Skip to content
KLUNK
KLUNK

2023 Honda Ridgeline

The Verdict

68 Solid Pick

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline has 130 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (54 complaints) and body (41 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 68/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Honda Ridgeline, consider the 2015 model year which has 98% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2015 has 98% fewer complaints

View the 2015 Honda Ridgeline dashboard →

68

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 1

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

24V184000 STEERING:RACK AND PINION

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Passport and Ridgeline vehicles. The inner ball joint housing in the steering gearbox assembly may loosen and detach from the steering ra...

Risk

A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the steering gearbox as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2...

Reported Jul 3, 2024

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2023 Honda Ridgeline. No spam, no marketing.

Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20068111102408
200745485169
200827787182
2009812222
20101442031
20111002810
2012711420
2013513431
20141241710
201500200
201782168413329
201847449539
201958122810233
202058556437
202136326342
202230646315
202341454247
202417423223
202522546272

By Category

Electrical
54
Body
41
Engine
24
Transmission
7
Brakes
4

By Severity

1
57
2
68
4
5

Worst Problems

Complaints

Body 1

I own a 2023 Ridgeline with an abnormal clunking noise from front right side and occasional steering wheel vibration at highway speeds. Clunking noise most noticeable when driving on bumpy dirt roads, typically at low speeds 10-25 MPH. I am estimating the problem became noticeable at about 35,000 miles. Over time the clunking noise became noticeable on paved roads up to about 40 MPH when going over small to medium pot holes (depth). On dirt roads at low speeds 10-25MPH, it became more difficult to isolate to right side as noise seemed now to be noticeable in center of vehicle as well as right side. Also was able to produce noise with vehicle in park when simply turning wheel from right to left and sound came from right side only. At 46148 miles I took the vehicle to a local repair shop and preliminary assessment was an inner tie rod failure. Owner of repair shop called and told me the clunking noise was not related to the right-side inner tie rod but was being caused by an estimated .25-.50 inches of play of the steering rack and a replacement steering rack assembly was needed. The repair was completed on 10/2/2026. The replaced steering rack assembly S/N did not match either of the S/N's listed in service bulletin 24-018. I drove the vehicle to the same dirt road where previously the location of the noise was noticeable at both the center and right of vehicle. No noise was noticed at all. The vehicle now has 46770 miles and has been driven on pavement, dirt roads and tested at park by turning the steering wheel left to right. The noise is gone.

5d ago
Engine 2

Auto shut off and restart will shut the engine off at a red light or intersection but then it tries to restart but the stalls the engine. I have to shift it quickly into park and restart the engine with several cars behind me. This is a safety hazard. This has happened multiple times. Honda says that this isn’t covered under the 10 year extended warranty unlimited miles for this problem with the 2023. Ridgeline.

7d ago
Body 4

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50-54 MPH and making a gradual left turn on the highway, the vehicle unintendedly made a quick sharp left turn, grazed the concrete barrier and veered to the opposite side of the road before coming to a stop. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the front driver's side tire was completely flat and was pointing left at a 90 degrees angle, and the ball joint had disassembled. The contact could not determine whether the damage caused the crash or whether the crash caused the damage. The contact stated that the failure might be associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V184000 (Steering). A Police report was filed. The contact's wife notified the dealer of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the body shop and was scheduled for repair. The vehicle was inspected by the insurance company. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.

27d ago
Engine 2

9/17/2026. Complete electrical system shutdown while stopped in traffic, loss of power steering/brakes capability, all doors automatically locked with no emergency flasher capability. Vehicle became a hazard. Occurred twice. TSB-23-008 software update performed in 2024 but problem persists. Safety defect ENTRAPMENT with los of all vehicle power in active traffic. Please share complain with manufacturer.

1mo ago
Engine 2

This has happened for the last 2.5 years and has happened between 5 and 10 times. While stopped at a traffic light the Auto-Stop feature activates. When the light changes and I attempt to move, the vehicle enters "cuts off" and the dash board directs me to shift to Park or to step on the brake to restart the engine. It take multiple attempts but then it switches to Accessory Mode after which it generally starts. - Two pictures have been included. The one at night was in [XXX] and the other during the day, was taken on the corner of [XXX] and [XXX] in [XXX]. I also have a short video clip of the [XXX] incident which occurred about two days before the [XXX] incident. Once this begins I put on my hazards to direct other vehicles to drive around. I have reported it to the dealer. The dealer assured me it was the battery and they tested the battery but the battery was fine. The issue is similar to other 2023 and is covered by TSB 23-008/23-010 (Video Link: [XXX] ) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

2mo ago
Engine 1

ENGINE SHUTS OFF TOTALLY IN AUTO IDLE AND MUST BE RESTARTED.

2mo ago
Engine 2

I am submitting a safety complaint regarding my 2023 Honda Ridgeline with approximately 23,995 miles. My primary concern is an intermittent transmission/powertrain malfunction. While driving on the highway, the vehicle unexpectedly entered limp/fail-safe mode and experienced a significant loss of power and acceleration. This created a potentially dangerous situation because I was unable to accelerate normally while traveling with highway traffic. I am concerned that this could happen again without warning while merging, changing lanes, crossing an intersection, or attempting to avoid another vehicle. The electronic transmission selector has also intermittently stuck or failed to operate smoothly. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether other 2023 Honda Ridgeline owners have reported similar transmission warnings, limp-mode events, loss of propulsion, reduced acceleration, transmission-selector malfunctions, or related powertrain problems. The vehicle also has premature deterioration of both headlamp lenses, including fading, hazing, and cloudiness. I am concerned this may reduce nighttime light output and roadway visibility. Additionally, the engine produces an abnormal rattling noise during cold starts. Rust/corrosion is developing beneath the door weather seals, and the exterior window/pillar trim is prematurely fading and deteriorating. My most serious concern is the unexpected transmission malfunction and loss of power at highway speed. At only approximately 23,995 miles, I believe this condition warrants investigation because an unexpected reduction in propulsion can increase the risk of a collision.

2mo ago
Body 1

Vehicle has significant rusting on the suspension & can be inspected upon request. The rust will deteriorate the suspension’s capacity to support the vehicle, creating a dangerous hazard for others and myself on the road. The problem was first noted by a Honda service technician, where they provided detailed images of the undercarriage of the vehicle. Images of the rust were found on the rear suspension, parts of the front suspension & in other areas like the differential box & along the shaft of the vehicle. The vehicle did not have any warning signs on the dash - however the suspension is squeaky when the vehicle is in motion.

3mo ago
Transmission 2

On about 5 occasions, and at a stop light, the auto stop did not re-engage when I attempted to move forward. The first time it happened I only had about 28k miles on it and I was making a left at a light in [XXX]. On another occasion, about 7 months ago, I was driving in [XXX] and the vehicle shut down in the same manner - it went into Accessory mode and I then turned the car off and back on before I was able to move again. The most recent occasion was about two weeks ago in [XXX]. I was about to make a left onto [XXX] from Coliseum and stalled. I had to wave people around me because I was unable to immediately restart the vehicle. In the two weeks preceeding this incident, the system seemed to act up quite a bit more and began thinking about replacing the vehicle. There were at least 3 other instances. I reported the first instance to the dealer but since the could not replicate the issue, it was ignored. I went to the dealer last week and they simply had no interest in dealing with my issue since my VIN was not in the ones designated with the problem. This is an issue! My first report was more than two years ago and I did not know there was any issue at the time - I am aware now but I am told that my vehicle is not impacted. It is INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

3mo ago
Body 1

My sunroof exploded. The glass blew up and out of the vehicle while on the highway.

3mo ago
Engine 4

Driving approximately 15mph on a gravel road in my subdivision I noticed smoke or steam coming from under the hood. The time was approximately 10: 30 am on June 4,2026 the 2023 Honda Ridgeline with 41,000 miles was immediately stopped and put in park. I exited the vehicle and started to open the hood and fire streamed out from the front of the vehicle. I backed up and went to the rear door and retrieved my dog from the back seat. The vehicle is a total loss as the fire spread incredibly fast. I’m lucky to be alive today. There were no warnings or messages.

4mo ago
Transmission 2

During warmer months of the year the vehicle can have a long pause when shifted into drive. Most commonly occurs when you finish backing up and want to go forward. The vehicle will pause and not go anywhere for 2-3 seconds. It also happens by shifting out of park into drive. Again, the vehicle will pause for 2-3 seconds. Honda dealerships are aware of this issue on the Honda Ridgeline with a 9-speed automatic transmission. It could easily cause an accident.

4mo ago
Body 2

At approximately 31,800 miles, my 2023 Honda Ridgeline failed Massachusetts state inspection due to excessive play in the steering rack. A Honda dealership technician confirmed the steering rack and both inner and outer tie rods required replacement. This vehicle is the same year and model covered under NHTSA Recall 24V184000 (steering gearbox inner ball joint housing detaching from steering rack). My VIN was not included in that recall batch; however the failure is identical in nature — premature steering component failure at extremely low mileage. Steering racks are designed to last 100,000 to 150,000+ miles under normal use. This failure occurred at roughly one-third of the minimum expected lifespan, with no prior warning signs, no crashes, no unusual road conditions, and regular maintenance. Vehicle was driven exclusively on paved roads. Component is available for inspection upon request. Failure confirmed by Honda dealership. No warning lamps preceded the failure. Safety risk: potential loss of steering control at highway speed.

5mo ago
Engine 2

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Ridgeline. The contact The contact stated he experienced knocking in the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with an air compressor failure; however, the issue persisted. The contact also stated another issue is the rearview camera displayed a distorted image. The contact also experienced loss of steering control with the vehicle pulling to the right. intermittently veering towards The contact associated the issues with NHTSA Campaign Numbers 24V321000 (Back Over Prevention) and 24V184000 (Steering) The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired for these issues. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 32,000.

5mo ago
Electrical 2

The auto-dimmer function does not work. On high-beam there is no automatic dimming; on low-beam the high beam automatically and randomly flashes on for a couple seconds, then off. In the latter instance, oncoming traffic gets hit with a sudden blinding flash - creating a hazard. My understanding is that this has been a problem for several years even before we bought the vehicle new and the company misled us into believing the function was available on the vehicle. The company also simply ignoring and not trying to fix it. Given the false advertisement of the functionality in the vehicle and hazard to oncoming traffic when it is on, one might reasonably expect a recall to be issued.

5mo ago
Transmission 1

The connecting rod bearing in cylinder one broke causing catastrophic engine failure. It has been inspected by a Honda dealer. The check engine light started flashing after the rod broke making me lose power in the vehicle at an intersection.

5mo ago
Body 1

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that on several occasions at various speeds, when the vehicle went over bumps in the road, it shook more than usual. Additionally, when the vehicle was slowed down and the brake pedal was depressed, it took more effort to depress the pedal. The vehicle was taken for inspection, where it was determined that there was a steering suspension failure and the inner and outer tie rods were damaged. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,604.

5mo ago
Body 1

At roughly 20,000 miles, I began to notice a slight rattle/clucking sound from the front end of the vehicle on gravel surfaces. The issue gradually became more noticeable and upon owner inspection, inner tie rods had noticeable play. Independent shop (Frantz Automotive, Cary, NC) confirmed the play, and upon removing the tie rods and boots, discovered play within the steering rack itself (have video that could not be uploaded), and notified me that there was a recall for this issue on some 2023 Ridgelines (as noted on receipt). I then took the truck to the dealership where purchased (Autopark Honda, Cary, NC), which confirmed the issue (as noted on receipt) and offered to replace at a "goodwill" rate of $500, which they termed a "deductible." Given the safety concern and I needed the truck for transportation, I paid for the repair and will request a refund from Honda America.

5mo ago
Electrical 2

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving or while stopped at a stop light, the Auto Idle Stop system activated, and the vehicle hesitated to respond. The message "Auto Idle Stop Temporarily Unavailable" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.

6mo ago
Electrical 2

the auto high beam system is overly sensitive. lights flicker when a street sign is detected. dealer checked this issue and said the door switch was bad and replaced it. problem still exists. this makes night driving distracting and dangerous. no warning lamps or messages are shown on instrument panel.

6mo ago

130 total

1/ 7
Report a Klunk