Recently, a new owner of a 2023 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition shared their alarming experience with a range of issues encountered shortly after purchasing the vehicle. Within a week and a half of ownership and after embarking on a 500-mile trip, the user reported not just minor inconveniences but significant safety hazards that require immediate attention. This account raises critical questions about the reliability and safety systems of the Honda Ridgeline 2023 model.
System Malfunctions Plague New Ridgeline
The owner detailed a series of malfunctions, starting with less critical problems that nonetheless detract from the expected quality of a new vehicle. These include:
- Front Parking Sensors Failure: The front parking sensors reportedly stopped functioning, initially triggering continuous beeping that only ceased after restarting the truck. Subsequently, they ceased to operate entirely.
- Wireless Charging Pad Inoperative: The wireless charging feature failed to charge phones, indicating a potential issue with the charging system.
- Steering Wheel Talk Button Malfunction: The voice command button on the steering wheel became unresponsive, hindering access to voice-activated controls. Troubleshooting with Honda support reportedly yielded no solutions.
- Transmission Irregularities: The transmission exhibited shift delays and shakiness, suggesting potential mechanical or software issues affecting the vehicle’s drivetrain.
Critical Adaptive Cruise Control and Braking System Failures
More concerning are the two major safety issues reported, which the owner states nearly led to accidents on multiple occasions. These involve the Honda Ridgeline 2023’s advanced driver-assistance systems:
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) System Failure: The ACC system, designed to maintain a safe following distance and adjust speed, allegedly failed to detect vehicles ahead. Instead of slowing down, the system continued to accelerate, requiring the driver to take emergency evasive action to avoid collisions. This dangerous malfunction reportedly occurred four times within two days.
- Aggressive Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB): While cruise control was engaged, the Ridgeline exhibited excessively harsh braking when other vehicles merged into the lane or when vehicles ahead slowed down even slightly. This abrupt braking was described as forceful enough to throw items inside the cabin and nearly caused rear-end collisions on three separate occasions, with trailing drivers forced to swerve onto the shoulder to avoid impact. The system reportedly reacted aggressively even with ample following distance.
