HondaPassport1998Overview/honda/passport/1998/base/

1998 Honda Passport

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 Passport.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1998 Honda Passport is an SUV paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission, returning EPA fuel economy of 15 city / 19 highway / 16 combined mpg and serviced with 5.0 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil. Within the model's complaint history spanning 1994 through 2026, the 1998 model year registers the highest count at 270 owner filings—anchored by issues in the service brakes and hydraulic system and accompanied by six recalls on record. That outsized total marks the 1998 Passport as a clear outlier in the lineup's reliability arc, contrasting sharply with later years such as 2024, when filings dropped to just 15, and giving researchers a useful high-water mark for measuring how the model's problem footprint has evolved.

Model year202620242023202220212020201920021998

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 Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Bushing (lubricate) · Clutch Pedal Clevis Pin (lubricate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Clutch Hydraulic Line (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine 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) · 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 1998 Honda Passport sits at the peak of a sharp quality decline within its generation. Complaints surged to 270, a fourfold increase over the 64 reported in 1997, and the highest in the entire record except for the anomalous 2019 spike. Recalls jumped from zero in the two prior years to six, and investigations rose from zero to five, while technical service bulletins nearly tripled from 42 to 112. The top complaint areas—service brakes, suspension, and structure—account for a substantial portion of the 270 total, with 25 crash-related complaints underscoring potential safety concerns. This year marks the zenith of a troubling trend that began to ease only slightly in 1999, making the 1998 Passport a notably risky choice compared to earlier or later model years.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
112
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
270
Owner complaints
25 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 270 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic48
Suspension37
Structure26
Engine & Engine Cooling20
Power Train18
Electrical System14
Fuel System, Gasoline12
Fuel System, Other11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 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 112 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…
SB-99-0042013-11-06Fuel System, OtherHONDA: LOW READING OF FUEL GAUGE, ON SOME VEHICLES, AFTER FILLING TANK, GAUGE DROPS BELOW…
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

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 1998 Passport take?

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

Does the 1998 Passport have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 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.