2002 Honda Passport: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2002 Honda Passport
On the 2002 Honda Passport, the failure owners report most often is other body or interior problem, with 5 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 140,000 miles. Overall it scores 60 out of 100, high risk for a 2002.
High risk for a 2002 — 302nd riskiest of the 328 2002 vehicles we can rate. 31 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2002 Honda Passport
Owners have reported 15 named failure modes on the 2002 Honda Passport, and the three most-reported carry 39% of everything filed.
Other body or interior problem leads with 5 reports and about 0.4 per 1,000 vehicles.
Other suspension problem follows with 4 reports, median 140,000 miles.
Airbag failed to deploy in a crash follows with 3 reports, median 200,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into body (8), suspension (4) and airbag (4).
When these failures get reported
15 of the reports on the 2002 Honda Passport came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 140,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 27% by 50,000 miles, 27% by 100,000 miles and 73% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 3 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 30,000 and 40,000 miles, which alone holds 20% of the dated reports.
7% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, so this is mostly a story about older, higher-mileage cars.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 15. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 3 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 5 mention a crash and 1 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 5.03, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000, other suspension problem at $350–$2,000, airbag failed to deploy in a crash at $1,000–$5,000 and rust or structural corrosion at $500–$6,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
19% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other body or interior problem | body | 5 | 4 | — | 127k | — | 0.4 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 4 | 3 | — | 138k | — | 0.3 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 3 | 3 | — | 200k | — | 0.2 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 3 | 2 | — | 178k | — | 0.2 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 3 | 1 | — | 32k | — | 0.2 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 40k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 37k | — | 0.1 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Unclassified problem | other | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2002 Honda Passport draws about 2.3 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 76th percentile of complaint rates among 2002 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 13,635 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2002 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other body or interior problem
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 honda passport. The contact stated that the frame rusted, caused the stabilizer bar to fracture and separate from the vehicle. The dealer deemed the vehicle as unsafe to drive and advised having the frame replaced. The contact declined the offer. The manufacturer was contacted but did not offer any assistance. The failure mileage was 116,500.
The recall covers suvs in connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia and wisconsin. I took my truck to honda cause the chassis looks and feel really bad but the spare some black paint and told me its fine to drive but I don't really feel safe driving my truck cause it feels like a problem waiting to happen. *tr
Other suspension problem
Tl* the contact owns 2002 honda passport. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs under NHTSA campaign id number:10v436000 (suspension:rear). The dealer advised that the frame was corroded. The manufacturer was contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 102,000 and the current mileage was 102,800.
The recall covers suvs in connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia and wisconsin. I took my truck to honda cause the chassis looks and feel really bad but the spare some black paint and told me its fine to drive but I don't really feel safe driving my truck cause it feels like a problem waiting to happen. *tr
Airbag failed to deploy in a crash
While parking, the vehicle's rubber cover on the brake pedal slipped off the pedal, causing the consumer's foot to slide off the pedal and hit against the accelerator pedal, which in turn, caused the vehicle to lurch forward and hit a concrete wall. The dealer was notified. *ak the air bag did not deploy. The consumer stated that a bent plate across the bottom of the pedal lever was the cause of the failure and accident. *tc *sc
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 honda passport. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration and the speed increased to approximately 80 MPH. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a guardrail. The front end sustained significant damage, but the air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 200,000.
Recalls on the 2002 model year
NHTSA has issued 2 recall campaigns covering the 2002 Honda Passport, affecting an estimated 15,358 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover suspension:rear and fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
SUSPENSION:REAR
149,992 vehicles 2010-09-22- Defect
- 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, connecticut, new york, new jersey, pennsylvania, delaware, maryland, the district of columbia, west virginia, ohio, indiana, michigan, illinois, wisconsin, minnesota, iowa, missouri, and kentucky. Vehicles that have experienced sustained exposure to highly corrosive materials…
- 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 potentially cause a crash.
- Remedy
- 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 which corrosion has damaged the rear suspension lower link bracket and affected its connection to the vehicle frame, a reinforcement bracket will be installed. In the rare event the corrosion is so severe that the reinforcement bracket remedy would not be appropriate, a repurchase offer will be extended to the vehicle's owner. All inspections and remedies will be provided free of…
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
15,515 vehicles 2005-10-07- Defect
- Certain sport utility vehicles that have been exposed to fuel contaminated with silicon may develop small pin holes in the fuel pump feed port. Silicon has been identified in the fuel systems of affected vehicles and in certain fuel available in the region of tyler, texas. This recall will be launched for vehicles registered in texas and the four surrounding states: oklahoma, arkansas, new mexico and louisiana.
- Consequence
- A fuel leak could lead to a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- For vehicles registered in the states identified above, dealers will provide a new cover over the existing feed port on the fuel pump or, if the existing feed port has already been damaged, dealers will install a new fuel pump that is equipped with the new cover. The new cover will be made of a different material. The recall began on november 25, 2005. Owners may contact isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2002 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Better and worse years of the same car
High risk for a 2002 — 302nd riskiest of the 328 2002 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 15 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 1997 comes out best at 57 and 2026 worst at 80, with 2002 itself at 60.
No other year of this model scores meaningfully better than 2002, so if this generation is what you want, the year is not the lever.
Within the 1996–2002 generation specifically, 1997 is the strongest year at 57 and 1998 the weakest at 68.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 1996-2002 generation, 1997 Honda Passport scores best at 57 and 1998 Honda Passport worst at 68.
Where these figures stop being useful
31 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 31 reports, 15 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 48% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Honda Passport?
The most-reported failures are other body or interior problem (5 reports, median 125,000 miles), other suspension problem (4 reports, median 140,000 miles) and airbag failed to deploy in a crash (3 reports, median 200,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
Is the 2002 Honda Passport reliable?
It scores 60 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 302nd riskiest of the 328 2002 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2002 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Honda Passport is best?
Within the 1996–2002 generation, 1997 scores best at 57 out of 100 and 1998 worst at 68. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed