Honda Ridgeline Engine Problems
Owners have filed 334 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Honda Ridgeline across 17 model years. The 2017 model year has the most (86). The words owners use most often: “rod bearing” (13% of reports).
- 334engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $9,000typical repair cost reported by owners
- 52%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Rod bearing: mentioned in 42 of 334 complaints (13%)
- Engine started: mentioned in 26 of 334 complaints (8%)
- Idle stop: mentioned in 21 of 334 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Honda Ridgeline at $9,000, and half of them between $1,800 and $12,000.
Based on 13 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2017–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 66 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 334 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 11 a fire, 2 an injury.
Honda Ridgeline engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ridgeline | 1 | 10% | — |
| 2025 Ridgeline | 24 | 24% | 1,300 |
| 2024 Ridgeline | 17 | 27% | 34,600 |
| 2023 Ridgeline | 21 | 16% | 26,059 |
| 2022 Ridgeline | 25 | 21% | 52,575 |
| 2021 Ridgeline | 29 | 28% | 11,900 |
| 2020 Ridgeline | 38 | 22% | 99,000 |
| 2019 Ridgeline | 38 | 16% | 81,150 |
| 2018 Ridgeline | 22 | 14% | 83,007 |
| 2017 Ridgeline | 86 | 25% | 61,106 |
| 2014 Ridgeline | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2013 Ridgeline | 2 | 4% | 28,250 |
| 2012 Ridgeline | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2010 Ridgeline | 2 | 5% | 113,817 |
| 2008 Ridgeline | 5 | 3% | 145,000 |
| 2007 Ridgeline | 11 | 7% | 124,000 |
| 2006 Ridgeline | 11 | 5% | 102,152 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
Model years: 2017, 2019
Problem: 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.
Risk: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Fix: 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. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys
Model years: 2019
Problem: 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.
Risk: Teeth separation from the timing belt may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: 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 components will be replaced for free. The recall began June 7, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is L4M. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is Z4L.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I bought the vehicle with around 13k miles in May of 2026. Since I have had the vehicle, I have had 4 incidents with the vehicle auto idle-stop (auto engine start/stop). I have experienced the vehicle completely die when trying to start back up during idle stop. Of the four times - one was on a…
The starter failed to start the car after a start/stop function at a stop-light. This is the 2nd time this issue has occurred on this vehicle with the starter being replaced once already. The dealer is investigating this issue Friday 10/16/2026. I anticipate another starter replacement leaving this…
The system in question and failing is the idle-stop engine, start function. The truck is available for inspection upon request. The idle-stop engine has failed to restart the engine several times in traffic and at stop lights. This has created a safety hazard, since even after completely shutting…
I was driving about 75 miles an hour down the highway, the transmission started slipping and then I started to get warning saying transmission problem, pull over, do not drive, etc. I could not change gears at all, could not accelerate or anything. Had to have the vehicle towed to dealer.
Engine seized Honda dealership found a hole in block. Estimated repair almost $13k for a used motor. Contacted American Honda and after several weeks they refused assistance. I was barely able to exit freeway. I had to walk as area was remote without cell coverage. I understand there is a lawsuit…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Honda Ridgelines have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 334 owner complaints about engine for the Honda Ridgeline. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Honda Ridgeline engine?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Honda Ridgeline?
Owners report a typical cost of $9,000 (half paid between $1,800 and $12,000), from 13 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Honda Ridgeline?
The most frequent phrase is “rod bearing”, in 42 of 334 complaints, followed by “engine started” (26).
Other Honda Ridgeline problems
- Electrical System problems (429)
- Air Bags problems (348)
- Power Train problems (174)
- Structure problems (164)
- Exterior Lighting problems (160)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (153)
- Back Over Prevention problems (110)
See all Honda Ridgeline problems.