NHTSA Complaint #11459570 — 2021 HONDA RIDGELINE

After approximately 2 unbroken hours of driving North on I-35 from Minneapolis on January 24th, 2022, I exited the freeway at exit 214 near Moose Lake. I came to a stop at the top of the ramp (stop sign) to allow cross traffic to clear and then proceeded to accelerate while turning left to cross the bridge over the freeway. About halfway through the turn, a blinking check-engine light came on. The engine also began running noticeably rougher and would not accelerate beyond 30-40 mph. I proceeded to drive about a 1/4 mile in this state to the nearest parking lot - a McDonalds just beyond the bridge. Once parked, I turned the car off and looked up check-engine codes in the owner's manual. The manual indicated that a cylinder misfire was detected and that I should seek dealer service. Frustrated (the nearest Honda dealer was likely in Duluth, an hour away), I tried starting the car and was surprised to find that it started normally without any check-engine light. After some lunch, I got back on the freeway and proceeded to drive another several hours without incident to my final destination near Virginia, MN. I quickly chalked it up to the unusually cold weather that morning, even for MN in January, and, since the issue has never repeated itself, I did not consult a dealer. However, I've recently read of many other Ridgeline owners experiencing very similar issues and thought it would be best for me to contribute my account. Under the right conditions, I believe this could be a very serious safety concern that deserves rigorous attention by Honda's engineers.