2017 HONDA RIDGELINE Complaints

Vehicle started on it's own without key fob triggering the alarming system to turn on. They only way to turn both off was to disconnect the battery.

Honda has an issue with the torque converters locking up on this vehicle year. Instead of fixing the issue through a recall, they pushed it off by extending the warranty. If the torque converter locks while driving the vehicle, the mostly likely outcome will be an accident. Honda should fix the issue through a recall, instead of the band-aid approach.

Honda has issues with the fuel injectors for this year vehicle. Instead of performing a recall, they pushed it off by extending the warranty. If the injectors fail, the car becomes inoperable and could result in accident. Honda needs to fix this issue now and not just issue a warranty extension

I have a 2017 Ridgeline. I bought it brand new. Always keep up with the maintenance, keep it clean and well taken care of. I only have 45,000 miles on it. A few days ago the engine failed on me while on the freeway. Limped it off the freeway as it made a horrendous sound, like marbles in the engine. I had it towed, at a cost of $275. I took it to Honda. I told them I was aware of the NHTSA investigation into the the 2017-2019 Ridgeline reports of failing connecting rod bearings. They said they were not aware of that and it was not showing on the recall list for my specific vehicle . Their diagnostic came back requiring a short block replacement as "oil was coming from the oil pan rod bearing." They took it the warranty department, as the original warranty of 5yrs/60,000mi has passed. Honda is going to cover 75% of a $9,738.35 bill because of the low mileage on the vehicle, which brings the cost to "only $1,850." They’re giving me a 12 month/12,000 mile warranty on their work. They’re also recommending that I do a 100,000 miles service that would require a replacement of a timing belt, water pump, drive belt, etc. that would cost an additional $2,123.58. It seems a bit counterintuitive to do that service since I only have 45,000 miles on an eight year-old truck that has been kept up on its regular maintenance schedule. The initial cost to do the diagnostic was stated at $199. I received a call to approve $697 to break down the engine to do further evaluation. After receiving the results of their evaluation, I am now awaiting the estimate with a breakdown of costs. I have yet to receive that, but can provide it when available. The vehicle is still sitting at the Honda service center. I have also contacted Honda directly and have opened a case with them.

I was driving home climbing a hill in the slight rain when the check engine light came on. I drove with the light on to get to the next closest city about 2 minutes out from where the light came on. The engine was running rough and shaking the car and was having issues stopping at a light before I could pull into a parking lot. I pulled into the parking lot, my book said that it was a misfire and to let the engine cool off so I sat for about 2 hours, checked fluids then started the car. the ticking noise was there but there were no lights on my dash at the time and assumed it could make it home after I let it idle for 5 minutes. I proceeded to get on the road and the vehicle did ok. I got on the freeway to get home, slowly let the car climb to 50 and kept it there. 1 minute later the whole dash glowed saying everything was not working and giving special pop-ups on the dash explaining the VSA, ABS, and electronic power steering were not working to name a few. I stopped the car and pulled over immediately and called for a tow. I took it to my local electric shop to see because the brakes still worked and they said that it was possibly the ECM, that they couldn't fix it, and the ticking was a heatshield, and to take it to the dealer. I then towed it to the dealer. The Honda techs said that they didn't know what was wrong because the car wasn't throwing any codes. They replaced the tailgate harness that the previous dealer I took it to didn't and said to replace the pully and tensioner before they drove and diagnosed it further. I had it towed to another shop to get those replaced. This shop listed some of the same fault codes as the first shop and when they tested the vehicle they had called me to come in and inspect the vehicle as they started it after it was at the dealer and told me it was an engine knock and that the engine would need to be replaced with the drive shaft. I called Honda's corporate office and they took my complaint and documented it only.

On 5/11/25 the vehicle MID display showed KEYLESS START SYSTEM PROBLEM error message with a scan gage DTC12C5 stored. This made the vehicle hard to start requiring multiple actuation of the START/STOP switch. The vehicle milage was 56404 miles. The START/STOP switch needed to be replaced.

Most likely a connecting rod bearing failure leading to catastrophic engine failure per dealership service department. Vehicle is currently available for inspection. Safety was put at risk by engine part (likely connecting rod bearing) coming loose. It flew through my oil pan and bounced off the road, fortunately no people or other vehicles were hit by the part. Vehicle lost power and engine started smoking, oil spilled all over the road. I had to evacuate vehicle on busy highway (70 mph speed limit) since it was smoking. The vehicle was towed to the dealer which inspected it and said most likely connecting rod bearing failure but could not confirm unless engine taken apart. To my knowledge no one else has inspected it. All service for the life of the vehicle has been performed at Honda dealerships at recommended times. A check engine light had come on shortly before the problem occurred.

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the connecting rods needed to be replaced. The contact researched and was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

So I complained before and nothing has happened. I took my Ridgeline in for the recall on the backup camera and my camera still flickers or goes out. Happens randomly not all the time. I brought it up twice to the Honda dealership and they couldn’t help me since it was working fine when I brought it in. And my transmission since 20k miles still lags and jutters and makes clanking sounds. I have done multiple transmissions fluid changes like recommended but I don’t trust it. And only the first time they covered it and did a software update but that didn’t fix it then my warranty expired and they wanted to charge me for any repairs after. I have had this issue since I bought the Ridgeline. Not even 100k miles and I can’t trust it to drive more than an hour. This been happening for years and I complained before but nothing ever got done. My backup camera still goes in and out as of today and I have received multiple transmission is over heating warnings that then turn off. And now it’s starting to to not shift sometimes and high revs it.

My vehicle has less than 95k miles on it. Purchased it brand new from the dealer in 2016. It was one of the first few Ridgelines in the state. I've always had it serviced on time at the dealer, and kept up with its maintenance and care. The engine started to fail out of nowhere - making a weird tapping/knocking noise. I made an appointment to have it checked out by the dealership, and that same day my check engine light came on while I was on the freeway going 70mph. It began shaking at an idle. I got off the freeway, and parked. I was afraid to turn the car back on. The check engine light listed off numerous warnings of failed systems. Since my appointment wasn't until the next day, I left my car near the dealership overnight, instead of driving it back home for fear of causing an accident, or having my engine overheat or explode. I brought it to the dealership the next day, and they confirmed that I had a fuel injector issue, consistent with a known issue, for which I had an extended warranty letter re: the MIL warnings. However, they also noted a possible connection rod issue in the engine, and said the engine would have to be completely replaced or rebuilt. I have read and heard from many other people with a 2017 Honda Ridgeline that they have experienced this issue with their engines failing well before they should - at 90k miles, 140k miles, etc. There is a known issue with many of the 2017 Honda Ridgelines - and a recall did occur, but my VIN says my vehicle is not part of this recall - however, clearly my engine had the problem that Honda was aware of. My whole family was in the car when the check engine light came on, and the sound got worse - we could have been injured in an accident on the freeway, or had the engine overheat/explode while we were in the car. The issue was reproduced and confirmed by the dealer service center, and has been inspected by them. No warnings or symptoms before the failure - just complete shutdown out of nowhere.