2025 Honda Ridgeline

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

On XXX, while driving my HondaTrue Certified 2025 Honda Ridgeline RTL AWD, I stopped at a traffic light and the Auto Idle Stop system automatically shut off the engine. When the traffic light turned green and I released the brake pedal, the vehicle attempted to restart but failed. The starter sounded weak, as though the battery did not have sufficient power to crank the engine properly. The transmission automatically shifted into Neutral, and a battery warning light illuminated on the dashboard. I was unable to accelerate or move the vehicle under its own power. I had to shift the transmission into Park, press the ignition button to shut off the vehicle, and then manually restart the engine. The engine restarted normally, and the battery warning disappeared. I contacted an authorized Honda dealership, Lia Honda of [XXX], on XXX. After checking my vehicle's VIN, the service advisor informed me that a Honda service bulletin issued XXX, applies to my vehicle. According to the advisor, Honda currently recommends disabling Auto Idle Stop until a permanent repair is available. This malfunction occurred in active traffic and created a safety concern because the vehicle unexpectedly became immobilized at an intersection. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11775109

Incident

Nov 2, 2026

idle/stop issue well know to the govenment and honda a massive danger to humans our first issue was in an automated car wash it was in neutral when put back into drive would not move stayed shut off we were hairs aways from being hit . yesterday it would not start then started later ....this feature should come with a permanent fix of shutting off it is a full danger to others and self.....Honda should issue this device and install it free.

NHTSA ID

11775095

Incident

Oct 30, 2026

When driving the vehicle and you come to a stop, the auto start-stop system will shut the engine off but fail to restart the engine when the foot is removed from brake. Warning lights come on, and you have to put the car in park and repeatedly press the brake and start button. Because I am blocking traffic and trying to restart the vehicle, I cannot get photos of the warning lights. After 30-60 seconds, the vehicle will restart and drive normally. But during that time, you are blocking traffic and cannot move the vehicle. This has happened approximately 10x to me in the 22 months that I have owned the vehicle- 3 times in the past week alone. The problem first started when the vehicle was approximately one year old with approximately 20k miles. Dealer says there is a recall or warranty extension on vehicles with the same engine (Honda Pilot) but not on the Ridgleline. The Honda dealer has confirmed the problem and recommended a new starter and batteryff at a cost of over $1,500. But the car starts normally most of the time, so there must be something that causes it to fail to start at only certain times.

NHTSA ID

11774710

Incident

Oct 30, 2026

I purchased this Honda Ridgeline xxx. My first time driving at night I noticed the auto-dimming headlights were dimming for roadsigns and not dimming far enough in advance for oncoming vehicles. On XXX while driving at night I took my first video of the auto-dimming headlight operation - the Ridgeline had 635 total mileage at this time. Several videos have been taken since. The vehicle will also issue "Brake" warnings while going around right hand curves with oncoming traffic in the other lane. Frustrating to say the least. Today is XXX and I am at the [XXX] Honda dealership trying to get this fixed, again. Now the want to change a radar module, but I brought the vehicle here today to get the auto-dimming headlights fixed. This fix, I believe is more like a Hail-mary attempt by Honda to fix their auto-dimming headlight system - the Service tech told me: there is no software fix for the auto dimming headlight issue and this radar module could potentially fix the auto-dimming issue About two weeks prior to this I had my Ridgeline to this same dealership when they tried fixing the auto-dimming headlight system. That attempt did not work. Hence I'm here for the same issue. After that latest attempt to fix, I took my Ridgeline own a night test drive and it performed the same, in fact the auto-headlights did not dim for an oncoming car while going around a right hand curve. A frustrating issue becomes a Safety issue with the lights not dimming many many times when oncoming vehicles are sometimes less than two blocks away, of course the drivers of those vehicles flash lights back at me. The "Brake" warning does the same becoming a safety issue. One day a friend of mine drove my Honda Ridgeline on a curvy road and got several "Brake" warnings, which became very concerning for him - My friend thought he should slam on the brakes. Current mileage: 35,288. I need this fixed. Tech just informed me, not a radar issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11774649

Incident

Jan 3, 2025

Since the beginning of ownership of my 2025 Honda Ridgeline Sport, the Auto Idle Stop system has malfunctioned. The dashboard remains illuminated and displays an error message related to the system. I am concerned about the reliability of the system and the possibility that the engine may not restart as expected. This issue has existed since I first got the vehicle. I am reporting it so that NHTSA can review the problem and determine whether it presents a safety concern.

NHTSA ID

11773999

Incident

Apr 16, 2025

I've been having trouble with the auto start stop on my vehicle pretty much since i bought it. If I don't forget to disable it, when i come to a stop light my truck won't restart and shut off. Leaving me scrambling to restart it while i have cars flying by me. I've taken it to the dealership multiple time. They've changed the throttle body when it was under warranty, that didnt fix it. they've changed the battery, that didn't fix it. Also when it happens a bunch of warning lights come on for power steering, lane assist, hill decent braking etc.. Then when i turn the vehicle off they all disappear. I've done research on this and its a known problem with other honda years and models. Why this hasn't been recalled and fixed I have no idea, but I am genuinely afraid for my and my childrens safety.

NHTSA ID

11772614

Incident

Oct 3, 2025

When sitting at a traffic light, the auto start/stop feature engaged and shut down the engine, when my foot was removed from the brake, the truck did not restart. I had to put the truck in park and manually press the start button. This caused a safety issue by making the vehicle inoperable in the middle of an intersection. The vehicle has not been inspected yet, but will in three days when i take it to the dealer.

NHTSA ID

11772458

Incident

Oct 19, 2026

This vehicle has auto stop for fuel economy. It can only be turned off each and every time you start the car. I often turn it off but do forget to do so sometimes until it occurs on my trip. The problem is that approximately 7 to 10 times, when the feature is left on and the truck shuts itself off at a stop light, when attempting to go, the truck does not restart, a warning light comes on and instructs you to put it in park. You must put it in park, then shut off the truck, then restart in order to proceed. This is extremely dangerous and very unnerving when it occurs. I travel daily on a 55 mpg road with multiple lights. The problem could easily result in being rear ended as you try to go through the procedure to get going again once the light turns green. At the very least, I get angry beeps trying to get me to move which only heightens the anxiety. I contacted the Honda dealership. They acknowledged it was a problem but that no recall has been mandated thus far and there is nothing they could do. They only suggested to call corporate Honda.

NHTSA ID

11771714

Incident

Oct 1, 2026

Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the auto idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. In other circumstances, vehicles may experience a slow crank or fail to start under hot ambient temperature conditions.

Dealer Message - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. In other circumstances, vehicles may experience a slow crank or fail to start under hot ambient temperature conditions. The customer should be able to restart the vehicle by selecting Park and pushing the ENGINE START/STOP button.

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2024-2026 Odysseys & Ridgelines and 2024-2025 Passports with a customer complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P0441 (EVAP System Purge Flow Malfunction) stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2024-2026 Odysseys & Ridgelines and 2024-2025 Passports with a customer complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P0441 (EVAP System Purge Flow Malfunction) stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2024-2026 Odysseys & Ridgelines and 2024-2025 Passports with a customer complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with the DTC P0441 (EVAP System Purge Flow Malfunction) stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Over The Air - This update contains various performance enhancements and UI improvements.