When driving at 70mph for a couple of hours and exiting the freeway, the truck will go into limp mode and won’t accelerate. This only happens when it’s very cold, less than 10 degrees Fahrenheit both times it happened to me. The engine service light will start to flash. You need to park and restart in order to clear the issue. The last time it happened, I needed to merge onto a busy freeway with…
2021 Honda Ridgeline powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2021 Honda Ridgeline have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Ridgeline | 40 |
| 2018 Ridgeline | 7 |
| 2019 Ridgeline | 35 |
| 2020 Ridgeline | 9 |
| 2021 Ridgeline (this page) | 11 |
| 2022 Ridgeline | 10 |
| 2023 Ridgeline | 10 |
| 2024 Ridgeline | 3 |
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2021 Honda Ridgelines report an intermittent powertrain fault that triggers a flashing check engine light and forces the truck into limp mode—typically after extended highway driving, especially in cold weather below 10°F. The engine runs rough, idles hard, hesitates severely, and refuses to exceed 30–35 mph until the driver shuts off the engine and restarts it. No diagnostic trouble codes are stored, even though the light flashes when the fault occurs.
Some owners describe the engine shutting off when the transmission shifts into neutral unexpectedly—either while stopped on a steep hill, at a traffic light, or during normal driving. One owner reports the transmission can shift to neutral spontaneously, and an alert for "transmission failure" appears even though no fault codes remain after shutdown.
A separate hazard involves the emergency neutral release. If the vehicle dies and cannot restart, owners must use a special Honda tool (part #07AAA-TZ3A100) to unlock the transmission manually. This requires opening the hood and operating a bolt under the hood—a dangerous procedure on an active roadway. Owners state this tool is unavailable at dealerships. In prior Ridgeline generations, neutral could be engaged from the driver's seat.
Honda acknowledges the limp-mode issue occurs across multiple vehicles with the V6 engine but has offered no solution. Dealers run diagnostics and find no codes. The problem repeats without warning, sometimes multiple times per vehicle, creating a genuine risk during highway merges or city intersections.
Same Honda Ridgeline powertrain reports on nearby years: 2019 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent limp mode with flashing CEL after extended highway driving in cold weather
Vehicle enters limp mode with flashing check engine light, engine running rough and refusing to exceed 30–35 mph. Occurs after long highway drives (3+ hours, often 60–80 mph), particularly in temperatures below 10°F or when making turns immediately after exiting the freeway. No diagnostic codes are stored. Restarting the engine clears the fault temporarily. Owners report the truck thinking the engine backfired and triggering limp mode.
When: After 3–200+ miles of highway driving at 60–80 mph, typically in cold weather below 10°F; after exiting freeway or making turns
Symptoms owners cite: Flashing check engine light; Engine running rough and hesitating; Loss of power, limited acceleration; Vehicle unable to exceed 30–35 mph; Hard idle; Poor shifting
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda acknowledged the problem occurs in multiple vehicles with V6 engines; no known fix provided as of complaint dates
Unexpected transmission shift to neutral and engine shutdown
Transmission shifts into neutral without driver input—either while stopped on a steep hill, at a traffic light in drive with brake applied, or during normal driving. Engine shuts off. Vehicle coasts backward on hills with compromised steering and braking. Transmission may shift to neutral after shifting from park to drive. Alert message for 'transmission failure' displays. No warning prior to event.
When: While stopped on hills, at traffic lights, or during routine driving; occurs on multiple vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission shifts to neutral unexpectedly; Engine shuts off without warning; Vehicle coasts backward on inclines; Reduced steering and brake function; Transmission failure alert displayed; Unable to re-engage drive without restart
Repairs/costs cited: Requires restart to re-engage drive; dealer diagnostics find no codes stored
Emergency neutral release inaccessible and hazardous
If vehicle dies and cannot restart, the transmission cannot be manually engaged to neutral from the driver's seat. Instead, the driver must exit the vehicle on a roadway, open the hood, and use a special Honda tool (part #07AAA-TZ3A100) to manually turn a bolt and lock the transmission in neutral. This tool is not available for purchase at Honda dealerships. Prior Ridgeline generations allowed neutral engagement from inside the cab. This design forces drivers into a hazardous situation on highways or busy intersections.
When: When vehicle loses power and cannot be restarted
Symptoms owners cite: No in-cabin method to engage neutral; Requires hood-open access to transmission release; Special tool unavailable at dealers; Hazardous procedure on active roadways
Repairs/costs cited: Special Honda tool #07AAA-TZ3A100 required but unavailable; prior models had in-cabin neutral release
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
1. Vehicle shift to neutral while driving. 2. Shift vehicle from park to drive, but vehicle shift to neutral and alert for transmission failure comes on. 3. While waiting at a stop light in drive and on brake, vehicle shift to neutral and alert for transmission failure comes on.
On this model of vehicle, if the vehicle dies and cannot be restarted, as an example if you are on a busy highway or intersection, there is no way to get the vehicle in Neutral so it can safely be moved WITHOUT having a special tool, Honda part #07AAA-TZ3A100. This tool is currently not available to purchase from any Honda dealer. This tool has to be used with the front hood open and reaching…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2021 Honda Ridgeline?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2021 Honda Ridgeline?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2021/Honda/Ridgeline.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.