Thinking about buying a Honda Passport? Hold on a moment, because the reliability of this midsize SUV might surprise you. We're diving deep into what Consumer Reports has to say about the 2025 model, and the picture isn't as straightforward as you might think. Let's get started!
The Honda Passport competes with other popular SUVs like the Chevrolet Blazer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Toyota Crown Signia. The Ford Edge was also in the mix, but it's been discontinued. The all-new 2026 Passport has already started rolling into dealerships in February 2026.
If you're in the market for a used SUV, this might sound like good news. However, Consumer Reports has some reservations. The 2025 Honda Passport's reliability score falls behind the class leader, the Crown Signia, and the second-place Blazer. The Grand Cherokee also edged out the Passport, which did manage to outrank the Murano and CX-70.
According to Consumer Reports, the Passport's drive system and minor engine issues are the main trouble spots. These include problems with belts, pulleys, engine knocking, and fuel/oil leaks. Drivers also reported issues with the brakes and body hardware. But here's where it gets interesting: the Passport received top marks for customer-reported reliability in other key areas like major engine issues, the transmission, and in-car electronics.
For comparison, the 2024 Ford Edge had a significantly higher reliability score than the 2025 Passport. But here's where things get a bit tricky. The 2024 Passport's reliability score was much closer to the Edge's, even though the two Hondas were essentially the same.
A History of Swings: The Third-Generation Passport
To understand the current situation, let's take a quick trip back in time. The first two generations of the Honda Passport, from around 1994 to 2002, were based on the Isuzu Rodeo. These were rugged, body-on-frame SUVs. The Passport returned in 2019 as a unibody, crossover-style vehicle, marking its third generation.
During the first three years of production, the Passport's reliability ranking fluctuated wildly. It went from the top spot in its class to third, but its actual scores didn't change that much. In 2022, the reliability score jumped by nearly 34%, only to plummet by almost 60% in 2023. It then bounced back up by 43% in 2024, and dropped again by about 34% for 2025. These shifts are partly due to updates over the years, with the biggest changes happening in the high-scoring 2022 model year. The TrailSport model provided a glimpse of what was to come.
And this is the part most people miss: The Passport's class rankings don't perfectly align with its reliability scores. The 2025 Passport had the lowest reliability score of the third generation, yet it was in the middle of its class for that year. The 2023 Passport, with a slightly higher score, ranked ninth out of eleven. The 2019 Passport, which led all rivals in its rankings, would have been in fourth place in 2022.
What About the New 2026 Honda Passport?
The new TrailSport trim of the 2026 Honda Passport is leading the charge with a predicted reliability score that's on the upswing. Since it was redesigned this year, there's not much data to go on. However, Consumer Reports' crystal ball predicts a bright future. The fourth-generation Passport kicks off its career with a nearly perfect score for predicted reliability, far exceeding all nine other entries in its segment and setting a new high for Passport reliability.
It's particularly notable because the Passport outperformed the Toyota Crown Signia, Chevrolet Blazer, and even the Subaru Outback. Although the 2026 Passport doesn't have a real-world reliability score yet, the most recent Consumer Reports survey provided enough data for an owner-reported trouble-spot analysis. The results were excellent overall, with owners only reporting issues in a single area: the in-car electronics, specifically Honda's infotainment system. The 2026 Honda Passport should be a top choice for today's buyers.
So, what do you think? Does this information change your perspective on the Honda Passport? Are you surprised by the fluctuations in reliability? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
