Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the 1994 Honda Passport, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 9 | 22% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 20% |
| Seat belts | 4 | 10% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 7% |
| Steering | 3 | 7% |
| Power train | 2 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 5% |
| Steering | 1 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
ENGINE ALWAYS NEEDED OIL. EVEN WHEN NEW IT USED 1 QUART A WEEK. NOW 13 YEARS LATER THE CAR USES 2 QUARTS OF OIL A DAY AND RUNS VERY POORLY. A MECHANIC STATED I NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE ENGINE IS IRREPARABLE. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
CONSUMER SAW OIL ON THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, AND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN CAM SHAFT SENSOR RECALL 94V132000, WHICH WAS TEN YEARS OLD.
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
1994 HONDA PASSPORT BUILT IN MAY OF '94 SUFFERS FROM OIL LEAKING FROM DISLODGED CAM SHAFT ON TO MANIFOLD. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED ISUZU MECHANIC (ISUZU MAUFACTURED THE PASSPORT). HONDA HAS A SAFETY
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
THE CLUTCH, PRESSURE PLATE AND THROW OUT BEARING, FAILED. ALSO, THERE WERE STRESS CRACKS IN THE TRANSMISSION CASING. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WITH OUT PRESSING ACCELERATOR. CONSUMER STATES AFTER TAPPING ON BRAKE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. CONSUMER HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS CLAIM IN ORDER TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I HAD BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE REAR AXLE SEALS REPLACED ONCE AND NOW I NEED ANOTHER PASSENGER SIDE REPLACED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I READ THAT THE 1995 AND 1996 MODELS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT ABUSE THE TRUCK A
NHTSA complaint: Power train
CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, AND VEHICLE WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, THEN ROLLED OVER. DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RELEASED, AND DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM VEHICLE. SHE SUFFERED A BROKEN ARM AND HEAD INJURIES
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1994 Honda Passport. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS, THE LATCH PLATE USED IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO DESIGN DIMENSIONS. IF THE SEAT BELT TONGUE IS INSERTED SLOWLY AT AN ANGLE INTO THE BUCKLE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT.
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TONGUE TO COME OUT OF THE BUCKLE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR HARD BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW BUCKLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MID-DECEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO
THE LATCH PLATE USED IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO DESIGN DIMENSIONS. IF THE SEAT BELT TONGUE IS INSERTED SLOWLY AT AN ANGLE INTO THE BUCKLE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT.
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TONGUE TO COME OUT OF THE BUCKLE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR HARD BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW BUCKLE.
CONSTANT EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSES THE CAMSHAFT SEAL END PLUG CAN BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS ALLOWS OIL TO LEAK FROM THE CAMSHAFT.
Risk: THIS CAN CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE FROM OIL LEAKING ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL CAMSHAFT END SEAL PLUG RETAINER PLATES.
AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITHIN THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR CAN CONTAIN MANUFACTURING ERRORS.
Risk: THIS CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL CHARGING OF THE VEHICLE'S ALTERNATOR, RESULTING IN ENGINE CONTROL MALFUNCTION, AND/OR EVENTUAL ENGINE STALL.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR WITH A NEW REGULATOR.
| Reliability raw | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 83 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 85 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 70 | good |
| Performance | 56 | average |
| Efficiency | 31 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 9 of them (22%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 83/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1994 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.