HondaPassport1996Overview/honda/passport/1996/base/

1996 Honda Passport

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Passport.

Body SUV

The 1996 Honda Passport is an SUV that shares its platform with the Isuzu Rodeo, featuring a recommended engine oil capacity of 4.1 quarts with 5W-30 API viscosity specification. This model year recorded 51 total owner complaints, with structural concerns cited as the primary issue, though notably there were zero recalls issued. Falling early in the Passport's complaint history which spans 1994 to 2026, the 1996 model represents a period of notably lower dissatisfaction compared to the peak of 270 complaints recorded in 1998, suggesting relatively better reliability performance for this model year.

Model year202620242023202220212020201920021996

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.1 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque87 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24 · 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 24 · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-75R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · 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 4.1 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 Capacity4.1 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts16 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts42 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts7.0 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 Order1-3-4-2
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
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
Standard BCI Group Number24
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number86
Standard BCI Cranking Performance430 cca
Optional BCI Group Number24
Optional BCI Cranking Performance600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test28 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature166-183 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)44.0-51.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)36.0-43.0 psi
Engine Compression128 minimum PSI. 14.5 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Compression114
Intake Valve Lash0.011 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
158 ft. lbs.58 ft. lbs
272

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the 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) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect)
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 Linings (inspect) · Brake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Cruise Control System (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
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) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Radiator (inspect) · Timing Belt (replace)
Every 90,000 miOxygen Sensor (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 1996 Honda Passport sits in the calm before a significant federal-record spike: with 51 complaints, zero recalls, zero investigations, and 42 TSBs, it is quieter than 1995 (67 complaints, 1 recall) and 1997 (64 complaints, 0 recalls), and dramatically cleaner than 1998–1999, when complaints surged to 270 and 247, recalls jumped to 6 and 3, and investigations began. Across the 1994–2002 generation, the trend is low early-year activity followed by a pronounced mid-generation peak in 1998, then gradual moderation; 1996 falls squarely in that early, lower-risk window. Its 42 TSBs are notably higher than 1994’s 19 and 1995’s 11, matching 1997, but the data does not specify whether those bulletins reflect a single root cause or broader service guidance. Reported complaint areas were led by structure (9), air bags (7), engine and engine cooling (6), and steering (4), with 8 crash-related complaints and no fire complaints. Given zero recalls and zero investigations alongside complaint counts well below the generation’s peak, the 1996 Passport looks like one of the safer model-year choices in this generation, provided a buyer verifies that any outstanding TSB items have been addressed.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
42
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
51
Owner complaints
8 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 51 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure9
Air Bags7
Engine & Engine Cooling6
Steering4
Suspension,Structure3
Power Train3
Visibility3
Suspension2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 42 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
110120032003-11-01Engine And Engine CoolingHEATER BLOWER MOTOR GETS HOT OR BLOWS A FUSE. HONDA. SERVICENEWS. *TT
110120032003-11-01Power TrainIDENTIFYING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT SOLENOIDS. HONDA. SERVICENEWS. *TT
10032003-10-16Power TrainDESCRIPTIONS FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT SOLENOIDS. *TT
10032003-10-16EquipmentHEATER BLOWER MOTOR OVERHEATS OR BLOWS FUSE. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING THE 2004 INSIGHT…
0101032003-01-01Power TrainCHECK (ATF) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID CONDITION TO DIAGNOSE (A/T) AUTOMATIC…

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 1996 Passport take?

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

Does the 1996 Passport have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.