10 Things I dislike about the Honda Ridgeline

Oil filter mess? Red solo cup to the rescue or take a pointed punch and tap a hole at the bottom and drain it out.

To tow a trailer like the box trailer shown here this is just the wrong vehicle and if you're planning on off roading at all this is the wrong vehicle. I have nothing against the vehicle at all in fact I like them but this is actually a heavy duty car with a bed. 90% of Ridgeline owners never tow anything or go off road so those two issues are non factors for most folks. Now some of the other things you mentioned are spot on and should be addressed by Honda. To me the five foot bed is a deal killer as I do on occasion haul loads of mulch or yard waste including brush and dead limbs etc... and the space is just too small. In fact at times a six foot bed is a little small. I love some of the features it offers but be sure to buy the right vehicle to do the job after all it is what it is.

You have real truck goals for a Ridgeline. You should be more realistic as to who and what this vehicle is designed to do. After watching everything this is not the truck fot you. You should consider a tundra or something

Biggest problems with the Ridgeline always was and still is the transmission ( overheating and frequent tranny oil changes)

I own a 2023 RTL. My top 10 gripes: 1. Front Ground Clearance. Front should be 1" higher stock with front chin being 1'2" higher. 2. Horrible radio programming along with slow touch response. Why must I hit 4 touches to get to the radio every time I start my truck? 3. Auto Start shuts off when I park right before I turn it off. Stupid programming again! 4. Transmission shift buttons are super slow to reverse. 5. Transmission will not shift from neutral to drive without being completely stopped. This makes auto car washes stressful when there is a car behind you!. 6. No Cab light above bed. Load blocks light!. 6. Headlights: High beams are yellow, low beams are white, but have a hard cut off line making them horrible for distance. 7. Radio sound quality is absolutely horrible. Tinny, and you can hear digital compression at work. 8. Spare is not accessible if you have a load in bed. 9. Auto A/C not quick to ramp up fan speed. 10. Transmission refuses to be responsive in the name of fuel economy. I still like my truck, but this would be my gripe list.

I had a 2019. It tows like shit, the transmission is garbage and wont't shift to 6th when towing and will stay in 5th at 5k rpms at 70mph, and its got a timing belt that costs $1500 to replace at 100k. The newer 9 spd is junk, google it...I traded my 19 in due to a transmission problem and my wife had a 2109 passport with the "new" 9 spd you see now in the current ridgeline that had to be replaced under warranty at 50k. I'd say the $1500 timing belt job and the garbage transmissions are enough for a hard pass for anyone who wants to carry more than mulch from home depot. Unless you buy the 4k warranty...hard pass.

I believe there is an oil filter drain tool from Honda to direct the oil.

we can all hope for an extra 2 inches

if you wan something esle get it

I’m about a week into my preowned 2017 ridgeline:
Excellent vehicle but my gripes would be:
-worst infotainment system ever: insufferable if not for Apple CarPlay
-rear doors hardly open wide enough and make it a tight squeeze (luckily there are kits around $40 to fix this and it’s a simple 30 minute DIY fix)
-the in-bed trunk also needs a DIY upgrade with a simple zip tie, otherwise the trunk latch cable can travel and result in a huge headache trying to get the trunk open ever again
-the front passenger window locks when you turn on window locks lol, super annoying when you have kids in the car some of the time but want to roll the front windows down other times

Man …. I hope since it’s been another yr you found something you like about it. My black Sport 2023 AC gets plenty cold enough in FL. Tows my 3650 lb Ranger 185 bass boat with ease. Time for you to buy a GM product. Oh that’s right … their roofs are cracking & are on hold for the moment. QC sux on any brand today.

Maybe get the windows tinted for better A/C

I’m old school , I’ve always used a map to go on trips over 100 miles . I’ve tried my iPhone and it will send you down side roads potentially very rough roads or dirt roads or pot holes everywhere. Take the main hwys folks it’s usually just as fast and a lot smoother

NIT-PICKIN

Youre ridiculous! Youre like an old crabby lady!

if you have an 'econ' button mode that could be whats affecting the ac temp!

You bought the wrong truck from the beginning. If you have something to tow. You should have bought a 1/2 ton truck.
My Tacoma has a hard time towing 5,000 pounds.
I'm looking into 2024 Ridgeline. 2024 Tacoma is becoming a midsized truck with full sized price.
I still don't like the idea of having a timing belt.

Buy a Lexus . This is a truck . Stupid issues.

Who can trust this guy

What an idiot ~ why did he buy a Ridgeline ~ do more research next time dumb dumb or does he work got Toyota

I dont like that the timing belt has to be changed every 80k-100k miles a chain would have eliminated that issue and also i feel the acceleration or lack there of an issue,stereo system is low quality, I dont mind the low clearance, and ride is ok, but this will be the one and only ridgline I buy, i feel toyota makes a better midsize truck

You don't need running boards, Frodo Baggins wouldn't have any problems getting into a Ridgeline. A ridgeline is NOT FOR OFFROAD it is a rpad only vehicle. If you are buying a ridgeline as a tow machine you have bought the wrong truck mate! Maxing the towing to 5000lbs and then complaining about the transmission cooling is very odd. On any truck it is recommended to never tow at maximum. This begs the question of why in the hell would you have a ridgeline when infact you need a half ton truck. Get a tundra mate. That's what your usage needs. You need a real truck for your usage.

If there are so many things that you don’t like why the hell did you buy it?

Me too!!!

My Nissan Frontier has a tolerance of +/-9 mph with the cruise control. Much higher than your +/-3 mph. I have had my Frontier for 13 years now, and to this day I can not for the life of me get used to that cruise control.

Definitely do NOT buy the Honda, piece of junk and the dealer does not even know how to maintain. If I stop one person from buying a Ridgeline I have helped somebody.

2021 RTL-E owner here. Its a CRUCK, not a truck! I haul lots of stuff, even my trusses with an extension from etrailer. My main disappointment is that I can't attach a winch to my CRUCK. Yes, ground clearance an issue. Navigation system inaccurate at times. To get the AC working, I have to turn it all the way down first. Dealer says "deal with it." The last thing I hate about it is how it makes a horrible sound when I crash into my chimney.

You comment about the ground clearance is spot on. I just bought a 2023, and I got it home, and immediately thought, it needs a lift. They do make some bolt 1.5 inch lift kits, and honestly, I think that would suffice. But here in Washington, I will go off road just a bit, very slowing to get to fishing holes and such, so I don't need/want a Tacoma, but I do want my Ridgeline to get me there.

Way too sensitive driver Nannies ruins vehicle for me - this and no ground clearance

In my opinión you got the wrong truck. This is not even a midsize truck. You can trade it since it hold the value really well

Why do you have running boards on a vehicle with 7 inch ground clearance? You don't have running boards on a sedan do you?

Try slipping a small container under the oil filter, then use a screwdriver to punch a hole in the bottom of the filter to drain it before removing it. No mess!😉

Many Hondas place the filter there. They also sell a super cheap tool to catch and funnel the oil.

We have a crv and same issue with AC, turn off ecomode and it will cool of faster

Biggest gripe for me is the POS navigation system by Garmin. Sheesh! Jeep Grand Cherokee I traded beats my Ridgeline in 2 areas, navigation system and seats. Grand Cherokee seats much friendlier on my arse for long distances.

Ridgeline Radio Needs to Stay on after you turn engine off and then shuts off after the driver side door is open. Otherwise you have to keep the car running to listen to the radio.

Have you checked the AC refrigerant pressure? Maybe it was initially underfilled.

little behind on this post but I just got a new rtl and would like to add to your list...no "flat four" towing receptacle I had to buy an adaptor...no settable "Speed Warning"...not crazy about the Arm Rests I would welcome the extra storage a higher console with the built in rest would provide...lane mitigation and lane keeping assist, confusing, don't like either especially when the wheel shakes...smallish tire/wheel combo look out of place...both Front & Rear Parking alarms are sporadic and unreliable. Tailgate, Cruise Control, Rain Sense wipers agree with all

My A/C runs fine, but maybe it just doesn't get as hot and humid here in the communist state of California. My two biggest gripes are no 360 birds eye camera system like a lot of vehicles older than it, and as you said, no folding mirrors.

My 2017 ridgeline transmission needed replaced at 52,500 miles. Lost $10000.00 on trade in value.

very trifle details,

Use a large "squeezable" plastic cup over the oil filter as you twist it off.

My 2019 ridgeline R Tl E does have rain sensing wipers.

frustrated about the A/C

Proceeds to have 75% of a main vent blocked by a cell phone holder. 😐😅

My Ram 2500 Cummins had the oil filter in a similar location. I would loosen it a little, then slide a ziplock bag over it, finish loosening it and seal it up. Saved some mess.

You can Uninstall the running board. Looks better. I took mine out.

Say What ? Canada gets more options that the States cant have ……. i like it ! By the way, I love my electric folding mirrors as I use them every day ……

I'm reading about TONS of issues with the audio system. Not for you apparently...