You are right to be worried if you know the early days history of Honda's VCM. And yes there is no VCM deactivation device for the 2026 Passport, however, VCM is no longer an issue to be concerned about, it has gone through several years of development and it's now relatively stable with little to no impact on the engine. That situation might change if you intend to own the car for double digit years due to ageing components like active engine mounts but I don't think VCM is not something to worry about within a few years of buying a new Honda.

For full disclosure, I installed a VCM deactivation device in my wife's 2020 and my own 2022 Passport, not because of fear of engine damage but because I want my V6 to remain a V6 always. I bought the 2022 used and the previous owner left a S-VCM Controller in it, I removed that and replaced it with a VCMTuner II because I was already familiar with that. The impact on mileage after installing the devices was negligible.

 

interesting - I did not know there was something you could install to disable it - I do plan on keeping this for a very extended time - maybe ill look into this. (maybe add a 2 1/2 to 4 inch lift and some 33's - some off roading lights - build it up like a true off-roader - could take the place of my Mustang - but we can all dream - we talking 10 years from now maybe) - I don't really notice the cylinders turning off tho. - probably would not be the case if I drove one with the device added.

 

I have an S-VCM installed on my Pilot, but nothing installed on my wife's Passport. And honestly I'm not going to worry about it. I cannot confirm but the 4th generation of VCM is no where near as detrimental to the J35 as it was in earlier years when it was a 6-4-3 setup. 2016-present J35Y6 (Earth Dreams) and 2023-present J35Y8 will probably be fine leaving the VCM active.

 

I had a VCMTuner II installed on my 2019 PP. But, I have to say the VCM on the J35Y8 is so smooth that I can't tell if it's working or not, and don't have any issue right now to change it. And I believe there is no VCM deactivation device available to work with the double overhead cam J35Y8 engine.

 

To be honest, I haven't ever felt the VCM kick in. And I have only had it on the freeway a couple of times.
I was sort of planning to keep it, until I trade it in for a mobility scooter.

 

Excellent goal.

 

If Honda didn't say it had VCM I would never know, I can't tell if it's running on all 6 or just 3. It's been 20 years since Honda first started using VCM and I'm sure the issues with the first gen systems have been resolved.

 

2024 PP Blk Edition here. I firmly believe this is a non issue after Honda has been using a variation of the original J35 engine that came into production in 1998. Every motor ever created has some type of unknown problems. Hard usage has cause some of these problems to raise their heads sooner than others. IMHO Honda has been engineering some fantastic engines since they came to the USA. I purchased my PP because of the NA V6 engine and regular tranny. The drivetrain was the biggest influence for the purchase and I still firmly believe it will yield many many years of solid performance for me.

 

VCM problems and the quality of the J35 engine are two separate issues. The J35 did not have VCM designed with it at birth but VCM was subsequently shoehorned to the J35 to edge against V6 fuel consumption as the global climate because more hostile towards gas guzzling ICE cars.

As @Johnjk said above and as well documented in the Honda owner community, earlier versions of the J35 engine with VCM were messed up pretty bad, the fact that the engine is a version of J35 did not stop the engine damage. The major VCM problem year are 2008 to 2012, anyone with a V6 Honda in those years who claims not being aware of VCM problems probably drives a fleet car managed by someone else. Honda eventually settled a class action lawsuit on the VCM caused engine damages for all it's V6 vehicles in the affected years.

What eventually stopped the VCM issues was Honda's review, redesign and continuous development of VCM tech. They had to if they wanted to keep making V6 engines with the global political pressure to shift to hybrids and electric. And that fact is highlighted by the structural difference of the VCM in the 2016-2022 Pilot/2019-2025 Passport and in the 2023+ Pilot/2026 Passport.

 

I had a 2011 Pilot with VCM and lived the issues, fouled plugs, oil consumption and limp mode activation. Honda did multiple plug replacements, ECM updates and finally put new rings on the engine at 130K. Nothing out of pocket to have any of this done. These problems started around 60K if I remember. Ran great post rings update. First time I took it in to my local dealer, the second time was towing a trailer from Wichita to Boston and the Honda dealer in Columbia MO took care of it. They recommended the ring change and after returning home from Boston, I took it to my local dealer who pulled the history and immediately scheduled it in for rings.

Fast forward to 2019 and my Ridgeline. It exhibits none of the VCM issues (oil consumption, fouled plugs) that the Pilot did. Honda also got rid of the VCM button from 2011 and made it the Eco button in the 2019 Ridgeline. I do not have to add oil between oil changes and the plugs at 100K all looked great.

Personally I am not too concerned with VCM and issues this far down from its inception. If you do experience issues, get it in to the dealer and get it documented. Once it was in the first time and documented, other than the pain of having it happen again, there were no issues with Honda following through with that service trail. No issues with me doing all my own maintenance either.

 

I had a 2016 Odyssey V6 from new to 220K. I never had an issue with VCM features. She never burned oil, leaked, shuddered, developed shifting problems, or lost fuel economy. It was one of the most reliable engines/vehicles I've ever owned, and was the main reason why I went back to Honda from Subaru. I do think that my new Passport is a little more sluggish and thirsty than the Odyssey, but I attribute that to weight and profile. We just returned from a 1600 mile roadtrip and shifting at highway speed seems to be smoothing out as the mileage climbs. I'm not worried about the drive train at all. Just keep up with scheduled maintenance.

 

I had a 2014 Pilot and a 2015 Odyssey, both with VCM. The Pilot was terrible at 42 and 62 MPH, vibrations. I did the modification to disable the VCM and never lost more than a couple of tenths MPH, if that. The Odyssey never had the VCM problem, I still have it. I replaced the 2014 Pilot recently with a 2026 Passport. I like it but too many crazy options that I'm either trying to get used to or disable. That's the problem of switching from cars 11 years apart in technology.

What I do not like is the push button shifting. I wish it still had a shift lever, especially when doing things like backing up a trailer. Maybe I'll get used to it.

 

I get this. I went from 2010 Element to 2026 Passport and the number of devices that I am disabling or not using is crazy. The reverse gear mirror tilt caused me to back into a black Mustang GT parked in front of a black granite retaining wall. Backup camera wasn’t clear and I missed that the mirror had angled. Easily repaired but jeez. It’s been 6weeks and I think I have it finally sorted.

 

Over the last 8 or so years, I have had three Honda's with the push button shift. I still find myself having to look down to hit the correct button. Its an annoyance but a minor one.

 

It is very weird - but got used to it pretty fast

 

I don't even have to look anymore. Braille shifting. lol

 

Same here, don't need to look down. Just touch-n-go. 😎

 

Based upon what I’m seeing with my ScanGauge, VCM on our 2026 Passport is minimal in that for a 28 mile daily commute @ 70 mph it is only active on the downside of overpasses and the longest I’ve timed it being active is 17 seconds. So in my 32 minute commute, VCM is only active for a total of just under 7 minutes for a 32 minute commute. And I’ve also learned unlike out other pre-2026 Passports, it is impossible to determine when VCM is active other than the indication on the ScanGauge 3.

What I had thought was VCM kicking on/off/on was actually the transmission downshifting from 10th to 9th or 8th when going up an overpass and then from 8th to 9th to 10th on the downside of the overpass once VCM had turned back off.

 

Very interesting about the VCM engagement, thanks for sharing that info.

I wonder if the Honda designed 10 speed transmission and DOHC J series is more optimized compared to the ZF transmission and SOHC J so that VCM isn't needed as much for efficiency and emissions? Honda has stated that the reason they went to DOHC for the J was to reduce emissions.