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2023 Honda Ridgeline problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
34%
30 of 87 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

34% of relevant owner complaints on the 2023 Honda Ridgeline are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 63% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 41 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 23%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2023 Honda Ridgeline have engine problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 30 of 87 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Honda Ridgeline concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%), and the largest group is filed under engine (21). For comparison, the 2022 scores 42%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
30
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
128
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
5
3 crashes · 0 injuries

Complaints by component

EXTERIOR LIGHTING39 · 30%
ENGINE21 · 16%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER19 · 15%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM18 · 14%
POWER TRAIN11 · 9%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE11 · 9%

The years either side

2010
14%
3 of 42
2011
8%
1 of 39
2012
too few complaints
2013
40%
4 of 45
2014
5%
1 of 34
2015
too few complaints
2016
no data
2017
47%
159 of 342
2018
31%
50 of 162
2019
45%
103 of 236
2020
33%
49 of 169
2021
42%
35 of 101
2022
42%
36 of 117
2023
34%
30 of 128

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2023 Honda Ridgeline

What one owner reported

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE09/18/2026
9/17/2026. Complete electrical system shutdown while stopped in traffic, loss of power steering/brakes capability, all doors automatically locked with no emergency flasher capability. Vehicle became a hazard. Occurred twice. TSB-23-008 software update performed in 2024 but problem persists. Safety defect ENTRAPMENT…

One of 30 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Honda Ridgeline?

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2023 Honda Ridgeline, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

5 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
structure: frame and members26V365000 · Jun 2026
American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware,…
air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger26V332000 · May 2026
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport,…
back over prevention: sensing system: camera24V321000 · May 2024
Honda (America Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ridgeline vehicles. The rearview camera (RVC) tailgate wire harness may fatigue and break, which can prevent the rearview camera image…
steering: rack and pinion24V184000 · Mar 2024
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Passport and Ridgeline vehicles. The inner ball joint housing in the steering gearbox assembly may loosen and detach from the steering rack…
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder23V458000 · Jun 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2023 Honda Ridgeline? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2023 Honda Ridgeline

Does the 2023 Honda Ridgeline have engine problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 30 of 87 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Honda Ridgeline concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Honda Ridgeline?

No. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2023 Honda Ridgeline, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Honda Ridgeline years are better?

Among the Honda Ridgeline years we track, the 2014 (5%), the 2011 (8%) and the 2010 (14%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2023 (34%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2023 Honda Ridgeline?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2023 Honda Ridgeline has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.