[stevem5215]

There's been a few people on here and on Fakebook that have said if you ignore the messages they will go off and on for a long time. I believe the one guy said his was going on and off for 100,000 mi even. Not sure if I'd do that to mine though!

 

[Jerry K]

I took my Ridgeline into my S. Carolina dealer (where I bought it) to let them know the injector replacement did not fix the CEL. I had also thought I may have smelled a slight gasoline odor inside the cabin. I had them check the fuel pressure and it is a-ok so not sure about that, probably nothing. Anyhow, I am concerned as the weather warms up that the problem will "go away" until next winter and we'll start this whole mess up again. Has anyone heard anything from Honda US or Canada? I made another request for the dealer here to find out any updates.

Honda was recommending a cylinder head replacement. The service manager at my Honda dealer wanted to do that to mine, but I decided to wait. Turns out that did not solve the problem on other Ridgelines when they did it. Not cool just throwing darts at a problem.

 

[MN_Steve]

I tried one more time with the dealer I bought the truck from here in S. Carolina. I told them I was not going to leave the vehicle with them but I did want them to contact Honda's TechLine (with the reference number I had from the visit in MN). After some back and forth and me needing to get visibly upset they agreed to contact Honda. A day went by and, after a nasty review email from me, the Service Manager called me saying that Honda has no recommendations and nothing they can do unless they can capture the problem at a dealership. I don't see how that will ever happen and even if it did, then what? It seems like they have enough information to deduce the problem? My guess is they know it's a software glitch and that a recall would be the only way to fix it and with only a handful of cases, it's not worth it.
So what are we supposed to do? Just live with it? Next winter comes and the CEL comes on while merging into traffic is just something to expect when you own a Ridgeline.

Anyhow, I am thinking of trading it in for something else but what? A Tacoma? Not as comfortable and worse gas mileage? A Ranger? Issues with the Ecoboost engine overheating might still be a concern, I don't know? A Santa Cruz? Maybe?

Anybody have any positive words of encouragement?

 

[zroger73]

Have you considered that Honda hasn't figured out the problem or devised a solution yet?

I remember a few years ago when Accords and RDX's would suddenly lose power when driven in the rain on the highway. Complaints were all over forums. Similar to the Ridgeline's issue, no codes were stored and the engine would operate normally after it was restarted.

It took Honda three and a half years to determine that the cause was water condensing in the intake system and address the issue with a new intercooler and software update.

 

[rijopp]

Thanks for the update MN_Steve - I keep wondering if the same issue will pop up again after some highway driving, but nothing in the past few weeks. I think that we will have to wait until next winter to get our trucks to react again, and by that time they will have completely forgotten that it was a problem.

I switched from a Tacoma to the Ridgeline and the comfort is remarkably better in the Ridgeline, along with better towing capacity and a wider bed. The only things I liked better about the Tacoma was that it had a 6 speed and that I never had any sort of engine issue in 5 years of owning it. That Tacoma engine is pretty bulletproof. I want to love my Ridgeline like I originally loved my Tacoma, but the ongoing check engine light issue and a few ticky-tack things (like the bad infotainment system) make me nervous of more issues down the road.

 

[Cleggy]

Thanks for the update Steve. Mine hasn't happened since the initial occurrence. Hopefully it won't take them 3 years as zroger suggested.

 

[Apb486]

It's pretty clear to me that the current software has insufficient problem logging. The software is flashing the CEL and forcing limp mode but not recording anything. At least they could put out an update to capture more information when this problem occurs.

 

[stevem5215]

What needs to be done is to have a tech during a drivability time period drive a Ridgeline with the Honda scanner attached and watching the engine conditions. That should show what the issue is. It needs to monitor raw data live as it's in operation when the check engine light illuminates.

 

[Apb486]

Honda can be proactive or do nothing and hope a tech is on hand when it happens. It is a rare problem and maybe cold related. If all the good techs are in Alabama, we will be living with this for a long time. I have had 1 occurrence of this issue in 6 months, mostly cold driving.

 

[John in Midland]

Unless a Honda tech owns a Ridgeline and drives long distances frequently with an OBD hooked up, it is unlikely that they will get this raw data. Best they can come up with after the fact is engine misfire codes. If this problem would occur each time under a particular commute to work route or similar, then this would be a lot easier to diagnose. Honda knows it is an issue and majority opinion points towards a software issue that we will hopefully see an update for before too long. Main thing I want to emphasize for people reading this is if it happens to you, don't let it slide. Complain to your dealer and launch a case with Honda itself.

 

[MN_Steve]

Yes! And definitely please file a complaint with your respective government agency. I’ll repost the link John provided for Canada and 2021RTL-E’s link for the NHTSA in the US.

Concerned about your vehicle’s safety? Transport Canada can investigate your safety concerns

Report a Safety Problem | NHTSA

 

[Jerry K]

Yes! And definitely please file a complaint with your respective government agency. I’ll repost the link John provided for Canada and 2021RTL-E’s link for the NHTSA in the US.

Concerned about your vehicle’s safety? Transport Canada can investigate your safety concerns

Report a Safety Problem | NHTSA

thanks for the link. I just registered a complaint. This has happened to me 6 times since November 2021 through April 16, 2022. Dealer and Honda haven't been willing or able to deal with this. Makes me extremely angry...no confidence in the truck to take it on long trips. Strongly considering getting rid of it.

 

[Cbayman]

thanks for the link. I just registered a complaint. This has happened to me 6 times since November 2021 through April 16, 2022. Dealer and Honda haven't been willing or able to deal with this. Makes me extremely angry...no confidence in the truck to take it on long trips. Strongly considering getting rid of it.

What region of the country did these incidents occur? What was the outside temperature? All similar circumstances - off ramp acceleration after an extended hi way cruise?

 

[Jerry K]

Hello. I posted about this numerous times, and have seen many others with the same problem. Has anyone received a satisfactory remedy from the dealer? It appears to be a much more prevalent problem in cold weather. This summer I have had no issues, but I am nervous about the upcoming winter season. In spring, my dealer said there was a recall pending, but they never got one from Honda corporate.

 

[John in Midland]

Hello. I posted about this numerous times, and have seen many others with the same problem. Has anyone received a satisfactory remedy from the dealer? It appears to be a much more prevalent problem in cold weather. This summer I have had no issues, but I am nervous about the upcoming winter season. In spring, my dealer said there was a recall pending, but they never got one from Honda corporate.

Jerry, keep us posted on any further developments. My Ridgeline has not had a repeat of the problem (I suppose due to warmer weather as some report). If anyone gets any positive feedback from Honda with a fix, please let us know. There are some nervous RL owners out there who otherwise love their Honda.

 

[The Stig]

Hey everybody, this just happened to me. Same as others described. 100 miles highway commute with no issues, 17°F outside, I stop at the light on the exit. A few seconds after I proceed (turning left at light) it feels like a misfire, check engine light starts flashing and I’m in limp mode. Pulled over and shut down. Waited a couple min and fired it back up and now no issues. Local shop plugged in and no codes. I’m heading back home shortly I’ll see if it happens again at the other end.

 

[Cleggy]

Honda isn’t saying what the issue is. I’m waiting for it to happen again now that the weather is turning cold in Minnesota. Keep bugging the dealer EVERY time it happens

 

[John B. in Midland]

Honda isn’t saying what the issue is. I’m waiting for it to happen again now that the weather is turning cold in Minnesota. Keep bugging the dealer EVERY time it happens

I too am wondering if this will happen again this winter. Yes, be sure to bug your dealer each time it happens and do launch a complaint and case file with Honda as well as your government vehicle safety organization (see posts further up page). Fingers crossed Honda will come up with a fix soon, but it won't happen unless people keep bugging Honda. This is a safety issue!

 

[ridgeline90]

2022 RTL-E. Same issue. 100+ miles of interstate, then limp mode after exiting and navigating back to on-ramp. OK after re-starting. ~20F

 

[The Stig]

2022 RTL-E. Same issue. 100+ miles of interstate, then limp mode after exiting and navigating back to on-ramp. OK after re-starting. Dealer basically said no code no problem. ~20F

Since this happened I’ve driven over 1000 miles on a number of cold weather highway trips and no issues. Very odd.