List of 6-speed transmission failures

zroger73 · Sep 29, 2020

#20
@xraydog
2018 AWD with 42,000 miles
September 28, 2020
"Transmission System Problem", "Blind Spot Information System Problem", metal shavings in fluid

Transmission Problems 2018 Ridgeline

Soooo...Started up my new 2018 Ridgeline with only 460 miles on it and the dash lights up like a christmas tree! I get three messages: Emission System Problem Blind spot indicator problems Transmission problem The light that shows what gear you are in had all the letters lighted up at once...

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

HistorianX · Oct 23, 2020

technist said:
That said, if Mazda brought a truck here similar to the RL it would definitely peak my interest. Let's hope Honda fixes the problem.

Mazda has one called the BT-50 But unfortunately it's not available in the US.

sladeltd · Oct 30, 2020

2018 RTL-E AWD, 42k, 6speed. RPM surge and hard shift at 40mph. Never towed and never hauled more than 700lbs. ATF and diff change by Honda has not fixed it. Awaiting more investigation from Honda tomorrow. Next is flush, then maybe solenoid(s), then full warranty tranny replacement.

zroger73 · Oct 30, 2020

sladeltd said:
2018 RTL-E AWD, 42k, 6speed. RPM surge and hard shift at 40mph. Never towed and never hauled more than 700lbs. ATF and diff change by Honda has not fixed it. Awaiting more investigation from Honda tomorrow. Next is flush, then maybe solenoid(s), then full warranty tranny replacement.

You mentioned in a newer post that your transmission is getting replaced. Can you confirm this is happening?

sladeltd · Oct 31, 2020

zroger73 said:
You mentioned in a newer post that your transmission is getting replaced. Can you confirm this is happening?

Yes. I didn't have time to get more details about the problem. They just said "replaced under warranty, slipping between 4th and 5th gear". Maybe Honda is gathering enough data to realize the issue and see a trend. New one getting shipped from OH, Troy OH I assume. Maybe it will be ready Friday next week. I will get more technical details when I pick it up. Got a sweet Nissan Versa rental courtesy of Honda.

zroger73 · Oct 31, 2020

sladeltd said:
Yes.

Okay, just wanted to verify before I added transmission replacement #21.

PericoRandy · Nov 9, 2020

zroger73 said:
I thought about starting a list of injector failures as well, but that would take a lot more time than I'm willing to put into searching and organizing.

#1
@Travis Hannigan
October 4, 2017
2017 AWD 13,600 miles
Whine, bearing failure

2017 Ridgeline transmission problem

I have a 2017 AWD Ridgeline with 13,600 miles on it. I heard a wining noise coming from the transmission so I brought it back to the dealer. They said that there was a bearing failure. I've never pulled anything heavy with this truck. Has anyone had this problem with theirs?

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

#2
@jakerex
October 17, 2019
2017 with 58,000 miles
Fluctuating RPM

Fluctuating RPM

Around 1.5 - 2 grand when cruising I’m getting a jutter that makes my RPMs jitter up and down quickly. Sometime sit feels as if it’s starving for gas....like a partially clogged fuel filter. Any ideas? 2017 RL Sport AWD. 58k miles Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

#3
@mumbles
October 26, 2019
2018 with 11,600 km (7,200 miles)
Whine when idling

New Transmission Needed

January 2018 build, Jan 2019 purchase, 11600km ( 7200 miles ) whining noise noticed when idling. 6 hrs in Honda with 5 techs, new trans ordered, about 1.2 days labour. Must admit bit disappointed, but life goes on......

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

#4
@asondica
October 27, 2019
2017 Black Edition
“20-60 kmh thudding, rumble strip feeling”

TSB 17-025 and 17-026 Judder from the Torque Converter...

I've used the S-VCM for about 20K of my 30K total miles before my tranny developed a judder. I removed it before bringing it in for service. I believe I'm experiencing a bit of vibration at idle with it removed. I'm going to re-install it and see if it disappears.

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

#5
@jakerex
October 28, 2019
2017 Sport
Judder and “Transmission System Problem” message

TSB 17-025 and 17-026 Judder from the Torque Converter...

I've used the S-VCM for about 20K of my 30K total miles before my tranny developed a judder. I removed it before bringing it in for service. I believe I'm experiencing a bit of vibration at idle with it removed. I'm going to re-install it and see if it disappears.

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

#6
@JJkroch
January 9, 2020
2019 RTL-E with 18,000 miles
Unexpected downshift, flaring, harsh shifting

Transmission Issues

Issues today with my 19 RTL-E. First I have a long driveway 1200 feet. Driving up slowly, the RL downshifts. Weird. Let off the gas and back on and no issues. Top speed on my driveway is 10 at the most. Pull on main road and accelerate, hit 40 and it is like I shift in to neutral. Engine races...

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

#7
@zroger73
February 1, 2020
2019 RTL-E 14,000 miles
Transmission fluid pump failed

Transmission replacement, water leaks, and more on 2019...

Yesterday while backing out of my parking space at work, my transmission sounded like a manual with straight cut reverse gears. I discovered that it makes the same noise when reviving the engine in park or neutral, although not as loud. The symptoms suggest a failing pump, but it doesn't do it...

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

#8
@robertnisivocci
March 12, 2020
2017 with 64,000 miles
“D4 transmission warning”

Very Dissapointed 2017 RTL Transmission-Fuel Injectors

Purchased my 2017 in August 2017. Since that time. Passenger seat had to be removed for Air Bag sensor fix. Battery replaced after 1 year. Back up camera wiring harness broke ( no camera). ALL fuel injectors were replaced at 53k miles. NOW I got a D4 transmission warning. Trans probably...

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

#9
@RM8900
March 27, 2020
2018 RTL-E with 63,000 miles
“Transmission System Problem” message

2018 Transmission

How many 2018 Ridgeline transmission fail at 74,000 miles? $7000. It is only two years old. My 2006 Ridgeline has 225,000 miles on it, no problems.

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

#10
@mississauga145
April 24, 2020
2017 with 110,000 km (68,351 miles)
Harsh 1-2 shift, metal shavings in fluid

2018 Transmission

How many 2018 Ridgeline transmission fail at 74,000 miles? $7000. It is only two years old. My 2006 Ridgeline has 225,000 miles on it, no problems.

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

#11
@kbmandms18
June 21, 2020
2017 with 32,000 miles
Fluttering noise and vibration

2017 Ridgeline transmission problem

I have a 2017 AWD Ridgeline with 13,600 miles on it. I heard a wining noise coming from the transmission so I brought it back to the dealer. They said that there was a bearing failure. I've never pulled anything heavy with this truck. Has anyone had this problem with theirs?

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

#12
@ktm520
July 3, 2020
2017 with 45,000 miles
Harsh 1-2 shift, metal shavings in fluid

List of 6-speed transmission failures

I thought about starting a list of injector failures as well, but that would take a lot more time than I'm willing to put into searching and organizing. #1 @Travis Hannigan October 4, 2017 2017 AWD 13,600 miles Whine, bearing failure...

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

UPDATE 7/4/20: To keep this original post from getting too long, I'm now adding the failures as additional posts.

I’ve had two Honda Ridgelines. The 2008 was great. I hauled a 4280 lb trailer thru mountain passes, across 90 degree western plains, hot and humid southern tour as well as a maritime Provence tour. I probably totaled 18-22k miles. I traded it in for a 2017 at 124k. The 2017 has not been good to me. Blew up a transmission with only 42 k on a trip to Colorado hauling the same trailer and ended up in North Platte Neb for 9 days. Next transmission only lasted 12 k. Both times were probably due to overheating. Transmission fluid both times was only 5-10 k old. I asked Honda if I could install a more efficient aftermarket transmission cooler without voiding the warranty. There answer was nebulous so I won’t do that. Don’t know what I should do next. Anybody have info about durability of 2020s?

zroger73 · Nov 9, 2020

That's #22 and #23.

PericoRandy said:
Anybody have info about durability of 2020s?

The 2020's transmission has been in use by Honda for about 6 years in other models. While it's certainly not the smoothest and fastest shifting automatic out there (perhaps not even as good as the 6-speed in this regard), it does seem to be more durable so far.

speedlever · Nov 9, 2020

Wow. Anyone have any gas to throw on this fire?

billg71 · Nov 11, 2020

speedlever said:
Wow. Anyone have any gas to throw on this fire?

How about some cold water?

I'm a newbie here but it seems to me if all the tranny failures we can come up with is 21 in the 3 years the 6-speed has been used in the Gen 2 trucks that's a pretty impressive figure. Given the self-selecting nature of message boards and the tendency of people to report problems on same, I'd say it's pretty much a non-issue. Given the technology, the computer control and the hundreds of parts made by shops all over the world that go into one of these transmissions, it's amazing that they manage to work at all. That so few of them fail is pretty close to a miracle in itself.

Obviously, it sucks for those who have lost a transmission. It's a painful experience to go through having to replace a major component of a new vehicle for premature failure and the dealer service departments don't make it easy. And then you have to live with the vehicle, wondering when the tranny will fail again or what the next major problem will be. I couldn't live with that, I'd sell or trade the truck and never buy another Honda again.

But it looks like the majority of Ridgelne owners have transmissions that work fine and last a long time. I'm hoping so, anyway!!

Best,
Bill

14v6 · Nov 11, 2020

billg71 said:
How about some cold water?

I'm a newbie here but it seems to me if all the tranny failures we can come up with is 21 in the 3 years the 6-speed has been used in the Gen 2 trucks that's a pretty impressive figure. Given the self-selecting nature of message boards and the tendency of people to report problems on same, I'd say it's pretty much a non-issue. Given the technology, the computer control and the hundreds of parts made by shops all over the world that go into one of these transmissions, it's amazing that they manage to work at all. That so few of them fail is pretty close to a miracle in itself.

Obviously, it sucks for those who have lost a transmission. It's a painful experience to go through having to replace a major component of a new vehicle for premature failure and the dealer service departments don't make it easy. And then you have to live with the vehicle, wondering when the tranny will fail again or what the next major problem will be. I couldn't live with that, I'd sell or trade the truck and never buy another Honda again.

But it looks like the majority of Ridgelne owners have transmissions that work fine and last a long time. I'm hoping so, anyway!!

Best,
Bill

The lines can get blurred though. Transmissions that propel the car down the road that slip and have tachometers that bounce but haven't failed fall in between. My wife's 2015 CRV with a CVT sucked from the first day we had it. It was very notchy in its operation and the garage always smelled like burnt brake pads from seized calipers. It's the wife's car and I drive it once a week to fill the gas tank but absolutely hated it but the wife is clueless about cars. I changed the fluid several times and it had software updates as part of a TSB but it always was notchy. A few weeks ago I was backing it out of the garage and it stalled. It had come close to stalling a few times before when reversing. I checked the CRV forum and there was a TSB that matched my symptoms exactly. Ended up getting a new transmission and it operates better but it still sucks. So basically, the CRV operated but not to spec and as a consumer it was tolerated for over 60k miles. Not fair for the RL owners that get the software fix but have to change their trans fluid probably half as early. Problems breed failures. I've had 3 CRV's and the first two were excellent. Would I get another CVT, never unless it's in a Hybrid. Would I get a CVT and a turbo combination? Never.

speedlever · Nov 11, 2020

billg71 said:
How about some cold water?

I'm a newbie here but it seems to me if all the tranny failures we can come up with is 21 in the 3 years the 6-speed has been used in the Gen 2 trucks that's a pretty impressive figure. Given the self-selecting nature of message boards and the tendency of people to report problems on same, I'd say it's pretty much a non-issue. Given the technology, the computer control and the hundreds of parts made by shops all over the world that go into one of these transmissions, it's amazing that they manage to work at all. That so few of them fail is pretty close to a miracle in itself.

Obviously, it sucks for those who have lost a transmission. It's a painful experience to go through having to replace a major component of a new vehicle for premature failure and the dealer service departments don't make it easy. And then you have to live with the vehicle, wondering when the tranny will fail again or what the next major problem will be. I couldn't live with that, I'd sell or trade the truck and never buy another Honda again.

But it looks like the majority of Ridgelne owners have transmissions that work fine and last a long time. I'm hoping so, anyway!!

Best,
Bill

You make a valid point. OTOH, I've been around the ROC for a long time and the G1 Ridgeline with the 5AT never had any reported problems that I can recall. That's over a 9 year period covering 2006-2014. So there is quite a contrast between the G1 and the G2 Ridgeline in that regard.

stevem5215 · Nov 11, 2020

CVT's suck.

Prior Ridgeline was made in Canada. I still believe that the cooler could be a parts quality issue (like mentioned in conjunction with the converter, pump pressures etc... a combination problem possibly). Who knows. It would take an engineer to diagnose and figure it out and Honda swapped the trans to a different one.

Steve

14v6 · Nov 11, 2020

From my experience the Honda 5 speeds from around 08 (Odyssey) and 09 (CRV) were the best. They were trouble free and did what they were supposed to do. The 6 speed (Accord, RL) had different characteristics. In the Accord it upshifts early unless on the gas hard and the RL was mushy unless on the gas and then it shifted quickly. D4 and L IMO are inadequate to properly get the best out of the powertrain pairing. The 9 speed (Passport) when on the gas seems good so far. It does have moments of confusion and downshifts with the paddles in D mode take forever to slow the car down, much slower than using D4 or L. It's also a little anemic on pull off as it starts in second gear. However in power on situations, the 9 speed gets the best out of the engine/transmission pairing. CVT's suck and I haven't driven the 10 speed.

speedlever · Nov 11, 2020

stevem5215 said:
CVT's suck.

Prior Ridgeline was made in Canada. I still believe that the cooler could be a parts quality issue (like mentioned in conjunction with the converter, pump pressures etc... a combination problem possibly). Who knows. It would take an engineer to diagnose and figure it out and Honda swapped the trans to a different one.

Steve

From 2006-part way of the 2009MY, the G1 Ridgeline was made in Canada. The line moved to Alabama partway through MY2009 and the rest of MY2009-2014 were made in Alabama. Maybe @McChizzle knows the date the production line moved to Alabama. I'd be curious to know myself.

zroger73 · Nov 11, 2020

The first Lincoln-built Ridgeline rolled off the assembly line on February 16, 2009.

speedlever · Nov 11, 2020

Thanks @zroger73. I wonder how long production was down while they moved from Alliston to Alabama? I would think that would be a pretty big deal.

zroger73 · Nov 11, 2020

speedlever said:
Thanks @zroger73. I wonder how long production was down while they moved from Alliston to Alabama? I would think that would be a pretty big deal.

I believe production overlapped, but I don't know if the overlap lasted for weeks or months. Either way, they didn't "unplug the Ridgeline making machine from Alliston and plug it into Lincoln".

McChizzle · Nov 11, 2020

zroger73 is correct, production did overlap. According to Honda's Digital FactBook, it looks like the transition occurred with the 2009 model year in very late 2008 with the Allison plant producing 25,251 in 2008 and 0 in 2009 while the Lincoln plant produced 13 in 2008 and 16,180 in 2009. Yet, this same FactBook states that in February 2009 the Lincoln plant began producing the Ridgeline; I think the difference can be accounted for by noting the dates assembly begins and the dates the Ridgeline stops/starts rolling off the assembly line as a finished product.

I purchased my 2009 RTL in December 2008 and it was assembled at Allison.

cheetah2390 · Nov 12, 2020

Well this sucks. Went to drive my 2107 awd Ridgeline after work today and after leaving the neighborhood noticed hard shift from first to second and that it wouldn't shift past second. Turned around and hit a few lights and the shifting from first to second got worse. Transmission system problem and emissions system problem popped up on dash. I'm at 61,100 miles and the drivetrain warranty is 5 years 60,000 miles... They better warranty it. At 48,000 I brought it in because of the judder issue and they replaced tranny fluid and claimed software issue. I voiced my concern about "now what if the tranny goes out just after warranty". Well I'll be damned, it happened. Unreal. I'll be calling service manager tomorrow morning

List of 6-speed transmission failures

Top Contributors this Month