If you were car shopping in the mid-90s, you might have noticed something weird. You’d walk onto a Honda lot and see a rugged, boxy SUV called the Passport. Then, you’d drive down the street to the Isuzu dealership and find a vehicle that looked—well, identical. That’s because the Honda Passport Isuzu Rodeo connection wasn't just a coincidence. It was a desperate business move.
Honda was panicking. By 1993, the American suburbs were exploding with Ford Explorers and Jeep Grand Cherokees. Honda had plenty of Civics, but they had zero SUVs. Building one from scratch takes years and billions of dollars. They didn't have time. So, they knocked on Isuzu’s door.
The result? A classic case of "badge engineering" that still confuses used car buyers today.
How the Honda Passport Isuzu Rodeo Partnership Actually Worked
Basically, Honda and Isuzu traded siblings. Honda needed an SUV, and Isuzu—who was struggling to sell cars—needed a decent sedan. In a deal that feels like a weird high school swap, Isuzu gave Honda the Rodeo (to be renamed the Passport), and Honda gave Isuzu the Odyssey minivan (to be renamed the Oasis) and the Domani (the Acura EL in Canada).
The Passport was built right alongside the Rodeo in Lafayette, Indiana, at the Subaru-Isuzu Automotive (SIA) plant. Honestly, they were the same truck. Same 3.2-liter V6 engine. Same frame. Same questionable 90s plastics. The only real differences were the grille, the wheels, and the badges on the steering wheel.
It was a brilliant short-term fix. Honda got to keep its customers from defecting to Ford or Toyota. But for the mechanics on the ground, it was a bit of a headache. You had Honda technicians, trained on high-revving, precision-engineered Japanese four-cylinders, suddenly tasked with maintaining a pushrod V6 designed by GM and Isuzu. It was a culture clash in the service bay.
The Mechanical Reality: Is It a Honda or an Isuzu?
Don't let the "H" on the hood fool you. Underneath the skin, the first-generation (1994-1997) and second-generation (1998-2002) Passports are pure Isuzu.
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If you're looking for that legendary Honda reliability where you just change the oil and the car lasts 300,000 miles, you might be disappointed here. These trucks were rugged. They had real-deal 4WD systems. But they also had Isuzu problems.
The 3.2L 6VD1 V6 engine was decent, but it was notorious for consuming oil. If you didn't check the dipstick every other week, you were asking for a seized motor. Then there was the transmission. The early 4L30-E automatic, sourced from GM, wasn't exactly a tank. It was originally designed for smaller European cars, and asking it to haul a 4,000-pound SUV through the mud was a tall order.
- First Gen (1994-1997): Very boxy. Spare tire usually mounted on the back. These feel like "trucks" in the most literal sense. Rough ride, loud cabin, but pretty cool in a retro way.
- Second Gen (1998-2002): More rounded. The spare tire moved underneath. The power jumped to about 205 horsepower. They were much more comfortable, but this is where the rust issues started to get scary.
The Infamous Frame Rust Recall
We have to talk about the elephant in the room: the 2010 recall. This is why you don't see many Honda Passport Isuzu Rodeo twins on the road anymore.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) eventually stepped in because the rear frames were literally snapping. Salt from winter roads would get trapped in the frame rails, rotting them from the inside out. In some cases, the rear suspension would just... detach.
Honda had to recall about 150,000 Passports from the 1998-2002 model years. It was a mess. If the rust was too bad, Honda literally bought the cars back from owners and crushed them. If it was "fixable," they sprayed an anti-corrosion compound and added reinforcement brackets.
Isuzu had to do the same for the Rodeo. This recall is a massive part of the legacy of this vehicle. If you are buying one today—maybe as a cheap trail rig—you must crawl under there with a screwdriver and poke at the frame. If it sounds like dry leaves or the metal flakes off, walk away. No, run away.
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Why People Still Love Them (Despite the Flaws)
You’d think with all that drama, everyone would hate these things. But there’s a cult following. Why? Because when they work, they’re actually pretty capable off-road.
Unlike modern "unibody" crossovers that are basically tall Camrys, the Passport and Rodeo were body-on-frame. They had a solid rear axle. They had a low-range transfer case. If you wanted to go camping or hit a moderate trail, the Passport could actually handle it.
I remember a guy named Dave I knew in Colorado who had a 2000 Rodeo. He beat the absolute living daylights out of that thing. He’d take it up the passes near Silverton every weekend. He swore that the Isuzu-built engine was indestructible as long as you kept oil in it. He eventually hit 220,000 miles before the transmission finally gave up the ghost.
There's a simplicity to them. No touchscreen. No lane-keep assist. Just buttons, knobs, and a mechanical lever to engage 4WD. For some people, that's the dream.
The Divorce: Why the Deal Ended
By the early 2000s, the marriage was on the rocks. Honda had learned what they needed to learn about the SUV market. They realized that American families didn't actually want rugged, truck-based SUVs with heavy frames and bouncy rides. They wanted cars that looked like SUVs but drove like Accords.
In 2002, Honda launched the Pilot. It was built on the Odyssey minivan platform. It was smooth, it was reliable, and it was 100% Honda. The Passport was immediately redundant.
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Isuzu, on the other hand, was in a downward spiral. They eventually pulled out of the US passenger vehicle market entirely in 2009. The Rodeo died with them. It’s a bit sad, really. Isuzu was a pioneer in the SUV space with the Trooper and the Rodeo, but they just couldn't keep up with the R&D budgets of the giants.
What Should You Look For if You're Buying One Today?
Maybe you're a collector of weird 90s nostalgia. Or maybe you just need a $2,500 winter beater. If you’re hunting for a Honda Passport or an Isuzu Rodeo, here is the "real talk" checklist.
First, check the oil. If it's black and two quarts low, the previous owner didn't care. These engines develop "ticking" sounds when the hydraulic lash adjusters get clogged with dirty oil. It sounds like a sewing machine on steroids.
Second, the transmission. On a test drive, make sure it doesn't "hunt" for gears or slip when you're merging onto the highway. The 4L30-E is fragile.
Third, the electronics. Isuzu wasn't great at wiring. Check the power windows. They move slow? That’s common. Check the ABS light. Is it on? It usually is. Often, it's just a dirty wheel speed sensor, but it's a pain to fix.
Finally—and I cannot stress this enough—the frame. Look at where the rear trailing arms attach to the frame. If that area looks like Swiss cheese, the car is a paperweight.
Actionable Insights for Current and Future Owners
If you actually own one of these beasts, or you're about to pull the trigger on a Craigslist find, here is what you need to do to keep it alive:
- The 3,000-Mile Rule: Forget what the manual says about extended oil changes. Change the oil every 3,000 miles. Use a high-quality synthetic. This keeps the oil passages clean and prevents the dreaded Isuzu "tick."
- Transmission Cooler: If you plan on towing anything—even a small jet ski—install an aftermarket transmission cooler. It costs about $60 and a couple of hours of work, but it could save you a $2,000 rebuild.
- Rust Prevention: If the frame is still solid, get it treated. Products like Fluid Film or Woolwax can stop existing rust from spreading. Do it every autumn before the salt hits the road.
- Spare Parts Hack: Remember that many parts are interchangeable with the Isuzu Trooper and even some old GM trucks. If the Honda dealership says a part is "discontinued," check the Isuzu part numbers. You can often find what you need on sites like RockAuto for a fraction of the price.
- Check the Fuel Pressure Regulator: A common cause of hard starting or rough idling in these 3.2L engines is a leaking fuel pressure regulator. It’s an easy fix that many people misdiagnose as a failing fuel pump.
The Honda Passport Isuzu Rodeo saga is a weird footnote in automotive history. It was a marriage of convenience that produced a vehicle that was both loved and loathed. It wasn't the most reliable "Honda" ever made, and it wasn't the most refined "Isuzu" either. But it filled a gap and paved the way for the SUVs we drive today. If you find a clean one without rust, you've got yourself a capable, quirky piece of history that’s actually a lot of fun to drive. Just keep an eye on that oil dipstick.