The rumor is the 10 speed AT with the AWD transfer assembly won’t physically fit in the existing 2G RL platform. Honda does use the 10AT in the Ody which is FWD only so there is probably some truth to the rumor.
BTW the 9AT in the 2024 RL is designed and manufactured by ZF and the 10AT is designed and manufactured by Honda.

 

Only time will tell, but the ZF 9-speed currently used in the Ridgeline may prove to be the better/more reliable transmission. At any rate, it is well-proven with a long track record, unlike Honda’s in-house 10-speed.

Honda’s last in-house transmission (6-speed) had such poor reliability in the Ridgeline and other models that they stopped using it. That’s where the out-sourced ZF 9-speed came from.

Whose would you bet on?

 

Only time will tell, but the ZF 9-speed currently used in the Ridgeline may prove to be the better/more reliable transmission. At any rate, it is well-proven with a long track record, unlike Honda’s in-house 10-speed.

Honda’s last in-house transmission (6-speed) had such poor reliability in the Ridgeline and other models that they stopped using it. That’s where the out-sourced ZF 9-speed came from.

Whose would you bet on?

The reviews of the Pilot with the new Twin Cam engine and Ten Speed is they are slower than the single cam engine/ 9 speed we have! The Pilot engine is designed like a BMW with the valve covers holding the cams in place, total garbage!

 

I was under the impression the 2024 Pilot is also AWD. There must be something else going on either with a RL-unique fit issue, or some other reason. Perhaps ZRoger73 has some of his special insight? I agree my money is on the ZF 9-speed until Honda proves themselves over time with their latest homegrown attempt. Unfortunately, it will take years for the verdict to emerge.

 

As cbayman mentioned, new chassis in the 2023+ Pilots. Larger platform. even the oem 23-24 Pilot Trailsport tires are at 265/60/18 AT stock while the 2024 Ridgeline trailsport still has to use smaller 245/60/18 AT tires. This gives some insight into some design changes to the newer Pilots from the old.

 

The Pilot was upgraded to a new platform in 2023. This new platform allows the use of the 10AT with AWD. If the RL gets redesigned in the future to use this new chassis, I would expect it will also get the 10AT.

 

If the RL gets redesigned in the future

When! When the Ridgeline gets redesigned!

 

The Pilot 10-speed is at least as smooth as the Ridgeline’s, possibly more so. No transmission issues.

They’re actually very similar. Not a nickel‘s worth of difference between them, but all things being equal, more gears is better (IMHO).

 

I am a doubter. I think the 10sp may fit the current ridgeline, but honda has other reasons for not adding the 10sp. Who knows the reason (maybe they still have a contract with zf thats costly to exit). Why would they develop a transmission that doesn't fit there chassis? Its the easiest spec in the world to write.

 

I am a doubter. I think the 10sp may fit the current ridgeline, but honda has other reasons for not adding the 10sp. Who knows the reason (maybe they still have a contract with zf thats costly to exit). Why would they develop a transmission that doesn't fit there chassis? Its the easiest spec in the world to write.

Maybe because they’re planning to discontinue the Ridgeline anyway?

Maybe they need the different form factor for reasons we’re not privvy to, and that form factor doesn’t fit in the G2 Ridgeline?

Maybe because the 10-speed is so new they haven’t ramped up production volume sufficiently yet, and internally plan to make up the difference indefinitely with ZFs.

Maybe because the G2 Ridgeline has already had a transmission change, and yet another would look bad?

There really could be all kinds of reasons, including contractual with ZF. Bottom line is the Ridgeline has a 9-speed for better or worse.

 

Would they have to recertify emissions, fuel economy and possibly crash tests if they changed out the transmission? I am guessing FE and emissions at least. Could be a large cost for just a mild refresh. Current engine has to go away eventually too for emissions so there's that to consider as well.

 

Emissions and FE - yes. Crash testing - no.

 

Honda doesn't exactly have the best record on automatic transmissions. I trust ZF a hell of a lot more than I do Honda. Not sure why anyone would be eager for the 10 speed.

 

Honda doesn't exactly have the best record on automatic transmissions. I trust ZF a hell of a lot more than I do Honda.

 

Gear counts at Ford and GM have been trending downward lately after peaking at 10 speeds. Both automakers have recently dropped some 9-speed transmissions in favor of 8-speed units after realizing that the slight improvement in efficiency of the unnecessary gear didn't justify the added weight and cost. It looks like after a hundred years, we've finally determined that the sweet spot for an automatic transmission is 8 speeds. DCTs are on the decline as well - Acura dropped the two they were using and Hyundai/Kia is beginning to replace 8-speed DCTs with a traditional 8-speed automatic.

 

And the reason is too many warranty failures. DCT's have been on the trouble list for a while. Multi speed transmissions like the Ford GM 10 speed are showing their problems badly.

 

Why didn't Honda just use the ZF 8hp which is a proven transmission ?

 

Rear wheel drive architecture oriented transmission? Also probably designed for longitudinal engine rather than transverse as used in the Ridgeline. Ridge is all wheel drive but based on front wheel drive architecture.

 

^^Because the RL is a front wheel drive platform with a transverse mounted engine.

 

^ Correct. The 8HP is a transmission designed for longitudinal applications, which are typically RWD/4WD. The 9HP is a transaxle designed for transversely-mounted engines, which are typically FWD/AWD. The 8HP is only a transmission. The 9HP is a transmission and differential ("transaxle").

 

I know they use the ZF8 in the BMW X7 so i thought it could go in the RL. I like the RL but I've read too many stories about the zf9.

 

I like the RL but I've read too many stories about the zf9.

Thus fare, the 9 speed ZF has been my favorite auto trans in any on my hondas.
( 1999 Accord V6, 2008 Ridgeline, and current 2022 Ridgeline)

It took the computer a while to learn my driving habbits, but over time it only got better.

 

We are on pace for the 2024 RL to have one of the shortest production runs, if the 2025 comes out in the fall of 2024.

 

The ZF 8HP is a world-class transmission - it is smooth enough to be chosen by Rolls-Royce and strong enough for a nearly 800 horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye.

 

Agreed. I've got the ZF 8HP70 in my 605hp/532ft-lbs Jaguar F-Type and it's known for being a bulletproof tranny for high hp/torque applications. In Internet forum world, I don't ever recall someone reporting a failure.

 

That new tranny is so complicated, it's just a complex unit waiting to fail.

 

Automatic transmissions are arguably 100s of times more complicated than the engines they are attached too. Yet somehow in this modern world they can be quite reliable as well. As has already been said, the Honda 10sp has been around for a good while now and is not having abnormal amounts of issues.

 

Automatic transmissions are arguably 100s of times more complicated than the engines they are attached too. Yet somehow in this modern world they can be quite reliable as well. As has already been said, the Honda 10sp has been around for a good while now and is not having abnormal amounts of issues.

Automatic transmissions are arguably 100s of times more complicated than the engines they are attached too. Yet somehow in this modern world they can be quite reliable as well. As has already been said, the Honda 10sp has been around for a good while now and is not having abnormal amounts of issues.

Quite possibly a very accurate statement... I have an older Gen. 1 RL with, I think, the five speed tranny. I'm perfectly pleased with the way it shifts and handles...

 

well my 9 speed died fully at 500 miles on my 2023 Ridgeline and there are known issues including class actions out there. whats outlined in the following is 100% exactly what happened to me (aside from me only having 500 miles) its been almost 2 weeks still waiting to find out whats going to happen.

Honda 9-Speed Transmission Problems Cause Lawsuit

Honda 9-speed transmission problems have caused a class action lawsuit for all current and former owners or lessees who purchased or leased any Honda vehicle equipped with a ZF 9HP 9-speed automatic transmission.

www.carcomplaints.com

 

well my 9 speed died fully at 500 miles on my 2023 Ridgeline and there are known issues including class actions out there. whats outlined in the following is 100% exactly what happened to me (aside from me only having 500 miles) its been almost 2 weeks still waiting to find out whats going to happen.

Honda 9-Speed Transmission Problems Cause Lawsuit

Honda 9-speed transmission problems have caused a class action lawsuit for all current and former owners or lessees who purchased or leased any Honda vehicle equipped with a ZF 9HP 9-speed automatic transmission.

www.carcomplaints.com

As of this post, we've counted 5 9-speed transmission failures and 87 6-speed failures on this forum.

Anyone can sue anyone for anything. Winning that lawsuit is a whole different story.

 

All of the automatic transmissions used by Honda from the 2-speed to the 6-speed were unique designs made by Honda. They used parallel shafts like a manual transmission instead of planetary gears like other automatic transmissions.

To meet performance, efficiency, and marketing requirements, they needed a transmission with more than 6 speeds, but that was the highest number of ratios possible with Honda's design. They began working on a 10-speed unit with planetary gears, but it was not ready in time, so they outsourced an automatic transmission for the first time - a 9-speed unit from ZF.

As development of the 10-speed progressed, production ramped up, and vehicles were redesigned to accommodate it, they began transitioning away from the 9-speed ZF transmission.

Today, the Ridgeline and Passport are the last two models still using the 9-speed. When those models are redesigned, they will almost certainly switch to Honda's 10-speed and the ZF 9HP will fade into Honda history.

Honda's 10-speed has been reasonably reliable - much more so than the 6-speed and nearly as good, if not as good, as the 9-speed despite being Honda's very first attempt at an automatic transmission with planetary gears. The biggest complaint I continue to see with the 10-speed is that it tends to have harsh 1-2 and/or 2-3 shifts and it's not the fastest-shifting transmission around - even after more than six years.

Thanks for the info.

Any idea on why they’re called “dog clutches” on the 10-speed? (I have only the faintest knowledge of car mechanicals. I use ‘em, don’t put ‘em together. Or take ‘em apart.)

https://www.odyclub.com/threads/transmission-survey-9-10-speed-detailed-info-one-thread-to-rule-them-all.362457/post-2414978

Nice information on that link. But reading about minivans triggered my PTSD. Yes I know the RL and Pilot share a platform with the Odyssey. But my heart tells me “they’re not minivans”. One of the happier days of my life was when I traded in the old Plymouth Voyager with the failing transmission.

 

Thanks for the info.

Any idea on why they’re called “dog clutches” on the 10-speed? (I have only the faintest knowledge of car mechanicals. I use ‘em, don’t put ‘em together. Or take ‘em apart.)

The 10-speed doesn't use dog clutches - it's a "conventional" design that uses friction clutches and brakes (a brake is a friction clutch that holds the ring gear in a planetary gear set).

The ZF 9-speed is the only automatic transmission in the world I'm aware of that uses dog clutches.

Most transmissions use friction clutches, which can slip while they are engaging until both sides of the clutch are turning the same speed.

Dog clutches have teeth that are either engaged or disengaged - they can't slip. If a dog clutch is engaged while there is a speed difference, you'll either get grinding or damage.

The ZF 9-speed uses a combination of friction clutches between most gears and dog clutches between two sets of gears for compactness (dog clutches are more compact than friction clutches).

The ZF 9HP engages dog clutches when downshifting from 8th and 5th during which time it effectively shifts to neutral, revs the engine, then engages the dog clutch once the two sides of the clutch are turning the same speed. This can result in a different feel and a bit of a delay when downshifting compared to other automatic transmissions.

 

Well maybe they made a carbon copy of the ZF tranny it’s a good one !

 

9 sped ZF is proven reliability and a good engine. Too many miles with happy customers. Resale will be higher for the zf9. 10 speed will go through issues in the new 2026 and 2027. I would wait to buy the third year in at 2028 version.

 

What exactly fails on the 6 speed ? We don't know. Honda holds that dear to their hearts. And those that fail out of warranty sometimes get goodwill repairs. Sometimes not too.