Pros and Cons of adding a Lift Kit on New Passport

4250 Views 8 Replies 6 Participants Last post by DSN46, May 7, 2022

skase1966

Discussion Starter · May 5, 2022 (Edited)

I have spent the past few weeks learning/reading about Lift Kits and Leveling for my 2021 Passport. ( 8 months old)
Thanks to all who have taken the time to write the many articles and tips.( all over this board)
I was able to sit down with my service provider at Honda, who was very helpful with feedback.
Honda Corporation does not offer any factory lift kits (Other manufacturers such as Toyota, Jeep, and Ford) offer a direct factory solution for their own vehicles that the dealer can install, however Honda Corporation does not.

The biggest takeaway from my meeting at Honda is that you will 100% void the warranty on many components of your vehicle by doing this. Including Transmission, motor, and many other components.
If anyone disagrees with this or has questions I would encourage you to speak to your local Honda Dealer/ Service Center. He also told me they have a higher service repair rate for Passports that have lift kits (as they age). You just need to find a Honda Dealer in parts of the USA that offers a 3rd party service( and won't affect the warranty )

Update I did find a Las Vegas Based Honda Dealer that does offer this service and for a 2" Lift w Install

With that being said, if the warranty is not an issue, the lifts are so cool looking and life is short and we all should enjoy our Passports!

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carpayments4life

· #2 · May 5, 2022

When I bought my Passport in 2019, my sales person pushed the J-Sport packages, which at that time include a 17" rim option, lift kit, and several other "off-road" accessories.
The Honda dealer's Service Center would install and it would be covered by the Honda warranty.
A few months later the 17" rims were no longer an option.
The lift kit should be purchased if you spend 20 - 40 hours a month (every month) off road.
If you're not off roading a lot, just skip the lift kit and get smaller 17" or 18" rims.

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Cilles

· #3 · May 5, 2022

Similar here, my Honda dealer is an authorized JSport dealer and did my lift without complaints. I did have an off-road shop swap out wheels/tires and put on the skit plate but that was as much a factor of timing.

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Roemer

· #4 · May 5, 2022

What a minute. You are going to put a lift on a 2wd?

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skase1966

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 5, 2022

yes spoke to the Honda Dealership and the service tech confirmed 2wd is not an issue,(just doing 2") I don't plan to off-road with this passport, and really just like the look.

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REALM

· #6 · May 5, 2022

My 2 cents… I’ve lifted at least 8 or 10 vehicles I’ve owned, and been involved in a lot of online communities over the years of the lifted and modified.

Never had an issue with warranty related to an aftermarket lift other than once on my first Tacoma, when the cheap body lift actually did pull the gas hose too much and broke. I only did suspension lifts after that.

Dealer just put a longer hose on it though and charged me for that.

Is there a slight risk of something not being covered? Yes.

Is it likely? No. Hence why thousands of lifted vehicles continue to grow in # on the road, and in the rare instance a dealer refuses to cover a normal warranty item, you’ll likely have luck at another dealer.

If the very tiny small risk bothers someone, they shouldn’t do it as not worth the personal stress, but in 99% of cases people usually have no issues.

Aftermarket engine modification, now that’s a whole other story, and I’m in the “don’t mess with it,” mindset because I have had warranty denied for that, to a tune of a $6k bill.

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DSN46

· #7 · May 6, 2022

A 2" lift kit isn't going to void the warranty on the transmission... or the transfer case... or the rear differential... or the engine... or the body parts.. etc. It "might" void the warranty on upper and lower control arms (doubtful since 2" is within the normal operating range of the vehicle from the factory). It probably will void the warranty on the CV shafts... however, there are many owners of Ridgelines and Passports (including myself) that have driven anywhere from 60K to 100K miles on the CV shafts with a lift installed and they never broke. @Jondz has beat the crap out of his Passport with a 3" lift and 32" tires on rocky trails and doing things these vehicles weren't meant to do.. he has 100K on his CV shafts and they are still fine. I'm not personally worried about them. Do what you want and enjoy your Passport! Like mentioned above, life is short.

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skase1966

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 7, 2022

DSN46 said:
A 2" lift kit isn't going to void the warranty on the transmission... or the transfer case... or the rear differential... or the engine... or the body parts.. etc. It "might" void the warranty on upper and lower control arms (doubtful since 2" is within the normal operating range of the vehicle from the factory). It probably will void the warranty on the CV shafts... however, there are many owners of Ridgelines and Passports (including myself) that have driven anywhere from 60K to 100K miles on the CV shafts with a lift installed and they never broke. @Jondz has beat the crap out of his Passport with a 3" lift and 32" tires on rocky trails and doing things these vehicles weren't meant to do.. he has 100K on his CV shafts and they are still fine. I'm not personally worried about them. Do what you want and enjoy your Passport! Like mentioned above, life is short.

I agree after reading this, My Local Honda Dealer does not offer this and my service adviser was very clear on what would happen with the warranty, however, the Honda Dealership on the other end of town does offer kits and was told would not affect warranty. So I am going to go with the Honda Install and at least I will be covered at that dealership, however after reading many articles not expecting too many issues.

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DSN46

· #9 · May 7, 2022

skase1966 said:
I agree after reading this, My Local Honda Dealer does not offer this and my service adviser was very clear on what would happen with the warranty, however, the Honda Dealership on the other end of town does offer kits and was told would not affect warranty. So I am going to go with the Honda Install and at least I will be covered at that dealership, however after reading many articles not expecting too many issues.

Good call on the Honda install... especially one who has a Tech who has done them before. I had my dealer install mine. Been a long time customer so if something were to go wrong, I have a little peace of mind. Post up a picture when you get it done!

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