When all the warning lights on Zizi’s dashboard lit up simultaneously as she drove 69 miles per hour down a busy Texas road on November 12, 2025, it was the latest of a host of issues with her 2026 Honda Passport. The car made her pull over and park. It appears her issues echo others’ similar issues.

Zizi (@zizi.comedy), a podcaster and voice actor, had adaptive hand controls installed in her SUV just a month earlier. She captured the moment on video and, unfortunately, added a couple more about her vehicle’s issues.

“I am on a very busy road; I got my car up to 69 miles per hour,” she said from behind the wheel of her car. “And all of the lights are going off.” She repeats the last sentence two more times, indicating how shaken she had become.

In the description of the first video, which was seen by 314,000 times, she wrote: “New 2026 Passport STOPPED at 69 MPH Model is Passport TrailSport Elite HPD & Blackout. ENGINE HAS A BURNING SMELL. Hand controls installed. Mobility company in DFW, Texas, installed hand controls in October & I have not been able to drive it due to [the] WARNING LIGHTS. This was a very DANGEROUS situation. Please help get this to [the] Honda Engineer.”

There are perhaps two questions: Are her Passport issues more widespread, and did the aftermarket changes to the vehicle unintentionally create an issue?

Mobility Changes to Vehicles

First, it is critical to note that hand controls allow individuals with limited or no use of their lower extremities to maintain driving independence. Conditions can include everything from cerebral palsy and stroke to arthritis and other orthopedic issues. Even carpal tunnel syndrome and diabetes (when it affects lower extremity sensation or function) could force a person to require hand controls.

In a vehicle like a 2026 Honda Passport, the hand controls use a “fly-by-wire” system where there’s no physical link between the gas pedal and engine. Instead, sensors on the gas pedal transmit electrical signals via wires to the engine control unit. The hand controls use the same electrical signals, but they are triggered by the hand controls rather than the gas pedal.

The brake pedal, however, remains mechanical, since braking systems are still hydraulic and require the pedal to be pressed.

One possible issue with her Passport is that aftermarket electronic hand controls introduce new electrical components into an already complex system. Excessive electromagnetic interference from the collection of systems within the vehicle can impair signals and cause errors. Too many aftermarket accessories can overload a car’s electrical system, but this is true of anything from hand controls to stereo system upgrades.

In addition to these issues, calibration, weatherproofing, and electrical grounding issues can arise. Errors from one system triggering warnings in other systems can cause a cascading effect, wrecking the user’s driving experience.

Does Honda Install These Hand Controls?

Honda does not install hand controls, but it does offer support. In fact, it has something called the Honda Customer Mobility Assistance Program. The maker pushes buyers of new Hondas toward NMEDA-certified installers (National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association). Honda reimburses eligible original retail customers for up to $1,000 in expenses related to purchasing and installing qualifying adaptive vehicle equipment.

Also, the hand controls themselves are not covered by Honda’s warranty, though they typically have their own manufacturer’s warranty. Per the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, vehicle warranties cannot be voided unless the car manufacturer can prove that the aftermarket part was the cause of or contributed to the failure of the vehicle.

Issues with the Honda Passport

But be clear, there are currently no safety recalls issued for the 2026 Honda Passport from NHTSA. However, even with the hand controls aside, the vehicle has documented complaints of sudden shutdowns, unexpected engagement of the parking brakes, and cascading warning messages.

And it’s not limited to 2026 models. In one Passport forum site, a person wrote, “2019 Passport started flashing every warning message at start this morning. Warning problems on towing assist, lane avoidance problems, emission problems, etc etc.” Responders cited everything from likely battery and fuel system issues to camshaft and camshaft position sensor issues.

Commenters Suggest To Stop Using The Auto Engine Off Feature

Predictably, the real and armchair mechanics had a lot of opinions. One person said Zizi should turn the car off and back on, which she did. “I tried that, and it did not reset,” she said. “Would not go over 24 MPH so strange.”

One person believed her issues were a “Bad battery. Stop using ‘auto engine off’ it will use your battery while your engine is turned off.”

A reply provided the explanation. “[When] the car is running the alt charges the battery = good voltage everywhere,” they wrote. “When [the] car shuts off at a stop, the car still needs good voltage. This is where a failing battery shows up. The voltage slips below the voltage required to run all the separate systems in the car. The sensors do not receive the voltage there looking for and throw codes.”

In Zizi’s most recent update in early December, the car was still in the shop.

MotorBiscuit reached out to Ziki via direct message and comment, and to Honda via email. This article will be updated if they respond.

@zizi.comedy New 2026 Passport STOPPED at 69 MPH Model is Passport TrailSport Elite HPD & Blackout. ENGINE HAS A BURNING SMELL. Hand controls installed. Mobility company in DFW Texas installed hand controls in October & I have not been able to drive it due to WARNING LIGHTS. This was a very DANGEROUS situation. Please help get this to Honda Engineers. @C10-Chevy #honda #hondapassport #hondacustomerservice #hondajapan #2026hondapassport ♬ original sound – Zizi