Hard to open tailgate TSB 05-015

Thanks Whaleya, keep 'em coming. Always love to know about TSBs whether I have the issue or not, I always might later.

I had this problem. The actual issue is the release pin is about 5mm too long so it doesn't connect with the striker plate correctly. Honda is aware of approximately 200 Ridgelines with this issue, well 199 now that mine is fixed.

mayfielh said:

I had this problem. The actual issue is the release pin is about 5mm too long so it doesn't connect with the striker plate correctly. Honda is aware of approximately 200 Ridgelines with this issue, well 199 now that mine is fixed.

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Release pin, hmmm. Could you maybe take a picture of it? Is the fix a shorter pin?

Whaleya said:

There is a new service bulletin on how to adjust the tailgate if it is difficult to open in drop mode.

The left body side striker/hinge needs to be adjusted and the bulletin gives details

Published April 1 2005

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You mentioned a service bulletin being issued. Has anybody heard about a service bulletin on the widespread creaking steering wheel problem?

Not sure if the steering wheel squeaking has a service bulletin, but they are well aware of it from what the mechanic mentioned to me and seem to have a fairly large scale issue here.

I know they can fix it if you request it, but they may still not be positive of the exact and full problem.

The pin is located in the actual tailgate. My shop called American Honda and they sent the new part next day to them. Once they had the correct part it took them about an hour to tear the tailgate apart / replace the pin / and put it all back together again. The best part is that I haven't had any issues since.

Can you describe what you mean by hard to open. When I lift up on the handle you have to pull on the tailgate to get it going. Is that normal. I don't really hear anything catching on anything.

My experience was similar to what Nthnfancy is discribing - Tailgate required a bit of a tug to open. After 5 weeks and many opening/closings of the tailgate, it works very smoothly now.

That's similiar to how mine started eventually it wouldn't open at all. The issue seemed to be mostly on the swing open function, the drop down didn't stop working until they tried to fix it w/o calling American Honda 1st.

Is there any place an owner can go and look at the service bulletins for their Ridgeline?

I usually use www.nhtsa.gov but they don't have 2006 vehicles listed yet.