What is the best year for a Honda Passport?

The 2024 Passport (15 complaints, 10/10 safety, 2 severe) is the strongest year on record. The 2022-2024 window is consistently clean. Avoid 2019 — the launch year logged 266 complaints. The model has improved steadily since, with 2020 settling to 86 and the downward trend continuing through 2024.

How much does Honda Passport insurance cost?

Passport insurance averages around $2,489/year — roughly $207/month.

Is the Honda Passport or Jeep Grand Cherokee cheaper to maintain?

The Passport is cheaper to maintain by $145/year — $521 versus $666 for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Passport also has a higher reliability score (8 vs. 7), lower major repair probability (11% vs. 13%), and lower repair frequency (28% vs. 30%). The Passport is the better value across all maintenance metrics.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Honda Passport?

Major repair probability of 11% and repair frequency of 28% are both well below midsize segment averages. Extended warranty isn't strongly warranted — self-insuring makes more financial sense for most buyers.

Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee expensive to maintain?

The Grand Cherokee costs $666/year to maintain — $93 above the midsize segment average of $573. Repair frequency of 30% is below the class average of 40% — a relative positive. Reliability score of 7 and major repair probability of 13% both sit at segment averages. Above-average cost for an average reliability profile.

What is the best year for a Jeep Grand Cherokee?

The Grand Cherokee has one of the most volatile complaint histories in its class. Avoid 2011-2012 (1,638 and 1,634 complaints), 2014 (2,362 complaints, 218 severe — the worst year on record), 2015 (1,333, 183 severe), and 2018 (832 complaints, 56 severe). The 2025 model (54 complaints, 10/10 safety, 4 severe) is the best year in the model's modern history, with 2024 (221 complaints) showing meaningful improvement. If buying used, 2024 or newer is the safest range.

How much does Jeep Grand Cherokee insurance cost?

Grand Cherokee insurance averages around $2,370/year — roughly $198/month. Below average for the midsize class given its above-average maintenance cost.

Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee or Ford Explorer cheaper to maintain?

The Grand Cherokee is cheaper to maintain by $66/year — $666 versus $732 for the Ford Explorer. Both carry a reliability score of 7. Note the Explorer is a three-row SUV vs. the two-row Grand Cherokee — the comparison is cross-configuration. On pure maintenance cost, the Grand Cherokee has a slight edge.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Despite sitting at the class average on major repair probability and below average on repair frequency, the Grand Cherokee's documented complaint history — with multiple severe spikes across 2011-2015 and 2018 — makes extended warranty strongly recommended for used models from those years. For 2024 and newer, the risk profile has improved substantially and warranty is less critical.

Honda Passport vs Jeep Grand Cherokee

Two midsize SUVs compared on the numbers that matter — maintenance cost, reliability, and insurance.

// VERDICT

Our verdict

Buy the Honda Passport — lower 5-year cost and better reliability.

Buy the Jeep Grand Cherokee if its specific features or size suit your needs better.

// COST HEAD TO HEAD

Maintenance and ownership cost

	Honda Passport	Jeep Grand Cherokee
Annual maintenance	$521winner	$666
5-year total cost	$2,605winner	$3,330
Reliability score	8 / 10winner	7 / 10
Major repair risk (5yr)	11%winner	13%
Cargo space	—	70.8 cu ft
Starting price (new)	$44,950	$39,700winner
Best years to buy	—	2010, 2017, 2018

// RELIABILITY

Which is more reliable?

	Honda Passport	Jeep Grand Cherokee
RepairPal score	8 / 10winner	7 / 10
NHTSA complaints / 100k	194.7winner	347.8
Years to avoid	2019, 2023, 2024	2011, 2012, 2014
Value retained · 3 yr	75.8%winner	64.6%
Value retained · 5 yr	58.8%winner	50%
Value retained · 7 yr	49.3%winner	40.1%

// COMMON PROBLEMS

What breaks — and what it costs

	Honda Passport	Jeep Grand Cherokee
Engine	14.8%winner	18.3%
Electrical	13.5%winner	22.5%
ADAS	26.9%	6.4%winner
Brakes	6.1%winner	10.1%
Suspension	—winner	1.8%
Steering	1.9%winner	3.2%
Fuel system	6.7%	5.1%winner
Tires/Wheels	3.6%	—winner
Glass/Windows	2.9%	—winner
Airbags	1.9%winner	4.8%
Lighting	1.2%winner	1.4%
Seatbelt	—winner	2.0%

One major repair on either model can run $1,500–4,000. A warranty caps your exposure, especially on known problem years.

// INSURANCE

Which is cheaper to insure?

	Honda Passport	Jeep Grand Cherokee
Avg annual premium	$2,489	$2,370winner

// FULL MODEL PAGES

GAS

Honda Passport

$521/yr maint · 8 reliability

Full model page

GAS

Jeep Grand Cherokee

$666/yr maint · 7 reliability

Full model page

// FAQ

Common questions

The Passport costs $521/year to maintain — $52 below the midsize segment average of $573. Repair frequency of 28% is well below the class average of 40%, and major repair probability of 11% is well below the 13% norm. Combined with a reliability score of 8 above the segment average of 7, the Passport is one of the better ownership-cost propositions in the midsize class.

How we calculated this. Maintenance costs and reliability scores from RepairPal. Complaints and recalls from NHTSA. Fuel economy from the EPA. Insurance averages from CarEdge. Pricing from KBB. Depreciation from iSeeCars. Full methodology →