Well, I see I'm just another person who had the #4 cylinder go out on their '06 Ridgeline. Engine and VTM4 light came on, it was running a little rough, so I took it in for service. $800 and 4 days later, after replacing sensors, they tell me I need a new engine. They said it would be cheaper than them rebuilding it. Gave me a quote of about $5,200 using the only engine supplier they work with, and their labor. I left the shop and instead of running a little rough, the truck runs terrible with little power and it's not safe to drive.

We've had 3 to 4 cars serviced there for over 4 years. I've trusted them, but I don't know now. I'm sure they won't help me with the cost but I'm going back to talk to them. This is upsetting and going to be expensive no matter what I do. I don't know another mechanic to install another engine and don't know a reliable place to buy one. I've found a lot of decent prices for them, but how do I know if it will be a good one?

I've seen other complaints for this and the price listed to replace the engine was much less than my estimate.

This has been a great truck and it makes me sick for this to happen. I bought it with 5K miles on it and haven't had any issues until now. Our '05 Pilot has 220K , our '08 Civic ~160K and they haven't had any issues either. I hate to get rid of my Ridgeline, but now have to consider it.

I bought my 2006 Ridgeline new and love it!! Have always had oil changes and maintenance done at my local Honda shop. In April 2015 with just over 105,000 miles I started to notice puffs of white smoke when I started it up, then a few days later my check engine and VTM-4 lights came on. I took it to the shop, they said everything looked ok and the lights were back off.

On advice from my son I Googled the problem and discovered the #4 cylinder issue!! I contacted my service manager at Honda and after some back and forth discussion they had me bring it in to tear it down and check it out. He really didn't think that was the issue but sure enough he called "the 4 cylinder was bad".

I really liked my Ridgeline but didn't want to sink a lot of money into it. Honda service and sales really worked with me, offering a great trade-in price if I wanted something different, loaned me a couple different vehicles I was interested in, ultimately I told them I preferred by truck. The service manager gave me 60% off the repair cost, for a little over $700 out of my pocket I was back on the road. I now have 113,000 and running great. Overall experience was positive considering the problem!

Engine light on in Autumn 2015. One mechanic changes oil, and all spark plugs and coils. Problem recurs within one week. Then a Honda Mechanic check head, no problems, then changes rings in cylinder 4. Within one week the light is back on. Bought my own OBD tester, same problem, cylinder 4.

Now I have heard that the fourth cylinder gets the blow by from all other cylinders. So another set of rings may need to be replaced or all of the rings.

One fix suggested, as temporary, is to put a "hotter" plug in cylinder 4 and change oil to 20W50. Then, maybe the plug won't foul. This is temporary, of course.

I CAN REITERATE EVRYTHING WHAT EVERYONE HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT ENGINE CYLINDER #4 HAS GONE BAD / CRACKED. HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY MY GO TO MECHANIC AND HE SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM OVER AND OVER WITH THE EXACT SAME MODEL CAR, YEAR, ETC. TOOK IT TO THE DEALEARSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDNT DO NOTHING BUT THAT IT WOULD COST ME ROUGHLY $5,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. AFTER READING THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINT TO THE T ON THIS FORUM I CALLED HONDA CORP BECAUSE IT CANT BE A COINCIDENCE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME CYLINDER #4 PLUS ALL THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM SO IT HAS TO BE A MANAFACTURER DEFECT! THEY'RE RESPONSE WAS SORRY OUT WAS OUT OF LUCK AND THEY COULDNT DO NOTHING FOR ME. SO I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB. I HAVE AN ACTIVE CASE NOW AND AN AGENT FROM HONDA CORP CALLED ME AND LEFT A MESSAGE. I WILL BE CALLING HER MONDAY. EVERYONE NEEDS TO COMPLAIN TO THE BBB THEN JUST THIS FORUM. IF SHE TELLS ME NOTHING CAN BE DONE I AM GOING TO SUE THEM BECAUSE THIS IS A HUGE RECURRING SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY KNOW IT. I BOUGHT THIS HONDA BECAUSE I EXPECTED TO HAVE A CAR FOR AT LEAST 250-300K MILES. MINE HAS 138,000 BUT I USE ONLY SYNTHETHIC OIL AND AGAIN ITS ONLY SPARK PLUG THAT COMES OUT ALL CORRODED IN OIL AND CARBON JUST LIKE THE REST OF THESE COMPLAINTS. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW HONDA HAS LET US DOWN, BUT IM NOT GOING DOWN W/O A FIGHT. SPECIALLY WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE RECURRING. THERES NO QUESTION ITS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND IF HONDA REALLY DOESNT WANT TO CONTINUE TO RUIN ITS REPUTATION THEY BETTER DO A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ONE OF OUR RIDGLINES STALLS ON THE FREEWAY AND DEATHS ARE INVOLVED. GOD FORBID SOMEONE DIES IF THEY HAVENT ALREADY DUE TO THEY'RE DEFECTIVE 2006 HONDA RIDGLINE. I SUGGEST EVERYONE FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB.

Just wanted to trow my hat into the ring 2006 Honda Ridgeline with 84000 miles - blowing smoke on start up ,flashing check engine light and solid vtm light. took into Honda dealer they came back with problem with number 4 cylinder cracked ring All other cylinders look fine. Having it repaired -rings, machined and putting a new timing belt on while its tore down $3800. lots of money for a 2006. Contacted Honda to file a claim they had no reports of this problem and was sorry for my troubles Was hoping they would trow me a bone of some kind but no luck. Don’t think I will trouble Honda again after this one.

About two months ago, I noticed a puff of blue smoke when starting the truck. Over the next few weeks, I observed this happening not only on startup, but also sometimes when accelerating from a stop. It’s especially bad if the truck has been idling for more than a few minutes. Figuring this was oil, I have been monitoring engine oil and topping off since it started.

Mechanically-inclined buddy advised I replace PCV valve, but did not solve problem.

A few weeks ago, I get flashing check engine light while driving, then changes to solid with VTM light. Code reader picks up P0304..misfire in cylinder four. Check plugs…all normal except for cylinder four, which was oil-fouled. Replaced plugs, CEL off now, but still smoking as before.

2.5 weeks later, get flashing check engine light again, so I pull brand new plug from cylinder 4, which is once again oil-fouled. Replaced it again, this time it lasted a mere three days before the flashing CEL returned. Other than the oil smoke, the truck drives fine and feels powerful when it's not misfiring.

Took it to the dealer for examination, diagnosed it as a bad ring and recommended replacement of engine. Not the sort of reliability I expected out of Honda, especially with so few miles. Always used premium synthetic oil for oil changes.

My situation is a little different than most of people that have had this same problem.

I purchased my 2006 Ridgeline RTL Navi knowing that it had an oil consumption problem. The owner, who had it for sale was very upfront and told me that, just recently, after 114,000 miles the truck began to use oil, about a quart every 500 to 750 miles and would smoke on startup. This was in 2011, and he had an 11,800.00 asking price on it. I thought, worst case scenario, I could replace the engine myself since I am kind of handy that way, and still have a great deal on a great truck.

Well, I removed all spark plugs and found that the one in cylinder #4 was oil soaked, but the rest were fine. I figured it was either a bad head or bad cylinder #4. I removed the head myself and took it to a (I thought) very competent machine shop. The shop found no issues, but some “tired” oil stem seals. The shop power washed the head, replaced the seals and machined the mating surface. I asked them to replace the valve guides as well since I read that these could cause oil consumption issues if they were worn. The shop owner protested, which I thought was very odd. He said they really weren’t that bad, still in spec, only slightly worn. I asked him again to replace them since I did the tough work of removing the head, and I do not want to remove it again needlessly. The owner again convinced me that it wasn’t needed and everything is within spec. So I paid him $180 and installed the refurbished head.

You guessed it. Oil was still being burned in cylinder #4 as evidenced by oil build up, only on plug #4. So I was convinced, since a professional rebuilt the head, it MUST be the engine block, specifically, cylinder #4. I measured the cylinder diameter and found it just within limits of the maximum wear, so my plan was to have the cylinders bored and pistons re-ringed to the next size up .25 over. I put a list together of everything needed and found that the .25 over rings were three times more expensive than the standard rings, and once that I paid for machining and new parts, it would be only a couple of hundred dollars less that a brand new short block from Honda! I decided to buy the new short block from Honda for 1400.00. I installed the new block and then installed my old heads and you guessed it…. THE NEW ENGINE WAS STILL BURNING OIL IN CYLINDER #4!!!! GGRRRRRRrrrrr.

I knew it MUST be the front cylinder head (the one with cylinder #4) that was bad. I found a company on line that guaranteed their cylinder heads and I bought a refurbished one from them for 280.00. I installed the refurbished head and PROBLEM SOLVED!!!! That first machine shop cost me an extra 1700.00 considering the cost of the new engine block from Honda was not needed, nor the gaskets sets that I had to install. I figured the valve guides were worn on the old head, but after reading about the cracked heads that others have found on their Ridgelines, I tend to believe that was my issue as well.

I will never know for certain as the original head was sent back as a core return to the cylinder head re-manufacturing company. We have owned several Hondas and they are still what we drive today. Our first Accord, we bought new in 1986 and put 365,000 miles on it, we changed the clutch at 200,000 miles and the alternator sometime after that, but not much else other than maintenance items. We also purchased a 1998 Accord 5 speed new and put 375,000 miles on that, with absolutely no issues until 185,000 miles when we had to replace an alternator. We did have issues with automatic transmissions on a 1998 V6 Accord coupe and a 2003 Pilot.

I would stay away from their V6 automatics from 1998 – 2003. I think they finally fixed that transmission issue (second gear slipping) in 2004.

My dad bought his Ridgeline new in 2006...it was his baby. Oil changes always on time...Since his passing I have been driving it giving it the same care. I was noticing a puff of white smoke when I started it for about a week and just thought I got some bad gas. I Googled the problem and came across this thread...I must admit I was a little worried after reading these comments. Just after reading these I was on my way home and the check engine light and VTM-4 light both came on...my heart sank. Well maintained vehicles should be able to go 300,000 miles, not just 105,000 miles.

Took it in to the dealer and told them about what I read and where the problem probably is. They told me I read this on the internet and you can't believe everything you read...hahaha. Well, just got a call from the dealer saying the #4 cylinder is bad and I need a new engine. I see I'm only the 17th person to post this problem but I wonder how many others there are that didn't see this and didn't know better. I called Honda and I'm sure it was a room full of people taking calls...was told that nothing will likely be done.

Guess I need to try to find someone higher up...any ideas out there? This is an absolute nightmare!

WE PURCHASED OUR 2006 RIDGELINE BACK IN 2009 WITH APPROX 46K MILES ON IT.

AT THAT TIME, PROBLEM# 1: WE PURCHASED THE HAC (HONDA AUTO CARE) WARR & CONT TO DRIVE FOR YRS WITH LIMITED PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE VEH. AROUND 82K ON THE RIDGELINE (2 YRS AGO), I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE THAT PROMPTED ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER. THEY ADVISED ME THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, BUT THE WARRANTY WAS EXP IN 2 WEEKS (2 WEEKS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE 7 YRS AND 100K)?. I INQUIRED ON THE TERMS & EXPLAINED THAT WAS NOT HOW IT WAS POSITIONED TO ME. ROUGHLY $2100 FOR A LITTLE OVER 2 1/2 YRS IS NOT WHAT I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING.

KNOWING THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRING, I IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN APPT FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND TO HAVE THEM REVIEW THE ENTIRE VEHICLE TOP TO BOTTOM (NOTHING DISCOVERED AT THAT TIME).

PROBLEM# 2 AND WHERE THE PROBLEM REALLY CREATES: BACK IN JUNE, I HIT 101K & THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS W/ THE VTM-4 LIGHT. I KNOW THERE ARE USUAL CODES FOR REG MAINTENANCE, BUT SEEING HOW I HAVE HAD VEHICLES TRIGGER LIGHTS AT 100K FOR REGULAR SERVICING THAT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE MANUAL, I THEN CONTACTED MY SERVICE CTR TO INQUIRE. HE REVIEWED THE 105K SERVICE WITH ME & STARTED HE WOULD GET BACK TO ME ON ANY CODES. LATER THAT DAY I RECEIVED A CALL STATING THAT THE #4 CYLINDER WAS MISFIRING & THE PLUG ON #4 WAS CAKED WITH BAKED ON OIL. HE RECOMMENDED CHANGING THE PLUGS FIRST BEFORE GOING INTO THE REST OF THE 105K SERVICE. 2 DAYS LATER, THE CHK ENGINE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING & VTM-4 LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. HE LATER CALLS ME TO STATE THE HEAD MAY HAVE A CRACK & EXPLAINS POSS DAMAGE OR STALL. WHAT IF IT STALLS ON THE FREEWAY? WHAT IF THE CAT CLOGS (ANOTHER 600 BY THE WAY) AND MY CAR JUST STOPS WHILE DRIVING THOUGH A INTERSECTION? I READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING & AM SHOCKED HONDA DOESN'T RESPOND TO ANY. I CANT PAY 3K - CALLED DEALER & OPENED CASE WITH HONDA MAIN CSR# 800-999-1009- NO RESPONSE FOR TWO WEEKS AND i THEN CALLED DEALERSHIP DUE TO NO CONTACT -

I THEN RECEIVED A CALL FROM HONDA STATING THAT IF I WANTED TO HAVE ONE OF THEIR LOCAL MACHINE SHOPS DIAGNOSE THAT IT WAS INDEED A CRACKED HEAD, THEY WOULD IN RETURN POSSIBLY GRANT A PARTIAL PAYMENT RANGING FROM 10% TO 50% - SENDING IT TO THEIR MACHINE SHOP = $1100 / A NEW HEAD $3000 = EVEN AT 50% COVERED (WHICH WOULD PROBABLY NOT HAPPEN) STILL LOOKING AT ROUGHLY $2700 AND THAT WAS ONLY IF THEIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT IT HAD A CRACKED HEAD. WITHOUT ACTUALLY KNOWING WHAT IT IS, YOU ARE IN A BIND AND THEY KNOW IT. IF YOU HAVE ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS (WHITE SMOKE, OIL SOAKED PLUG (SIMALIAR TO PIC), VTM / CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, ETC...YOU HAVE A CRACKED HEAD.

SINCE THERE WERE SOOOO MANY POSTS THINKING IT WAS THIS AND THAT AND MOST APPEARED TO NOT BE FIXED, I SAID SCREW IT AND REPLACED THE HEAD. $2900 LATER AND I HAVE NOT HAD PROBLEMS WITH THAT ANY LONGER. THE ONLY RECOURSE...POST THE HECK OUT OF EVERYTHING REGARDING YOUR ISSUE AND ONE DAY, HONDA MAY REALIZE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE SQUARED AWAY AND WE MAY RECEIVE SOME OF OUR MONEY BACK. VEHICLE MANUFACTURED IN CANADA 09/05.

Add me to the list of complaints about the 06 Honda ridgeline #4 cylinder misfire. Initial diagnosis was a "fouled" plug. I opted to get the service package that was due at the same time which included timing belt and oil pump gaskets totaling $1200. Three days later my check engine light is on as well as my vtm-4 light. Take it in and get a call stating it's the same "misfire cylinder 4" code and the brand new plug was fouled already. Diagnosis is that I need a new engine. Just put that money into my truck because I figured it was a Honda and I was going to put at least another 100k on it. Not the case. We just bought a brand new Odyssey 3 weeks ago so this is poor timing. FML

Engine coded #4 Misfire. Took it to local foreign car repair specialist and was told that compression in #4 was 100 PSI and should have been 200 PSI, and that #4 intake valve was burnt. Engine was disassembled, valves were ground and head was machined and new engine gaskets, etc were installed. Cost was $2,900 but did not fix the problem. Took it back to repair shop within 30 days (warranty was 90) and Tech said the engine was burning oil through #4 intake because the PCV runner for all cylinders was routed to #4 intake.

To have a Honda which is (noted for the quality of their engines) is extremely distressing, especially when I took very good care of the engine, changing oil & filter every 4-6K miles. My tech told me about a class action settlement against Honda for excessive oil burning on Oddesseys, Accords, Crosstours but not Ridgelines. Again extemely distressing. Never again will I own a Honda.

I just found this complaint thread and thought I'd add my own 2006 Honda Ridgeline tale of woe!

I bought my 2006 RT in August 2010. It was an off-lease vehicle with 119,000 kms (74,000 miles) on the clock. It ran like clockwork for about a year, until one day when it wouldn't start. After several attempts, it started, but was only running on 3 or 4 cylinders, and clouds of white smoke were pouring from the exhaust. this all happened about three weeks after I had the timing belt changed, including the water pump, belt tensioner, etc.

I managed to get it to the dealership that had been servicing it since I bought it. They diagnosed a blown head gasket on the front bank of cylinders, causing misfiring on #4 and #5.They replaced the head gasket, plugs and checked the timing. Within a day of picking it up, white smoke was billowing out of the exhaust on start up. The work was all done under the terms of an extended warranty I had bought with the truck. A smart decision!

Back to the dealership, who diagnosed that both cylinder head gaskets were blown, so off came the heads; they were machined and then re-installed with new gaskets. All the plugs were changed at the same time, and the timing was checked and adjusted. All done under the Honda Canada extended warranty...again. Back on the road, the truck was running smoothly again, but on starting it up a day later...clouds of white smoke came pouring out of the exhaust again!

Back to the dealership again. there followed a period of intense, and at times, ugly discussions with the dealership and Honda Canada. The end result was that they discovered that the block was cracked, probably due to the overheating. A new block was fitted, complete with pistons, rings, conrods and bearings. The heads were machined again, new gaskets fitted and the time belt was changed. all this, again, under the extended warranty. the dil read 142,000 kms (88,000 miles).

A couple of weeks ago, with the mileage at 199,340 kms (124,000 miles - 36,000 miles after the warranty rebuild) the engine started knocking on startup. While it would quieten as the engine warmed up, it never went away completely. Over the next two weeks, the noise got louder and louder. I had my mechanic check and adjust the valve train, but it didn't make a difference. So I opted to have the engine torn down to find the problem. It turned out to be chronic piston slap in the front bank of cylinders. The pistons are scraped, burned and pitted, and the bores are badly damaged too.

Now the questions start to arise about what was actually done under warranty at the dealership! I cannot believe that the block/pistons/rings have worn that badly in just 36,000 miles. My mechanic is positive that the heads have never been machined, and he suspects that the block is actually the original, not a replacement! That is scary, bearing in mind that all the work was supposed to have been done under warranty, and I have to assume that Honda Canada paid for it all.

The rebuild proceeds, but I'm getting ready for a tussle with the dealership and maybe even Honda itself.

You can find pictures and more details at - http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1379314#post1379314

First started smoking around April and check engine / VTM came on. Took it into the mechanic and he said # 4 cylinder had a problem with oil on plug. Suggested multiple items, but didn't really know what would fix it. Spent 1800.00 with him, got it out and a week later...the check engine light comes on again. Took it back to mechanic to look into further. Suggested new heads and didn't know where else to go. After two months and 3600.00, still problems. Pissed and honda should be looking into this.

I'm new to this site and was surprised to see the EXACT same issues as I've encountered. I purchased my Ridgeline in June '13 and all was fine until November when I noticed blue smoke from exhaust. I checked oil and it wasn't registering on dip stick. I added 3 quarts of oil and kept an eye on it. It ran great but continued with high oil consumption (and blue smoke after sitting for 2+ hours) so I took it to my local mechanic who diagnosed to replace bad PCV valve.

That seemed to help a bit with the oil consumption but the blue smoke continued and a week later the check engine light came on with code P0304 (cylinder 4 missing). I took to a different mechanic this week who did a compression check and indicated all cylinders but four at 210 while four was 140 and plug soaked in oil. He changed the plug and told me the fix would be a new engine ($5-$6k). The other option would be to change the plug once or twice a year and add continuously feed it oil. Damn!

After looking at some other comments I just pulled my VIN info and see that mine was also manufactured 11/05 in Canada. If anyone has any suggestions for making headway with Honda on this one please share your advice.

Spending $16,000 on a used vehicle is a lot for me but the fact that it was a Honda with only 53,000 miles made me feel safe in my decision. I'm feeling pretty burned.

For those who have the same #4 cylinder problem, contact me at petelopto@me.com . From what I see, there is a manufacturing problem with that engine. If Honda do not accept to fix the problem, I want to go to justice with this, so the more we are to complaint the more chances we have to win against Honda. It's unfortunate because I really like that truck. Honda has the reputation to have reliable vehicles, but they must admit they made a little mistake here.

Update from Jun 6, 2014: Honda Canada have answered me. They want me to sent my oil and filter changes receipt. Since I do it myself most of the times, I found many of those receipt, but not enough to go further with this. I decided instead to change the engine. There are seven other persons who wrote me with the same complaint...