Transmission Failure Problems of Honda Ridgeline

At approximately 59k +/- the transmission system and blind spot system light on my 2017 Honda Ridgeline came on and went off when the car was parked. This phenomenon was repeated twice before the vehicle was returned to the dealer for service at 61k +/-. The complaint was noted, checked, and after a $998. 19 service bill, no problems or faults could be located. At 62k +/- both warning lights came on and the Ridgeline was returned to the dealer. At that time I was informed the transmission had failed and Honda refused to make the necessary repairs under warranty. This flaw is known to Honda and has been corrected in later models. Prospective buyers should be warned about the fault so this model Ridgeline can be avoided. Finally, consumers should be aware that Honda refuses to take responsibility for defective products.

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My radiator failed in a fashion in which the radiator fluid mixed with the transmission fluid, destroying my transmission. I was driving my 2007 Honda Ridgeline on a main road in va when the transmission failed causing me. The failure of the transmission was caused by the radiator failing and subsequently mixing coolant with the transmission fluid. This mix of fluids destroyed the transmission and radiator. I did not want to buy a new car, so I had a local shop install a used transmission and radiator at the cost of about $4k. This appears to be a common problem with Honda Ridgelines and may be associated with the fact that the transmission line bolts leading to the radiator are comprised of dissimilar metals causing corrosion and a dangerous transmission failure while the vehicle is in motion. I attempted to contact Honda of America asking for assistance in the repair because a Honda should last at least 250k miles without premature catastrophic failure. Honda replied by making me aware of the warranty and that there was nothing they could do because the vehicle was out of warranty. This is clearly a safety issue, and should be investigated immediately because it is a well known scenario as cited on Ridgeline enthusiast websites. I have been a Honda enthusiast and owned 6 Hondas since 1991, and I have always had good luck with these vehicles, but this scenario is certainly an exception and will eventually lead to serious injury.

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Found out radiator/transmission on Honda Ridgeline has been having catastrophic failures due to transmission line failure. This issue will cause engine failure that could result in wrecks due to the violent nature of this failure. This would cause immediate panic to my pregnant wife and soon to be newborn baby girl. Honda is aware of the faulty connection on radiator that causes this issue and still hasn't issued recall. I believe they are acting negligently towards fixing this issue. . Read more...

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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.