Notable Issues

2021 HONDA RIDGELINE Problems

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2021 Honda Ridgeline. This model year has 92 NHTSA complaints β€” top issue: Engine Problems.

92
Complaints
2
Crashes
β€”
Fires
2
Injuries
β€”
Deaths
5
Recalls

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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.

Worst 2021 Honda Ridgeline Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1
28
complaints

Engine Problems

#2
14
complaints

Uncategorized Issues

#3
14
complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

Considering a 2021 Honda Ridgeline?

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2021 Honda Ridgeline. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
Engine Problems28β€”β€”β€”
Uncategorized Issues14β€”β€”β€”
Headlight/Taillight Failures14β€”β€”β€”
Electrical Faults13β€”β€”β€”
Transmission / Drivetrain11β€”β€”β€”
Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB10β€”β€”β€”
Fuel/Propulsion System6β€”β€”β€”
Structural Problems5β€”β€”β€”
Back Over Prevention4β€”β€”β€”
Visibility/Wiper4β€”β€”β€”
Unintended Acceleration3β€”β€”β€”
Lane Departure2β€”β€”β€”
Airbag Malfunctions2β€”β€”β€”
Brake System21β€”β€”
Steering Defects1β€”β€”β€”
Suspension Failures1β€”β€”β€”
Seat-Related Issues1β€”β€”β€”
Tire Issues1β€”β€”β€”
Wheel Issues11β€”β€”

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2021 Honda Ridgeline. Type a keyword (e.g. β€œtransmission”, β€œstalling”, β€œbrakes”) to filter.

πŸ”

Showing 92 most recent complaints

Steering DefectsApr 22, 2026

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2021 HONDA RIDGELINE SPORT AND IT WAS BROUGHT IN TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP THAT HAD DIAGNOSED A STEERING RACK FAILURE. THE QUOTED PRICE OF REPAIR WAS $4,000. AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE READING ON THIS ISSUE I LEARNED THAT SIMILAR ISSUES HAVE OCCURRED IN LATER YEAR MODE…

Forward Collision Avoidance: AEBFeb 22, 2026

Forward brake assist, collision mitigation, auto headlight dash lights came on sporadically. As of today the lights are now on constant and unable to clear. Advised that the forward facing camera most likely died and a replacement due to recalibration would be 1500-2000..

Engine ProblemsFeb 11, 2026

The check engine light came on Dec 26 which I took to have checked and was told that it should go to the shop. The code was not being stored. I took it to the Honda dealership and they did a complete check and said the engine had gone back. The connecting rods and barrings cause …

Engine ProblemsFeb 10, 2026

Driving home from work on a Friday about 1am and my engine started t knock and sputter and the engine light started flashing. Luckily I made it home. I let it sit for a minute and started it back up and it ran fine. I let it sit over the weekend I made an appointment the the deal…

Suspension FailuresJan 22, 2026

Vehicle started making a clunking noise that could be felt at 45,000 miles when steering left and right. An independent auto business found loose subframe bolts and lower control arm as well as checked sway bar links and found loose core support braces. The clunking stopped after…

Engine ProblemsDec 8, 2025

The contact's husband owns a 2021 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 55 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and made an abnormal knocking sound. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to pull over to the side of th…

Engine ProblemsOct 25, 2025

I began to hear a knocking noise at 2500 to 3500 rpms and I immediately took my vehicle to the dealer who confirmed rod bearing damage.

Uncategorized IssuesOct 19, 2025

The Multipurpose Camera had an Internal Electronic Failure. Indications we all of the warning lights were illuminated on my dash. Initially it began when I had about 43, 400 miles on my truck. The warning lights would all remail lighted on starting the vehicle. I could restart th…

Lane DepartureSep 27, 2025

2021 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E. Part number 36160-T6Z-A62-M1 failure, hard code U3000-49. Results in total loss of Honda Sense Safety system. Including Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist System, Traff…

Headlight/Taillight FailuresSep 26, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that there was moisture inside driver's side headlight housing. The contact took the headlight assembly apart and blew out the moisture. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The v…

Forward Collision Avoidance: AEBSep 12, 2025

The forward collision system frequently goes off from a vehicle simply driving in their lane normally. The truck alarms, shakes the wheel, and sometimes brakes automatically. This is alarming for my kids riding in the car and the braking is dangerous for cars behind me. This coul…

Headlight/Taillight FailuresSep 12, 2025

Auto High Beam. Very sensitive. Sometimes they don't go on when they should and sometimes, they stay on blinding oncoming traffic. I have researched this problem and also have been told this is a known problem with this particular model and year - not just my vehicle.

Engine ProblemsAug 25, 2025

Engine began knocking from the bottom end at 53k miles. It was determined that a connecting rod bearing had failed and Honda is replacing my engine under warranty. No cost was incurred to me but I am adding my complaint because my VIN is not included in the recall for this exact …

Fuel/Propulsion SystemAug 20, 2025

While making a right turn from a yield sign into oncoming traffic and doing about 15 mph, I depressed the accelerator to speed up and the truck stalled for about 2 seconds. The RPM's drop and you literally lunge forward until power resumes. No warning lights come on and no code…

Transmission / DrivetrainJul 10, 2025

Truck was waiting at a stop light in drive mode and foot on brake pedal. When the light changed to green. I tried to accelerate to go and the whole vehicle shook/lunges forward and shut off. Vehicle went into neutral and wouldn't allow me to go into drive mode. I had to restart t…

Engine ProblemsJul 8, 2025

My 2021 Honda Ridgeline engine failed in heavy traffic on the freeway. The car malfunctioned and I lost complete power and started coasting and barely made it through 4 lanes of heavy traffic before the car coasted to a stop. Very dangerous and very lucky not to get hit changing …

Engine ProblemsMay 9, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while at a stoplight, the Auto START/STOP feature malfunctioned, and after releasing the brake pedal, the engine failed to automatically restart as designed. After shifting back to park(P), the vehicle restarted and…

Airbag MalfunctionsMay 8, 2025

This has something to do with circuit board for the seat sensor that activates air bag? I can’t get dealer to take care of recall. They keep saying we don’t have the parts. This is going on since at least September of last year. Why have recall if they aren’t going to do anythin…

Engine ProblemsApr 6, 2025

2021 Honda Ridgeline Sport with 60,000 miles and no other issues. Engine failed to restart after the "auto stop/start" kicked in, all the lights on the dashboard went off and then turned off. After 1 minute, I was able to get the car started again, this happened on 3 different oc…

Electrical FaultsMar 18, 2025

Vehicle has an open recall, but dealer still don't have the parts available to repair for almost a year.

Page 1 of 5

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2021 Honda Ridgeline.

Recalls for 2021 Honda Ridgeline

5 campaigns

NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2021 Honda Ridgeline. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

21V900000Invalid Date
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR

23V174000Invalid Date
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

23V458000Invalid Date
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

24V064000Jan 2, 2024
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

24V321000Sep 5, 2024
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

2021 Honda Ridgeline β€” FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2021 Honda Ridgeline reliable?β–Ύ

Notable Issues. The 2021 Honda Ridgeline has 92 NHTSA owner complaints, 2 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (28 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Honda Ridgeline?β–Ύ

#1: Engine Problems (28 complaints). #2: Uncategorized Issues (14 complaints). #3: Headlight/Taillight Failures (14 complaints)

At what mileage do problems start on the 2021 Honda Ridgeline?β–Ύ

Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.

How safe is the 2021 Honda Ridgeline?β–Ύ

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline has 2 crash-related complaints and 0 fire reports out of 92 total NHTSA complaints. 2 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Does the 2021 Honda Ridgeline have any recalls?β–Ύ

Yes β€” 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2021 Honda Ridgeline. The largest issue: SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

Should I buy a 2021 Honda Ridgeline?β–Ύ

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline has notable issues β€” review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.

Wider context: See the full Honda Ridgeline reliability report with year-by-year comparison.

Check Your Specific 2021 Honda Ridgeline

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.