The 2023 Passport shares Honda's 3.5L V6 and 9-speed automatic with the Pilot, inheriting both the platform's solid reliability and its known weaknesses—primarily transmission-related issues and the fuel injector dilution problem that plagued earlier versions of this engine.
9-Speed Automatic Transmission Shudder and Judder
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Vibration or shudder during light acceleration 25-45 mph, Harsh downshifts when slowing, Transmission hunting between gears on hills, Delayed engagement from Park to Drive
Fix: Start with fluid flush using Honda DW-1 ATF (2 hrs), often temporary relief. Persistent cases need torque converter replacement (8-10 hrs) or transmission valve body (6-8 hrs). Some units require complete rebuild.
Estimated cost: $400-5,500
Fuel Dilution and Engine Oil Level Rise
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 10,000-40,000 mi
Symptoms: Rising oil level between changes, fuel smell in oil, Check engine light with misfire codes P0300-P0306, Rough idle especially when cold, Fuel economy drop of 2-3 MPG
Fix: Software update available (Honda TSB 19-089) for cold-start enrichment, 1 hr. Severe cases with piston ring damage require complete engine rebuild with updated pistons and rings (40+ hrs). Watch oil level religiously—diluted oil destroys bearings.
Estimated cost: $150-12,000
VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) System Issues
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive vibration at highway speeds, Fouled spark plugs on cylinders 1, 4, 6, P3400 or P3497 VCM system codes, Carbon buildup visible in intake manifold
Fix: VCM deactivation with aftermarket tuner (1 hr DIY) prevents issues. OEM fix requires intake manifold cleaning (3 hrs), new plugs, and sometimes piston/ring service if carbon damage is severe (25+ hrs). Many techs recommend VCM disable on high-mileage units.
Estimated cost: $400-8,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: ATF puddles under front center of vehicle, Low transmission fluid warnings, Slipping or delayed shifts after sitting, Red fluid dripping from radiator area
Fix: Cooler lines where they connect to radiator corrode and leak. Replace both lines and fittings (3 hrs), flush system, refill 3.5 qts DW-1. Ignore it and you'll overheat the transmission—catastrophic failure at $6K+.
Estimated cost: $600-900
Infotainment System Freezing and Display Glitches
Common · low severity
Symptoms: Touchscreen unresponsive or laggy, Backup camera black screen or delayed image (recall 23V-318), Android Auto/CarPlay random disconnects, System reboot required to restore function
Fix: Software updates from Honda resolve most issues (1 hr). Persistent problems may need head unit replacement under extended warranty. Recall addresses backup camera software—get it done.
Estimated cost: $0-1,800
Steering Rack Boot Tears and Leaks
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Power steering fluid leak at inner tie rod boots, Clunking or knocking when turning lock-to-lock, Steering feels notchy or catches, Grease visible on inside of front wheels
Fix: Boots alone replaceable if caught early (2.5 hrs per side), but contaminated racks need full replacement (5-6 hrs). Recall 23V-223 covers some units—check VIN. Use Honda fluid only; aftermarket causes seal failures.
Estimated cost: $400-2,200
Owner tips
Check oil level every 1,000 miles for fuel dilution—if it rises, get the TSB update immediately
Use Honda DW-1 transmission fluid exclusively; aftermarket fluids cause shudder to return
Consider VCM disabler if you plan to keep past 80K miles—prevents carbon buildup and ring issues
Verify all recalls completed, especially steering rack and backup camera software
Avoid short trips in cold weather—these V6s need 10+ minutes to reach operating temp to prevent dilution
Solid platform if recalls are done and you stay on top of the fuel dilution issue, but the transmission and VCM system are weak points that can get expensive—budget $2K reserve for a used one.
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.
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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. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 7, 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP · 24V900000
2024-11-27
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Passport and 2023-2025 Pilot vehicles. The fuel filler neck tube and fuel filler pipe may separate, allowing fuel to leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the fuel filler neck tube and pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is OKM.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION · 24V184000
2024-03-07
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Passport and Ridgeline vehicles. The inner ball joint housing in the steering gearbox assembly may loosen and detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.
Consequence: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering gearbox as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is LHY.
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.
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
19mpg
Highway
24mpg
Combined
21mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
Capability & size
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2023 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.