The 2022 Honda Passport with the 3.5L V6 (J35Y6) and 9-speed automatic is generally reliable, but the engine suffers from a catastrophic design flaw: excessive fuel dilution from direct injection leads to cylinder wash and accelerated wear on rings, bearings, and cylinder walls, especially in cold climates and short-trip driving patterns.
Catastrophic Engine Failure Due to Fuel Dilution
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 30,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1+ quart per 1,000 miles), Loud knocking or ticking from lower end at startup, Strong fuel smell from dipstick or oil fill cap, Check engine light with misfire codes (P0300-P0306), Metal shavings visible in oil during changes
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or replacement required. Involves removing engine, machining block if salvageable, new pistons, rings, bearings, head gaskets. 40-60 hours labor depending on whether heads need work. Honda extended warranty covers some cases but often denies claims citing 'lack of maintenance' despite proper oil changes.
Estimated cost: $8,000-15,000
9-Speed Automatic Transmission Judder and Shudder
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 20,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: Vibration or shudder during light acceleration at 15-35 mph, Harsh downshifts when coming to a stop, Hesitation or delay when accelerating from a stop, Transmission hunts between gears on slight inclines
Fix: Multiple TSBs address this. Initial fix is fluid flush with Honda DW-1 and software update (2-3 hours). If that fails, torque converter replacement or full transmission overhaul. Some units have required complete replacement under warranty.
Estimated cost: $300-6,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Red transmission fluid pooling under vehicle near front, Low transmission fluid warning light, Burnt smell after highway driving, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement
Fix: Replace cooler lines and seals at radiator connection points. Lines corrode from road salt and debris. Requires draining transmission, replacing lines, refilling with DW-1 fluid. 3-4 hours labor. Critical to address immediately to prevent transmission damage.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
VTM-4 (AWD) System Overheating Warning
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: VTM-4 warning light flashing on dashboard, Loss of AWD functionality, front-wheel drive only, Burning smell from rear differential area, Occurs during extended AWD use (snow, sand, towing)
Fix: Usually caused by rear differential fluid breakdown or clogged filter. Requires rear diff fluid flush with Honda DPSF and filter replacement. If caught early, 1.5 hours labor. If overheated severely, rear differential may need clutch pack replacement (8-10 hours).
Estimated cost: $250-3,500
Infotainment System Black Screen and Freeze
Common · low severity
Symptoms: Display goes completely black, no backup camera, System freezes, touch inputs unresponsive, Bluetooth disconnects randomly, Navigation crashes or reboots mid-drive
Fix: Software bug in Honda's infotainment system. Fix requires dealer software update (1 hour). If update doesn't resolve, head unit replacement may be needed. Affects backup camera function, which is a safety concern. Recall issued for related backup camera display issues.
Estimated cost: $0-1,800
Transmission Mount Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive vibration at idle in Drive, Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive/Reverse, Visible engine movement when accelerating hard, Grinding or thumping over bumps
Fix: Upper transmission mount (also called torque mount) deteriorates from engine torque and oil contamination. Requires lifting engine slightly to replace mount. 2-3 hours labor. Common wear item on this platform due to V6 torque output.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Owner tips
Change oil every 5,000 miles maximum with 0W-20 full synthetic—ignore the 10K service interval to reduce fuel dilution risk
Monitor oil level every 1,000 miles and document consumption; any loss above 1 quart per 3,000 miles warrants inspection
Service transmission fluid at 30,000 miles with Honda DW-1 only, not the 'lifetime' claim—this transmission runs hot
If you live in cold climate and do short trips (<10 miles), let engine fully warm up monthly to burn off fuel in oil
Keep documentation of all oil changes with mileage—critical for warranty claims on engine failure
Skip this year unless you get a screaming deal and extended warranty—the fuel dilution engine issue is a ticking time bomb that Honda hasn't fully addressed, and you're gambling on a $12K repair bill.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: AGM battery recommended for idle-stop system; battery located under hood
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Every control module on the 2019-2026 Honda Passport — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
Electric Power Steering Control Unit (EPS)2.0 hr R&Rdealer / factory tool +0.8 hr▸ programming details
📍 Under dash, attached to steering column or behind glove box
📍 Behind instrument cluster or integrated with BCM
🔧 Honda HDS or Autel TPMS tool
⚠️ Sensor ID registration required; relearn procedure with TPMS tool
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.
Consequence: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed July 7, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER · 23V458000
2023-06-29
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.
Consequence: Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION · 23V431000
2023-06-15
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EEL, ZEM, and SFC.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FE5.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2022 Honda Passport 3.5L V6 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.