Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 270 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Honda Passport, and it carries 6 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 | 48 | 18% |
| Suspension | 37 | 14% |
| Structure | 26 | 10% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 20 | 7% |
| Power train | 18 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 14 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 12 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 11 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA PASSPORT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN I
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SEVERE RUST ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FRAME. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V436000 (SUSPENSION
NHTSA complaint: Structure
I BOUGHT A 1998 HONDA PASSPORT AT THE AUCTION IN SALEM NEWHAMPSHIRE ON DECEMBER 20, 2014, THE VEHICLE HAS AN ESTIMATE OF 87;000 MILES ON IT, WHICH IS WHY I BOUGHT THE CAR IN THE FIRST PLACE ON TOP OF THE FACT THAT THE VE
NHTSA complaint: Structure
DRIVING STARTED TO SWAY SLIGHTLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON, ON THE WAY HOME THERE WAS A SUDDEN GRINDING AND LOSS OF CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE STAYING IN ONE LANE, I PULLED IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LOOKED AT IT. TH
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BOUNCE AND VEER WITHOUT THE CONTACT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
I TOOK MY HONDA PASSPORT TO FOX HONDA, TO GET THE RECALLS LOOKED AT AND THEY SAID THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT AND THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, SO THEY SAID THE RECALL FOR THE FRAME HAD ENDED ALREADY SO THEY COULDN'T DO
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FRAME AND
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED INTO ANOTHER LANE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOW
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 1998 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.
ISUZU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2002 ISUZU RODEO AND MODEL YEAR 2002 ISUZU AXIOM VEHICLES, AND HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN 1998-2002 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES, THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED, IN THE STATES OF MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND,
Risk: 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 POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AREA. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH LITTLE OR NO CORROSION IS FOUND, THE AREA WILL BE TREATED WITH AN ANTI-CORROSIVE COMPOUND. FOR VEHICLES IN WHI
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). THE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES IN CERTAIN TYPES OF BRAKING EVENTS.
Risk: EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT COMPUTER ALGORITHM FOR THE ABS THAT IS BASED ON THE ALGORITHM USED IN HONDA'S MY 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES, WHICH HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM. THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE CONDU
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. PAINT WAS APPLIED UNEVENLY ON THE REAR AXLES, RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT PAINT HARDNESS. SHOULD THIS OCCUR ON THE SURFACE THAT CONTACTS THE REAR AXLE LOWER LINK BRACKET BOLT HEAD AND/OR NUT, THE NUT MAY LOOSEN.
Risk: THE BOLT COULD DETACH FULLY, CAUSING SEPARATION OF THE LOWER LINK FROM THE REAR AXLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR AXLE LOWER LINK JOINT NUT AND BOLT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. A GROUND CONNECTION TERMINAL WAS NOT PROPERLY CRIMPED IN THE SUPPLIER'S ENGINE WIRING HARNESS MANUFACTURING LINE. THIS IMPROPER CRIMPING PROCESS CAN LEAVE AN IMPRESSION ON THE TERMINAL THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A STRESS FRACTURE. S
Risk: IF A TERMINAL IS FRACTURED, THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) CAN RECEIVE AN ERRONEOUS SIGNAL INDICATING A HIGH VEHICLE SPEED, THEREBY CAUSING THE PCM TO CUT THE FUEL, CAUSING A 'NO-START' CONDITION
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE VEHICLES.
| Reliability raw | 72 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 74 | good |
| Depreciation | 70 | good |
| Performance | 60 | average |
| Efficiency | 31 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 270 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 48 of them (18%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 72/100 (good) 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 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1998 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. 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.