2020 HONDA PASSPORT Electrical System Problems

Was at a red light and the car just shut off. NOTHING! After about 5-10 seconds I pushed the start stop button and it hesitated for a few seconds and I let go and then tried it again. It hesitated and then came on. No problem the rest of the day. I have had the car for a year and zeo issues with the. My Mother had it for 3 years previously and she never had the issue. The battery is good (and only 1 year old) because I put it on my tester a few months ago. 70,000 miles. I looked up the symptoms and found that this has been an on going issue for a few years. NOT NEW. I reached out to Honda and they said I have to have it diagnosed and pay for it.

Car would not start. Jump start immediate remedy, also same as before. Symptoms identical to those that occurred prior to the service work performed by Elmhurst Honda for the Honda Idle Stop Recall (Service Bulletin 23-009)

On 4-5 occasions, the auto shutoff system will shut the vehicle down at a stop light when the brake is depressed. The vehicle did not restart as normal. In order to get the vehicle to restart, the vehicle has to be turned completely off and allowed to sit for 1 minute. The battery was fully charged and less than 1 yr old. The dealer was asked and did not find any problems and could not determine a cause. As a retired couple, this is quite concerning especially when in a major city, fully stopped and unable to get the car moving. The other drivers get upset and angry, which is scary these days. I am concerned that the auto shutoff might engage in heavy interstate stop and go traffic, which could lead to a major highway crash. Interestingly, I just received a note from a law firm filing a class action suit against Honda, if repairs were made. So, clearly there is a defect in the auto shut off system which need to be addressed.

Component Affected: Engine / Auto Idle Stop (AIS) system Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: No Deaths: No Incident 1 •Date: January 30, 2025 •Time: ~9:45 AM •Location: Dysart Rd & E Van Buren St, Avondale, AZ •Witness: Taylor (passenger) •Speed: 0 mph (stopped at red light) •Weather: 49°F ambient temperature Description: While stopped at a red light, the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) system engaged. When I attempted to accelerate as the light turned green, the engine failed to restart. The car was immobilized in the left-hand lane, hazards on, and shifted itself into Park. Multiple attempts to restart failed. After several minutes and repeated actions (cycling ignition, exiting and re-entering the vehicle), the car finally restarted. Safety Concern: The vehicle was disabled in active traffic, creating a hazardous situation for myself, my passenger, and surrounding drivers. Incident 2 •Date: August 13, 2025 •Time: ~6:37 AM •Location: Off-ramp of N Verrado Way & Papago Fwy, Buckeye, AZ •Speed: 0 mph (stopped at ramp light) •Witness: None •Weather: 86°F ambient temperature Description: While stopped on the freeway off-ramp, the AIS engaged. When I attempted to proceed, the engine failed to restart. The vehicle was stuck on the ramp with hazards on and remained inoperative for several minutes until it finally restarted. Safety Concern: The car was disabled on a freeway off-ramp during morning traffic, creating a serious risk of collision. Incident 3 •Date: August 19, 2025 •Time: ~3:04 PM •Location: 1520 N Verrado Way, Buckeye, AZ (Shell gas station parking lot) •Speed: 0 mph (shifting from Park to Reverse) •Weather: 110°F ambient temperature •Witness: None Description: After completing a quick errand, I entered the vehicle, started it normally, and attempted to back out of a parking space. When I shifted into reverse, the engine stalled due to AIS. This time, the car placd itself into Neutral rather than Park. The restart delay was shorter

The auto idle stop failed to restart at a traffic light. This happened at a busy intersection in heavy traffic. The date given below is the most recent incident; it has happened twice now. Usually I try to remember to disable the idle stop feature, but this time I forgot, and it failed. The first time it happened was November 2024.

The Passport is equipped with an auto stop/start engine feature. In the last week, while stopped in traffic in the roadway the engine shut off, but did not turn back on causing the car to stall in traffic for several minutes before I was able to restart it. The vehicle shifted to neutral and wouldn't restart until the power was fully off and the door was opened and closed. Both times I was stuck in a travel lanes for approximately 3-5 minutes.

We are currently experiencing very cold weather in my area. I have a Honda Passport that uses a camera for its braking, LKAS, ACC, and other features. During extreme cold, the camera shorts out causing safety systems to fail. Others report the same issue on Honda cars: [XXX] No accident or injury resulted - merely trying to avoid a future safety issue INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Problem with automatic idle. Car will randomly turn off when the idle-stop is engaged.

Audio screen reboot issue - the audio screen turns off while driving and takes several minutes to reboot.

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Passport. The contact stated while attempting to stop at a red light, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was restarted after the third attempt however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 31,000.

Mileage: 31,000

On [XXX], I was traveling to Destin Florida, on [XXX], the interstate came to a complete stop. My 2020 Honda Passport shut down do to the engine idle stop being engaged. When traffic started to move the engine would not start. I sat in the fast lane of [XXX] for approximately two minutes before the vehicle would start. Multiple attempts were made to restart the vehicle. Finally it started. This is the second time this has occurred. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

While at a stoplight with traffic behind me, my Honda quit and couldn't be moved out of road, or restarted for service. No warning on dashboard or lights to let me know what problem was. It went through every error in the system! I had to call police to block traffic and call a wrecker to come tow me to AutoZone for a replacement battery. It was the wrecker service that advised it was not the first time he had seen this happen. My car is only 3 years old and did not give a warning, it just stopped in traffic putting me and others in danger. I had unnecessary cost and repairs that should never had to be made. The local police had to use resources that took time away from them as well. This was on a busy Saturday afternoon on a well traveled road. This is NOT in the best interest of the public! Now I have to take time off work to have it looked at with dealer. All this could have been avoided if this technology was not put on the vehicle. I expect better from Honda! My next vehicle will be something without all this unnecessary technology that puts people in danger!

With the Idle-Stop activated, the engine shut down while stopped at a red light. However, when I disengaged the brake and tried to push the gas pedal to start, the car did not restart. It went "dead." I had to attempt to restart the car, and it took multiple attempts to get it to restart. I ultimately had to put the vehicle in park and then re-start the engine manually once the 2020 Passport "re-set" itself. This was dangerous, as I was in a very active intersection at dusk/night and the Passport became hard to see as the electrical system + engine shut down and would not restart promptly with cars trying to go through the green light.

I am reaching out to you because I have no options further and am very frustrated with this never ending problem going on with the electrical system in my vehicle. I leased this vehicle brand new in August of 2020, starting in February 2021 started coming across this persistent problem with the Infotainment system where it will shut off unexpectedly followed by loud crackling and popping noises that emit from the speakers. It is a safety issue because it seems to affect other systems in the vehicle that make warning sounds say if someone is in a blind spot as well as being an overall distraction especially if I am using the vehicle for directions. The noises are very loud and distracting and there is no fix other than pulling my vehicle over and shutting it off waiting for a few minutes and rebooting everything and even then the problem can reoccur. I have taken my vehicle into my local Honda Dealership multiple times for the last 3 years now for the same problem occurring over and over and Honda doesn't seem to have an actual permanent fix for this problem. Just in the last year for example I have taken the vehicle in for maintenance on these dates 05/24/2022, 09/23/2022, 10/05/2022 and most recently on 01/12/2023. There seems to be no end in sight regarding this problem and a quick search on the internet will show that a multiple amount of people across the country are experiencing this same issue.

When driving at any speed vehicle computers (system and entertainment) loose communication and malfunction, causing loss of display and function. This loss of communication causes a loud crackling & popping noise to be generated by the system through the vehicle speakers. This problem persist while driving until the vehicle is stopped, turned off and door opened. Research on Honda internet forums has revealed thousands of postings from owners with the same and similar problems. I have taken this vehicle to Honda service more than 3 times. Each time was told a manufacturing defect in wiring harness of the MOST system is the cause. Each repair has been unsuccessful in permanently correcting the defect. This problem, being random and tied to rough terrain or road bumps can happen at anytime. When this happens it is a major distraction. When system error many warnings are flashes and various vehicle features stop functioning. This affect drive system, safety system and entertainment system. It is unknown if safety systems would function when this problem is actively happening. This is the scary part of it. I have given Honda every opportunity to fix the problem. They tell me it is not a recall but is covered under an "extended service period" due to this known issue. I have seen many technical service bulletins pertaining to this issue. This needs to be elevated to a recall. I do have videos of this malfunction.

TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2020 HONDA PASSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM WOULD GO BLANK AND THE CONTACT COULD HEAR A SPARKING SOUND COMING THROUGH THE SPEAKERS WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE ON THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSISTENTLY DEFLATE ON ALL FOUR TIRES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WROTE A LETTER TO THE MANUFACTURER DOCUMENTING THE FAILURE BUT THE CONTACT RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HONDA OF PRINCETON (987 STATE RD, PRINCETON, NJ 08540) WHERE THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN DEALER POSSESSION. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

Mileage: 500

STATIC, CRACKING, POPPING, AND LOSS OF INFOTAINMENT CENTER, EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF.

Mileage: 6,000

POPPING NOISE, RADIO/NAVIGATION SCREEN GOING BLANK, REAR VIEW CAMERA FOR BACKING UP DOES NOT WORK & MOST IMPORTANTLY THE INSTRUMENT GAGES GOES BLANK WHILE DRIVING

Mileage: 2,600

SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSES CRACKLING/POPPING TO COME OUT OF INFOTAINMENT SPEAKERS. INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM CAN BE SET TO OFF AND PROBLEM WILL STILL PERSIST. THE CRACKLING AND POPPING CAN HAPPEN RANDOMLY AND TO VARIOUS LOUDNESS LEVELS. UNDER ABRUPT BRAKING OR ROAD BUMP, PROBLEM WILL OCCUR LOUDLY. THE NOISE CAN SOUND LIKE ROAD GRAVEL HITTING WINDSHIELD AND IS VERY DISTRACTING. WEATHER, SUCH AS VERY HUMID OR RAINING CONDITIONS WORSENS THE PROBLEM AND INCREASES ODDS OF IT HAPPENING.

Mileage: 3,200

VEHICLE BRAKING HEAVILY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ON HIGHWAY AND INTERSTATE DUE TO DEFECTIVE HONDA SENSING GROUP INPUT DATA (RADAR, CAMERA, ON-BOARD SOFTWARE CREATING DANGEROUS SITUATION) AT HIGH SPEEDS (60-70MPH).

Mileage: 550

COMPLETE INFOTAINMENT FAILURE OCCURRING FREQUENTLY, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES PER TRIP. THIS INCLUDES BACKUP CAMERAS AND ALL SYSTEMS RUNNING THROUGH THE MAIN INFOTAINMENT SCREEN. (SOME ARE SAFETY SYSTEMS) THE DESCRIPTION IS: COMPLETE INFOTAINMENT SHUTDOWN AND REBOOT. STARTS WITH A "SIGNAL LOST" OR "RADIO UNAVAILABLE" MESSAGE (REGARDLESS OF AUDIO INPUT) THEN DISPLAYS A "SERVICE UNAVAILABLE" MESSAGE, THEN "NETWORK CONNECTION LOST " MESSAGE ON THE MAIN SCREEN, THEN THE SCREEN AND ALL ASSOCIATED FUNCTIONS SHUT DOWN. THIS COMPLETE EVENT TAKES ONLY 1-2 SECONDS. THE SYSTEM USUALLY WILL REBOOT IN 2 -20 MINUTES, BUT THIS IS HIGHLY VARIABLE. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT AND WITH A PHONE CONNECTED VIA A CABLE. NO DIFFERENCE. HENCE ITS IS NOT "CAR PLAY" RELATED. OCCURS ONLY WHEN DRIVING BUT MAY HAPPEN ON VARIOUS TYPES OF ROADS. INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, HIGHWAYS, CITY STREETS, UNPAVED ROADS AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DIRECTIONS (STRAIGHT, TURNING).

Mileage: 8,000

DRIVER DISTRACTIONS CAUSED BY A REPEAT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM FAILURE AND LOUD SPEAKER POPPING NOISES. SPECIFICALLY, MULTIPLE TIMES A TRIP WHILE DRIVING, THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM GOES THROUGH THE FOLLOWING CYCLE; SPEAKERS POP LOUDLY (EVEN IF THE SOUND IS OFF), THEN THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN DISPLAYS THE MESSAGE "NETWORK COMMUNICATION LOST". THEN SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. THE SYSTEM WILL RESTART IN 5-10 MINUTES AND THEN GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AGAIN AND AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN.

Mileage: 7,700

3 MO/500 MI DRIVING AND INFOTAINMENT SCREENS WENT BLACK ON HIGHWAY... COULDN'T SEE SPEED, ETC

Mileage: 500