Honda Ridgeline overheating problems

Filed Jul 18, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · AZ

2020 Honda Ridgeline-Internal failure, multi purpose camera. Multiple lights on dashboard and codes associated with driving support system, Collision Mitigation, Braking System, Lane keeping assist system, Road departure mitigation, Transmission System error. All these are showing up because of the front camera going out due to overheating. Dealership quoted $1197.20 for replacement. Multiple safety violations making vehicle unsafe to drive. Extended warranty will not cover.

Filed May 26, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · NC · fire · 1 injury

My wife and I had decided to empty our storage unit, so on Memorial Day we began moving everything into the garage. After five or six trips Honda, I pulled the car up beside the RV and close to the house for what turned out to be the last load. I unloaded my bicycle and nearly everything else, leaving only a few small items, and then removed the massage table from the back seat. The engine was off this entire time. That was when I noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. At first, I thought the radiator had overheated, so I tried to open the hood, but it was too hot. I went into the garage for gloves and a fire extinguisher and tried again, but still could not get it open. Realizing the situation was getting worse and that I could not stop it there, I jumped into the car and tried to start it. To my surprise, it started immediately, and I drove it as fast as I could out to the street in front of the house. Only later did I realize that this likely saved my RV—and possibly the front of my house as well—from catching fire. We were so blessed that I was able to move the car to a safer location and no one was hurt. It was a miracle.

Filed Feb 24, 2026 · Engine · NC

I had went to the store which is about 3 minutes from my house and on the way back my truck started running hot all of a sudden we were almost home and it was boiling hot from the temperature gauge we pulled in we get out and we look and my vehicle is pouring antifreeze out so my partner looked and he thought it was the crush washer and bolt he replaced the crush washer we drove to Morganton NC but it wasn't the engine actually had a hole in it and the antifreeze was pouring out of the engine there is a hole in it behind the drain plug there is no reason they should even be a hole in it I only have 64,000 miles on it it's been very well taken care of and I know that there is an investigation going on on these vehicles between 2017 to 2019 on the Honda ridgelines I drive to working back I work the most 6 miles from my house text me not even 5 minutes to get to work and then I'll leave the office and it takes me about 5 more minutes to get to the place I'm going cuz I work with hospice but for my vehicle just to start overheating for no reason pull in the driveway moments later and there's a big hole in it there's something bad wrong and I need help with this I'm in healthcare and I have to have my vehicle I've not had this vehicle but about 2 years and I'm paying on it it's like it's corroded from the inside out I guess you could say!

Filed Apr 21, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · AZ

My vehicle has less than 95k miles on it. Purchased it brand new from the dealer in 2016. It was one of the first few Ridgelines in the state. I've always had it serviced on time at the dealer, and kept up with its maintenance and care. The engine started to fail out of nowhere - making a weird tapping/knocking noise. I made an appointment to have it checked out by the dealership, and that same day my check engine light came on while I was on the freeway going 70mph. It began shaking at an idle. I got off the freeway, and parked. I was afraid to turn the car back on. The check engine light listed off numerous warnings of failed systems. Since my appointment wasn't until the next day, I left my car near the dealership overnight, instead of driving it back home for fear of causing an accident, or having my engine overheat or explode. I brought it to the dealership the next day, and they confirmed that I had a fuel injector issue, consistent with a known issue, for which I had an extended warranty letter re: the MIL warnings. However, they also noted a possible connection rod issue in the engine, and said the engine would have to be completely replaced or rebuilt. I have read and heard from many other people with a 2017 Honda Ridgeline that they have experienced this issue with their engines failing well before they should - at 90k miles, 140k miles, etc. There is a known issue with many of the 2017 Honda Ridgelines - and a recall did occur, but my VIN says my vehicle is not part of this recall - however, clearly my engine had the problem that Honda was aware of. My whole family was in the car when the check engine light came on, and the sound got worse - we could have been injured in an accident on the freeway, or had the engine overheat/explode while we were in the car. The issue was reproduced and confirmed by the dealer service center, and has been inspected by them. No warnings or symptoms before the failure - just complete shutdown out of nowhere.

Filed Nov 12, 2024 · Engine · CA

Engine started pinging on the Freeway. Pulled over immediately and had it towed by Auto Club to Morgan Auto Repair in Tracy, California. After diagnostics, they determined that the crankshaft was impaired by connecting rod bearing failure. Morgan Auto repair confirmed that the engine HAD THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF OIL AND DID NOT OVERHEAT. The engine is still fully intact(i,e no destruction to the engine block).

Filed Apr 11, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · WA

Rod bearings failed, leaving metal shards in the pistons which causes engine the to overheat and seize or catch fire. The engine noise was getting increasingly loud over a 3 day period so I took it into the dealership (Honda of Seattle) and they found rod bearings had worn apart and were floating around inside the engine. This requires a full engine replacement. There were no warning lamps.

Filed Oct 7, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · 147,000 miles · WI · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2006 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving approximately driving 50 mph the vehicle suddenly lost power and stalled. After stopping to inspect under the hood the contact discovered transmission and radiator fluid spraying and leaking within the engine compartment. The contact sustained burns to the left arm from the hot fluids while inspecting under the hood. The injuries did not require medical treatment. The vehicle was towed away and later examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the failure occurred due to the failed transmission lines that were located inside the radiator which caused the radiator and transmission to overheat. The contact was informed that both the transmission and radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 147,000.

Filed Aug 12, 2020 · Engine · 131,285 miles · CA

Engine developed a sudden misfire in #4 cylinder for about 20 seconds, then cleared. Subsequently, had large white clouds of coolant and burned oil coming from tailpipe while driving on city streets. After turning engine off and letting it cool, noticed coolant level low in reservoir, low oil level on dipstick. Low compression on #4 cyl. And burned oil on #4 spark plug. If allowed to continue running, coolant would be consumed, resulting in overheating and engine seizing while driving.

Filed Apr 23, 2020 · Transmission · 61,000 miles · CT

I had a trans lite on the dash and overheating issues in the (6 speed) transmission at about 61000 miles. The issue started with a juddering vibration that was reported to the dealer at 39000 miles. Then I noticed increased vibration from the torque converter(juddering) up until the trans indicated a code for the clutches not locking up, which causes overheating. I nursed this until I took it to manchester honda for repair. They said if this is a juddering problem, it would be covered under the warrenty until 80k miles. They changed the fluid and did a software update. This update changed the shift points where the lack of lockup became worse. I also noticed the gas mileage went down about 25%.it was so bad that the trans light went on again the next day after the repair. They claimed that with the fluid change and software update, that everything was ok. During this debacle, I called honda customer service several times and got no help. They insisted that this truck does not qualify for the tsb issued for the 17's and earlier. This overheating issue has been documented on the owners forum for all the earlier models as well as the 2018's and 2019's. Now with the trans nearly non-functional, I took the truck to liberty honda where they told me the torque converter needs replacement. I knew that the converter failed, but they refused to cover anything under warranty. Can you help with this situation please?

Filed Dec 31, 2017 · Brakes · 20,000 miles · CA

Brake rotors defective. Overheat and cause vehicle to shake. Dealer says normal. Others are reporting same problem.