2019 Honda Ridgeline Engine Problems

43 owners have reported engine & cooling problems with the 2019 Honda Ridgeline to NHTSA — 18% of all 237 complaints for this model year. The typical failure happened around 60,000 miles. That ranks #2 of 18 Ridgeline model years for engine complaints (a typical year has 20). 2 related recalls have been issued.

43complaints
60ktypical miles
2related recalls
0crashes
2fires
1injuries

Which parts fail

  • Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor
    1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    218%
  • 25k–50k
    00%
  • 50k–75k
    436%
  • 75k–100k
    436%
  • 100k–150k
    19%
  • 150k+
    00%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2019 Honda Ridgeline owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated while at a standstill the contact noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. The fire marshals came and extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an insurance lot. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The manufacturer was informed of failure and was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 17,500

18,000 miles · Jun 2021 · fire

My wife and I had decided to empty our storage unit, so on Memorial Day we began moving everything into the garage. After five or six trips Honda, I pulled the car up beside the RV and close to the house for what turned out to be the last load. I unloaded my bicycle and nearly everything else, leaving only a few small items, and then removed the massage table from the back seat. The engine was off this entire time. That was when I noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. At first, I thought the radiator had overheated, so I tried to open the hood, but it was too hot. I went into the garage for gloves and a fire extinguisher and tried again, but still could not get it open. Realizing the situation was getting worse and that I could not stop it there, I jumped into the car and tried to start it. …

May 2026 · fire · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the check engine and oil warning lights started flashing on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over and checked under the hood of the vehicle but found no failure. Upon restart of the vehicle, an abnormal clanking sound started coming from the engine. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic test was performed, and the mechanic discovered that the connecting rod bearing in the engine was worn and damaged the engine. The mechanic then informed the contact of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) which was linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The contact was instructed to have the vehicle towed to the dealer. …

56,000 miles · Feb 2024

The contact's boyfriend owns a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while her boyfriend was driving at highway speeds, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle entered LIMP Mode with the check engine and emissions warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was pulled off to the shoulder of the highway and was later towed to the dealer. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the mechanic discovered that an engine rod had gone through the engine block, resulting in engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that there were no recalls or warranties on the vehicle. A case was filed with the dealer for financial assistance, but the case was denied. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.

99,000 miles · Feb 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a popping sound coming from the engine compartment while attempting to accelerate. Additionally, there was a burning odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle rod bearings failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

60,000 miles · Apr 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light was flashing on the instrument panel. The contact stated that there was a knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact associated NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); with the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and then to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with a lower-end rod bearing failure and a damaged crankshaft. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,000.

87,000 miles · Jun 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the warning light was intermittently illuminated. The contact stated that recently the vehicle stalled and was difficult to restart. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the fuel injectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact had researched online and related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 21-010 related to the fuel injectors; however, his vehicle was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

78,000 miles · Sep 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while reversing out of a parking spot, the vehicle stalled. No warning light was illuminated. The contact pushed the vehicle into the parking spot. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and NHTSA Action Number: PE25008 (Engine). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rod fractured, causing the engine to seize. The dealer suggested an engine replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, filed a case, and advised the contact that he might be contacted within a week. The failure mileage was approximately 84,300.

84,000 miles · Jun 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. A diagnostic test revealed codes for the catalytic converter efficiency below threshold Bank 2, and Bank 2 air-fuel ratio imbalance. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the dealer referenced NHTSA ID Number: 10187289 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.

60,000 miles · Feb 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and shuddered. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the catalytic converter; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V215000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor · 60,000 miles · Jun 2023

Related recalls

Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Hard parts internal/mechanical

NHTSA recall 23V-751 · Nov 13, 2023 · 248,999 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024.

Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys

NHTSA recall 19V-298 · Apr 12, 2019 · 93,946 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura MDX and Honda Pilot vehicles and 2019 Acura RLX, RLX Sport Hybrid, TLX and Honda Odyssey and Ridgeline vehicles. The timing belt teeth may separate from the belt.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected timing belt free of charge. Vehicles receiving a replacement timing belt will also have the engine inspected and any damaged…

NHTSA investigations

Engine failure

NHTSA investigation RQ24013 · opened Nov 8, 2024 · closed Aug 20, 2025

On November 8, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ24013 to assess the scope of Honda recall 23V-751 after receiving complaints that alleged connecting rod bearing failures in vehicles that were not within the scope of recall 23V-751. In November 2023, Honda recalled 248,999 various Model Year (MY)2016-2020 Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine.

Engine failure

NHTSA investigation PE25008 · opened Aug 20, 2025 · open

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline. The subject engine failures were analyzed as part of a Recall Query (RQ24013).

Engine complaints in other Ridgeline years

’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’26251310211219624433832252420262
Engine complaints per model year, Honda Ridgeline.

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2019 Honda Ridgeline?

NHTSA has 43 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2019 Honda Ridgeline, 18% of the model year's 237 complaints. The component named most often is exhaust system › emission control › catalytic convertor (1 mentions).

Is there a recall for 2019 Honda Ridgeline engine problems?

Yes — NHTSA recall 23V-751 (hard parts internal/mechanical, Nov 13, 2023); NHTSA recall 19V-298 (belts and associated pulleys, Apr 12, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

At what mileage do 2019 Honda Ridgeline engine problems start?

Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.

Is it dangerous?

Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 1 injury to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.