Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 20% | 0 miles |
| 2025 | 26 | 26% | 1,000 miles |
| 2024 | 20 | 29% | 35,000 miles |
| 2023 | 24 | 19% | 32,000 miles |
| 2022 | 25 | 21% | 55,000 miles |
| 2021 | 32 | 31% | 50,000 miles |
| 2020 | 38 | 22% | 118,000 miles |
| 2019 | 43 | 18% | 60,000 miles |
| 2018 | 24 | 15% | 93,000 miles |
| 2017 | 96 | 28% | 69,000 miles |
| 2014 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2013 | 2 | 4% | 28,000 miles |
| 2012 | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2011 | 1 | 3% | 10,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 5% | 122,000 miles |
| 2008 | 10 | 7% | 140,000 miles |
| 2007 | 13 | 8% | 119,000 miles |
| 2006 | 25 | 10% | 94,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
New 2025 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition with under 4k miles on it. Driving one day (10/30/25), smoke started to bellow out from the sides. Nothing on the dashboard indicated a problem. Everyone jumped out and was safe from injury. The truck went up in flames and literally blew up. We have a video of the incident. The truck was a complete loss, and it was difficult to deal with Honda, so we decided settle with the insurance company. Honda after a while stopped taking my calls and would put me on hold indefinitely if I call in. They were given permission to inspect the vehicle from the insurance agency but to my knowledge have not.
The contact owns a 2025 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed however, the dealer found no failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,300.
The contact owns a 2024 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while stopped at a red traffic light, the engine failed to restart after the Auto Start/Stop feature engaged. The battery warning light briefly illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact shifted the transmission to Park (P) and pressed the Engine Start/Stop button to restart the vehicle. The contact deactivated the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature to prevent the failure from recurring. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was determined that the starter motor required replacement; however, the replacement part was on backorder. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Action Number: EA25004 (Engine And Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
The contact owns a 2024 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle with the Push-To-Start feature, the vehicle failed to start. No warning light was illuminated. Additionally, while idling in traffic, the vehicle lost automotive power and failed to accelerate as intended while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was restarted as a temporary fix. Upon further inspection, the contact became aware of an abnormal electrical burning odor entering the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was inspected and determined that there was potential damage to the bearings and that the crankshaft and the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that the recall covered older model Honda Ridgelines. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Honda Ridgeline. The contact The contact stated he experienced knocking in the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with an air compressor failure; however, the issue persisted. The contact also stated another issue is the rearview camera displayed a distorted image. The contact also experienced loss of steering control with the vehicle pulling to the right. intermittently veering towards The contact associated the issues with NHTSA Campaign Numbers 24V321000 (Back Over Prevention) and 24V184000 (Steering) The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired for these issues. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 32,000.
The contact owned a 2022 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it caught on fire. The vehicle was unoccupied. The contact stated that the next-door neighbor knocked on the contact's door, screaming that the vehicle was on fire. The contact stated that the fire originated from under the engine hood before the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The fire department was called. The fire department extinguished the fire. No injuries were sustained. The contact stated that the vehicle remained in the contact's driveway, and the fire consumed the vehicle. The vehicle was melted down and almost spread to the contact's house. The contact stated that it would probably take special equipment to remove the vehicle from the contact's driveway. …
Coming down a ramp in parking deck with right foot lightly riding the brake pedal to control the car's descent when all of a sudden the vehicle accelerated full throttle as if the gas pedal had been "floored." The acceleration was so intense that it drove my body backward into my seat and pulled my foot off the brake. At this point, the only control I had was my hands on the steering wheel. With the car continuing to accelerate towards the parked cars, I quickly turned the steering wheel to the right, but too late and the front driver side of my vehicle clipped one of the parked cars. My foot is still in the air and yet the car is still surging ahead full throttle and my vehicle is flying towards a car that had come down the ramp a few seconds ahead of me. …
Related recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Hard parts internal/mechanical
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
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
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
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).
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
On June 3, 2022, the O ce of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several eld reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a tra c light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged.
Frequently asked questions
Which Honda Ridgeline years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2017 (96), 2019 (43), 2020 (38), 2021 (32) and 2025 (26) model years. Engine complaints make up 28% of all complaints for the 2017.
Is there a recall for Honda Ridgeline engine problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 23V-751 (hard parts internal/mechanical, Nov 13, 2023); 19V-298 (belts and associated pulleys, Apr 12, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Honda Ridgeline engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles; 27% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the cooling system (3 mentions), followed by the engine (2).
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.