NHTSA Complaint #11695798 — 2025 HONDA PASSPORT

I am submitting this report regarding a serious safety issue with my 2025 Honda Passport related to the auto stop/start feature. When this feature is enabled, the vehicle frequently struggles to restart smoothly after coming to a stop. The engine often hesitates and sounds as if it may not start at all. On September 26, 2025, the problem escalated into a complete failure. While turning left at an intersection, the auto stop/start feature engaged, shutting off the engine. When I attempted to accelerate, the vehicle failed to restart and became fully disabled in the middle of traffic. This created an immediate and significant safety hazard. Law enforcement was called to the scene, and a tow truck was dispatched. However, due to incorrect information and safety concerns, I did not proceed with the tow. Fortunately, the police were able to jump-start the vehicle, allowing me to drive it directly to the dealership. The dealership confirmed that there is an issue but has been unable to replicate the complete failure. They have performed two battery tests, both of which returned normal results. While they acknowledge the problem, they have not been able to formally diagnose it. I have since learned that similar issues and recalls have been reported for earlier Honda model years, suggesting that this problem may still exist in newer vehicles, including the 2025 Passport. Since the incident, I have been disabling the auto stop/start feature every time I drive in order to avoid being stranded again. However, hesitation during restarts continues to occur daily when the feature is active. Given the severity of the safety risk and the inability of the dealership to diagnose or resolve the issue, I am requesting that Honda conduct a formal investigation into this malfunction and take appropriate corrective action. This issue should be fully addressed under warranty, as it directly affects the safety and reliability of the vehicle.