HondaPassport2001Overview/honda/passport/2001/base/

2001 Honda Passport

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 Passport.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2001 Honda Passport is a sport utility vehicle that requires 5.0 qt of 5W‑30 API engine oil and is equipped with a four‑speed automatic transmission, delivering EPA‑rated fuel economy of 15/20/17 mpg. It has accumulated 146 total owner complaints, with structure being the top complaint area, and is subject to three recalls. Within the model’s complaint history spanning 1994‑2026, the 2001 year sits below the 1998 peak of 270 complaints but above the 2024 low of 15, reflecting a middling reliability position for the Passport line.

Model year202620242023202220212020201920022001

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 economy15/20/17 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 sizeP225-75R16OEM · 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 / 20 / 17 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 Capacity1.54 lbs
Oil TypePAG
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 engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 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.

At 7,500 miDriveshaft Flange Yoke (torque)
Every 7,500 miBody Fasteners (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
At 15,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Brake Wheel Cylinder (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (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 Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Power Steering System (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) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Radiator (inspect)
At 105,000 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.

In the federal record, 2001 shows 146 complaints, 3 recalls, 3 investigations, and 62 TSBs, placing it below the 1998‑1999 peak but above the 2000 and 2002 figures. The complaint trajectory rose sharply through 1997‑1998, fell steadily from 1999 to 2002, with 2001 sitting in the middle of that decline. Recalls and investigations also decreased from 6 recalls in 1998 to 2 in 2002, indicating a reduction in formal corrective actions by 2001. The 2001 top complaint categories — Structure (57) and Suspension (23) — align with earlier concerns but the data does not specify a root cause. Given the downward trend and modest recall activity, the 2001 model presents a relatively safer used‑car option, making it a good year to buy.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
62
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
146
Owner complaints
12 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 146 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure57
Suspension23
Vehicle Speed Control10
Suspension,Structure8
Power Train6
Air Bags6
Unknown Or Other5
Fuel System, Gasoline5

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…

01V055000Air Bags:FrontalReported 22/02/2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE INFLATORS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULES HAVING THE WRONG AMOUNT OF GENERANT. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG UNIT.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 62 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
A07-0302021-01-23Equipment"Service Bulletin - There are several A/C leak detection tools available. -Refrigerant…
DLR MSG - Honda2014-08-06Air BagsDealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, American Honda announced three recalls for…
DLR MSG - Stop S2014-07-23Air BagsDealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, American Honda announced three recalls for…
08-0402008-05-31EquipmentLOAD CARRYING CAPACITY REDUCED LABEL FOR ALL HONDA VEHICLES. *PE
12052005-12-16Service Brakes, HydraulicC0285, C1999, 2WD MODULE IN 4WD 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 2001 Passport take?

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

Does the 2001 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 / 20 highway / 17 combined mpg.