HondaPassport1994Overview/honda/passport/1994/base/

1994 Honda Passport

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 Passport.

The 1994 Honda Passport, with its 3.5-quart oil capacity calling for 10W-30 or 5W-30 viscosity, entered the model’s complaint history as the first year tracked, recording 41 total owner complaints—the most frequent of which involved the service brakes—and four recalls. This places the 1994 model early in a reliability arc that would peak at 270 complaints in 1998 and eventually fall to just 15 by 2024, marking it as a comparatively low-complaint starting point in the model’s long-term record.

Model year202620242023202220212020201920021994

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified

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 3.5 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.8 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt

Engine torques

Oil Pan to Block Bolts7.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts7.0 ft-lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the coolant at 45,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 45,000 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.

At 7,500 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 7,500 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect)
At 15,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Brake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Cruise Control System (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Antilock Brake System (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Clutch Hydraulic Line (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & 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) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 90,000 miOxygen Sensor (replace) · Water Pump (inspect)

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 model sits at the outset of the generation’s federal arc, posting 41 complaints, 4 recalls, 1 investigation, and 19 TSBs—figures that represent the lowest complaint volume in the 1994–2002 span except for 2002, yet include the highest recall count of those early years until 1998’s six. Relative to the years immediately following, 1994 recorded fewer complaints than 1995’s 67 and far fewer than the 1998 spike of 270, while its 19 TSBs are well below the 42 issued in 1996–1997 and the 112 in 1998. Federal data lists the top complaint areas as Service Brakes, Hydraulic (9), Engine & Engine Cooling (8), Seat Belts (4), and Latches/Locks/Linkages (3), with 11 crash-related complaints and zero fire complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. Because 1994 precedes the sharp escalation in complaints, investigations, and TSBs that crest in 1998–1999, it stands as the earliest year shown with lower reported volume but not exempt from safety actions. Given its position before the generation’s peak federal-file years and its manageable complaint-to-recall ratio, 1994 is a relatively favorable year to buy within this generation, provided a buyer confirms the four recalls have been addressed.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
19
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
41
Owner complaints
11 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 41 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic9
Engine & Engine Cooling8
Seat Belts4
Latches/Locks/Linkages3
Steering3
Power Train2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Electrical System2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

02V281000Seat Belts:Front:Buckle AssemblyReported 15/10/2002

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS, THE LATCH PLATE USED IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO DESIGN DIMENSIONS. IF THE SEAT BELT TONGUE IS INSERTED SLOWLY AT AN ANGLE INTO THE… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW BUCKLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MID-DECEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE…

96V170003Seat Belts:Front:AnchorageReported 17/09/1996

THE LATCH PLATE USED IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO DESIGN DIMENSIONS. IF THE SEAT BELT TONGUE IS INSERTED SLOWLY AT AN ANGLE INTO THE BUCKLE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW BUCKLE.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 19 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
020822004-09-03Seat BeltsSAFETY RECALL: FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE. *TT
110120032003-11-01Power TrainIDENTIFYING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT SOLENOIDS. HONDA. SERVICENEWS. *TT
10032003-10-16Power TrainDESCRIPTIONS FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT SOLENOIDS. *TT
10022002-10-16Trailer HitchesTRAILER HITCH BALL SHANK SIZES AND PART NUMBERS. HONDA OCTOBER TECH LINE INFORMATION. *TT
4022002-04-16Engine And Engine CoolingSUBJECT REGARDING REPLACEMENT TOP PISTON RING MARKING. *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 1994 Passport take?

3.5 qt of ABOVE -4 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 32 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1994 Passport have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.