2021 Honda Ridgeline engine problems
28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the engine on the 2021 Honda Ridgeline — 28% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The auto idle function- the car engine doesn't restart. This has happened in a busy intersection and won't restart until you have made several attempts to restart. I have brought this to the attention of Honda certified techs.”
filed Sep 9, 2026
“This involves the paddle shift operation on the steering wheel. There are two paddles, one at 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock where the hands come into contact with the steering wheel. On four separate occasions, while driving at a relatively high rate of speed, my hands accidentally activated the gear…”
filed Aug 11, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque. Typically, the…
A23-009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 7, 2025Service Bulletin - MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power. After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather…
A24-085 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 20, 2024Service Bulletin - The MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power. After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather…
A24-085 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 19, 2024
Engine problems in other Ridgeline years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Ridgeline | 19 | 23% |
| 2024 Ridgeline | 12 | 21% |
| 2023 Ridgeline | 20 | 16% |
| 2022 Ridgeline | 25 | 22% |
| 2020 Ridgeline | 38 | 22% |
| 2019 Ridgeline | 37 | 16% |
| 2018 Ridgeline | 22 | 14% |
| 2017 Ridgeline | 83 | 24% |
| 2014 Ridgeline | 1 | 3% |
| 2013 Ridgeline | 2 | 4% |
| 2012 Ridgeline | 1 | 4% |
| 2010 Ridgeline | 2 | 5% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2021 Honda Ridgeline
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.