repaired. We now have to move to a townhouse and there is no place to park this vehicle so we had it towed to an autobody shop for an estimate. The initial estimate for cost of repair is about $2,000 which is more than what we can afford and it could possibly get higher once the repairs get started. So this is where we stand. …
I bought a 1998 Honda Passport at the auction in salem newhampshire on December 20, 2014, the vehicle has an estimate of 87;000 miles on it, which is why I bought the car in the first place on top of the fact that the vehicle appeared to be in good condition, however to my surprise after taking my car to the mechanic, I was told that the frame to the vehicle was extremely rotted and would most likely be a hazard. I was not aware that the vehicle was on recall for frame rot issues until today December 29,2014, I tried to receive co-operations from a Honda dealer and was told that the recall was closed and that their was nothing they can do and simply apologized. What I do not understand is why would they leave a recalled vehicle on the market, wouldn't this be a violation of the lemon law? …
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Honda Passport. The contact was driving 30 MPH when the vehicle exhibited an unusually loud bang and the contact immediately noticed that the suspension did not feel normal. The contact discovered excessive frame rust and the shocks were being held up by the body of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic and mechanic stated the vehicle was beyond repair. The contact then took the vehicle to an authorized dealer where the dealer informed the contact that the frame was damaged beyond repair and should not be driven. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that they would not assist with repairs due to the rust issue. The contact stated that he noticed several complaints via the internet regarding excessive frame rust for his year, make and model. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 98,000. …
Our family owns a 1998 Honda Passport with serious frame rusting and frame rot. We have maintained and serviced the vehicle regularly and have had it serviced numerous times. Our incident occurred when we noticed that the vehicle started to drive like a tank. In other words it became hard to turn and you could feel every bump in the road. Upon inspection of the car I found that the rear suspension of the car had completely rusted through. Allowing the rear axle springs to ride directly onto the car body. Also the frame stabilizer bar mount was rusted through and breaking off. The rear frame support bar that connects the rear end of the frame together was completely rusted through. This frame is so rusted thought that you can poke holes in it with your fingers!!!!! The entire frame is completely rotted through.
1998 Honda Passport with almost total frame rot out VIN number is [redacted] I notice this when up on a lift at my mechanics garage then I see all the complaint on the web about the frame rot. My truck is in perfect shape otherwise and , was told it can not be fix.. I am low income and cannot afford a new truck and have just put in 800 + dollars of engine work.. I m am hoping something cn be done , before me or a family get hurt or killed thank god I only travel 6 miles a day to and from work I pray every day that it does not let go and hope we can get the ball rolling on these companies Honda and Isuzu you May contact me at [redacted]
The frame of my 1998 Honda Passport rusted and broke in oct 09 while at school. It cost me over $1500.00 to have it welded (repaired), so I could drive it home. When I got it home in May I had my garage check the car's repair job and condition. The weld job on the left mid-frame held, but the rear of the frame was in bad shape. The rear of the frame and coil springs etc. Had totally rusted and deteriorated to the point that the car was sagging and unstable and unsafe to operate. The body, engine, and transmission are fine. The frame actually has holes rusted through it and crumbles in your hands. The car is economically unrepairable and I have to junk the car. I have leased another vehicle to get to work.
I own a 1998 Honda Passport, I bought it in 2008, and was unaware of the rusting problem. I was told that it will not pass inspection at all because of the rust on the frame, and the axles. That the truck is not at all safe to drive because of the rust of the frame. I was also told that the gas tank is also rotting out, because there is so much rust underneath the truck on the frame. I did pay a mechanic to fix some of the frame,and axle to weld some new metal onto the frame, but that didn't help in the inspection process, the truck still failed to pas inspection. This truck has been sitting in my driveway for over a year now and I have no way to fix it, or drive it.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Honda Passport. The contact stated that the rear of the vehicle was swaying. While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle began to sway and almost caused her to lose control. The contact ended up on the side of the road before regaining control of the vehicle. There was no crash. She drove the vehicle to the used car lot from where the vehicle was purchased, but they were unable to assist with the repairs. A welder repaired two fractures on both sides of the rear frame axle supports. On May 25, 2008, the frame fractured again above the rear wheel well. The failure mileage was 130,000 and current mileage was 150,000. Updated 07/28/08
Body complaints in other Passport years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 1998 Honda Passport?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the body & structure of the 1998 Honda Passport, 15% of the model year's 229 complaints. The component named most often is frame and members (22 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Honda Passport body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 1998 Honda Passport, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Honda Passport body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 130,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.