HondaPassport1999Overview/honda/passport/1999/base/

1999 Honda Passport

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1999 Passport.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1999 Honda Passport is an SUV fitted with a 4-speed automatic transmission and an engine calling for 5.0 quarts of 5W-30 API oil, returning EPA figures of 15 city, 19 highway, and 16 combined mpg. The model accumulated 247 owner complaints alongside 3 recalls, with Service Brakes, Hydraulic standing out as the top complaint area — a profile that places this year just below the 1998 peak of 270 complaints across a model complaint history spanning 1994 through 2026. In context, the 1999 Passport represents the tail end of the nameplate's most troublesome era, meaning buyers considering one today should weigh brake-system issues heavily even as the broader trend shows complaint volumes declining steadily toward a low of 15 by 2024.

Model year202620242023202220212020201920021999

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque87 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/19/16 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 600 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24F · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215-75R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 19 / 16 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Passport of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.30 sec — 1998 EX
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1998EX 3.2L V68.30 sec16.30 sec205 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 87 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.8 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt
Power Steering FluidDEXRON II OR DEXRON III OR EQUIVALENT
Transfer Case Fluid15W-40 · 20W-40 · 5W-30 · 20W-50 · API

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts42 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts7.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts87 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.43 lbs
Oil TypeAIPDN Part No. 2-90188-301-0, or equivalent.
Oil Capacity5.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test22 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief13.5-17.8 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature166-183 °F
Engine Compression128 minimum PSI. 14.5 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure57-80 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000 rpm
Intake Valve Lash0.011 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.012 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket32 ft-lbs / 54 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle76 ft-lbs / 115 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.063; Rear: 0.063 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Drum Runout Limit0.006 in
Drum Nominal Diameter11.614 in / 10 in
Drum Maximum Machining11.673 in
Drum Discard at-or-over NoteDiscard value not supplied by manufacturer

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Do not use old bolts.

122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
247 ft. lbs.47 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Clutch Cross Shaft (lubricate)
At 15,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 miBody Lock Cylinders (lubricate) · Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Bushing (lubricate) · Clutch Pedal Clevis Pin (lubricate) · Clutch Pedal Return Spring (lubricate) · Cruise Control System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Clutch Hydraulic Line (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
At 60,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 60,000 miAir Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Radiator (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1994-2002 generation of the Honda Passport exhibits a distinct arc of escalating federal scrutiny, peaking dramatically in 1998 with 270 complaints, 6 recalls, and 5 investigations. The target 1999 model year sits squarely at the apex of this problematic trend, registering the second-highest complaint volume of the initial lifecycle at 247, alongside 3 recalls and 3 investigations. While marginally improved from 1998, the 1999 Passport remains deeply troubled, with the data specifying 56 hydraulic service brake complaints, 34 suspension complaints, 25 power train complaints, 21 structure complaints, and 33 crash-related complaints. The federal data does not specify the root causes for these systemic failures, but the sheer volume of records indicates severe, unresolved defects. Given its placement at the peak of the generation's most problematic window rather than the stabilized 2000-2002 period, the 1999 Passport is a high-risk used purchase that should generally be avoided.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
73
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
247
Owner complaints
33 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 247 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic56
Suspension34
Power Train25
Structure21
Engine & Engine Cooling21
Fuel System, Other10
Suspension,Structure9
Vehicle Speed Control9

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

10V436000Suspension:RearReported 22/09/2010

ISUZU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2002 ISUZU RODEO AND MODEL YEAR 2002 ISUZU AXIOM VEHICLES, AND HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN 1998-2002 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES, THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR ARE CURRENTLY… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK BRACKET AREA. FOR VEHICLES IN WHICH LITTLE OR NO CORROSION IS FOUND, THE AREA WILL BE TREATED WITH AN ANTI-CORROSIVE COMPOUND…

02I002001Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipReported 03/06/2002

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). THE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES IN CERTAIN TYPES OF BRAKING EVENTS. Remedy: DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT COMPUTER ALGORITHM FOR THE ABS THAT IS BASED ON THE ALGORITHM USED IN HONDA'S MY 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES, WHICH HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM. THIS…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 73 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SB-00-0112014-02-04Fuel System, OtherHONDA: DUE TO MIL COMING ON AND DTC P1441 IS SET, PCM SOFTWARE WILL NOT COMPENSATE FOR…
Service Bulletin2014-02-04Electrical SystemService bulletin - The MIL comes on and DTC P1441 (EVAP System Flow During Non-Purge) is…
12052005-12-16Service Brakes, HydraulicC0285, C1999, 2WD MODULE IN 4WD VEHICLE. *TT
12052005-12-16Service Brakes, HydraulicC0282, 285, 274 4WD MODULE IN 2WD VEHICLE. *TT
010120042004-01-01Service Brakes, HydraulicANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE C0265. HONDA. SERVICENEWS. *TT

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Passport. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1999 Passport take?

5.0 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1999 Passport have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Passport get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 19 highway / 16 combined mpg.