Thought I was ready, but you stopped me dead in my tracks

[gonzo's rt]

The problem is that you read about those few people with problems, but not from many other owners without any problems. I have an '06 RL without any of these issues. Don't let them keep you from enjoying a great truck!

[Greg H]

I have had no issues with my 2007 RTL and would buy another one with no hesitation. Great truck, no problems.

[RossC]

I forgot to add that I've absolutely gone for a test drive (loved it)...sorry about that.

An example of a hidden expense would be installation charges for the towing package's wiring harness that's necessary to use the the pre-wired towing package. It's either ready to tow or it's not.

My take so far is that the 07 owners have no issues and the 05/06 owners are satisfied with their service.

chisoxjim - I particularly appeciate your input...I'm gonna use the heck out of this truck and that's the kind of stuff I'm looking for. Thank you.

RossC

[chisoxjim]

Ross,

no problem, I am one of the folks on here putting the RL through a weekly torture test of 700+ miles, I am glad to help.

Beyond being a great commuter vehicle for me, it was very handy when I was working on seeding my acre of property at the house we built last year. It handled many loads of dirt, seed, and fertlilzer, not to mention some household items(box freezer, snow blower, lawn mower, etc) I was glad to have an open bed for.

I forgot to mention I have gotten a steady 19 mpg over the lifespan. 80% highway miles. 140 miles per day Mon-Fri.

once again good luck with your decision..

[e_piph_a_ny]

When I was researching the RL and found this website, I also was initially concerned about buying a potential "lemon". I read the same warnings but I reasoned that people are more prone to complain about something than to compliment. Think it through.

I bought my RL last Feb '06 and am very satisfied with it. It's unique vehicle that is more versatile than any vehicle I purchased previously.

[mnchvgs79]

07 RTL. No problems so far, and love everything but the terrible fuel economy.

[supdawg]

Originally Posted by RossC

First of all, this site and these forums are an outstanding resource and are very well done - I can hardly describe how impressed I am, congrats and thanks to all of you.

I am (was?) inches from pulling the trigger on a 07 RTL (red, no navi), but I've got some serious concerns now - the leak thing is right at the top.

Consistent posts about rattles, static on radios, and hidden expenses force me to reconsider my Honda-takes-care-of-you assumption (My familiy has owned nothing but honda/accura for 10+ years)...I realize that the first model year is always dangerous, but we're past that now. I also realize a lot of the threads were started in 05, but I also see recent entries that indicate problems are not going away...At the same time you guys/gals seem to love your trucks.

I need to hear from some '07 owners and your experiences, pro and con, and have a direct question for all you '05 and '06 owners: "Would you buy it again? Why?"

Talk me back into it...

RossC

07 RTL owner for 1 week. No problems whatsoever, been in 2 major monsoons since then.

[RRIDER]

The only Ridgeline that comes ready to tow is the RTX. The others do need the hitch and wiring harness. I have a 2006 RTL and have owned it just over a year now. To date the only service, besides oil & filter changes and tire rotations, was the Transmission TSB. No leaks, no wind noise etc.

BTW, although an easy mistake...there are no 2005 Ridgelines. Yes they came out in early 2005, but they are titled 2006's.

[supdawg]

Originally Posted by e_piph_a_ny

When I was researching the RL and found this website, I also was initially concerned about buying a potential "lemon". I read the same warnings but I reasoned that people are more prone to complain about something than to complement. Think it through.

I bought my RL last Feb '06 and am very satisfied with it. It's unique vehicle that is more versatile than any vehicle I purchased previously.

Go to any car forum in the world, and it will have issues.

I am a member of clublexus, acurazine, and at one point the main Nissan forum.

My point is they all have people with issues. Its going to happen. I actually thought the Ridgeline has less perceived problems than a car I was cross shopping (Acura TL)

Take it from a guy who visits a lot of forums. It's not so bad here. There is a thread on here about if you would recommend the RL. I think it was 98% yes.

[SinisteR1]

Originally Posted by RossC

First of all, this site and these forums are an outstanding resource and are very well done - I can hardly describe how impressed I am, congrats and thanks to all of you.

I am (was?) inches from pulling the trigger on a 07 RTL (red, no navi), but I've got some serious concerns now - the leak thing is right at the top.

Consistent posts about rattles, static on radios, and hidden expenses force me to reconsider my Honda-takes-care-of-you assumption (My familiy has owned nothing but honda/accura for 10+ years)...I realize that the first model year is always dangerous, but we're past that now. I also realize a lot of the threads were started in 05, but I also see recent entries that indicate problems are not going away...At the same time you guys/gals seem to love your trucks.

I need to hear from some '07 owners and your experiences, pro and con, and have a direct question for all you '05 and '06 owners: "Would you buy it again? Why?"

Talk me back into it...

RossC

I was in the same boat as you but I bought it anyway. I would definitely buy another one if I had too. I have had 0 problems except for a few quirks. 1, I need to get the tranny TSB done. I've experienced some of the symptoms that the TSB will fix. 2, a small part of the sunroof molding is kinked. Dealer should be able to fix that. And lastly 3, my biggest complaint... I wish gas mileage was better but I'm sure its better than a bigger truck and pretty sure its comparable to the Taco (my second choice).

Other than that, the truck has been awesome. Drives and rides real nice. Never had the leak (just this past weekend, I ran a hose with running water at that suspected corner and it was completely dry inside) or any other issues mentioned here. I did hav e the annoying wind noise but that was due to my rack and yakima snowboard rack. Once I removed it, it was quiet again. I think some are just a little paranoid with some of the issues mentioned here, but really, all cars have their issues.

Oh wait..I do have one complaint...I was the bed was a tad longer. I couldn't fit my bikes in the back without turning the front wheels. I think I can fix that though with just buying a bed extender