I'm concerned about the struts.If one can blowout 4 struts on a dirt road that's not good.

 

Attention...

the color is SILVER - YES~~

struts a concern as well - silver or not.

And this is now published. So, what people read they believe - right.

BUT, I'm still and will always be a "card-carrying member of the Ridgeline fan club"

ladyridge - i need a card please OR

s5dude - a very thin silver plate size of a credit card

 

Attention...

the color is SILVER - YES~~

struts a concern as well - silver or not.

And this is now published. So, what people read they believe - right.

BUT, I'm still and will always be a "card-carrying member of the Ridgeline fan club"

ladyridge - i need a card please OR

s5dude - a very thin silver plate size of a credit card

Here is the thing, cars have problems, no matter who makes them. The struts blew, that doesn't mean all will. I am sure the conditions had to be just right. If there is something really wrong Honda will fix it. I read a sign in a mechanics shop, "If it has wheels it will have problems" have had plenty of real trucks and off roaded them and the shocks never blew, but I will take the RL anyday over those other trucks

 

Not exactly a glowing report. But Edmunds has been negative about the Ridgeline since day one. It's hard to disagree with a lot of what they say. Having never taken my Ridgeline off-road I cannot comment on the strut controversy. I have to agree with their comments on some of the interior ergonomics and I think all of us have experienced the less-than-stunning rear visibility. I don't get their complaint about turning radius. It hasn't been a problem for me in nearly 16 months of ownership. Bottom line, I LOVE MY RIDGELINE- I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE DRIVING ANYTHING ELSE. Judging by this club, I am not alone.

 

WE ~ are not alone

ridgelineownersclub.com

I bet it was a bad lot of struts - ha

 

I don't get their complaint about turning radius. It hasn't been a problem for me in nearly 16 months of ownership.

You've got to be kidding me. I'm faced with this problem every day. It takes two shots to turn around at the end of a narrower cul de sac where I could always do it in one shot with previous vehicles. Yes, it's a truck, but Honda's chief goal was to design this so it would drive like a car. It certainly is car-like but doesn't drive like a car if you ask me. Even the tranny is geared like a truck or large SUV.

I too like my silver RL, but it definitely could use much improvement. At the very least they could have improved the underside clearance and offered a more capable suspension package (common, at least as an option!!). There are reports in this forum that people are whacking the bottoms of their RL's while driving on what I would call tractor paths. I mean, we're not talking serious offroading even (although there are plenty of folks in this forum that do seem to confuse "off roading" with simply driving on an unpaved surface).

Anyhow, there's plenty that Honda could have done to get this absolutely right...but then they do want to sell everyone a second RL down the road. The question is, will something better come along from someone else first?

 

I didn't think the report was that bad. Some items mentioned were to the point. However, I disagree with the comments on the interior: I LOVE the interior of the RL--its design and its functionality. As a matter of fact, not starting out wanting a RL (or any truck really), when I sat in the RL at the dealership, I was sold! Everything seemed like it was designed for a good reason.
By the way, if I really feel like getting dirty off-road, I take the Jeep CJ and let my RL stay all clean and pretty.

 

you guys wanna talk turning radius, try turning in a acura rsx type s. ive been in tractor trailors that turn tighter.

my only complaint of this truck is the engine size

50 more hp woulda make this truck perfect

 

Just a note about the edmund's strut failure and the road they drove it on.

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2405&page=3&highlight=kodiak+struts

Honda has one of the toughest shock durability requirements in the industry as noted in the quote. Ask several of the damper suppliers if you would like to verify that information. Edmunds has a tack record of not evaluating vehicles in a engineering manner (ie duplicate conditions – same temperature – same speed - etc).

Given the road they drove on, it is widely know this is a severe surface and road that must be treated with respect. They also failed to mention they failed two tires in this run due to the sharp shale on the surface. Due to the ride damping qualities of the Ridgeline, I suspect the vehicle was driven very fast over this surface at a high ambient temperature. Based on the description, the seals failed in the struts as well as the dust shield. The temperature extreme that was required to trigger this failure is so severe, there must have been an extreme input (temps greater than 300F).

I doubt that a Tacoma could be driven controllably on that surface at the same speed/duration as the R-L. With the live rear axle, there would be so much axle hop it would be impossible to replicate the speed that is possible in a Ridgeline. During a recent trip an acquaintance made on that same road on a rental SV, they experienced 2 flat tires that had to be replaced and saw numerous other vehicles broken down along the route. Edmund’s conveniently left the detailed facts describing the route.

I doubt anyone here needs to worry about their struts. That was a year ago and I haven't heard about any significant failures since then.

 

I agree with their report about reward visability, it sucks, they are correct in saying that reversing sensors should be standard equipment. Probably the shocks were just a one time thing?. The truck & design are new and it will take awhile for the Ridgeline to be accepted by everyone else. But in retrospect I do not regret buying this truck & still look foreward to driving her each day. But Honda upgrade you A/C & dehumidifier unit & Auto control programs, It takes along time to come off recirc in hot humid weather.

 

As for the struts:

Coming from an '02 Grand Cherokee (which has solid front and rear axles) I have already noticed that I am driving faster over road imperfections because the RL dampens them so well. I bet the tester pounded the living crap out of the RL not realizing what he was doing.

As an automotive tester are you really going to admit how fast you were driving to your bosses? "I was only going 5 mph and I don't know what happened - I promise".

Gimmie a break.

 

"The heated seats aren't so hot", are these the three bears .... How is the F-150 with the add. air bags, oh sorry, that does not exist LOL

 

Turning radius. It's a front-drive config. Due to engineering constraints most FWD config have a high turning radius as compared to RWD. Won't go into all the engineering aspects, just the way it is, so go read up on the subject. Won't change unless they go to RWD, which won't happen. If any HONDA passenger vehicle goes RWD, it will be the ACURA line up.

Strut failure. Mac-struts are better suited to passenger cars, not heavy-duty trucks, which typically use an unequal-length A-arm config. Since the Ridgeline has NEVER been advertised as anything but a light hauler (buds, 5K lbs, is a light hauler) this isn't a problem. No one lied, no one at Honda made this truck out for anything other than what it is.
WHTHFK does anyone care about Edmonds anyway? The "L" on their foreheads does not stand for Lexus. If you don't like some of these traits then you might want to learn more about platform design and limitations before buying, then bitching about something that is common knowledge. Not attempting to be the big a-hole here, just tired of the whining.

 

Not attempting to be the big a-hole here, just tired of the whining.

I think everyone appreciates your opinion but your delivery leaves something to be desired.

 

...Yes, it's a truck, but Honda's chief goal was to design this so it would drive like a car. It certainly is car-like but doesn't drive like a car if you ask me. Even the tranny is geared like a truck or large SUV.

I too like my silver RL, but it definitely could use much improvement. At the very least they could have improved the underside clearance and offered a more capable suspension package (common, at least as an option!!). There are reports in this forum that people are whacking the bottoms of their RL's while driving on what I would call tractor paths. I mean, we're not talking serious offroading even (although there are plenty of folks in this forum that do seem to confuse "off roading" with simply driving on an unpaved surface).

Hmm, so, you want a car like ride with tight turning radius -yet- greater ground clearance and a more offroad capable suspension? You know they have amphibious vehicles that go in the water as well? Not sure what their turning radius is or how "car like" their ride is... I just think people have expectations that are a little off... The Ridgeline is a vehicle that tries to meet the middle of a car and a truck. Not conquer both... And what kind of car are they trying to make it ride like? I'll bet they'll never get the handling of a Vette but they have certainly come close to my old Saturn (POS)...

Aside from my water leak, I could not be more happy with the Ridgeline. It is everything I expected when I bought mine...

 

I think everyone appreciates your opinion but your delivery leaves something to be desired.

Ohhh I've seen FAR worse around here...

 

I think everyone appreciates your opinion but your delivery leaves something to be desired.

Well heck. And I thought I'd win a Pulitzer for that...

 

Well heck. And I thought I'd win a Pulitzer for that...

PBear, I don't know if anyone else noticed, but the irony of that post is hilarious.
How do you feel about people whining about whiners?

 

been folling this thread and decided to comment. Speaking for myself I agree that all vehicles will have issues and this is year one! I am in Oregon but a Floridian always, born and raised For me I am a city boy and my Ridge is sitting on 22 inch black Powder Caoted Rims with Chrome lip so I will not be off roading anyway. I think a couple of excellent points were made by other pertaining to to design and resons for this SUT: It is a merger of truck and SUV, an evolution, and it drives like a car! You can not have the best of all worlds such is life. I bought mine as I wanted to capacity of a pickup, the ride and confort of a suv, and I have also been big on Honda! dependabilitym resale, and the like. We have a civic and my first new car in 86 was CRX!

 

PBear, I don't know if anyone else noticed, but the irony of that post is hilarious.
How do you feel about people whining about whiners?

Ya know, I need to call the SNL folks about doing a skit about whiners, whining about whiners that whine too much about whining. "The Whiners" The genius of Jane Curtain and Gilda Radner would have been perfect for this.

 

Ya know, I need to call the SNL folks about doing a skit about whiners, whining about whiners that whine too much about whining. "The Whiners" The genius of Jane Curtain and Gilda Radner would have been perfect for this.

I agree, but I think Steven Colbert might do a great job with it too.

 

I like your pick better! Mr. Colbert is perfect. ROFL!!! I like the way you think.

 

Ya know, I need to call the SNL folks about doing a skit about whiners, whining about whiners that whine too much about whining. "The Whiners" The genius of Jane Curtain and Gilda Radner would have been perfect for this.

I agree...there is a certain amount of whining on this forum. Some people have legit gripes, but some of them a just...well, whining. It's like, "I took my RL out for test drive and I just had to have it. Then, I got it home and found out it could not tow 20,000 lbs., I cannot drive it on water, it will not transform into a submarine, a sports car, or moped, and I cannot drive up the sides of skyscrapers with it! What gives?!? What were they thinking when they designed this truck anyway?!?"

OK, that was a little facetious, but I think you folk know what I mean. What really gets me are the people who claim that they bought a RL and then were disappointed with the performance, towing, gas mileage, etc. OK...I dunno about you, but if I am going to be plunking down $35K for a truck, I am going to be doing some major research before I buy one.

I researched the heck outta trucks and I know EXACTLY what I got when I bought my Ridgeline: The best handling, nicest riding, nicest looking (As far as I a concerned), the most innovative, and THE SAFEST truck on the road today. Nuff said!

 

I agree...there is a certain amount of whining on this forum. Some people have legit gripes, but some of them a just...well, whining. It's like, "I took my RL out for test drive and I just had to have it. Then, I got it home and found out it could not tow 20,000 lbs., I cannot drive it on water, it will not transform into a submarine, a sports car, or moped, and I cannot drive up the sides of skyscrapers with it! What gives?!? What were they thinking when they designed this truck anyway?!?"

OK, that was a little facetious, but I think you folk know what I mean. What really gets me are the people who claim that they bought a RL and then were disappointed with the performance, towing, gas mileage, etc. OK...I dunno about you, but if I am going to be plunking down $35K for a truck, I am going to be doing some major research before I buy one.

I researched the heck outta trucks and I know EXACTLY what I got when I bought my Ridgeline: The best handling, nicest riding, nicest looking (As far as I a concerned), the most innovative, and THE SAFEST truck on the road today. Nuff said!

Exactly what I was thinking. I'll just say "ditto" to your post. Thanks for saving me all the typing.

 

Exactly what I was thinking. I'll just say "ditto" to your post. Thanks for saving me all the typing.

I bought mine a little more on impulse. researched for a week and then bought. definitely not dissapointed. But I was expecting a little better gas mileage. At about 7000 miles right now and last tank 50/50 driving got me 14.5. That is up from what I had been getting. second was though I didn't expect it I would have liked a little more torque. Just added K&N and that seems to have helped alot.
I do not consider myself a whiner, but stating some issues I have. Recognizing that no matter what it is there would be something.