2025 Honda Passport: start-stop system problems

Filed Nov 8, 2026 · Electrical · MA

The vehicle suffered a complete engine stall in an active traffic intersection during an Auto Start-Stop / Idle Stop event and entered a 45-minute electronic communication freeze. Car stopped and then when took foot off of pedal, the car stopped and it didn't actually start. Breaks were hard and I couldn't do anything with the car. It didn't allow me to do anything. Usually it takes time to start after it is stopped and sometimes it takes 3 seconds to start when stopped in a traffic light. In one occasion, I heard the sound when there is an issue, but when reviewing, it doesn't show an actual error. I don't know if there is another issue that potentially is draining the battery. Battery was changed in August and then I took the car again in September and Honda said that everything was OK.

Filed Sep 28, 2026 · Engine · NC

Vehicle Information: 2025 Honda Passport (Purchased in 2024, approximately 44,000 miles)Safety Defect Summary:The vehicle experienced a sudden and dangerous failure to restart during an Auto Idle-Stop event. While stopped at a traffic intersection, the Auto Idle-Stop system engaged and shut off the engine normally. However, when I lifted my foot off the brake pedal to accelerate, the vehicle failed to restart, completely stalled, and left me stranded in live traffic. The dashboard displayed error messages, and the vehicle required a mechanical inspection confirming a premature starter motor failure.Safety Risk & Hazard:This defect presents an immediate safety hazard. The engine stalling unexpectedly in the middle of active traffic intersections leaves the driver, passengers, and surrounding motorists vulnerable to rear-end collisions. Power steering and braking performance are compromised while trying to get the stalled vehicle safely off the road.Context for Investigation:This vehicle falls directly under the scope of the federal safety agency’s active Engineering Analysis (EA25004) regarding Honda Auto Idle-Stop restart failures. The premature failure of the starter motor at 44,000 miles is directly caused by the defective operational logic of the vehicle's automated stop-start system, matching the exact systemic defects documented in prior model years.

Filed Sep 9, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · MO

The Auto Idle Stop feature failed to restart the car after sitting at a stoplight twice this past week. The dealer (Frank Leta Hoda) diagnosed the problem as a "bad starter". I believe this falls under the active investigation EA22005 - No Start After Auto Start/Stop Engages. The vehicle is two years old with 40,378 miles at the time of reporting the problem to the dealer. I reported this to Honda Corp and was assigned case number 16619534 which is being reviewed. The two incidents happened without warning during drives when I had already pushed the button to disengage the Auto Idle Stop feature and was not expecting the engine to turn off at all.

Filed Sep 7, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · PA

I have a 2025 Honda Passport with approximately 22,776 miles. Over the past several weeks, the vehicle has developed a progressively worsening starting problem that appears to be heat-related. After the vehicle is driven normally and reaches full operating temperature, then is shut off and allowed to sit for approximately 10 to 30 minutes, the engine will sometimes crank very slowly and sound as though the starter is laboring to turn the engine. The frequency and severity have increased over time. On two recent occasions, the engine barely turned over before starting. After the vehicle sits overnight and cools completely, it starts normally and cranks smoothly. A second related problem occurs when the Auto Idle Stop/Start system is active. Both my wife and I have experienced very slow restarts at stoplights. More recently, the engine failed to restart automatically after Auto Idle Stop shut the engine off. I had to shift the vehicle into Park and press the engine START/STOP button multiple times before the engine finally turned over and restarted. This created a safety concern because the vehicle was temporarily unable to move while stopped in traffic. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Honda dealer for three full working days. The dealer reported that the battery, alternator, starter, charging system, and starting system all tested normal, and no diagnostic trouble codes were present. However, the dealer’s written repair description does not state that the vehicle was road-tested and then allowed to sit through the 10–30 minute hot-soak period that consistently produces the problem. The dealer stated that they allowed the vehicle to idle for an extended period and performed multiple starts, but this did not reproduce the conditions under which the problem occurs. I also opened a case with American Honda. Honda advised that they would not escalate the issue to engineering until the vehicle had been returned to the dealer one or two additional times. The probl

Filed Aug 17, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · PA

The car has failed to start on numerous occasions. The car has stalled due to the auto start/stop and the dealership told me that the battery needs to fail testing in order to replace under warranty. This is a major safety risk and the dealership said it’s a known issue but they can’t fix it. A recall needs to be put out immediately.

Filed Aug 6, 2026 · Engine · FL

Description: The vehicle suffers from an intermittent and dangerous "no-restart" defect involving the Auto-Idle Stop (AIS) system. When the vehicle comes to a complete stop and the automated stop-start system shuts off the engine to conserve fuel, the engine frequently fails to automatically restart upon release of the brake pedal. This results in a sudden, unexpected loss of engine power and complete immobilization in live traffic or intersections. ​This exact failure mode is the subject of an active federal Engineering Analysis by the federal safety agency (the federal safety agency EA25004, covering ~2.2 million Honda and Acura vehicles). Prior manufacturer service bulletins and part-replacement attempts have proven ineffective at permanently resolving the hazard, creating an ongoing and unacceptable collision risk.

Filed Jul 28, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · FL

For several months before the failure, the Auto Idle Stop (engine stop-start) system became progressively slower to restart the engine after stopping. Each restart sounded sluggish, as though the starter was dragging, and the vehicle would remain stopped for several extra seconds before moving. This occurred repeatedly at traffic lights and other stops creating a safety concern as drivers behind me expected my vehicle to begin moving when traffic started. The unexpected delay increased the risk of being rear-ended or causing confusion in traffic. The failure eventually became complete. While stopped on a two-lane road waiting for another vehicle to turn left into a driveway, the engine shut off as expected with the Auto Idle Stop system engaged but did not restart when I released the brake. Instead, the vehicle entered what appeared to be a neutral state and could not be driven. I was unable to restart the vehicle for several minutes, leaving it disabled in the travel lane while other vehicles had to drive around it. This created a safety hazard because the vehicle was stranded in an active roadway. The vehicle had not previously displayed any warning messages related to this condition. Looking back, the progressively slower and dragging engine restarts appear to have been warning signs before the complete failure to restart. The vehicle is scheduled for inspection the Honda dealership this week. The failed components should be available for inspection if requested.

Filed Jul 16, 2026 · Electrical · 15,800 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2025 Honda Passport. The contact stated that on several occasions, the Auto START/STOP intermittently failed to operate and the vehicle shut off while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that a battery warning light was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact was forced to manually turn off the feature each time after starting the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact's husband discovered the federal safety agency Action Number: EA25004; and associated the failure with the Action Number. The husband also associated the failure with the fuel injector or a possible software update. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,800.

Filed Apr 24, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · KY

25 Passport Black edition only 27k miles at a stop my vehicle won’t start back up kicks it from D to N will start flashing to put in P. Vehicle will not start back up until I turn off and back on. The second time it did this it wouldn’t even start back up battery light flashing. I try to remember to turn that stop/start button off. Very dangerous. Went to dealership. Says they can’t do nothing unless warning are on at the time of check. 4/24 was the second time this has happened. When I start the passport it’s like it has troubles and not wanting to start. Lights will start flashing braking system and blind spot all the safety feature lights. Something is wrong with these passports.

Filed Dec 19, 2025 · Transmission · MD

The auto stop/start feature caused my vehicle to stall in the middle of the road. I had stopped at an intersection and just as the engine shut off, traffic cleared and I went to accelerate, and the engine shut off completely. I had to shift to Park to start the engine.

Filed Oct 27, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · OH

I am submitting this report regarding a serious safety issue with my 2025 Honda Passport related to the auto stop/start feature. When this feature is enabled, the vehicle frequently struggles to restart smoothly after coming to a stop. The engine often hesitates and sounds as if it may not start at all. On September 26, 2025, the problem escalated into a complete failure. While turning left at an intersection, the auto stop/start feature engaged, shutting off the engine. When I attempted to accelerate, the vehicle failed to restart and became fully disabled in the middle of traffic. This created an immediate and significant safety hazard. Law enforcement was called to the scene, and a tow truck was dispatched. However, due to incorrect information and safety concerns, I did not proceed with the tow. Fortunately, the police were able to jump-start the vehicle, allowing me to drive it directly to the dealership. The dealership confirmed that there is an issue but has been unable to replicate the complete failure. They have performed two battery tests, both of which returned normal results. While they acknowledge the problem, they have not been able to formally diagnose it. I have since learned that similar issues and recalls have been reported for earlier Honda model years, suggesting that this problem may still exist in newer vehicles, including the 2025 Passport. Since the incident, I have been disabling the auto stop/start feature every time I drive in order to avoid being stranded again. However, hesitation during restarts continues to occur daily when the feature is active. Given the severity of the safety risk and the inability of the dealership to diagnose or resolve the issue, I am requesting that Honda conduct a formal investigation into this malfunction and take appropriate corrective action. This issue should be fully addressed under warranty, as it directly affects the safety and reliability of the vehicle.