2021 Honda RIDGELINE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2021 Honda RIDGELINE has 134 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: when the vehicle is in drive, stopped on a steep hill, and allowed to slip backward the software puts the transmission in neutral and shuts of the engine off. this leaves the vehicle coasting backwards with very little steering or brakes. this happened to me and i coasted backward across a street b.

1 crash report

134

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

28 complaints

21%

• When the vehicle is in drive, stopped on a steep hill, and allowed to slip backward the software puts the transmission in neutral and shuts of the engine off. This leaves the vehicle coasting backwards with very little steering or brakes. This happened to me and I coasted backward across a street b
• When vehicle is in drive, stopped on a steep hill, and allowed to slip backward the software puts the transmission in neutral and shuts of the engine off. This leaves the vehicle coasting backwards with very little steering or brakes. This happened to me and I coasted backward across a street. If a
• Drove the pickup 3 hours in 10 degree weather at 60-70 mph. Exited the freeway, stopped at light, went through the intersection and truck began to bog down. Engine light started flashing and truck wouldn’t go over 35 mph. Pulled off road, shut down the engine for 5 minutes, started truck up and drov

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“When the vehicle is in drive, stopped on a steep hill, and allowed to slip backward the software puts the transmission in neutral and shuts of the engine off. This leaves the vehicle coasting backwards with very little steering or brakes. This happened to me and I coasted backward across a street b”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

22 complaints

16%

• I have a 2021 Honda Ridgeline Sport equipped with CMBS an automatic braking system that is supposed to be a safety feature, but actually makes the car more dangerous. The problem with the Ridgeline Sport collision mitigation braking system is that it attempts to mitigate crashes when the system th
• I have a 2021 Honda Ridgeline Sport equipped with CMBS an automatic braking system that is supposed to be a safety feature, but actually makes the car more dangerous. The problem with the Ridgeline Sport collision mitigation braking system is that it attempts to mitigate crashes when the system th
• Vehicle veering constantly while Lane Keeping Assistance is engaged causing persistent swerving and inviding adjacent lanes as well as requiring additional distraction while system is engaged. Adaptive Cruise Control erratically and some times violently applies brakes, causing the following vehicle

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I have a 2021 Honda Ridgeline Sport equipped with CMBS an automatic braking system that is supposed to be a safety feature, but actually makes the car more dangerous. The problem with the Ridgeline Sport collision mitigation braking system is that it attempts to mitigate crashes when the system th”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

14 complaints

10%

• WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT EVEN WITH NO TRAFFIC AHEAD, THE AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAMS RARELY TURN ON. WHEN THEY DO, THEY TURN OFF ALMOST IMMEDIATELY DUE TO REFLECTIONS FROM ROAD SIGNS AND EVEN SMALL ROAD MARKERS. OCCASIONALLY, THEY'LL FAIL TO DIM IN A TIMELY FASHION OR WILL FLASH CAUSING OTHER DRIVERS TO THIN
• AUTOMATIC HIGH-BEAM SYSTEM ON 2021 MODELS FUNCTIONS ERRATICALLY, SOMETIMES COMING ON WHEN CARS ARE APPROACHING. ALSO TURNS ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY FROM REFLECTIONS ON ROAD SIGNS AND EVEN MILE MARKERS
• - Auto-high beam is too sensitive. It switches high beams off with reflections off of road signs and then turns back on. - Cannot count on advertised functionality. Can switch off when needed based on its extreme sensitivity. Can cause road rage from constantly changing from high - low - high. -

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT EVEN WITH NO TRAFFIC AHEAD, THE AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAMS RARELY TURN ON. WHEN THEY DO, THEY TURN OFF ALMOST IMMEDIATELY DUE TO REFLECTIONS FROM ROAD SIGNS AND EVEN SMALL ROAD MARKERS. OCCASIONALLY, THEY'LL FAIL TO DIM IN A TIMELY FASHION OR WILL FLASH CAUSING OTHER DRIVERS TO THIN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

14 complaints

10%

• General Complaint - The infotainment system is terribly designed and requires way too much interaction from the driver to function properly. I just traded in my 2015 F150 for a 2021 Honda Ridgeline. EVERYTIME I choose to NOT connect my iPhone to the system through a USB to Apple Lightning cable,
• Drove the pickup 3 hours in 10 degree weather at 60-70 mph. Exited the freeway, stopped at light, went through the intersection and truck began to bog down. Engine light started flashing and truck wouldn’t go over 35 mph. Pulled off road, shut down the engine for 5 minutes, started truck up and drov
• The automatic high beam assist does not function properly. The high beams go on and off constantly. They pick up their own reflections even on dark roads with no on coming traffic. They will stay on when other cars are approaching. They come on when in traffic. They flash on and off at cars approach

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“General Complaint - The infotainment system is terribly designed and requires way too much interaction from the driver to function properly. I just traded in my 2015 F150 for a 2021 Honda Ridgeline. EVERYTIME I choose to NOT connect my iPhone to the system through a USB to Apple Lightning cable, ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

13 complaints

10%

• HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY BRAND NEW 2021 RIDGELINE. AUDIO WHEN I'M HOOKED UP WITH ANDROID AUTO OR WITH BLUETOOTH DOES THIS WEIRD VOLUME ADJUSTMENT THING WHEN STANDING STILL. I'VE RESET EVERYTHING DONE ALL THE TROUBLESHOOTING, EVEN TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO SAID OH IT'S NORMAL TO HAVE A [XXX] SOUNDING STER
• Never works since bought on May 30, 2021, Wireless charger getting connected and disconnected every 15 seconds, makes the phone hot and not charging. Can be check it at any time. The dealer replaced the wireless charger already and still with the same problem, phones tested: iPhone pro max, Samsung
• My Ridgeline have a wireless charger that fails charging and and makes the phone hot after trying to charge the phone and fails, my Honda dealer replaced the unit but the problem persist, I did find that is not only my vehicle but a lot more and Honda is aware of the situation, my concern is that th

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY BRAND NEW 2021 RIDGELINE. AUDIO WHEN I'M HOOKED UP WITH ANDROID AUTO OR WITH BLUETOOTH DOES THIS WEIRD VOLUME ADJUSTMENT THING WHEN STANDING STILL. I'VE RESET EVERYTHING DONE ALL THE TROUBLESHOOTING, EVEN TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO SAID OH IT'S NORMAL TO HAVE A [XXX] SOUNDING STER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 134 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: When the vehicle is in drive, stopped on a steep hill, and allowed to slip backward the software puts the transmission in neutral and shuts of the engine off. This leaves the vehicle coasting backwards with very little steering or brakes. This happened to me and I coasted backward across a street b
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: I have a 2021 Honda Ridgeline Sport equipped with CMBS an automatic braking system that is supposed to be a safety feature, but actually makes the car more dangerous. The problem with the Ridgeline Sport collision mitigation braking system is that it attempts to mitigate crashes when the system th
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT EVEN WITH NO TRAFFIC AHEAD, THE AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAMS RARELY TURN ON. WHEN THEY DO, THEY TURN OFF ALMOST IMMEDIATELY DUE TO REFLECTIONS FROM ROAD SIGNS AND EVEN SMALL ROAD MARKERS. OCCASIONALLY, THEY'LL FAIL TO DIM IN A TIMELY FASHION OR WILL FLASH CAUSING OTHER DRIVERS TO THIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: General Complaint - The infotainment system is terribly designed and requires way too much interaction from the driver to function properly. I just traded in my 2015 F150 for a 2021 Honda Ridgeline. EVERYTIME I choose to NOT connect my iPhone to the system through a USB to Apple Lightning cable,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)