2022 Honda Passport

Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance

Brake defects affecting safety may qualify for California’s two-repair threshold under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, which applies to defects likely to cause death or serious bodily injury. The 2022 Honda Passport has generated 8 NHTSA complaints related to braking, including ABS failures, grinding, reduced stopping power, and warning lights. Owner reports include: “On numerous occasions while driving on the highway with no other vehicles in the vicinity of my vehicle the forward collision active braking activates aggressively and brakes for no reason this is concerning at 70 mph with a vehicle behind that may be following to close on a slippery road surface. vehicle is available for inspection any time upon request. vehicle has not been inspected by any one yet. no warning lamps other than the one associated with forward collision braking.” (NHTSA Complaint #11723497)

Forward Collision System

Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2022 Honda Passport has 8 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “While driving on one lane each way roads, my automatic emergency breaking would trigger on cars going in the opposite direction. This generally just had the breaking notification trigger and beep at me, but had ~ 12 incidents where my car would auto-break for cars going the other way, including an instance where the car behind me had to swerve around me to prevent an accident. I spent ~ 30 days working with my dealership on repairs, which included replacing all of the front-facing sensors and replacing all of the front facing cameras, but that did not 100% solve the issue. While driving recently, there are still incidents of the auto-breaking triggering on cars in different lanes or going in other directions.” (NHTSA Complaint #11583700)

Powertrain

Powertrain and transmission defects directly impair the vehicle’s core function and are generally considered substantial defects under California lemon law. Owners of the 2022 Honda Passport have reported harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and transmission warning lights. 6 NHTSA complaints have been submitted for this defect category. Owner reports include: “Our vehicle experienced total transmission failure with no warning while I was driving on a narrow country road. The car shifted into neutral, and I was unable to go anywhere, so I sat in the middle of the road with hazard lights on in a state of panic. We had the car towed to a nearby Honda dealership and were informed of the transmission failure, which was identified through a diagnostic test. Codes that failed were listed as: P0730; P0700; P07A6; P07A8; P07A4. I have owned the car for one year and three months (purchased October 2024 for $34,000). I am being told it is just past the power train warranty, and Honda is not offering any assistance in covering the repair cost – $10,000.” (NHTSA Complaint #11713610)

Vehicle Speed Control,Engine

Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2022 Honda Passport have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 4 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2022 Honda Passport. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH with cruise control engaged, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated to 25 MPH. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact pulled over safely. The engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had received an oil change 5 days prior to the failure. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the engine had seized and that the bottom lifter had failed. The mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.” (NHTSA Complaint #11693614)

Unknown Or Other,Lane Departure,Forward Collision Avoidance

Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2022 Honda Passport has 4 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “First new car in my life and I’m 70. When we bought the car, within a week the entire dash board lit up with warnings. Call the dealer, they towed it to their shop and “calibrated” the Collision Mitigation front facing camera. This service was Completed but within the next 2 years, the situation repeated itself over and over But would always go away. The last time the system failed (with all of the bells and whistles) I went back to Honda and they informed me a replacement was required. $1500 later the front facing Multipurpose Camera was replaced. The car’s 3 year warranty expired 2 months before the needed replacement. The dealer told me that these cameras have been a significant problem, and are replaced often. The replacement camera has a different part number from what was installed on the car when built. This indicates that Honda knows of this problem, and has upgraded the camera but left it to the owners to replace if it is out of warranty (even 2 months). As a retired degreed Engineer, I think this is a significant safety issue….. to have all of the alarms activate while sitting in the drivers seat.” (NHTSA Complaint #11681415)

Active NHTSA Recalls — 2022 Honda Passport

The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2022 Honda Passport by the NHTSA or Honda. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.

California Lemon Law — Song-Beverly Act

California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2022 Honda Passport:

• 4+ repair attempts for the same non-safety defect without resolution
• 2+ repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury
• 30+ calendar days out of service for warranty repairs (cumulative, not consecutive)

Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Honda to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Honda must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.

What You Can Recover

If your 2022 Honda Passport qualifies as a lemon under California law, Honda may be legally required to:

• Repurchase your vehicle — Full refund of your down payment, all monthly payments, registration fees, and incidental costs (towing, rentals), minus a mileage offset for miles driven before the first repair attempt
• Replace your vehicle — Provide a new, comparable vehicle at no cost to you
• Pay your attorney’s fees — Under § 1794(d), Honda pays all legal fees if you prevail
• Civil penalty up to 2x damages — If Honda willfully violated the Act, courts may award double the actual damages

Steps to Protect Your 2022 Honda Passport Claim

Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.

Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Honda a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Honda dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.

Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Honda pays your fees if you win.

Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Honda a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.

2022 Honda Passport Lemon Law Questions

How many repair attempts qualify my 2022 Honda Passport as a lemon?

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.

Does Honda pay my attorney fees?

Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Honda is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.

Can I file a lemon law claim without an active recall?

Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.

What is the time limit to file a lemon law claim for my 2022 Honda Passport?

California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.