Head-to-head reliability
Honda Civic vs Honda Ridgeline
How the Honda Civic and Honda Ridgeline compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Honda Civic vs Honda Ridgeline: The Civic has 3,705 complaints over 10 years, with steering issues dominating, while the Ridgeline has 1,351 complaints, with electrical and lighting problems. The Ridgeline has more recalls (56 vs 20) but fewer crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Civic or Honda Ridgeline more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic, with 3,705 complaints over 10 years, shows a heavy concentration in steering issues, which dominate the complaint count. Owners describe a steering wheel that becomes stiff or sticky, sometimes releasing suddenly, which can be alarming on the highway. Other notable problems include electrical glitches like the car turning on by itself and false collision warnings. While the Civic has a high complaint volume, many are not crash-related, but the steering pattern is a significant concern for a used buyer.
Honda Ridgeline
The Honda Ridgeline, with 1,351 complaints over 10 years, has a lower complaint rate but a higher recall count. Its top issues are electrical and engine-related, including a problematic auto stop/start system that can stall the engine, and exterior lighting that misbehaves, causing high beams to flash at oncoming traffic. These issues can be annoying and potentially dangerous, but the overall complaint volume is lower than the Civic's.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Civic | Honda Ridgeline |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,705 | 1,351 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 20 Better | 56 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 203 | 25 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 370.5 | 135.1 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 140 | 19 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 0 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Honda Civic
- 01STEERING1,907
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER494
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM324
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE255
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM215
Owners report the steering wheel becomes stiff or sticky, requiring extra force, and sometimes suddenly releases, especially on the highway. This can make the car feel unstable and is a safety concern.
Electrical failures include the car turning on by itself due to a faulty BCM, and air conditioning leaks causing weak cooling. These can be costly to fix and affect comfort and reliability.
The collision mitigation system often triggers false braking on empty roads, which can be startling and increase the risk of rear-end collisions.
Fuel pump issues are a common recall subject, which can cause stalling or difficulty starting. This is a critical system that can leave you stranded.
“My steering gradually stiffens then suddenly releases while traveling the highway. It cycled this way during the entire trip. It acted this way for the first time Oct 22, 2025 on the outgoing part of my hour long trip. It acted this way the second time Oct 25…”
“The steering wheel becomes "sticky" and requires more force than usual to move it to the right or left. This is particularly noticeable when driving in a straight line, and the issue becomes apparent after driving for roughly 10 minutes. This causes an overco…”
Honda Ridgeline
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM304
- 02ENGINE261
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER183
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING144
- 05POWER TRAIN130
The engine and powertrain management system can fail with multiple DTCs, triggering a cascade of warnings and power-limiting. This can make the truck undriveable and is a serious reliability concern.
The auto stop/start system can stop the engine unexpectedly when accelerating, which is a safety hazard, especially in traffic. Owners also report engine issues after purchase, including stalling.
The auto high beam system is erratic, flashing high beams at oncoming traffic or creating a strobe effect. This can blind other drivers and increase accident risk.
False warnings from the collision mitigation system and auto high beam issues are common, causing driver distraction and potential dangerous situations.
“The vehicle’s engine and powertrain management system repeatedly fails with multiple DTC's triggering a full-system cascade of safety-critical warnings and automatic power-limiting. The issue affects the engine, transmission, emissions, AWD, brake system, sta…”
“The automatic engine stop/start system is a safety hazard. On multiple occasions with two different drivers (husband and wife owners), the engine has stopped just as the accelerator is pressed after waiting for traffic to clear at a stop sign or while waiting…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Honda Civic — 20 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeli…
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, w…
The risk: Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall ar…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Honda Ridgeline — 56 recalls
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ridgeline vehicles. The rearview camera (RVC) tailgate wire harness may fatigue and break, which can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying.
The risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the RVC tailgate wire harness, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Honda service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is YI7.
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ridgeline vehicles. The rearview camera (RVC) tailgate wire harness may fatigue and break, which can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying.
The risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the RVC tailgate wire harness, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Honda service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is YI7.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Buyer analysis
Honda Civic or Honda Ridgeline: which should you buy?
The Honda Ridgeline has fewer complaints per year (135.1 vs 370.5) and no reported deaths, but its issues are more varied and include dangerous lighting and engine stalling. The Civic's steering problems are more concentrated and potentially more alarming. In practice, the Ridgeline may have fewer overall issues, but the Civic's steering is a critical safety concern.
Key differences
- The Civic has a much higher complaint rate (370.5/yr) than the Ridgeline (135.1/yr), but the Civic's issues are dominated by steering, while the Ridgeline's are spread across electrical, engine, and lighting.
- The Ridgeline has more recalls (56 vs 20), indicating more widespread issues, but fewer crash-related complaints (25 vs 203) and no deaths.
- The Civic's steering issues are potentially more dangerous as they affect control, while the Ridgeline's lighting issues can blind others but are less likely to cause a crash directly.
- The Ridgeline's auto stop/start stalling is a unique safety hazard not reported in the Civic.
- Inspect the steering for stiffness or stickiness, especially after driving for 10 minutes. Test drive on a highway to see if the wheel feels consistent.
- Check for any electrical issues like the car turning on by itself or A/C not cooling properly.
- Test the auto stop/start system to ensure the engine restarts smoothly when you press the accelerator. Also, check for any warning lights or DTCs.
- Test the auto high beams at night to see if they flash or behave erratically.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the steering system on the Civic, including the EPS motor and torque sensor.
- For the Ridgeline, check the battery and charging system, as electrical issues can cause multiple failures.
- Test drive both vehicles in stop-and-go traffic to see if the Ridgeline's auto stop/start causes any hesitation.
- Ask for service records to see if recalls were addressed, especially fuel pump for Civic and camera/seat belt for Ridgeline.
- Check for any open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Honda Civic | Honda Ridgeline |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 24 | 8 |
| 2025 | 89 | 73 |
| 2024 | 257 | 48 |
| 2023 | 577 | 124 |
| 2022 | 877 | 112 |
| 2021 | 139 | 97 |
| 2020 | 218 | 166 |
| 2019 | 348 | 231 |
| 2018 | 598 | 157 |
| 2017 | 578 | 335 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Honda Civic or Honda Ridgeline in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Civic vs Honda Ridgeline
- Honda Civic total complaints
- 3,705
- Honda Ridgeline total complaints
- 1,351
- Honda Civic total recalls
- 20
- Honda Ridgeline total recalls
- 56
- Honda Civic avg complaints/year
- 370.5
- Honda Ridgeline avg complaints/year
- 135.1
- More reliable overall
- Honda Ridgeline
- Honda Civic top complaint area
- STEERING
- Honda Ridgeline top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM