1997 Honda PASSPORT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
41 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
99,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 41 complaints (17.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 14.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 12.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Suspension | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Suspension: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 5
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 24 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 9; 2001: 5; 2002: 3; 2003: 2; 2004: 4; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 6; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007139 · 2002-10-10 (October 10, 2002)
THE VALVES RATTLE IN THE ENGINE. WHEN THEY RATTLE I CHECK THE OIL LEVEL AND IT'S FINE. I FOUND OUT... BY NO OTHER CHOICE....THAT IF I GET ON THE INTERSTATE (CAUSING THE RPM'S TO GO UP) FOR A FEW MILES, AND THEN EXIT THE INTERSTATE THE VALVES STOP RATTLING. EVERYONE I TALK TO SAYS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I HAVE LOOKED FOR HONDA SUPPORT EVERYWHERE! DEALERS CAN'T EVEN HELP! NOW I THINK I AM JUST GOING TO JOIN A GROUP THAT'S PLANNING A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT! MAYBE MR. HONDA CAN FIX THE PROBLEM THEN! IF NOT I WILL USE THE MONEY FRO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016908 · 2003-05-02 (May 2, 2003)
BRIDGESTONE TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039988 · 2003-09-15 (September 15, 2003)
VEHICLE CONSUMES EXCESSIVE OIL THAT CAN CAUSE A POTENTIAL ENGINE FAILURE, PER MANUFACTURER/DEALERSHIP. THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS ISSUE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039988 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052691 · 2004-01-08 (January 8, 2004)
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. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 73,501 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052691 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060050 · 2004-02-29 (February 29, 2004)
CAMSHAFT BOLT SPLIT IN HALF CAUSING MY ENGINE TO SEIZE UP WHEN THE BOLT FEEL DOWN INTO THE PULLEY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061545 · 2004-03-05 (March 5, 2004)
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. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093455 · 2004-10-01 (October 1, 2004)
I BOUGHT THE CAR AT 74,671 MILES, IT WAS BURNING 1/2 QUART EVERY 500 MILES. AT 80,044 MI THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT WITH NEW RINGS, VALVE SEALS AND THE WHOLE WORKS. THE ENGINE IS STILL BURNING THE SAME AMOUNT OF OIL, AND HAVE TROUBLES WITH OTHER THINGS. SUCH AS BELTS,CRANK PULLEY,INSTRUMENTS,4X4 VALVES AND FRAME CORROSION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,894 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093455 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133126 · 2005-08-17 (August 17, 2005)
WHILE HAVING EXHAUST WORK DONE THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE FRAME ON MY 1997 HONDA PASSPORT WAS RUSTED. THE DEALER DESCRIBED IT AS 100% RUSTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE (ABOUT 1 FOOT LONG BEHIND THE FRONT TIRE) AND 50% ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE DEALER SAID THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO HONDA AMERICA AND RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE LOCAL DEALER STATING THAT HONDA WAS GOING TO DO SOMETHING, BUT NEEDED TO HAVE ALL THE REPAIR COSTS DOCUMENTED. THEY SAID IT WAS UNLIKELY THAT ANYTHING ATTACHED TO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10133126 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.