You expect a pick-up truck from Honda to be the pinnacle of robustness and reliability. Well, that is mostly true when you factor in the low number of recalls the Honda Ridgeline has accumulated for the 2021 model year. However, it already has 25 officially recognized complaints filed with NHTSA and that's without any account for all the unofficial ones. The current generation introduced back in 2016, has always seen complaints in the double digits. So, this article glances over the complaints and recalls of the 2021 Honda Ridgeline and how they impacted the user experience of people. With a base price of $37,715, the 2021 ridgeline competes with the likes of the Chevrolet Colorado, the Ford Ranger, and the Toyota Tacoma, and is available only in crew cab body style.
2021 Honda Ridgeline User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical Complaints
- Engine- The 2021 Ridgeline is said to throw random “Check engine” warning lights coupled with sputters, engine stalls, or the engine going into limp mode. Most owners who have faced this issue complain of it happening while driving and have raised the concern of the risk of a crash. Dealers were unable to diagnose the fault because they were unable to replicate the issues or find any error codes with the system. This is one single issue that has raked up the most complaints from owners as per the NHTSA.
- Transmission- Not as common as the engine faults here, but a handful of owners have been complaining about the shifter not going into “Park” or “Drive” occasionally. The issue is said to be with the “Transmission control module” software that was reset at the dealership as a remedy.
Electrical Complaints
- Infotainment issues- Phone connectivity options including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth on the infotainment system of the 2021 Ridgeline are said to be buggy. When connected wirelessly to the system, the volume control is said to not function properly at times. Also the wires Android Auto system is said to be missing some functionalities on certain units. Though NHTSA has only one recognized complaint on this, the unofficial forums say otherwise.
- Auto high-beam- The auto high-beam functionality on the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is said to be erratic and faulty. The system is not said to engage when there is no traffic approaching and the lights dim themselves when hitting reflective road signs or even small road markers in some cases.
- Wireless charging pad- The wireless charging pad seen on higher trims of the 2021 Ridgeline is said to be faulty. Most of the time, it is said to not detect the phone when placed over it and if it does, it intermittently drops from charge and restarts again. Even though the pad was replaced, owners still complain about the issue persists.
Safety Complaints
- Forward collision avoidance system- The forward collision system on the 2021 Ridgeline is said to be abrupt when engaging. This is said to primarily happen when the vehicle is set to adaptive cruise control. When a vehicle in front changes lanes, the truck is said to brake violently, which can increase the risk of a rear-end crash. The system is also said to display “Brake” warning lights when there is no traffic in the truck’s vicinity.
2021 Honda Ridgeline Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
18th November 2021 |
21V900000 |
Seat Belt retractor malfunction. |
The automatic locking retractors on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which may leave the child restraint system insecure, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash. |
Dealers will replace the second-row seat belt assembly free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. |
Should you buy a used Honda Ridgeline?
Though the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is in no shortage of complaints, it is pretty much hard for us not to recommend this truck. This Honda might be the best midsize pick-up truck for people looking for the best of everything in their utility vehicle as far as we see it. Even though complaints do pop up occasionally, Honda has managed to bring down the recalls drastically, given its improved production process and stringent quality control. Also, Honda might be the second-best when it comes to post-sales support after Toyota, which strengthens its case even more. So, if you are planning to buy a 2021 Honda Ridgeline, our obvious response would be to go for it!
