Honda Passport start-stop problems

Filed Nov 9, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · FL

Idle engine start/stop feature would not restart the car at a traffic light. This has happened several times. Also has slow cranking.

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 Oct 22, 2026 · Engine · NE

Auto start/stop will sometimes not re-start the engine after letting off the brake.

Filed Oct 14, 2026 · Engine · MA

My 2019 Honda Passport (VIN [XXX]) has an intermittent, dangerous failure of the Auto Idle Stop (auto start/stop) system: when the engine shuts off at a complete stop and I release the brake, it fails to restart on its own, leaving the vehicle dead and immobile in live traffic. There is no warning light before it happens. This has stranded me at intersections and in traffic, creating a serious risk of being struck from behind. The condition matches the federal safety agency's open Engineering Analysis EA25004 and the defect at issue in the In re Honda Idle Stop Litigation settlement, both concerning 2019 Passport and related vehicles failing to restart after Auto Idle Stop engages. The vehicle has not received the A53 starter replacement. I am bringing it to an authorized Honda dealer, which is requiring a paid diagnostic to "verify" the defect before performing the covered software update and warranty-extension repair. No crash or injury has occurred yet, but the failure is ongoing and I consider it an active safety hazard. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 9, 2026 · Engine · MO

Automatic Stop/Start at idle control failed to Restart. Manual restarting of the engine blocked or delayed by the system at or in intersections or traffic delays causing danger of blocked traffic or collision. Local dealer has inspected and deemed the problem caused by the starter, but is not able to repair due to volume of incidents with other units. No System warnings we indicated. Multiple incidents over the last three weeks.

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 22, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · NM

Vehicle: 2026 Honda Passport VIN: [XXX] Mileage at time of most recent incident: ~16,795 miles Dealer(s): Garcia Honda, Albuquerque, NM (selling dealer); Honda of Santa Fe (servicing dealer) Complaint narrative: I am experiencing recurring electrical system failures and brake-related warning malfunctions in my 2026 Honda Passport that have required three separate repair attempts: [XXX] (RO [XXX]): Auto Stop/Start system shut down unexpectedly. Dealer installed a software update. Vehicle died while driving, [XXX] (RO [XXX]): Vehicle died while driving, with hazard lights inoperative. Diagnostic code U1291 was found, but the dealer could not confirm the underlying fault. [XXX] (RO [XXX], ongoing): Vehicle displayed multiple warning lights and a brake system malfunction message. As of 9/22/2026, the vehicle remains at the dealership and has been disassembled for diagnosis. These are not isolated incidents — the 2026 Passport has multiple other owner-reported complaints to the federal safety agency describing unexpected shutdowns, brake system warnings activating without cause, and safety features engaging unexpectedly, suggesting a pattern consistent with an underlying electrical/braking system defect rather than a vehicle-specific issue. The unpredictable nature of these failures — sudden shutdown while driving, loss of hazard lights, and unexplained brake warnings — poses an ongoing safety risk to myself and other drivers. I am also currently pursuing lemon law arbitration against Honda (NCDS case HON260745) regarding this vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 14, 2026 · Electrical · AR

Vehicle has excessive battery drain at times. Auto start-stop causes car to stop in traffic and difficult to restart. The original battery was replaced at 3 1/2 years of age. The replacement battery failed after about 2 years of service and replaced under warranty. That battery has now failed again. The car is a little over 6 years old and by all rights should only now need a replacement battery. I suspect parasitic drain problem but the dealer has only replaced the battery and no other parts I'm aware of.

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