Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise, lane keeping, backup camera).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Honda Passport owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I don't know which system failed or malfunctioned. It is available for inspection. While parking at the community parking lot the car accelerated. I wan't able to stop it. It jumped a bumper stop than a curb and drove up a berm and crashed into a tree. (The incident is on film at the clubhouse). I was the only one injured. My knee broke the underside of dashboard (see phpto). I did have other bruises. The vehicle is still at the collision repair shop so it hasn't been seen by the dealer. However I did report the matter to American Honda who assigned a case #13707324 on 3/17/2023. As of this writing I am told they haven't assigned same to a representative. To the best of my knowledge the vehicle has not been inspected. There were no warnings given.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Passport. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the Forward Collision Avoidance activated, and the vehicle stopped. The contact stated that the braking was aggressive. The contact stated that the failure was persistent. The contact stated that the vehicle was the only form of transportation. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to use while transporting minor children. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that an unknown recall repair was performed previously; however, the failure occurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
My son was driving on the highway with the adaptive cruise control on. The car in front of him stopped suddenly. The dashboard screen system flashed the word "brake" but not in enough time for him to react. He braked hard but he still rear-ended the car in front of him. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed because the car is no longer drivable. It is sitting at my house waiting for repair of $7,700 damage. I thought the "Honda Sensing System," the combination of the adaptive cruise control and emergency braking, was supposed to bring the car to a halt. My son and his 3 friends were put at risk. I'm very disappointed in the car.
The vehicle infotainment system froze. Several minutes later after driving, I pressed the brakes but they did not function. The vehicle would not stop and crashed into the vehicle in front of me. Emergency braking did not engage or otherwise show signs of activation. After turning off the car and dealing with the accident, I restarted the vehicle and the brakes and infotainment system operated normally.
- Automatic braking system flashes warnings for no reason, with no cars around me - Parking break hasn't taken a handful of times - No collision warning when parking brake didn't take, front end is now damaged ** I have dash cam proof I hit the parking brake before I collided with the vehicle in front of me in the school line. Husband glued the grill pieces together to keep them from overlapping.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Passport. The contact stated while driving at 22 MPH, "The Collision Mitigation Braking System" warning message illuminated. The contact stated the vehicle applied the emergency brakes independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 25,950.
On October 29, 2022, the CMBS emergency braking system slammed the brakes on for no obvious reason. This happened at least four or five times while traveling eastbound on I-40 in AZ. There were no cars in front of or changing into my lane. After it happened a few times, I called the dealer RSM Honda in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, where i service the car to see if i could turn it off. They suggested reducing the sensitivity, which I did. After changing the sensitivity, I still experienced two or three more incidents of surprise emergency braking for no reason. After the fifth or sixth incident, I pulled over and searched a pdf copy of my owners manual and found a way to turn off the CMBS with a button on the dash. This worked to stop the braking incidents, but I had to do it over again every time I restarted the engine after stopping for gas, etc. …
Owned the 2021 Honda Passport for 4 years and have had multiple issues over that time. 1st. Electrical issues. Randomly while driving the center/head unit will continuously restart on a loop until vehicle is turned off and turned back on. 2nd. The speakers make crackling noises randomly while driving. Even when the audio/speakers are turned off the crackling continues. (Very loud and annoying) 3rd. The Passport sometimes shuts off completely when stopped at red lights and has difficultly turning back on / restarting. This showed an error that there was a battery issue, which the battery had just been replaced a month or two earlier. It said something about being in accessory mode. 4th. The sensor that tracks oncoming traffic goes off sporadically. There are times on single lane roads that the car forces the breaks on because it senses cars on the other side. 5th. …
I purchased a used 2021 Passport the end of May 2025. While driving, the 'collision mitigation braking system' or CMBS would activate the braking system and would intermittently just brake, causing panic for not only myself, but I'm sure drivers behind me for suddenly braking with no imminent threat in from of me. This happened multiple times without receiving any warning or notifications, just suddenly. It would happen without warning, or sometimes nearing a bridge or a cover plate on the road, which almost caused accidents multiple times to get rear ended. I have driven for decades and never felt anxiety until I drove this vehicle for a few months. I felt scared driving this vehicle, feeling uncertain when it would suddenly just brake. Eventually after a few months of driving, I got a reading that said CMBS problem on the screen. I scheduled an appointment with the dealer. …
Honda has a recall on certain vin numbers for the starter. My starter i was told to replace at a $2500 fee from reggie jackson honda in raleigh nc. I had to visit the dealership 3 times, they said its the battery, replaced the battery at my cost, now they said its the starter. They said there is a recall but my vin number was not included in the recall. The starter is worn out from the auto start and stop feature at stop lights. My issue is it will stop at a stop light and it wont start again then a warning comes on the screen about collision detection issue, then the warning goes away quickly and eventually i will get it to start but it is a safety issue that honda is aware of. I am asking honda to do partial credit on repair costs, but i dont understand why my vin number was excluded. …
Related recalls
Back over prevention › Display function
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023.
NHTSA investigations
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
On March 7, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24008) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system in model year 2019-2022 Honda Insight and 2019-2022 Honda Passport vehicles. The complainants allege activation of the AEB system with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's path, resulting in rapid vehicle deceleration.
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
On March 7, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24008) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system in model year 2019-2022 Honda Insight and 2019-2022 Honda Passport vehicles. The complainants allege activation of the AEB system with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's path, resulting in rapid vehicle deceleration.
Collision Avoidance complaints in other Passport years
Frequently asked questions
How common are collision avoidance problems on the 2021 Honda Passport?
NHTSA has 54 complaints about the driver assistance of the 2021 Honda Passport, 38% of the model year's 144 complaints. The component named most often is automatic emergency braking (35 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2021 Honda Passport collision avoidance problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 23V-431 (display function, Jun 15, 2023). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2021 Honda Passport collision avoidance problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 26,000 miles, and 50% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to driver assistance 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.