2018 Honda Ridgeline

Catastrophic Engine Failure. Reported to NHTSA on 10.11.24 for Recall 23.097. Investigation (RQ24013) which no issues were allegedly determined. Now a new investigation has opened PE25008: We had our engine replaced for a used one and are concerned that this engine still has the issues realated to Recall 23.097. Called Honda to ask if they can confirm whether or not this used/salvaged engine had been checked to see if it has rod bearing issues related to Recall 23.097 or was from a vehicle that was related to the recall. They said they had not. Furthermore, we provided the motor serial number so they can check and they said they were not able to. They have systems in place to quickly cross reference VIN and motor serial numbers, so it was surprising they would not be able to provide this information. Furthermore, why would Honda not have systems in place to ensure they are not installing a faulty motor given the absurdly expensive pricing for a used unit. Our families life was at risk previously with the first engine failure and now it could be again, and this was their response.

Truck only has 40,500 miles. Was driving down road and made a clunk noise and engine seized up and wouldn't start. There were no warning signs. I had it towed to Honda dealership. Their official repair estimate states verbatim "Bearing on a connecting rod went bad and the rod snapped." The bill is $7800 for a remanufactured engine or $13500 for a new one. I had just had the vehicle's 40,000 mile inspection done at the same Honda Dealership 2 months prior, and no issues were found.

I had the backup camera harness recall performed on my 2018 Honda Ridgeline on 09/06/2023 by Honda of Escondido , CA. (See attached invoice of recall work performed.) On 01/27/2026, the backup camera failed to appear on the dash screen when the vehicle was in reverse. I restarted the vehicle and the camera view was still not visible on the screen. I drove home and parked the vehicle in my garage. I turned the ignition off and then on again and put the car in reverse with the brake applied. This time the camera view was displayed on the dash screen. Appears to be an intermittent problem. (See attached two pictures of rear camera view not projected to the dash screen and one picture of my vehicle"s mileage, 50,518 miles.)

Service engine light came on and mechanic stated the failed rod bearings have made the vehicle undriveable.

While driving the vehicle to the dealership to have them inspect the vehicle for a knocking noise coming from the engine at startup, the engine stalled. The engine locked up and had to be towed approximately 10 miles to the dealership. Upon inspection by the dealership after pulling the oil pan and inspecting for evidence of rod bearing failure, it was confirmed by the shop manager that there was indeed evidence of this in the oil pan.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50-55 MPH on I-40 Westbound to I-25 and making a turn in a construction zone, the passenger’s side air bag deployed without warning or impact to the vehicle. There were no reported injuries. The air bag control message was displayed after the failure. Two days later, the system indicators produced a failure with the road departure mitigation, collision mitigation, trailer stability control field assist, vehicle stability control, power steering, air bag system, and adaptive cruise control. The brake system warning light was illuminated after the parking brake was released. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 56,850.

My check engine light came on and within minutes there was a loud noise, smoke and my vehicle lost power. I was on Hwy 20 returning to Boise, ID from Bend, OR. Luckily this occurred just as I had cell service since I was without cell service just before this occurred. This happened in the evening on Nov 2, 2025. I had just had it serviced for regularly needed maintenance as recommended by Honda. 10/20/2025 I spent $2274.28 on service at the Honda dealership. Service included transmission service, oil change, strut service, replace front struts, wheel alignment, and resurfaced front rotors. I've had all my regular maintenance handled timely and at the dealership. I was 75 miles from the dealership and had to spend $521 to have it towed to the dealership. My truck lost power so fast after the check engine light leaving me on the side of the hwy 15 miles from the nearest town as the sun set. I waited in the dark for a tow truck. So grateful that I had regained cell service to call for help. The truck is currently at the dealership awaiting resolution. Dealership notes: engine oil leaking all over the engine assembly, used bore scope and inspected behind bank 2 catalytic converter and found a hole in the engine block. Recommend replacement of the short block with new heads or replace the engine. Service department suspects the problem a connecting rod bearing failed. We've had multiple phone and in person discussions regarding the matter as we try to resolve this. There is a recall on the 2017 and 2019, but not the 2018. There is an open probe regarding the 2018. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Multiple warning lights appeared and remained illuminated on my dash, all related to safety features (LKAS, ACC, CMBS AND ROAD DEPARTURE). The problem was confirmed by Capitol Honda Service Department. The vehicle was scanned and stored DTC was found at INTEGRATED DRIVER SUPPORT SYSTEM. U3000-49 MULTIPURPOSE CAMERA UNIT INTERNAL ELECTRONIC FAILURE. The DTC was set as hard code, unable to clear. RECOMMEND REPLACING MULTIPURPOSE CAMERA AND PERFORMING CALIBRATION. The estimate I was initially given for the cost of the repair parts and labor was close to $2,000. The repair was necessary because the inoperable safety features directly affects my safety on the road as well as the safety of others. Honda Sensing is a suite of driver-assist safety technologies that use cameras, radar, and sensors to monitor the vehicle's surroundings, alert the driver to potential hazards, and provide automatic steering and braking assistance to help prevent collisions. Key features include Collision Mitigation Braking, which applies the brakes to avoid or mitigate a crash; Adaptive Cruise Control, which maintains a set distance behind the leading vehicle; and Lane Keeping Assist, which provides subtle steering adjustments to keep the vehicle centered in its lane.

Engine started making a knocking noise on start up. Got progressively worse for the next 3 days before I stopped operation. Dealer states "engine has a rod knock likely due to a spun bearing". No warning lights or messages displayed.

The truck has a hard/rough shifting between 2nd and 3rd gear in an automatic transmission. No dash light indicating anything wrong with the engine or the transmission.

Had a clacking noise that got louder depending on RPM's, scheduled a visit to the dealer same day to also take care of a B1 maintenance notification that appeared 2 days prior and on the way to the dealer from work the same day the clacking noise started, the engine light started to flash and then within a few seconds there was a complete loss of power to the accelerator and the RPM's dropped to zero; Had to pull off the interstate in a construction zone where there was no shoulder and just on a dirt slope. When towed to the dealer, dealer stated the engine had suffered Rod bearing failure and there were metal shavings in the oil pan. The car is available upon request, it is at the dealership at the moment and I am scheduling it to get an engine replacement. I contacted Honda because this is a Honda Ridgeline 2018 and they denied my request for goodwill consideration, I stated that this is surely apart of the ongoing investigation "RQ24013" as it sounds extremely similar and there have already been recalls issued under "23V-751". They stated the vehicle was not taken to dealers for maintenance before I bought the truck 5 months ago and that the truck has too many miles at 90k miles so therefore they will not help. This is an extremely dangerous car to own when the engine can die on you like that after only 1 day of a clacking noise, if you are on a bridge with no shoulder or like me in a construction zone, you will be a foot away from traffic moving at 70+mph next to you and stranded with no Hvac system. I was personally in my car for an hour and a half in the deep south in the middle of summer, so 90+ degree temps without A/C. Also I bought this from Carvana who did a "150 multi-point inspection" of the car and missed this and refuses to help in any way, they just stated "Oh sorry to hear that" and then closed the chat, so don't buy from Carvana, they won't help you at all.

KEYLESS ACCESS CONTROL UNIT PART NUMBER: 38320-T6Z-A31 The vehicle headlights came on and dash lights flashed on and off. The alarm would also go off and on. This causes the battery to drain as well. Also I know of several other Honda Ridgeline owners who have had the same part failure

The vehicle’s front suspension system failed, specifically the driver’s side and passenger’s side front strut assemblies and the driver’s side inner and outer tie rods. These components have been identified by the dealership as needing immediate replacement. The defective components should be available for inspection upon request, pending completion of repairs. The vehicle exhibited wobbling and a dragging sensation from the front left tire, which raised concerns regarding control and steering safety. A loose or faulty suspension or tie rod can significantly impair vehicle handling, stability, and steering precision, particularly during acceleration, turning, or driving on inclines. If these components had failed while driving, it could have resulted in loss of control or an accident, posing a serious safety risk to both the driver and other road users. The issue was confirmed and diagnosed by a Honda dealership service department on March 18, 2025, and a detailed repair estimate was provided indicating strut and tie rod failure. The issue was inspected by a Honda-certified dealership service center, but not by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives at this time. There were no warning lights or messages on the dashboard. The only symptoms were a wobbling or loose feeling in the front left tire and a dragging sensation during acceleration on inclines, first noticed approximately two days prior to the March 18 service visit. Upon visual inspection, I also observed what appeared to be oil on the suspension, suggesting a possible strut fluid leak.

We were traveling up the freeway just like any other day. Out of nowhere the low oil light flashed and next thing we know a loud clanking started to happen. We were able to make it to the exit as it was right there thankfully because once we stopped I shut the engine off got out and checked the oil and it was full. I tried to start it again, it started but turned it off fast because the noise it was making was horrible. I’ve contacted Honda regarding this issue because the Ridgeline from 2017 and 2019 are covered under a recall but the can’t explain why the 2018 is exempt from the recall seeing it’s the same engine.

As I was driving on the freeway, the vehicle lost power completely without any prior warning. All the lights on the dashboard were flashing. The vehicle could not be started again. I was stranded in the middle of the freeway at the very high risk of being rear ended given the relatively lighter traffic at 11pm in Los Angeles. It put other drivers on the freeway at very high risk of running into me as well. The vehicle was towed to the dealership where an inspection was conducted. It concluded a blown-out engine (literally), possibly caused by the piston. A hole was found on the engine cast. The incident was escalated to Honda's corporate customer care department.

I went to fill my vehicle with gasoline on 02/06/2025. The 2018 Honda Ridgeline has a capless fuel system to enter fuel into the vehicle and there are two flaps that the gasoline nozzle is required to open. It repeatedly attempted to insert the nozzle and the first flap would not move. I pushed harder, and the first flap broke. I still could not insert the nozzle to get gasoline into my vehicle. I then observed a block of ice preventing the nozzle from accessing the second flap. I could not remove the ice to put gas in my vehicle. On 02/07/2025, the temperature rose above freezing and I was able to mop out the water from the area, however my capless system was broken at this time. I brought it to the local Honda dealership and they were able to repair the damaged component, however charged me for this repair as they contended there were no recalls on this issue and the vehicle is out of warranty. I went on the internet and found in several consumer forums that people have cited this to be an issue with the Ridgeline and other Honda vehicles. I am unclear how Honda could manufacture a vehicle component that allows water to collect at the entrance to the gas tank which could cause a myriad of engine issues as well as the ice issue which would prevent being able to put gasoline in the vehicle.

The referenced Recall for my Honda Ridgeline indicates that the fuel pump is suspect for an inadequate impeller and a possible safety problem. I have been awaiting this replacement part at least 8 months and the original recall has a date of December 18, 2023 which is over a year since identified. I have visited the dealership several times over the last six months and have been assured that I am on the "list" to receive a new fuel pump. The service department informed me on January 7, 2025 that they still have not received the fuel pump from you. The latest recall notice informed me pumps are available, but as you see in the previous paragraph I am not able to get the pump at present. Please expedite the delivery of the new improved fuel pump to the Honda dealership in Maui (Island Honda, 110 Hana Hwy, Kahului, HI 96732) to resolve this long overdue corrective action for my Honda Ridgeline truck

After performing regular maintenance to Honda Ridgeline 2018 by replacing the spark plugs, spark plug number 4 was contaminated with oil. All other 5 spark plugs had not sign of oil. This was discovered during the 100K miles tune up. A leaking component (e.g. a tube seal) in the well or an engine-related issue that's causing oil to enter the combustion chamber can cause a critical engine failure.

Crankshaft leading to rod bearing failure causing engine failure. Same issuse as 2017 and 2019 models that had recall 23v-751 issued

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Ridgeline. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.