Lemon Law Analysis

2025 Honda Passport

NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data

✓ Reviewed by Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. · Updated June 2026
14
NHTSA Complaints
1
Active Recalls
2-4
Avg. Repair Attempts

The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.

As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 14 complaints against the 2025 Honda Passport. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2025 Honda Passport complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.

The 2025 Honda Passport has generated 28 NHTSA complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If your 2025 Honda Passport has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Honda pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.

Other Systems

High Claim VolumeSong-Beverly Strength: Very Strong

The 2025 Honda Passport has generated 10 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “On Sunday 10/19/2025, estimated 11:15 a.m., while traveling on the 215 West in Riverside, California, my 17 year old granddaughter, riding in the passenger front seat of my 2025 Honda Passport, and I, heard an explosion overhead and immediately could hear the sound of wind. I knew immediately something had happened to the sunroof. I looked into the rear view mirror and traffic around me was unaffected, proof that nothing was flying thru the air needed to be avoided. I exited the freeway at the 1st available off-ramp. My granddaughter and I were quite shaken. We each began taking photos in disbelief. There was a large hole in the mid-section of the sunroof, and yet no sign of the piece that was blown out. I immediately thought of the missing piece of glass, if something had hit the sunroof from overhead, the glass would have fallen in as well as the object falling on it. The pictures also show a pattern of glass being lifted/ blown from inside out versus outside in. I began researching and found exploding sunroofs to be something known about since 2019. In addition, I found a Facebook group where other Passport owners have experienced and posted pictures of the same damage to their sunroofs – some have had Honda cover the costs, and others, like me were denied. The service representative where I purchased the Passport reached out to what he referred to as “his Honda rep” and was told Honda would NOT cover the $1K+ repair cost. This is a manufacturer/workmanship issue, not a customer issue. Please advise on my next steps of reporting.” (NHTSA Complaint #11695246)

Engine

Emerging PatternSong-Beverly Strength: Strong

Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2025 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 2 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “The car has an auto stop capability that engages during red light stops (etc.). The auto stop function automatically engages every time you start a new trip. Unfortunately, the car occasionaly fails to restart and displays emergency alerts. To restart the engine, the car must be put back into Park. This essentially results in the vehicle stalling out and it creates a significant safety risk. It happens on a somewhat regular basis. In addition, when starting the vehicle, it sounds as though the starter is having a difficult time powering up the engine.” (NHTSA Complaint #11722734)

Forward Collision System

Emerging PatternSong-Beverly Strength: Moderate

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 2025 Honda Passport has 2 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “2025 Honda Passport with 10k miles ***Braking issues – -Collision Mitigation System going off randomly and often, with no oncoming traffic, no obstacles or obstructions. -Phantom braking and “BRAKE” warning/steering wheel shake. Occurs often on windy, hilly roads with sharp curves, often to the right. Branches, guard rails, etc will activate the system at high speeds 50 mph and over, causing serious safety concerns of the vehicle stopping for no true cause. -White cars in oncoming traffic seemingly activate the “BRAKE” warning on occasion. -“BRAKE” warning went off and significantly slowed the car when a water filled pothole was to the right. -Issues have occurred with no cars ahead of the Passport. ***Engine issues after getting fuel – -After getting gas, check engine, power steering, and battery light will sometimes turn on. Only resolution is to restart the vehicle. -Brake pedal was also hard/stuck after getting gas, and vehicle could not be turned on until brake was pushed extremely hard/pumped. Power steering light came on after this incident. ***Lights- -Automatic adjusting high beams turn on and off erratically. Cannot use the automated system. ***Transmission- -Engine braking downhill on one or two occasions would not allow car to shift back up. Had to use paddle shifters to get the car moving again. Dealership cannot replicate these issues on a short ride with their tech, therefore the vehicle is “fine.”” (NHTSA Complaint #11720807)

Body & Structure

Emerging PatternSong-Beverly Strength: Moderate

The 2025 Honda Passport has generated 2 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “There are major gaps on both top non rail tracks, this is the base exl model without rails. I have been having to remove debree and dirt where gaps located rear top spoiler where I was told by service manager that it looks defective but never got reply. Its been over a year now and honda keeps saying to contact dealership which I have done many times. There shouldn’t be any gaps that would cause this issue that would cause dirt and possibly rust. I have owned several vehicles that had no gaps on top trim and am a loyal honda/Acura customer for decades. I just want this defect confirmed and fixed. The suv only has 6k and had nothing but problems with support from honda and dealership. They said due to no models of 2025 exl on lot would take pics and call me about this. Its been a year with only honda rep saying this is dealerships issue to diagnose? Always had great support from honda, but shouldn’t honda know specs of this issue? Plan on keeping this great suv for decades but not wanting rust of body problems years down the road. Honda I am disappointed in how this has not been resolved in a timely matter.” (NHTSA Complaint #11720031)

Unknown Or Other,Exterior Lighting

Emerging PatternSong-Beverly Strength: Moderate

The 2025 Honda Passport has generated 2 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “I am reporting a serious nighttime visibility and driver-assistance safety issue with my 2025 Honda Passport. During evening driving, approximately 60% or more of the upper portion of the windshield appears blacked out or severely dimmed, significantly impairing forward visibility. This condition worsens on downhill grades, where an even greater portion of the windshield darkens. Visibility improves when high beams are manually activated; however, driving continuously with high beams is unsafe and inappropriate. This creates an unreasonable risk of collision, particularly on unlit roads and downhill grades, as pedestrians, road curvature, and hazards are difficult or impossible to see without improper use of high beams. In addition, multiple ADAS systems operate erratically. Adaptive cruise control delays braking on downhill grades until the vehicle accelerates approximately 9–10 mph above the set speed, delays acceleration after braking and resuming, and disengages with minor steering inputs. Automatic high beams operate inconsistently. These issues persist despite recalibration. The condition has existed since early ownership and continues at approximately 20,000 miles despite multiple service visits. A Honda field technician confirmed all systems were calibrated but did not perform a nighttime drive. A dealership shop foreman conducted a nighttime drive but did not share findings, and I was told he was unavailable and had already spent “enough time” on the vehicle. My initial service record included the notation “do not diagnose.” I was initially told the dealership had never encountered this issue; later I was told they had seen it on other vehicles but did not know how to fix it. A dealership-recommended nighttime comparison drive with a 2026 Honda Passport did not exhibit these issues. I also regularly drive a 2024 Honda CR-V that shows none of these nighttime visibility or ADAS problems.” (NHTSA Complaint #11713248)

Active NHTSA Recalls — 2025 Honda Passport

As of the date of this review, no active recalls have been issued specifically for the 2025 Honda Passport. Recall status can change at any time. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the most current information. The absence of a recall does not mean your vehicle is defect-free — many lemon law claims proceed without a recall on file.

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 2025 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 2025 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 2025 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.

2025 Honda Passport Lemon Law Questions

How many repair attempts qualify my 2025 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 2025 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.

Think Your 2025 Passport Qualifies?

Get a free case evaluation. Honda pays our fees if you win — you pay nothing upfront.

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