YearToAvoid

2021 Honda Ridgeline Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 34 engine complaints for the 2021 Honda Ridgeline, 34% of its 101 total complaints. Median mileage at failure is 36,000. No related recall is listed for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
34
34% of 101
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
36,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Auto Idle Stop/Start shuts the engine off at a light or intersection and fails to restart immediately, sometimes requiring a full shutdown to recover.
  • Owners report the truck losing power and bogging down after exiting the highway, often in cold weather, with the check engine light flashing and speed limited to around 35 mph.
  • Some owners describe a knocking or sputtering engine accompanied by a flashing check engine light, followed by loss of power that resolves temporarily after the vehicle sits.
  • Several complaints describe rod bearing damage and connecting rod failure diagnosed by dealers after a knocking noise, leading to engine replacement.
  • One owner reported the vehicle entering limp mode after exiting a freeway, with three cylinders shutting down and power dropping sharply while merging.
  • A separate case involved the starter failing to restart the engine after auto stop/start activated multiple times over a few weeks.

When 2021 Honda Ridgeline engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 16, 2021, latest Sep 9, 2026.

2021 Honda Ridgeline engine complaints: complaints filed per month4Jun 2021Mar 2022Dec 2022Sep 2024Jan 2025May 2025Oct 2025Aug 2026
34 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2022 (4).

Engine recalls for the 2021 Honda Ridgeline

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Ridgeline model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20105 (12%)
  2. 20111 (3%)
  3. 20121 (4%)
  4. 20132 (4%)
  5. 20143 (9%)
  6. 20150 (0%)
  7. 201797 (28%)
  8. 201826 (16%)
  9. 201948 (20%)
  10. 202039 (23%)
  11. 202134 (34%)
  12. 202225 (21%)
  13. 202324 (19%)
  14. 202413 (22%)
  15. 202523 (26%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2021 Honda Ridgeline have?
NHTSA lists 34 engine complaints for the 2021 Ridgeline, which is 34% of the 101 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2021 Honda Ridgeline engine problems?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the engine complaints reported on the 2021 Ridgeline.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up on the 2021 Ridgeline?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for engine complaints on the 2021 Ridgeline is 36,000 miles.
What kind of engine problems do 2021 Ridgeline owners report?
Owners report auto stop/start failing to restart the engine, sudden power loss after highway driving, knocking noises tied to rod bearing damage, and one case of limp mode with cylinder shutdown.
Did any 2021 Ridgeline engine complaints involve crashes or fires?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes and 0 fires among the 34 engine complaints for the 2021 Ridgeline.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.