The 2020 Honda Passport shares the J35Y6 3.5L V6 and 9-speed automatic with the Pilot, inheriting some of that platform's weak points—most notably premature piston ring wear causing oil consumption and catastrophic bearing failures in extreme cases.
Excessive Oil Consumption / Piston Ring Failure (J35Y6 Engine)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Burning 1+ quart per 1,000 miles, often noticed during oil change intervals, Blue smoke on cold start or under acceleration, P0300-series misfire codes, fouled spark plugs, In worst cases: rod knock, bearing failure, complete engine seizure
Fix: Minor cases: top-end rebuild with updated piston rings (12-16 labor hours). Severe cases require short block or complete engine replacement (18-24 hours). Honda extended warranty coverage to 8yr/125k on some VINs but many 2020s fall outside the TSB window. Verify oil consumption pattern first—Honda considers 1qt/1,000mi 'acceptable.'
Estimated cost: $4,500-9,500
9-Speed Transmission Judder and Torque Converter Shudder
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Vibration or shudder during light acceleration between 20-50 mph, especially uphill, Harsh 2-3 or 3-4 shifts when cold, Transmission hunting between gears on slight grades
Fix: Software update (TSB 18-095) addresses some cases—0.5 hours. Persistent issues require torque converter replacement plus fluid flush (8-10 hours). Some techs report success with multiple drain-and-fills using genuine Honda DW-1 fluid before resorting to hardware.
Estimated cost: $400-3,200
Premature Front Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking on takeoff or when shifting from reverse to drive, Visible engine/trans movement when rocking vehicle in park, Vibration at idle that changes when shifted into gear
Fix: Replace front transmission mount—hydraulic design wears faster than expected. 2-2.5 hours labor. Recommend inspecting all three mounts simultaneously; rear upper often needs replacement around the same time.
Symptoms: No-start condition, engine cranks but won't fire, Stalling at highway speed without warning, Rough running, intermittent loss of power
Fix: Defective impeller on low-pressure fuel pump. Covered under recall—fuel pump module replacement takes 3-4 hours. Check if your VIN was part of the campaign; Honda should cover this at zero cost. Some owners report dealers being slow to stock parts.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall)
Infotainment System Glitches and Backup Camera Freezing
Common · low severity
Symptoms: Backup camera displays blank screen or frozen image when shifting to reverse, Android Auto / Apple CarPlay disconnects randomly, Touchscreen unresponsive or laggy, requires reboot, Multi-view camera angles stuck or delayed
Fix: Software updates available at dealer (0.5 hours) address most issues—TSB 19-008 and subsequent revisions. Camera-specific failures may require camera module replacement (1.5-2 hours), but try software first. Hard reset: hold power button 10+ seconds.
Estimated cost: $0-450
Front Lower Control Arm Bushing Deterioration
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front suspension, Wandering at highway speed, excessive steering corrections needed, Premature inner tire wear, Visible cracking or separation of rubber bushing from control arm
Fix: Replace front lower control arms—bushings aren't serviceable separately on this platform. 3-4 hours labor plus alignment. Check during routine inspections; split bushings can affect handling significantly.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200
Owner tips
Check oil level every 500-1,000 miles religiously—engine damage from oil starvation progresses fast on the J35Y6
Use only genuine Honda DW-1 transmission fluid; aftermarket equivalents exacerbate shudder issues
Verify fuel pump recall (21V-385) was completed; if not, schedule immediately—it's a free safety fix
Keep infotainment software updated at dealer during routine service to prevent camera and connectivity bugs
Solid SUV if the engine hasn't shown oil consumption by 50k miles and the transmission shifts clean—avoid high-mileage examples without documented top-end work or warranty coverage on the powertrain.
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.
Be the first to unlock repairs for the 2020 Honda Passport
Procedures haven't been generated for this vehicle yet. Become the founding sponsor and we'll generate expert-grade, step-by-step repair walkthroughs for every common job on it — free for every mechanic and DIYer who looks it up after, forever.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER · 24V064000
2024-02-01
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Consequence: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024, October 18, 2024, and August 2025. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
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.
TIRES · 21V165000
2021-03-11
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Passport and Pilot vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Consequence: Overcured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation, which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four tires and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 22, 2021. Owners may contact American Honda Motor Co. customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is UA2.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · 20V439000
2020-07-28
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Consequence: Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is T89.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · 20V440000
2020-07-28
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Consequence: A delayed or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners that updated software is available. Owners have the option to either follow the mailed instructions to download and update the software for free, or visit a dealer to have the software update performed, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is Y7Y.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · 20V067000
2020-02-06
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 Passport and Pilot vehicles. The certification label may have been printed with ink that can be wiped away with a solvent, removing the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) information.
Consequence: If the operator is unable to refer to the label information, the vehicle may be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the certification label, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is B6T.
Building an app?
Free API access to all this data — 50 requests/day, no card required.