2021 Honda Passport · symptom sheet
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)
- 25owner reports
- 3involved a crash
Newest report Aug 30, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
61 of the 142 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 25 of those describe phantom braking, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2021 Passport.
Tick what matches of 25 reports
Phantom braking on other Passport years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2020, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Phantom braking is a car that brakes hard on its own, often at highway speed, with nothing in the road ahead. About one owner in five mentions a near miss with the car behind.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the radar or camera sensor (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on collision avoidance covers the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.
All 7 recalls on the 2021 Honda Passport, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into collision avoidance on the Passport
Inadvertent automatic emergency braking. Open.
Inadvertent automatic emergency braking. Closed jan 17, 2025.
Braking system/abs. Closed jul 31, 2002, led to recall 02I-002.
Braking system/abs. Closed mar 31, 1999.
When it happens
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
What owners wrote
“This has happened several times but today it was dangerous. I was doing around 40mph and there were some changes in the concrete color and my car slammed on the breaks (again) for no reason. I was almost hit. This keeps happening in my vehicle and I am terrified to drive it. Please help get this recalled. I have a child with cancer and I bought this safer vehicle to transport her to the hospital.”
Filed Aug 30, 2026
“Driving to work in normal speeds and conditions. The emergency braking enabled and slammed on the brakes to my car - despite there being no threat or need. The brake was with such force that I jerked forward. This is the third time this has happened with this car in the past week. Car is available for inspection if needed. The car has not yet been inspected by Honda for this situation.”
Filed Apr 21, 2026
“Car slammed on brakes while on interstate, the system likes to say brake, brake, brake, when there is nothing to brake for but a few days ago it actually took action and slammed on brakes on the freeway.”
Filed Nov 17, 2025
“The vehicle infotainment system froze. Several minutes later after driving, I pressed the brakes but they did not function. The vehicle would not stop and crashed into the vehicle in front of me. Emergency braking did not engage or otherwise show signs of activation. After turning off the car and dealing with the accident, I restarted the vehicle and the brakes and infotainment system operated normally.”
Filed Apr 6, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 3 of 25 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works