Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
The problems and solution board here for the Ridgeline is just that....it is a way that consumers can posts some problems and some solutions based on their experience.....most of the problems that I have seen here are minor ones that will be fixed as the production continues on this truck. Go over to the Chevy/Ford problem board....you are going to see the same things....for the most part minor problems....some may be major.....but very few.....and one other thing to consider is this.....how long as the model F-150 and Silverado been around? Many....many years.......so they are already ahead of the power curve....or should be anyway....
How about if we give the Ridgeline the same leeway....it's only in it's second production year.....so let's see what happens in five years.....assuming it is still around.....only time will tell of course.....so it is easy to jump on the Ridgeline's problems.....but let's not start this "Buy American" campaign again.....no matter what the product is.....give the people quality.....at an affordable price....and they will come back time and time again....others will follow......put out a crappy product.....you know the rest......and by the way....I don't own one....and not looking to buy anytime soon.....this is just my .02.....
Only 2 american cars listed. The Ridge is listed at best predicted reliability for pickups along with the Tundra.
The largest auto parts maker,Delphi, is in bankruptcy because of these same unions that set very high labor rates. Delphi is seeking and will most likely get their 60% reduction in pay rate from the unions to emerge from BK. The 60% pay reduction is better than losing their jobs to outsourcing.
GM, Ford and Chrysler will also be asking for the same pay rate reductions like Delphi to avoid BK or to come out of BK. Just observe the interesting developments.
It is back to Economics 101.
honda, toyota and others in several categories..........
Of these 39 vehicles, 2 were American and the rest were Japanese. No European model made the list.
kcram - Pickups Host
The fact that you are a mechanic means nothing. I've met some mechanics that are barely smart enough to remember to put new oil back in the car after they've drained the old oil. Being a mechanic give you zero authority on auto/truck design. Spare me. your not a auto engineer by a long shot.
You can glum on to one incident of strut failure all you want and I'm sure you will. The fact is I have 8 months and over 8,000 miles of direct experience with the Ridgeline in varied driving conditions (deep sand, BLM trails, wash board roads and I have no strut problems here in the boiling south west. I'm sure it will also shine in the upcoming winter here in the mountains with its superior traction system.
The fact is if you only need to tow 5,000 lbs or haul 1,100 lbs in the bed, the RL is best option around and no other truck can even come close to its ride and handling. I know, I've driven them all.
Even the VP of GM said the RL has the best packaging he's ever seen in any vehicle, and you know what, I trust him. If I ever get a leaky strut, I'm not concerned. I wouldn't doubt that Honda would replace it even if it's beyond the warranty period. I've heard many stories like that. Honda usually steps up with any problems they have and goes the extra mile.
So spare me this "inferior product" business your spewing. You have no experience with this vehicle outside reading an article. I'll take the word of an owner of the RL anyday. I happen to be one and I know everything you've said about the RL being an inferior product is not true.
that "other" ridgeline forum.
Exactly! The Ridgeline is an example of what brilliant american engineering could be if it wasn't crippled by the pencil pushers at the big three. Honda gave Gary Flint the support to build the best pick up out there that will serve 80% of the market just fine. The Ridgeline is just starting to shine with the market finally becoming aware of its existence. It just had it best month since its release with over 4,900 sales in October.
Is RL a truck in traditional form? Of course not. Does it look like one? Yes. Will it handle the job? That's a $46000/CAN. question in my case. Why did i choose RL? Because i wanted a full size SUV with all "bells and whistles", with truck bead and without huge appetite for gas. Why did i choose Honda? Because i have Honda ATV (Rincon 649cc)and this thing is as tuff, as nail (by the way, Honda was first to introduce four wheel independent suspension in that field). Because my son's Honda Civic Has been working flawlesly for past five years and litle V-TEC engine does vonders. Because i love Ford F-150 King ranch but, i hate with pashion Ford dealers, and last, but not least, GM, Toyota and Chrysler just "dont do it" for me. Shimmy.
p.s. Check my thread: "My EL-camino"
I've yet to hear of anyone who has had a leak in a ridgeline that didn't have it corrected. I wouldn't stress to much about it. I mean this is Honda were talking about. If it were Ford or GM, you probably would have been told "Don't worry about it, they all do that. It's perfectly normal."
It's interesting that the new 05 Toyota Tacomas also had a leak problem.
I would hope so since the truck is under warranty. To not do so would be foolish...
"I wouldn't stress to much about it. I mean this is Honda were talking about."
Perhaps he has had previous experiences with Honda that could cause him stress that he has not related. Never know.
" If it were Ford or GM, you probably would have been told "Don't worry about it, they all do that. It's perfectly normal."
Being a previous GM owner I can attest that GM and its dealers take window leaks very seriously and usually correct the defect on the first try. (They have a lot of experience with leaks). It's the engine knock, trans clunk and such that get the "perfectly normal" line.
"It's interesting that the new 05 Toyota Tacomas also had a leak problem."
Why would that be interesting to a RL owner? Wouldn't matter to me one bit since I don't own one.....
Which might partially explain the closing of the GM plants in North America....or not. :lemon:
curious, does it ever happen when you AREN'T pulling the trailer?
In the Ridgeline, initially I noticed a slight hesitation when accelerating, sometimes it actually jerks when you apply the gas. Then I noticed moisture inside the cabin, wet windshield and moonroof, inside. Then I noticed an odd smell, like old tennis shoes. At high speeds, I noticed a substantial air noise leak. Then I logged on to this site and began reading. Now the weird things make sense.
I took the vehicle in for the air leak and the hesitation. Dealer says there is a service bulletin for the air leak and a new windsheild is on order. Dealer says they found no problem with the acceleration. After reading these messages on leaks and such, I checked under the floor mat and guess what, wet carpet. Not soaked but certainly damp. I guess that's where the old tennis shoe smell comes from. I couldn't understand why that new car smell left so quickly. Now I know.
As for American versus Import, I've had a 2004 Titan, problems with loud exhaust, poor radio, squeaky seats, tailgate latch problems, HVAC was noisy; 1998 Silverado, loved the truck, looks and handling, mechanical problems galore. Trouble with the electrical, shorts, bad brakes, engine light problem and on and on and on. I had a 1987 Mazda B2200 which probably gave me the best service of all but it too had its problems.
Bottom line, you can get a bad one in any breed but when you buy the top-of-the-line model like I tend to do and don't drive the vehicle hard, you expect more. I did on the Ridgeline RTL.
I have no trouble with my trailer but it's a little heavier.
My guess is that the combination of your trailer and the roads you drive on doesn't mesh with the built in logic in the tranmission CPU.
All I can suggest is to have the dealer verify you have the latest firmware. If that doesn't help complain to Honda and tell them that your combination is causing excessive shifting and you would be happy to supply all the details so thier engineers can reproduce the problem.
The problem with the D3 button on the Ridgeline is it locks out both 5th and 4th gear unlike a normal overdrive which just locks out the top (overdriven) gear.
Both 4th and 5th are less than 1.0 ratio. 3rd is 1.0.
Thanks
kcram - Pickups Host
Most magazines have cited the Titan as having a loud, droning exhaust. It's manufactured to sound like a "big truck" on purpose. Nissan has never had STELLAR quality, but always decent. I think the Mazda B-series was a clone of the Ford Ranger, right?
Is it hard to remove? Can you stand on it?
Can/will the dealer fix the bed cover so it is watertight? :confuse:
I don't think usual frost will form on it very much.
If there is a lot of blowing snow or freezing rain then it would have to be swept or scraped like the side windows.
But what do I really know. Mine lives in a garage. And my state is in the middle of extensive 'global warming' extended dry spell, raging range fires, and very little winter. Trees are budding, bulb plants have sprouted 6 inches up, etc etc etc
Does anyone know of a solution. Thanks. This may be a deal breaker.
Does anyone know of a solution. Thanks. This may be a deal breaker.
No, that's not true. The Honda OEM cover does lock. I've seen it. Retrax has the best cover and I think they have a way to lock it to the gate as well. I can't believe dealers have their heads this far up their ...
You can also go to the Ridgeline owners club, and they have some clever ways of doing it. I wouldn't let it hold up your purchase.