Service Bulletin - The wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops charging, even when the phone remains in the correct position on the charger due to software specifications that can cause some phones to have issues charging.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 Honda Passport electrical problems
severe 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 20 electrical 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
Among the 7 model years of Honda Passport in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical 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.
Service Bulletin - The wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops charging, even when the phone remains in the correct position on the charger.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - The wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops charging, even when the phone remains in the correct position on the charger.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - The engine will not crank on initial startup after precipitation and sub-freezing temperatures. Water can enter the starter motor, and when temperatures drop below freezing, the water will freeze inside the starter motor. This will prevent the starter from cranking the engine.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2021-2023 Passports with a customer complaint of the rearview camera inop with gridlines still displaying on the screen. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect 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
Owners report a pattern of electrical problems across multiple systems. The Auto Idle Stop System is the most serious: the engine shuts down at stops as designed, but fails to restart when the brake is released. Drivers find themselves immobilized for 60+ seconds at intersections and highway on-ramps, with locked steering and brakes, creating genuine collision hazards. One incident involved heavy traffic on the highway; another left a family stranded at a green light with 50 mph traffic passing nearby. Owners have replaced batteries and starters; dealers have applied computer updates—nothing has fixed it. Honda issued recall 24V-064 in February 2024, but as of October 2025, parts remain unavailable.
Infotainment problems are widespread: the head unit restarts in loops, the radio develops constant crackling and static across all sources (FM, Sirius, Bluetooth, CarPlay), and the dashboard/speedometer/GPS display blacks out randomly while driving. One owner lost complete electrical power at highway speed, causing a rear-end collision.
The Collision Mitigation Braking System brakes for no reason—applying brakes when detecting oncoming traffic on opposite lanes. The electronic shifter gets stuck in Park. Phone calls sound terrible on the recipient end despite multiple cable and microphone replacements. One owner's infotainment froze, then the brakes failed entirely, resulting in a crash.
Same Honda Passport electrical reports on nearby years: 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Auto Idle Stop System (AIS) failure to restart
Engine shuts down at idle with AIS engaged, then fails to restart when brake is released. Vehicle becomes immobilized with locked steering and brakes. Restart failure can last 40-60 seconds or longer, leaving occupants stranded at intersections and highway on-ramps.
When: At stops with AIS active; reported repeatedly over multiple years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Engine completely shuts off; Vehicle does not restart when brake released; Steering wheel locks; Brakes lock; Unable to restart for 60+ seconds; Check engine light appears; Loss of power; Clicking sound before stall; Dashboard message 'Auto Idle Stop System Problem'; Vehicle thrown into Neutral unexpectedly
Codes mentioned: Auto Idle Stop System Problem (dash message)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report new batteries, starter/relay replacements, and multiple computer updates attempted with no resolution. Dealer service unable to reproduce issue on demand. One owner noted Honda technician has avoided purchasing AIS-equipped vehicles due to inability to diagnose.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda recall 24V-064 issued February 1, 2024, but parts unavailable as of October 2025 per owner report. Multiple computer updates performed without success. Manufacturer opened case on at least one failure but instructed dealer not to diagnose or repair.
Infotainment system malfunction
Head unit/audio system intermittently restarts in a loop or freezes, and speaker audio develops crackling/static noise. Issues occur across multiple audio sources (FM, Sirius, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/AirPlay).
When: Randomly while driving; crackling can persist even when audio muted
Symptoms owners cite: Head unit continuously restarts until vehicle powered off; Speaker crackling and static noise; Audio cuts out completely; Radio stops and pauses unexpectedly; Volume suddenly very loud; System freezes; Infotainment system requires restart by turning vehicle off/on
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer identified poor cable installation as factory defect. FAKRA cables and harness replaced on at least one vehicle; microphone replaced on another; multiple factory resets performed—crackling persists. One owner noted issue is common on EX-L trim 2021 model and impacts backup camera and lane-keeping systems.
Dashboard/instrument panel blackout
Instrument cluster, infotainment display, GPS navigator, speedometer, and gear indicator intermittently black out or go dark while driving, with no warning lights. Display may return after 30 seconds or require vehicle power cycle.
When: Randomly while driving at highway speed (40-49 mph); reported on startup and during driving
Symptoms owners cite: Entire dashboard goes blank; Speedometer disappears; GPS navigator goes dark; Gear indicator disappears; Driver information center goes dark; No warning lights before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed faulty dashboard wiring connectors on one vehicle; repair not completed due to parts unavailability.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 24V-064 issued but parts not available for repair.
Complete vehicle power loss while driving
Vehicle loses all electrical power mid-drive, causing loss of brakes, horn, windows, radio, instrument panel, and steering. Occurs at highway speeds. One incident caused rear-end collision when vehicle stopped unexpectedly.
When: While driving at 49 mph on highway at very low mileage (3,627 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Radio shuts off; Instrument panel blacks out; Horn inoperative; Windows fail to operate; Vehicle turns completely off; Loss of all power
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed; dealer informed by manufacturer not to proceed with diagnosis or repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware and opened case. No repairs permitted by manufacturer directive.
Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) false activation
Forward collision warning triggers without cause and brakes apply automatically on single-lane roads when oncoming traffic is detected on opposite side, or on multi-lane highways when nearby vehicles change lanes. CMBS warning light remains permanently on.
When: Randomly while driving in various traffic conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes activate automatically without operator input; Vehicle nearly comes to stop unexpectedly; Forward collision warning activates with no collision threat; Brakes apply on single-lane road detecting opposite traffic; CMBS warning light permanently illuminated
Codes mentioned: CMBS warning light
Electronic shifter malfunction (Park stuck)
Push-button electronic shifter becomes unresponsive and vehicle unable to shift out of Park. Vehicle cannot be manually placed in Neutral for towing because Honda does not provide the emergency shift tool with the vehicle.
When: Randomly
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to shift out of Park; Push-button shifter non-responsive; Vehicle locked in Park
Codes mentioned: Transmission System warning, Blind Spot System warning
Repairs/costs cited: Honda does not supply emergency shift tool; tool available only for purchase at $200+ if available.
Brake system failure
Brakes become inoperative during driving while infotainment system is frozen. Emergency braking does not engage. Brakes function normally after vehicle restart.
When: After infotainment system freezes
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes do not function while driving; Vehicle cannot stop; Emergency braking fails to engage
Microphone/phone audio quality degradation
Phone calls through CarPlay and Bluetooth produce extremely poor audio quality on recipient end. Issue persists across multiple phone cables, microphone replacements, and factory resets. May correlate with FAKRA cable and harness issues.
When: When making phone calls through vehicle systems
Symptoms owners cite: Recipient cannot hear caller clearly; Audio quality very poor on recipient end; Issue persists with genuine replacement cables
Repairs/costs cited: FAKRA cables and harness replaced; microphone replaced; factory reset multiple times. Issue continues. Owner reports common problem for 2021 EX-L trim.
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Vehicle has been having AIS issues for a couple of years, requiring new batteries, new starter/relays and countless internal computer updates (none of which have helped btw...). This morning she had the AIS engaged, went to turn left at a green light and when she released the brake the vehicle threw itself into Neutral and flashed a "Auto Idle Stop System Problem" message on the dash. She put it…
No incident has occurred. However, my concern is that a recall was issued on February 1, 2024 (NHTSA Recall Number 24V-064), and as of October 31, 2025, Honda is still stating that parts are not available to complete the repair. I first contacted Honda in March 2025—over a year after the recall was issued—and was informed that the necessary parts were still unavailable. I called again in…
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Passport. The contact stated that while driving the 49 mph they noticed their radio suddenly went off and the vehicle's instrument panel blacked out. The vehicle's horn no longer functions properly. The vehicle's windows failed to open and close and the vehicle turned completely off in the middle of the highway losing all power. The contact stated the failure caused…
Had electrical 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 electrical problem on the 2021 Honda Passport?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 20 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 3,314 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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.