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 247 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Honda Passport, and it carries 3 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 | 56 | 23% |
| Suspension | 34 | 14% |
| Power train | 25 | 10% |
| Structure | 21 | 9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 21 | 9% |
| Fuel system | 10 | 4% |
| Suspension | 9 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 7 | 3% |
| Tires | 7 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
my frame was rusted throughout at 130k miles the car's rear trail arm mount on the frame detached and almost caused me to run into on by traffic numerous times at 25 mph. only once I stopped to pick up my sons from schoo
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
THE DRIVERS SIDE TRAILING ARM BRACKET BROKE OFF OF THE FRAME DUE TO EXTREME RUST AS I WAS DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
I NOTICED THAT MY 1999 HONDA PASSPORT HAD A RECALL FOR THE SUSPENSION. I CALLED THE DEALER HERE IN LEXINGTON KY DON JACOBS AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT. THE DAY BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT I CALLED TO VERIFY THAT THEY HAD THE P
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SON WAS DRIVING AND THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE SUSPENSION DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO TH
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA PASSPORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE REAR SUSPENSION SUPPORT SYSTEM WAS RUSTED AND SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAIL
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
MY PASSPORT HAS ISSUES WITH REAR AXELS AND SUSPENSION/BOLTS. ALSO ONE DAY WHEN IT HAD BEEN RAINING I APPLIED MY BREAKS TO STOP FOR A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE CAR WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE LIGHT. THE OTHER TIMES I HAVE HAD
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
THE REAR TRAILING ARM HAS BROKEN AWAY FROM SEVERE FRAME RUST. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM IN 2010 BUT IT ONLY RECALLED CARS FROM THE NORTHEASTERN STATES. THIS CAR WAS NOT RECALLED EVEN THOUGH IT IS AND HAS
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS THAT THE FLYWHEEL HAS SEPARATED, WITH CENTER PART STAYING ATTACHED TO MOTOR. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE BEING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CENTE
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1999 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.
| Reliability raw | 71 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 74 | good |
| Depreciation | 70 | good |
| Performance | 60 | average |
| Efficiency | 31 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 247 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 56 of them (23%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 71/100 (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 1999 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.