1998 Honda Passport
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1998 Honda Passport is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 4 on record.
1998 Honda Passport at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
1998 Honda Passport recalls 6
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, IN…
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 WHICH CORROSION HAS DAMAGED THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AND AFFECTED ITS CONNECTION TO THE VE…
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.
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 CONDUCTED IN PHASES, WITH THE MY 1998 2WD VEHICLES COVERED FIRST, SINCE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE MOST PR…
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR AXLE LOWER LINK JOINT NUT AND BOLT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. A GROUND CONNECTION TERMINAL WAS NOT PROPERLY CRIMPED IN THE SUPPLIER'S ENGINE WIRING HARNESS MANUFACTURING LINE. THIS IMPROPER CRIMPING PROCESS CAN LEAVE AN IMPRESSION ON THE TERMINAL THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A STRESS FRACTURE. S
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE VEHICLES.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. A GROUND CONNECTION TERMINAL WAS NOT PROPERLY CRIMPED IN THE SUPPLIER'S ENGINE WIRING HARNESS MANUFACTURING LINE. THIS IMPROPER CRIMPING PROCESS CAN LEAVE AN IMPRESSION ON THE TERMINAL THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A STRESS FRACTURE. S
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE VEHICLES.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER'S SIDE OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT RUBBER FLOOR MAT. REPEATED MOVEMENT OF THE DRIVER'S FEET AND ACTUATION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN RESULT IN A SHIFTING OF THE MAT'S POSITION. THIS SHIFTING CAN CAUSE AN INTERFERENCE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Fix: HONDA IS ASKING FOR THE RETURN OF THE FLOOR MAT SET AND WILL REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR THE COST OF THE RUBBER FLOOR MAT SET ALONG WITH ANY RETURN SHIPPING COSTS.
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
1998 Honda Passport common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 270 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
1998 Honda Passport safety ratings
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 1998 Honda Passport 4-DR. 4x4. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.
1998 Honda Passport MPG & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1998 Honda Passport costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Investigations & service bulletins
NHTSA defect investigations 5
Rear Suspension Lower Link Detachment Closed
On September 22, 2010, Isuzu Manufacturing Services of America, Inc (Isuzu) submitted a Defect Information Report (NHTSA Recall 10V-436) to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration affecting approximately 120,000 model year (MY) 1998-2002 Isuzu Rodeo and Honda Passport vehicles and MY 2002 Isuzu Axiom vehicles originally sold, or currently operated, in the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, the Distri…
NHTSA #EA09018 · Suspension · opened Dec 2009 · closed Oct 2010REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK FAILURE Closed
DURING PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE09-030, ISUZU MOTORS AMERICA, INC (ISUZU) NOTED TWO PRIMARY DIFFERENCES ONCE THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK SEPARATION OCCURS BETWEEN THE ALLEGED DEFECT (SEPARATION OF THE LOWER LINK FROM THE FRAME) OF THIS INVESTIGATION AND A SAFETY DEFECT INVOLVING LOWER LINK SEPARATION FROM THE REAR AXLE ADDRESSED BY ISUZU IN SAFETY RECALL 00V-058. IN THE CASE OF THE DEFECT CONDITION IDENTIFIED IN R…
NHTSA #PE09030 · Suspension · opened Jun 2009 · closed Dec 2009BRAKING SYSTEM/ABS Closed
NHTSA #EA99008 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · opened Mar 1999 · closed Jul 2002BROKEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL Closed
NHTSA #PE98053 · Power Train · opened Oct 1998 · closed Feb 1999BRAKING SYSTEM/ABS Closed
NHTSA #PE98051 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · opened Sep 1998 · closed Mar 1999An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.
Manufacturer service bulletins 112
Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 112.
HONDA: DUE TO MIL COMING ON AND DTC P1441 IS SET, PCM SOFTWARE WILL NOT COMPENSATE FOR VARIATION IN FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR, WHEN FUEL SLOSHES IN FULL FUEL TANK. MODEL 1998-1999 PASSPORT. *PE
Bulletin SB-00-011 · Fuel System, Other, Electrical System, Power Train · Feb 2014Service bulletin - The MIL comes on and DTC P1441 (EVAP System Flow During Non-Purge) is set. The PCM software does not compensate for signal variation in the fuel tank pressure sensor when fuel sloshes in a nearly full fuel tank.
Bulletin Service Bulletin · Electrical System, Power Train · Feb 2014HONDA: LOW READING OF FUEL GAUGE, ON SOME VEHICLES, AFTER FILLING TANK, GAUGE DROPS BELOW 3/4 MARK AND/OR RISES TO FULL OR EITHER BRAKING OR ACCELERATING OR WILL READ EMPTY WITH 5 OR MORE GALLONS OF FUEL, DUE TO FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILING TO COINCIDE WITH FUEL…
Bulletin SB-99-004 · Fuel System, Other · Nov 2013C0285, C1999, 2WD MODULE IN 4WD VEHICLE. *TT
Bulletin 1205 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Dec 2005C0282, 285, 274 4WD MODULE IN 2WD VEHICLE. *TT
Bulletin 1205 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Dec 2005A BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM THE PASSENGER'S SEAT AREA. *YC THIS BULLETIN DATED 01/16/2004 SUPERSEDES BULLETIN 98-007, DATED MARCH 30, 1999. *TT
Bulletin 98007 · Structure · Jan 2004ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE C0265. HONDA. SERVICENEWS. *TT
Bulletin 01012004 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Jan 2004DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE C0265, OPEN RELAY CIRCUIT. *NM
Bulletin 1203 · Electrical System · Dec 2003HEATER BLOWER MOTOR GETS HOT OR BLOWS A FUSE. HONDA. SERVICENEWS. *TT
Bulletin 11012003 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Nov 2003IDENTIFYING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT SOLENOIDS. HONDA. SERVICENEWS. *TT
Bulletin 11012003 · Power Train · Nov 2003Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the PASSPORT. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
About the Honda Passport
The Honda Passport is a line of sport utility vehicles (SUV) from the Japanese automaker Honda. Originally, it was a rebadged version of the Isuzu Rodeo, a mid-size SUV sold between 1993 and 2002. It was introduced in 1993 for the 1994 model year as Honda's first entry into the growing SUV market of the 1990s in the United States. The first and second generation Passport was manufactured by Subaru Isuzu Automotive in Lafayette, Indiana. Like various other Honda models, it re-used a name from their motorcycle division, the Honda C75 Passport. The other two name candidates were Elsinore and Odyssey, the latter would be re-used a year later on a minivan.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.