AI Damage2017 Honda Ridgeline: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Honda Ridgeline filed 344 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. The maker issued 109 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 344
- involving a crash
- 3
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 109
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 27% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 25% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 13% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 12% of all complaints
- 5 Backover prevention 10% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 5% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 4% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 93 complaints (27% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 31.
- Engine: 86 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 11.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 43 complaints (13% of all).
- Powertrain: 42 complaints (12% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 11.
- Backover prevention: 34 complaints (10% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 344 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 93 | 0 | 31 |
| Engine | 86 | 0 | 11 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 43 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 42 | 1 | 11 |
| Backover prevention | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 18 | 0 | 15 |
| Service brakes | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 13 | 0 | 7 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 11 | 0 | 23 |
| Exterior lighting | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| Electronic stability control | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 0 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The collision mitigation Braking System has activated my brakes resulting in a lock up 3 times and I've only owned the truck for 2 months. One of the times I was rear ended do to the trucking stopping suddenly. I now have to drive with the system turned off because of how dangerous it is to have on.
in the beginning of July the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The way it failed caused a dramatic shifting and of gears and the inability for the transmission to change gears without jerking or banging of the gears.
Air bags did not deploy. No one injured. Braking system problem. Damage to my vehicle was $1,540.40 for front bumpers, damaged fog light, paint repair. Weather conditions were ideal!
The unexpected loss of power can leave a driver with limited ability to maneuver safely, increase the risk of a collision, and expose the driver and passengers to danger from surrounding traffic.
Engine started running extremely rough, and multiple warning lights came on. Had to have it towed to a mechanic. This rod bearings failed, this is a Honda recall, but they refuse to honor it.
In late August 2026, I noticed a deep knocking noise coming from the engine shortly after an oil change. The knocking increased with engine RPM and continued even after the engine warmed up. The oil level appeared full, and there was no oil-pressure warning light.
Suddenly the truck shuddered and stopped and BRAKE, BRAKE flashed on the screen in front of the steering wheel. Everything in the truck flew forward. The people in the vehicle behind me started blasting the horn because they almost rear ended me. My truck just slammed on the brakes for no reason.
The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The “4WD Failure” message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 183 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 9% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Ridgeline has 130 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 344, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2017-2019 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the rearview camera inoperable. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you…
- Service Bulletin - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications
As a result, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the…
- Service Bulletin - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications
As a result, the lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the transmission indicator…
- Dealer Message - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications
As a result, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the MIL not…
- Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear…
Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear differential pump motor connector area that corrodes the terminals.
- Service Bulletin - MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power
After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather (specifically near or below freezing temperatures). Usually after a long drive (around…
- Service Bulletin - The MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power
After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather (specifically near or below freezing temperatures). Usually after a long drive (around…
- Service Bulletin - The A/C does not blow cold air, and the lower corner of the condenser around the…
Service Bulletin - The A/C does not blow cold air, and the lower corner of the condenser around the receiver/dryer cap is stained due to a poor O-ring compression against the receiver/dryer barrel wall.
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2019-2023 Passports, 2016-2022 Pilots, & 2017-2023 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the front passengerâs power window inop from either the driverâs window switch, front…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2019-2023 Passports, 2016-2022 Pilots, & 2017-2023 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the passengerâs power window inop from driverâs master window switch. Customer may also…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2017-2023 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the power window master switch inop. Customer may also report that the other window switches are still operable. To better understand the…
- Service Bulletin - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications
As a result, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in DTC P0741…
NHTSA lists 109 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Honda Ridgeline?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 344. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (20%), rear-view camera (18%), knocking, grinding or other noise (12%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Honda Ridgeline?
NHTSA lists 109 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 Honda Ridgeline from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.