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 1999 Honda Passport owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
my frame was rusted throughout at 130k miles the car's rear trail arm mount on the frame detached and almost caused me to run into on by traffic numerous times at 25 mph. only once I stopped to pick up my sons from school the car's rear trail arm detached completely from the frame, I had deemed it undrivable and called for someone to come by and tow it back home. on my own further inspection, I noticed an absurd amount of rust in the rear left side, and holes in the frame. as well as I said the rear trail arm detached from the frame.
I bought this 1999 Honda Passport from a friend knowing it had some frame repair that was needed which I had done at a cost of $800. Recently(1 week ago) the vehicle was hit on the rear bumper. Upon taking it to a repair shop I was informed that the rear portion of he frame was severely rusted perhaps beyond the point of repair short of having the entire frame repaired. The rest of the vehicle is in good shape and seems to me that this rust problem is way out proportion to the age, mileage(100K) and shape of the rest of the vehicle and other vehicles of like characteristics. Honda must know that this a manufacturers design/construction issue and should be responsible for whatever it might take to effectuate a reaper of the problem.
The frame is rusted out on the drivers side all the way back to where the control arm and body mounts mount to the frame. I am not driving the vehicle now as it is not safe to drive and is undriveable. The last time I drove the vehicle it began to shake, traveling at approximately 50 MPH and approximately 10 miles to my destination (home). I slowed the vehicle down to approximately 35 to 40 MPH (on the freeway) and put on my hazard lights on and drove it still shaking but somewhat controllable at this point. Approximately 1.5 miles from home, I stopped at a stop sign, upon acceleration from a complete stop I hear a very loud clunk from the rearend and the vehicle is shaking again at approximately 5 MPH. I drove home and looked underneath and see that the control arm is almost detached from the frame. …
My frame rotted out on the rear drivers side trailing arm linkage, breaking free while driving. Was able to control the vehicle until I got into a parking lot. Towed the vehicle to my family's garage and took a look at the damage, excessive amounts of frame were missing. Put in some patches in about a two to three foot area on the frame. Fast forward 2 years, received a notice of the trailing arm rust problem from Honda. Called Honda because this isn't a trailing arm issue, it is a frame issue. I got a special case number, bring it down to the dealership. Two days later they call and say everything is all set and looks good. I get the vehicle back and check it out. They sprayed some black stuff that doesn't dry onto the trailing arm linkage, they didn't even cover the area of frame that was welded in, just the linkage. …
My local las vegas Honda dealership inspected my vehicle for a recall related to: the forward mounting point bracket for the left or right rear suspension lower link May experience excessive corrosion. The Honda dealership replaced no parts, and simply treated the area with an anti-corrosive compound. Three weeks later, my auto mechanic told me the vehicle is unsafe for driving due to the frame having rotted away entirely in places. He was able to poke holes in the remaining frame with his finger because the steel was rusted through so badly. My mechanic indicated that I should have the vehicle towed to the junkyard immediately. However, the engine, drive train, interior, and body are all in good or excellent condition. This is clearly defective and/or inferior the frame materials used by Honda. My dealership sent me on the highway with a clearly unsafe vehicle!
I had my vehicle inspected during a routine oil change. The mechanics showed me extensive corrosion on the frame of my vehicle. They said it was unsafe to drive. After doing research online I found out a recall for a suspension bracket expired. But I also found out several other owners had extensive corrosion and Honda was working with them on the frame corrosion which was identified during the recall but was not part of the recall. I called Honda and the dealership and they said since the recall expired they would not do anything. Again, it appears Honda knows of more than usual/severe corrosion of the frame on this vehicle and has dealt with a few consumers on it. But when I ask they say there is nothing they can do. I need help. It appears there is a bigger problem than what they initially started the recall for.
Last year I noticed rust that had become a gaping hole in the upper part of my Honda Passport's upper frame. Then I noticed there were rust locations at various parts of the roof and rear. This car has been driven solely on oahu, so there is no issue of deicer or road salt having caused this, and I live miles from the ocean. The gaping hole is growing and this problem May be a safety hazard and it makes the car impossible to sell, which is something I'd intended to do soon, as my girlfriend will also start driving "our" vehicle and she's uncomfortable with a larger car. I looked online and found that a number of sites have noted that the Honda Passport and the Isuzu rodeo (both the same car from the same plant in indiana) have special problems with rusty frames, but I thought I should report mine, too.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Honda Passport. The contact was driving approximately 5 MPH, the trailing arm detached from the rear of the vehicle. The contact was able to repair the vehicle. The identical failure occurred one year after the vehicle was repaired. There was a clanking noise coming from the vehicle. The upper coil spring mount and upper shock mount rusted in the rear of the vehicle in which a temporary repair was performed. Additionally, the fuel tank mounts rusted and detached from the left rear end of the vehicle. The failure mileage was 160,000. The current mileage was 182,000. Updated 05/18/2010. Updated 6/3/10 the consumer stated the frame rusted and the trailing arm bracket, driver side upper coil spring and shock mount all separated due to frame rust. Updated 09/07/10
Went to my mechanic to have a new alternator put in and when he had it up on the lift noticed severe rust on the frame. He notified me that the vehicle was unsafe to drive and recommended getting rid of it. I told him I could not because I had purchased the vehicle a year ago and still owed money on it. After doing some research I realized that this was apparently a common issue with these vehicles. I have taken my vehicle to a couple welding shops and one of them told me it was too risky to try and repair it and the other told me they could try and do some repairs, but of course could not guarantee that it would last any longer. My vehicle was originally purchased in ohio which was one of the states included in the recall and it remained in that state until 2010.
Driving approx 45 miles per hr. Passport suddenly pulled us into the left lane. We were able to get back into correct lane and pull vehicle over. Drove directly to our mechanic at approx 20 miles per hr. For about 2 miles. He looked under the vehicle and said trailing head was broke from frame and frame was rusted. The vehicle is sitting in my drive unable to drive. Both sides are broke at trailing head and rusted so bad you can push and break a hole in the frame. The frame is the only rust on the vehicle. We were lucky there was no traffic coming towards us and that we were not going very fast. There was no prior notice, all of a sudden the car veered left into the other lane and it was hard to get it controlled and into the correct lane and pulled over.
Body complaints in other Passport years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 1999 Honda Passport?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the body & structure of the 1999 Honda Passport, 14% of the model year's 228 complaints. The component named most often is frame and members (22 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Honda Passport body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 1999 Honda Passport, though it has 2 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 1999 Honda Passport body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 116,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 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.