Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2019 Passports with a customer complaint of pulsation in the brakes when applying brakes at highway speeds, coming to a stop, etc. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Honda Passport brakes problems
moderate 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Honda Passport in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2019 Passports with a customer complaint of pulsation in the brakes when applying brakes at highway speeds, coming to a stop, etc. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2019 Passports with a customer complaint of pulsation in the brakes when applying brakes at highway speeds, coming to a stop, etc. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2019 Passports with a customer complaint of pulsation in the brakes when applying brakes at highway speeds, coming to a stop, etc. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2019 Passports with a customer complaint of pulsation in the brakes when applying brakes at highway speeds, coming to a stop, etc. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The most common issue by far is unpredictable false activation of the automatic emergency braking system. Owners describe the system triggering the "BRAKE" warning, shaking the steering wheel, and applying braking—sometimes hard—when no collision threat exists. This happens on straight roads, curves, hills, and highway interstate driving at speeds ranging from 15 mph to 75 mph. The system activates regardless of weather, traffic presence, or vehicle position (own lane, adjacent lane, opposite lane). One owner set cruise control at 75 mph on the interstate with no vehicles ahead when the system activated; the owner had to accelerate to avoid being rear-ended. Another owner reports the brakes slammed on due to a car turning off the road far ahead at low speed. Owners note the system engages at least once daily—sometimes 3+ times—and dealers consistently claim they cannot replicate or find a fault. One dealer did clean the sensor with no improvement.
A second issue involves hard brake pedals after overnight or extended parking. The pedal becomes immovable, preventing push-button engine start despite the dashboard prompt. Owners report needing two feet to depress it. Once the engine starts, the pedal returns to normal. Dealers initially said this is normal; a second opinion confirmed the pedal was excessively hard.
One complaint documents a loose top bolt on a right front brake caliper that fell out during highway driving, with the left front caliper also found loose upon inspection.
Same Honda Passport brakes reports on nearby years: 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) / Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) False Activation
The automatic emergency braking system engages unpredictably with no actual collision threat or obstruction present. Owners report the system activating on straight roads, curved roads, during lane changes by other vehicles at safe distances, at all speeds from 15 mph to 75+ mph, in various weather conditions, and regardless of traffic presence. The system triggers the dashboard 'BRAKE' warning light, shakes the steering wheel, and applies braking ranging from light to hard/abrupt. Dealers have tested and claimed the system is normal. One owner reports the system activated on the interstate with cruise control set to 75 mph and no vehicles ahead; the owner had to accelerate to override the unintended braking to avoid being rear-ended.
When: Identified at purchase (October 2023 onward); occurring at least daily, ranging 1–3+ times per day. Happens at all speeds and conditions unpredictably.
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard 'BRAKE' warning light flashes; Steering wheel shakes; Light to hard/abrupt braking applied without driver input; Occurs on straight roads, curves, and hills; Occurs in rain and sun; Occurs at speeds from 15 mph to 75+ mph; Occurs with or without vehicles in own lane, adjacent lane, or opposite lane; Occurs with no visible obstructions
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer cleaned sensor in one case with no resolution. Owners report dealers cannot replicate or acknowledge the issue.
Rear Cross Traffic Warning False Activation and Failure
The rear cross traffic warning system engages when no traffic or obstacles are present, and conversely fails to engage when a vehicle or obstacle is actually present. This issue occurs infrequently but consistently enough that owners report it as a potential safety concern.
When: Observed during normal driving; frequency not specified beyond 'not often.'
Symptoms owners cite: System engages with no traffic or obstacles present; System fails to engage when traffic or obstacles are present
Hard Brake Pedal After Overnight or Extended Parking
After the vehicle sits overnight or a few hours, the brake pedal becomes rock hard and cannot be depressed, preventing push-button engine start. The dashboard displays 'TO START ENGINE PRESS BRAKE' but the pedal will not move. Owners report having to use two feet to depress the pedal to enable push start. The condition persists even after the car warms up. Once the engine starts, the brake pedal returns to normal feel. Dealers initially claimed this is normal operation, but service personnel at a second dealer acknowledged the brake pedal was excessively hard.
When: Occurs after overnight parking or after sitting a few hours. Reported for six consecutive days in one case. Affects morning startups and warm-up attempts.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal rock hard and immovable; Unable to depress brake pedal to enable push-button start; Dashboard warning 'TO START ENGINE PRESS BRAKE' displays; Requires two feet to depress pedal in some instances; Pedal returns to normal after engine starts
Repairs/costs cited: No repair resolution reported. Vehicle being investigated at second dealer.
Front Brake Caliper Bolt Failure
The top bolt of the right front disk brake caliper unit was not properly tightened at assembly or prior service. The bolt fell out during normal highway driving in the Utah desert, causing the caliper unit to drop off the disk. Upon repair, the left front caliper bolt was also found to be loose.
When: Occurred during highway driving conditions in the Utah desert.
Symptoms owners cite: Top bolt fell out of right front caliper; Right front caliper unit dropped off disk; Left front caliper bolt also found loose
Repairs/costs cited: Repaired with new bolt and rubber fittings. Cost $106. Mechanic inspected left front and found it loose as well.
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The automatic braking system will activate at various times shaking the wheel and applying the brakes. This happens when there is nothing in front of the vehicle.
Had brakes trouble with your 2019 Honda Passport?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2019 Honda Passport?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 15 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 5,867 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Honda/Passport.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.