1996 Honda Passport

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

74/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Honda Passport, and it carries no 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Structure	9	18%
Air bags	7	14%
Engine and engine cooling	6	12%
Steering	4	8%
Suspension	3	6%
Power train	3	6%
Visibility	3	6%
Suspension	2	4%
Vehicle speed control	2	4%
Service brakes	2	4%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

THE FRAME ON MY PASSPORT BROKE. COME TO FIND OUT MY FRAME IS ROTTED. I'M HAPPY I WASN'T ON THE INTERSTATE AND GOING A REASONABLE SPEED OR WHO KNOWS WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME AND MY FAMILY. I SEE NOW THAT THIS IS A C
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

SAME AS NHTSA: 10V436000 CAMPAIGN. DEFECT CONSEQUENCE: EXCESSIVE CORROSION MAY RESULT IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE FRAME, WHICH CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND POTE
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

FRAME ROTTING AWAY AND MAKING PASSPORT UNSAFE TO DRIVE RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Structure

BEARINGS FAIL, SEALS FAIL, LASH ADJUSTERS FAIL, EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, POORLY DESIGNED OIL CIRCULATION SYSTEM. *JS
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING EXTREME FRAME CORROSION OF BOTH THE FORWARD AND REAR FRAME MEMBER. THERE ARE LARGE PERFORATIONS IN MULTIPLE AREAS ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE FRAME, AND I DON'T SEE ANY WAY TO REPAIR OTHER
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1996 HONDA PASSPORT AND WAS TOLD "YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH A HONDA"--DROVE GOOD, BODY GOOD, INTERIOR IMMACULATE, ETC. A MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT FOR RECENT REPAIRS NEEDED ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND I
NHTSA complaint: Structure

THIS VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS RUST ISSUES FOR ITS AGE. THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH IN MANY SPOTS WHICH MAKES IT A HAZARD TO DRIVE. IN APRIL OF 2011 THE SHOCK TOWER BROKE FREE OF THE FRAME AND NOW WOBBLES FREE IN
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HAVING HIS VEHICLE SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY COVERED WITH RUST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OF
NHTSA complaint: Structure

The seven scores

Reliability raw	82	excellent
Longevity est.	83	excellent
Maintenance	85	excellent
Depreciation	70	good
Performance	56	average
Efficiency	35	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 33% of other
Longevity: better than 85% of other
Running costs: better than 94% of other
Value retention: better than 73% of other

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 82: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 83: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1996 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 85: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1996 Honda Passport?

Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 9 of them (18%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 1996 Honda Passport reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (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.

How long will a 1996 Honda Passport last?

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 1996 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1996 Honda Passport?

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.