Transmission complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 7% | 0 miles |
| 2025 | 7 | 15% | — |
| 2024 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2023 | 5 | 13% | — |
| 2022 | 10 | 16% | 25,000 miles |
| 2021 | 23 | 16% | 1,000 miles |
| 2020 | 6 | 6% | 40,000 miles |
| 2019 | 25 | 9% | 10,000 miles |
| 2002 | 2 | 9% | — |
| 2001 | 6 | 4% | 68,000 miles |
| 2000 | 13 | 13% | 84,000 miles |
| 1999 | 26 | 11% | 68,000 miles |
| 1998 | 19 | 8% | 68,000 miles |
| 1997 | 8 | 14% | 108,000 miles |
| 1996 | 2 | 5% | — |
| 1995 | 7 | 12% | 143,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2026 Honda Passport. The contact stated that the wheel alignment was required due to an off-center steering wheel. The contact stated that on the second day of ownership, the vehicle shuddered, jerked, lurched, and hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. No warning lights were illuminated during the transmission failure. Additionally, the multi-view camera system malfunctioned while driving, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was determined that the transmission and the camera system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the transmission failure recurred within five minutes of retrieving the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. …
While passing at highway speeds under heavy acceleration, the transmission system on my 2026 Honda Passport with approximately 7,000 miles malfunctioned. Multiple warning messages appeared, including "Transmission system problem. Reverse gear not available. See your dealer," "Transmission system problem. Avoid heavy acceleration and high speed. See your dealer," "Transmission system problem. Paddle shifters not available. See your dealer," and "Emissions system problem. Power may be reduced. See your dealer." The vehicle then shifted into a middle gear and remained there, reducing normal drivability during a passing maneuver. I was able to pull over safely. After turning the vehicle off and back on, the warnings cleared temporarily, but the failure repeated multiple times. …
With only 7688 miles, have been having transmission issues like hard shifting, not shifting when needing to speedup especially when trying to pass or on highway. In city hard shifting occurs constantly now. I had tried contacting Honda and the dealership to get the gaps issue resolved for past 2 years and nothing. This has been a poor experience for a Honda, which we have been very loyal for over 40 years. This transmission issue will only get worse and needing a resolution or fix as I have tried both dealership and Honda for help without being told my case has been transferred over and over.
Vehicle has 11,500 miles on it and constantly pulls to the right. Pulls harder under hard acceleration, requiring steering correction when accelerating hard and again correcting when backing off the accelerator. Have had to dealer multiple times. They claim they can't fix. Correcting to the left under load and back to the right can cause car to weave at highway speeds and cause it to be unstable. Car is available for inspection upon request.
my 2023 Honda passport is having shifting problems (high revs, slow nd unpredictable power to wheels) harsh acceleration (not easy to safely /smoothly gauge power and speed from acceleration to wheel) high revs "stuck" --not shifting down smoothly/safely These issues are on going. I also researched and saw this has been reported b y other Honda Passport( 2023) owners. I contacted dealer 10/16/25 to document the complaint and asked dealer to call me back if any service advisories or recalls, they said no, but a service advisor wuld contat me if they felt a follow up was needed. Also, the vehicle had 'catastrophic' computer failure with power lost and warning lights within first 2 years --transmission lost power/engine still ran and forced into the breakdown lane and have vehicle towed. . Dealer did some type of reset. VIN # [VIN]
Transmission rolls freely when on an incline. Will roll backward when in drive also will roll forward when in reverse. could easily roll over small children or animals. yes problem was confirmed by dealer Has not been inspected by others Dealer tested other new vehicles and found same problem. Insisted this is normal with all electronic transmissions. Although manfacturer has added a button in later vehicles to fix the problem. no warnings or messages
The contact a 2022 Honda Passport. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the transmission hesitated prior to accelerating. In addition, the contact stated that while reversing, the transmission jerked into reverse. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was persistent during cold temperatures. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact was informed that the transmission was shifting normally. The vehicle was taken to another dealer for a second opinion, and the contact was informed that the transmission was shifting abnormally. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 8.
The contact owns a 2022 Honda Passport. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the transmission shuddered. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel injectors needed to be flushed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the same diagnostic information was provided. The contact stated that the fuel injectors were flushed again. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,300.
NHTSA investigations
Broken accelerator pedal
There is no summary currently available
Frequently asked questions
Which Honda Passport years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1999 (26), 2019 (25), 2021 (23), 1998 (19) and 2000 (13) model years. Transmission complaints make up 11% of all complaints for the 1999.
Is there a recall for Honda Passport transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for any Honda Passport model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Honda Passport transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 53,000 miles; 46% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (35 mentions), followed by the axle assembly (16).
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.