Transmission complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2024 | 5 | 7% | — |
| 2023 | 11 | 9% | 100,000 miles |
| 2022 | 11 | 9% | 0 miles |
| 2021 | 11 | 11% | — |
| 2020 | 9 | 5% | 2,000 miles |
| 2019 | 36 | 15% | 42,000 miles |
| 2018 | 10 | 6% | 59,000 miles |
| 2017 | 42 | 12% | 43,000 miles |
| 2013 | 1 | 2% | 10,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 5% | 122,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 6% | 108,000 miles |
| 2008 | 5 | 3% | 140,000 miles |
| 2007 | 12 | 8% | 87,000 miles |
| 2006 | 16 | 7% | 98,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I am reporting a recurring Auto Idle Stop no-restart and starting-system failure in a 2024 Honda Ridgeline. At approximately 35,072 miles, while stopped at a traffic light with Auto Idle Stop engaged, the engine shut off but failed to restart when the brake pedal was released. The vehicle remained disabled in the intersection until it was manually restarted, creating a risk of a collision. An authorized Honda dealer found both positive and negative battery terminals loose, tightened them, reported that the battery passed a load test, found no diagnostic trouble codes, and returned the vehicle. The battery had already been replaced at approximately 30,238 miles after a slow-start complaint and a failed battery test. The condition recurred at approximately 42,563 miles. …
My vehicle is currently sitting at a Honda dealership with a broken crankshaft counterweight and seized bearing. The engine needs to be replaced but Honda has refused to conduct the dealership warranty and blame shift it to a cracked oil pan that had happened in November of last year that was quickly addressed. Since then I have gone to [redacted] and back to [redacted] showing the vehicle was fine and operating. It is to my understanding that my 2024 Ridgeline has a 3.5L J-Series V6 engine. The NHTSA is actively investigating over 1.4 million Honda V6 engines for this exact connecting rod bearing seizure defect. I feel it is wrong for the dealership to pin a known defect on something unrelated and have insurance pay and avoid conducting the warranty repair. …
The contact owns a 2023 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH, several unknown warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. In addition, the contact stated while at a stop, the transmission shifted into neutral independently. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer and was diagnosed with a software error and the computer was restarted. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer where it remained awaiting further diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that the 4WD system became inoperable. The contact stated that the antifreeze was not suitable for the area he lived. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the dealer, who stated that the antifreeze would thicken below 35 degrees. The contact was informed that the engine would not produce enough power to move thicker coolant throughout the engine. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was concerned about being stranded. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 1,400.
The contact owns a 2022 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that the vehicle had been driven for approximately a mile; after arriving at her residence, she was unable to shift the vehicle into reverse while depressing the button to select reverse. The contact stated that the emission, transmission, and an unknown sensor warning light were illuminated on the instrument panel during the failure. The contact's husband was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer where they diagnosed the vehicle with a possible battery failure. The battery was replaced and the vehicle was returned to the contact. Two days later while the contact was in a drive-thru line, a whitish-gray smoke started coming from the steering wheel. The steering wheel then became extremely hot to the touch. The contact's husband who was seated next to her became alarmed and yelled out the fire. …
2022 Ridgeline's Auto Idle Engine Off/On activated while driving/moving. This week it occurred (Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024) on I95 in Virginia when going down hill at approximately 70 mph. The engine ceased without warning and the steering and brake pedal began to freeze up when I had eased off the gas to coast briefly down hill (in order to keep in the flow of traffic). I then gave it gas, pumping the pedal, and a couple of seconds later it recovered and started up; the Truck's starter buzzed loudly as it restarted. I avoided an accident in traffic by not panicking and luckily because the vehicle behind us was not tailgating and that the section of highway was straight and not on a bend - otherwise it could have been catastrophic. The rest of the trip we turned the feature off and the truck had no incidents. …
On this model of vehicle, if the vehicle dies and cannot be restarted, as an example if you are on a busy highway or intersection, there is no way to get the vehicle in Neutral so it can safely be moved WITHOUT having a special tool, Honda part #07AAA-TZ3A100. This tool is currently not available to purchase from any Honda dealer. This tool has to be used with the front hood open and reaching down and turning a bolt & manually locking the transmission in Neutral. The location of this bolt outside the truck & under the hood is also a hazard for the vehicle rolling and not being able to easily disengage it from neutral by having to get back out of the truck again and get under the hood. It is also a hazard to have to get out of the vehicle, on a highway or busy intersection or other hazardous area. …
When driving at 70mph for a couple of hours and exiting the freeway, the truck will go into limp mode and won't accelerate. This only happens when it's very cold, less than 10 degrees Fahrenheit both times it happened to me. The engine service light will start to flash. You need to park and restart in order to clear the issue. The last time it happened, I needed to merge onto a busy freeway with very little room to pull over. It was quite dangerous for my family and I. I spoke with Burnsville Honda in MN when I was there for service this summer and Honda is aware, but there is currently no known fix. It sounds like it's affecting multiple models of newer Honda vehicles with the v6 engine.
Frequently asked questions
Which Honda Ridgeline years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2017 (42), 2019 (36), 2006 (16), 2007 (12) and 2021 (11) model years. Transmission complaints make up 12% of all complaints for the 2017.
Is there a recall for Honda Ridgeline transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for any Honda Ridgeline model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Honda Ridgeline transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 73,000 miles; 42% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (10 mentions), followed by the automatic transmission › control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) (1).
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.