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Limp Mode - Engine Issue?

12142 Views 34 Replies 21 Participants Last post by  Cutie1825
Hi everyone, I am new to the community... I have owned my 2020 Passport Elite AWD for two months now, have put 3,000 miles on so far.

This past weekend I was driving for about 2 hours and when I went to merge onto a highway the check engine light flashed a couple of times and limited the car to only go about 35 mph. Luckily I was in a position to safely pullover, park, and shut the car off. When I turned the Passport back on the check engine light no longer was showing and everything was back to normal. I've driven it a few more times since the issue happened and everything has been fine, but I am getting it checked out tomorrow morning to see what had happened.

Has this happened to you? I know this was and still is an issue with the new model RDX's, not sure if there's any correlation to the Passport.
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Just an update, got back from getting the car checked out and they said the code they got was a communication error. They said that code usually isnt a big deal and could be a soft connection, but everything looked fine.
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Thanks for posting--I had no idea there was any such thing as a problem that "limited the car to only go about 35 mph".

Our 2019 is a new experience for us, and it does trouble me to see all the reliance on sensors and switches and computer chips (and firmware!) that makes these things go. There can be no question, for all the complexity, that bugs exist. I hope we do not find any of these with our use of the PP!
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No problem, happy to share my experiences. It's good to have a community like this to see what's going on and can happen with these cars.

It doesn't sound like this is the same issue with the new RDX's (which sounds pretty bad), but from what I've read it's a way the car protects itself as it will limit the speed you can go so you can get to safety and check it out. Luckily in my case turning the car off and back on got the check engine light to go away and the car was fine after that.

From what I've seen most new cars and brands have some quirks/issues especially given how much these cars rely on tech to operate. It just depends on the severity. This problem doesnt worry me as much as the infotainment issue which seems like it could be a headache for a while until there's a permanent fix.
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Yes, I had almost the same exact experience. Mine is a 2019 with about 4K. Had been driving on the highway for about 90 minutes and when I went to get off the exit, the engine light started flashing and vehicle started running very rough. We were able to "limp" along until we reached our destination. Came out about 2 hours later and the issue was gone. Took it right to the dealer and they said the codes said there was a misfire and it was nothing to be concerned about. Then they tried to charge me $130 diagnostic fee, but changed their mind. This is very concerning to me and I am now hesitant to take it on a long (or even short) trip. I plan to get rid of it as soon as I am financially able.
Yes, I had almost the same exact experience. Mine is a 2019 with about 4K. Had been driving on the highway for about 90 minutes and when I went to get off the exit, the engine light started flashing and vehicle started running very rough. We were able to "limp" along until we reached our destination. Came out about 2 hours later and the issue was gone. Took it right to the dealer and they said the codes said there was a misfire and it was nothing to be concerned about. Then they tried to charge me $130 diagnostic fee, but changed their mind. This is very concerning to me and I am now hesitant to take it on a long (or even short) trip. I plan to get rid of it as soon as I am financially able.
Sorry to hear that it happened to you as well. That's a shame they tried to charge you for that. I've only had the car for 2.5 months so they had done the diagnostics check for free. Hoping that this engine issue is a one-time thing. I drive about 300 miles a week for work and do longer trips (1.5 +) quite a bit during the year so I'll report back if it happens again.
I had a similar experience happen to me, but back in the mid 70's. I was crusing along on the interstate (Carolinas I believe) when my mid 60s Buick Electra 225 convertible simply shut down. I coasted to the side and stopped. Then it restarted and I never had another problem with it.
Yeah, I hear that it happens to lots of guys sometimes. Relax, take a deep breath and try not to think about it. Everything will be okay in the morning. Besides Honda has a little blue bottle that can help. :ROFLMAO:
I had a similar experience happen to me, but back in the mid 70's. I was crusing along on the interstate (Carolinas I believe) when my mid 60s Buick Electra 225 convertible simply shut down. I coasted to the side and stopped. Then it restarted and I never had another problem with it.
Ha, ha. As long as we're (way) off-topic I had that happen on my Honda CB750K motorcycle about 40 years ago. Coasted to the side of the road, and then caught-up just minutes later with our riding partners at the first service station where they were still trying to decide what to do about my GF and me. I had replaced the main fuse--never impressed my buddy more than how quickly I figured that out!
That '65 Mustang I said was my first car in that other thread shut off on me one day when I was on the highway. I turned the key, it started right back up, and I kept on going.
Hi everyone, I am new to the community... I have owned my 2020 Passport Elite AWD for two months now, have put 3,000 miles on so far.

This past weekend I was driving for about 2 hours and when I went to merge onto a highway the check engine light flashed a couple of times and limited the car to only go about 35 mph. Luckily I was in a position to safely pullover, park, and shut the car off. When I turned the Passport back on the check engine light no longer was showing and everything was back to normal. I've driven it a few more times since the issue happened and everything has been fine, but I am getting it checked out tomorrow morning to see what had happened.

Has this happened to you? I know this was and still is an issue with the new model RDX's, not sure if there's any correlation to the Passport.
This is a serious incident. Call the service dept. You may want it towed to the dealer. I am not blowing smoke. That is a serious safety issue, with liabilities.
Honda should be very concerned. Even more than you.
Hi everyone, I am new to the community... I have owned my 2020 Passport Elite AWD for two months now, have put 3,000 miles on so far.

This past weekend I was driving for about 2 hours and when I went to merge onto a highway the check engine light flashed a couple of times and limited the car to only go about 35 mph. Luckily I was in a position to safely pullover, park, and shut the car off. When I turned the Passport back on the check engine light no longer was showing and everything was back to normal. I've driven it a few more times since the issue happened and everything has been fine, but I am getting it checked out tomorrow morning to see what had happened.

Has this happened to you? I know this was and still is an issue with the new model RDX's, not sure if there's any correlation to the Passport.
Hi everyone, I am new to the community... I have owned my 2020 Passport Elite AWD for two months now, have put 3,000 miles on so far.

This past weekend I was driving for about 2 hours and when I went to merge onto a highway the check engine light flashed a couple of times and limited the car to only go about 35 mph. Luckily I was in a position to safely pullover, park, and shut the car off. When I turned the Passport back on the check engine light no longer was showing and everything was back to normal. I've driven it a few more times since the issue happened and everything has been fine, but I am getting it checked out tomorrow morning to see what had happened.

Has this happened to you? I know this was and still is an issue with the new model RDX's, not sure if there's any correlation to the Passport.
Yes it has happened to us seven times since owning the card for less than six months. It has been in the shop now four times. It does not register codes so I put my daughter's FIXD device in and we were able to get three misfiring codes. They replaced three fuel injectors two weeks ago and yesterday it happened again. They sent us home with a rental car as they have no clue what the problem is. Good Luck!
I agree but the person I spoke with at Honda was an ass. He was rude and kept saying he couldn't take my word for it and start replacing parts. They had to duplicate the problem which always happens when we are an hour away from the dealer. I asked for his supervisor and he said negative. He said what can you do with my supervisor that you can't do with me. Our local dealer has been very good but they needed us to bring it in three times before they could start to do anything. But with no codes, they had no idea what to do and even after replacing the three fuel injectors it is still doing it. I am thinking something electrical and I told them that the last time otherwise why isn't it doing it more often and in other places. It is always one of two locations always turn left and accelerating. It has been a great inconvenience of time and money to get our car to the dealer since we live an hour away from the nearest dealer.
The other day the transmission seemed to be stuck in like second gear. At first I though maybe I had hit the paddle shifters by accident, but the dash still said "D". As with most of these problems, it went away after turning the car off, then on again, but geez... I can't wait to trade this thing.
Hi everyone, I am new to the community... I have owned my 2020 Passport Elite AWD for two months now, have put 3,000 miles on so far.

This past weekend I was driving for about 2 hours and when I went to merge onto a highway the check engine light flashed a couple of times and limited the car to only go about 35 mph. Luckily I was in a position to safely pullover, park, and shut the car off. When I turned the Passport back on the check engine light no longer was showing and everything was back to normal. I've driven it a few more times since the issue happened and everything has been fine, but I am getting it checked out tomorrow morning to see what had happened.

Has this happened to you? I know this was and still is an issue with the new model RDX's, not sure if there's any correlation to the Passport.
Same thing happened to me today. Drove 40 minutes then the blinking light and limp mode. Taking it to the dealer tomorrow.
Yes it has happened to us seven times since owning the card for less than six months. It has been in the shop now four times. It does not register codes so I put my daughter's FIXD device in and we were able to get three misfiring codes. They replaced three fuel injectors two weeks ago and yesterday it happened again. They sent us home with a rental car as they have no clue what the problem is. Good Luck!
Oh no. I hope I don’t have the same result. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, I had almost the same exact experience. Mine is a 2019 with about 4K. Had been driving on the highway for about 90 minutes and when I went to get off the exit, the engine light started flashing and vehicle started running very rough. We were able to "limp" along until we reached our destination. Came out about 2 hours later and the issue was gone. Took it right to the dealer and they said the codes said there was a misfire and it was nothing to be concerned about. Then they tried to charge me $130 diagnostic fee, but changed their mind. This is very concerning to me and I am now hesitant to take it on a long (or even short) trip. I plan to get rid of it as soon as I am financially able.
Ditto on the concern. I need dependable transportation and will not get another when the lease is up.
Ditto on the concern. I need dependable transportation and will not get another when the lease is up.
Ultimately ended up getting rid of it after about 8 months. There were too many things about it that I did not like.
I just had the exact same experience as described by the OP. I was driving down I-43 and planning to stop in Beloit, Wisconsin for gas. As soon as I pull off the freeway the start the engine starts running rough and the transmission is shifting awkwardly. Check engine light is flashing and it almost feels like a turbo engine with the turbo going out.

I look on my phone for a Honda dealership and call roadside assistance as a precaution. When I get to a stopping point I simply turn the engine off and turn it back on and no more issue at least for the time being. I still have about 6 more hours to drive today so I might be jumping back in to this thread to report any updates.
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Well that sucks. Please let us know if it comes back.
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