Pulling into home garage vehicle suddenly surged forward. Brakes were applied and the brake peddle went to the floor and did not engage brakes to stop the Passport. Effects were the Passport crashed into a refrigerator we had there to handle over flow and crushed the refrigerator and knocked a hole in the wall of the garage. No warning or alarms sounded which Honda said does not happen at low…
2021 Honda Passport brakes problems
severe 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 16 brakes complaints filed for the 2021 Honda Passport, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 6 model years of Honda Passport we track for brakes problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 16.
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2021 Passports report seven distinct brake-related failures. The most critical involves sudden loss of brake pressure: one owner lost all braking force at 45 mph on a hill due to a rear driver-side brake fluid leak that pooled under the vehicle; another had the brake pedal go to the floor at low speed, resulting in a crash into a refrigerator. A third owner's brakes failed twice in the first 1,600 miles, hitting a bollard after shifting into reverse.
The forward collision warning system activates brakes without provocation—multiple owners report the car suddenly braking at highway speeds (47–70 mph) with nothing in front of them. The system flashes a BRAKE warning, shakes the steering wheel, and occasionally locks the steering briefly. One dealer told an owner with 40+ years of CDL experience there were no software updates and no fault codes, implying the problem doesn't exist.
Other issues include warped rotors causing steering wheel shake during braking (diagnosed at 10,000+ miles but resurfaced rather than replaced); wheels locking up during stops with the service brake warning light on; and a stiff brake pedal that won't allow push-button start on cold mornings—fixed only by remote starting first. An independent inspection found the brake master cylinder and booster bolts undertorqued at the factory. Dealers have consistently failed to replicate or fix many of these failures, and Honda has denied warranty coverage, claiming brakes are wear-and-tear items.
Same Honda Passport brakes reports on nearby years: 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Brake fluid leak (rear driver-side)
Sudden loss of brake pressure while braking on a hill. Brake fluid pooled at rear driver-side tire; leak confirmed when additional fluid gushed out on application. Vehicle had been serviced and passed inspection one week prior with only 160 miles on odometer.
When: 160 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of brake pressure during braking; Brake pedal did not respond as expected; Brake fluid pooled under vehicle; Multiple warning lights came on after restart (low brake fluid, steering and traction control warnings)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle transported by flatbed to repair shop; repair details not provided in narrative
Unintended automatic braking activation (forward collision warning system)
Brake system activates on its own without obstacles present. Occurs while exiting freeways, in normal traffic flow, and on clear sunny days with no vehicles ahead. System falsely detects hazards and applies brakes unexpectedly. Owners report this has been ongoing since at least 2022.
When: Intermittent, reported as ongoing since 2022; recent occurrence weeks before complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle randomly brakes on its own; False hazard detection with nothing in front of vehicle; Brake light display comes on with no obstruction present; Brakes jam on without reason; Steering wheel shakes when brakes activate; Brake warning light flashes; BRAKE warning displayed on dashboard
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers report no software updates available and no diagnostic codes showing a problem
Brake pedal failure to engage (no pressure)
Brake pedal goes to floor without engaging brakes to stop vehicle. Occurs at low speeds in parking situations and on initial pressing. In one case, vehicle crashed into refrigerator after pulling into garage; in another, vehicle hit a bollard after shifting into reverse.
When: 400 miles (first incident); 1600 miles (second incident); low-speed parking/garage situations
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floor without stopping vehicle; No braking engagement at low speed; Requires repeated pumping of pedal to stop; Vehicle surges forward unexpectedly
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer kept vehicle for one week but could not replicate failure and did not repair. One owner noted no further occurrences after windshield replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer suggested issue may not have occurred as reported; no recall issued
Warped brake rotors / steering wheel vibration under braking
Steering wheel shakes during braking, diagnosed as warped rotors. Dealer resurfaced rotors instead of replacing them; issue returned. Occurs at 10,000+ miles. Dealer stated brakes are wear-and-tear items not covered under warranty.
When: 10,000 miles initial complaint; 15,000 miles diagnosis; issue returned later
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shaking under braking; Issue worsens over time; Vibration occurs during braking
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer resurfaced rotors (not replaced); rotor warping returned
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda stated brakes are wear-and-tear items not under warranty; no recall issued; manufacturer declined to help
Wheel lock-up during braking
Wheels lock up when brake pedal is depressed at traffic stops, preventing gradual deceleration. Service brake warning light illuminates.
When: 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Wheels lock up during braking; Vehicle fails to come to gradual stop; Service brake warning light illuminated; Intermittent failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to reproduce failure; vehicle not diagnosed or repaired
Stiff brake pedal on cold start
Brake pedal is stiff, hard, or locked when attempting to start vehicle after overnight parking. Pedal becomes normal after remote start or after physically pushing on it. Occurs daily since purchase.
When: First morning after dealer purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal stiff or locked on cold start; Prevents push-button start; Vehicle starts normally with remote start; Pedal becomes normal after physical manipulation; Occurs every day since purchase
Brake master cylinder / booster bolt torque issue
Independent inspection found brake master cylinder and brake booster bolts not torqued to specification during manufacturing. Owner concerns that improper torque could lead to brake failure.
When: Identified at 6/4/25 independent inspection
Symptoms owners cite: Bolts not torqued properly on master cylinder and booster
Repairs/costs cited: Independent inspection identified improper bolt torque
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Passport. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a stop light, the brake pedal was depressed, and the wheels locked up. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to come to a gradual stop. The contact was able to continue driving after the brakes had been released. The failure occurred intermittently. The service brake warning light…
The automatic emergency brake system will randomly activate despite there being nothing in the way, no car in front, and no obstruction. It causes the car to slam on the brakes for no reason which I’m afraid will cause someone to hit me from behind.
Had brakes trouble with your 2021 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 2021 Honda Passport?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 16 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 20,000 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/2021/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.