There is a design flaw in the washer used at the transmission fluid junctions in the radiator. The fittings and washer are made of dissimilar metals. As a result, the steel washer used as a spacer rusts and corrodes, then swells and forcibly pulls the threads from their fittings. A catastrophic loss of fluids including an exchange of transmission fluid and engine coolant take place, rendering the vehicle not only inoperable but also perhaps significantly damaged. These fittings fail at random with no obvious pattern or environmental cause. The normal "underbody rust" does not seem to correlate with this failure. I have done substantial research on the internet regarding this issue, and many others report this type of failure and have come to the same conclusion. I feel this is a significant safety issue with this vehicle, as such a dramatic and immediate loss of fluid could result in engine failure, overheating, and transmission failure. If the engine were to fail and the vehicle were traveling at speed, a loss of power steering and power assisted braking would occur. Additionally, finding a location to pull off of the road presents a safety hazard in itself. This issue could be easily resolved by ceasing to use dissimilar metals in the radiator fittings. As far as I know, this same design is being applied to all honda ridgeline model years including those currently in production. Although I cannot verify this, I have heard that this particular part in the 2009 model year remained unmodified. This is an issue that must be addressed, as there are more and more failures of this type occurring. It is simply a matter of time before a serious injury occurs that could have been completely preventable.
2006 Honda Ridgeline transmission complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 16 of 16, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Transmission fluid oil cooler line ejects from radiator as a result of dissimilar metal corrosion...a steel washer is used that becomes the catalyst for the failure. Transmission fluid loss occurs that leads to loss of acceleration of vehicle, putting vehicle occupants in danger.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 honda ridgeline. The contact stated when placing the vehicle in reverse, there was an unusually loud noise. The noise was only heard when in reverse and not in drive or attempting a turn. Neither the manufacturer nor the dealer was contacted to determine the cause of the failure or to make repairs. The failure mileage was 3,600 and current mileage was 3,900.
I was traveling from houston to las vegas via interstate 10. About 100 miles from el paso, I heard a loud noise, boom, and we stopped to investigate what we saw what had happened to my truck I was totally shocked. The first thought came to our mind was, we could have gotten killed, the drive shaft snapped in half while traveling at the highway speed. Based on the words of mechanic abel of kelly grimsley honda in odessa texas, with 14 years of experience, he has never seen anything like it. No repair has been done yet since the cost is approximately $5600. This is an obvious defect and we were lucky to be alive. I have photos if needed.
Honda ridgeline 2006 has considerable hesitation when accelerating from under 10 MPH, especially when turning. I was leaving the parking lot of convenience store rolling at about 5 MPH and then tried to accelerate out into faster moving traffic. Vehicle hesitated for about 3 seconds which put me in a position where cars on the roadway I was entering had to brake. Hesitation is constant and consistent since purchase of the truck. Now I currently have 2000 miles on vehicle. Called honda and they say it's normal for the system of "drive by wire". I have another family member with same vehicle, he has no hesitation. Honda refuses to fix or at least look into my problem as they continue to say it's normal.
Hesitation occurs consistently when speed is under 10 MPH and then try to accelerate. Was leaving parking lot of convenience store rolling to exit stepped on the gas to get into traffic and truck hesitated for 2-3 seconds putting me into traffic with no power for those 2-3 seconds. Traffic had to brake for me. I believe this is a safety factor to be considered especially since I have two children usually with me. I had called honda about this problem and they were familiar with it. If they were familiar why didn't they inform me of that before I spent $32,000 for the vehicle. When I test drove the truck I did not feel this hesitation as it started after I had 150 miles on it. They tell me it's drive by wire or something of this nature and basically have to live with it.
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