When stopped at a red light and idle engine auto-stop engaged the vehicle displayed battery warning light and a “Shift to Park” message on display. Vehicle had to be shifted into park and restarted manually before it could move. Your Questions: 1. Battery/Auto-stop-start system. Sure, you can inspect it. 2. Vehicle was non-responsive and immobile at a busy intersection. 3. No, the incident just…
2022 Honda Ridgeline powertrain problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
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
2022 Ridgeline owners report multiple distinct powertrain issues, mostly at low mileage:
Engine power loss/stalling at highway speeds dominates the complaint cluster. Six owners describe unprompted engine shut-offs or severe loss of power between 50–75 mph, often while coasting or with light throttle. Steering and brake pedal resistance occurred in at least two cases. Recovery took a few seconds; some heard a loud buzz from the starter. One owner documented this happening six times; another reported it occurred at 31,531 miles. Dealers could not replicate the events. One owner linked it to Auto Idle Start/Stop activation and found a "transmission event" code when scanned.
Transmission shift hesitation and gear-lock affects multiple owners. One could not shift from first gear at 780 miles with engine running at dangerously high RPM. Another reported the transmission would not shift despite full button press on drive/reverse buttons, risking collision. A third experienced delayed, hard shifts from stops followed by lurching.
Accelerator hesitation occurs when pressing the pedal fully—the engine does not respond immediately, creating a lag that owners liken to a bad accelerator pump on carburetors. This happened shortly after purchase in at least one case.
Auto Idle Start/Stop failure caused a vehicle to display a battery warning light and "Shift to Park" message while stopped at a traffic light, leaving it immobile. Another owner reported the auto-stop system failed to restart at idle, requiring manual restart at a busy intersection.
Reduced power/limp mode in cold weather below 20°F after extended highway driving. Vehicle enters limp mode at a stop, restricting speed to ~15 mph until shut down and restarted. A TSB (24-085) addresses this on 2017–2024 models with 3.5L engines.
Same Honda Ridgeline powertrain reports on nearby years: 2019 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalling or severe power loss at highway speeds
Engine unexpectedly shuts down or loses power during highway cruising (50–75 mph), often while coasting with light throttle. Steering and brake feel freeze up. Vehicle recovers after a few seconds with starter buzz. Happens repeatedly; one owner documented six occurrences.
When: 31,531 miles reported; occurs during highway cruising
Symptoms owners cite: Unprompted engine shut-off or severe power loss; Steering and brake pedal resistance; Loud buzzing noise from starter on recovery; Vehicle recovers after seconds; Happens at highway speeds 50–75 mph
Codes mentioned: transmission event
Transmission shift hesitation and failure to shift
Transmission fails to upshift from first gear or does not respond to drive/reverse button presses despite full actuation. Engine runs at dangerously high RPM. One owner at 780 miles could not shift out of first; another experienced locked reverse mode despite pressing drive button.
When: 780 miles reported; another case with unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission stuck in first gear; High engine RPM at low vehicle speed; Drive/reverse button not shifting transmission; Delayed or hard shifts from stops followed by lurching
Repairs/costs cited: Pressing transmission button again restored normal operation in one case
Accelerator hesitation and delayed throttle response
Full pedal press does not immediately accelerate the vehicle. Engine seems unresponsive, resembling a bad accelerator pump on carburetors. Owners report the vehicle does not 'get out of its own way' when attempting quick acceleration.
When: Soon after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: No immediate throttle response on full pedal press; Vehicle hesitates at low and moderate speeds; Requires repeated or forceful pedal depression for acceleration
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated no check engine light or codes present; vehicle working as designed
Auto Idle Start/Stop failure to restart
Engine fails to automatically restart after auto-idle activation when stopped in traffic. Vehicle displays battery warning light and 'Shift to Park' message. Requires manual restart. One case occurred at a busy intersection; another at traffic light with 22,000 miles.
When: 22,000 miles; occurred at traffic light and busy intersection
Symptoms owners cite: Engine does not auto-restart after idle shutdown; Battery warning light displayed; 'Shift to Park' message appeared; Vehicle immobile at intersection
Repairs/costs cited: Manual restart required
Reduced power/limp mode in cold weather
After extended highway driving in temperatures below 20°F, vehicle enters limp mode when exiting highway or coming to a stop. Speed limited to ~15 mph; flashing check engine light. Requires shut-down and restart to clear. Happens frequently every winter.
When: Approximately 2,000 miles; recurs every winter for 3+ years; owner at 70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Flashing check engine light; Reduced power/limp mode; Speed limited to ~15 mph; Occurs in cold weather below 20°F after highway driving
Repairs/costs cited: Requires vehicle shutdown and restart to restore full power
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda TSB 24-085 issued; covers 2017–2023 and some 2024 models with 3.5L engine. Owner paid $50 deductible plus sales tax on parts; parts and labor covered after 70,000 miles
Backup sensor malfunction
Reverse backup sensor failed to alert when objects were behind the vehicle. Dealer verified the sensor was not functioning as intended; failure persisted after service.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: No alert from backup sensors when reversing; Sensor failure confirmed by dealer
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to resolve; vehicle not repaired
Shifter button actuation pressure too high
Drive and reverse shifter buttons require excessive force to fully actuate. A full press occasionally fails to register, leaving transmission in unexpected mode (e.g., pressing reverse but vehicle rolls forward, or pressing drive but vehicle remains in reverse).
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Shifter button requires excessive pressure; Full button press sometimes fails to shift transmission; Vehicle moves in unexpected direction after button press
Repairs/costs cited: Owner avoided collisions by reacting quickly; no actual collision occurred
Complete loss of throttle response while driving
Vehicle experiences complete loss of power and no throttle response while driving on busy highway or during lane changes for 10–20 seconds. Vehicle slows considerably until throttle re-engages. Heard noise before power loss in one case.
When: Unknown mileage; multiple highway incidents
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power while driving; No throttle response for 10–20 seconds; Vehicle slows considerably on highway; Noise heard before power loss
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
2022 Ridgeline's Auto Idle Engine Off/On activated while driving/moving. This week it occurred (Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024) on I95 in Virginia when going down hill at approximately 70 mph. The engine ceased without warning and the steering and brake pedal began to freeze up when I had eased off the gas to coast briefly down hill (in order to keep in the flow of traffic). I then gave it gas, pumping…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2022 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 2022 Honda Ridgeline?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 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/2022/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.