Head-to-head reliability
Honda FIT vs Honda Ridgeline
How the Honda FIT 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 FIT vs Honda Ridgeline: The Fit averages 113.6 complaints per year with 59 crash-related and 60 injuries, while the Ridgeline averages 137.9 complaints per year with 25 crash-related and 19 injuries. Both have zero deaths. The Fit's top issues are electrical and air bags; the Ridgeline's are electrical and engine. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda FIT or Honda Ridgeline more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda FIT
The Honda Fit is a subcompact hatchback with 1,136 NHTSA complaints over 10 years, averaging about 114 per year. The most common trouble spots are the electrical system (312 complaints) and air bags (225), with owners reporting blank or garbled instrument displays in cold weather and air bag recalls. It also has 59 crash-related complaints and 60 injuries, though zero deaths. Overall, it's a small car with a steady stream of electrical and air bag concerns that a buyer should check carefully.
Honda Ridgeline
The Honda Ridgeline is a mid-size pickup with 1,379 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 138 per year. The leading issues are electrical system (315) and engine (275), including reports of engine stop/start failures and false collision warnings. It has far fewer crash-related complaints (25) and injuries (19) than the Fit, but more recalls (56). For a pickup, it shows a pattern of electronic and engine quirks rather than major structural failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda FIT | Honda Ridgeline |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,136 Better | 1,379 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 51 Better | 56 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 59 | 25 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 113.6 Better | 137.9 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 60 | 19 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 FIT
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM312
- 02AIR BAGS225
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM146
- 04ENGINE140
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER130
Owners frequently report the instrument panel going blank or showing random pixels, especially in cool or cold weather. This can hide the fuel gauge, odometer, and oil life, making it hard to know basic car status.
There are 225 air bag complaints, including a recall for occupant classification sensors and frontal inflator modules. Some owners had to wait for recall parts, leaving the air bag system unrepaired.
Reports include the fuel gauge going blank or showing weird graphics in cold temperatures, and instances of the car juddering and losing power at highway speeds. These issues can be intermittent and may return after warming up.
Owners describe misfires, such as a cylinder 2 misfire due to carbon buildup, and episodes where the engine light flashes while the car loses power. These can leave a driver stranded or require costly repairs.
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Electronic instrument panel goes blank or displays random pixels during cool and cold weather. Pushing the panel display selection button may bring the display…”
“The dealership changed the oil on my 2020 Honda Fit, and the Oil Life display was reset to 100%, on 1/8/24. Two days later the LCD panel, which shows the fuel gauge, odometer, remaining range, oil life, etc. began to intermittently go blank or become garbled…”
Honda Ridgeline
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM315
- 02ENGINE275
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER185
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING144
- 05POWER TRAIN133
Many complaints involve a cascade of dashboard warnings and automatic power-limiting, affecting engine, transmission, and brake systems. The automatic engine stop/start can also shut off the engine just as the driver presses the accelerator, which is a safety concern.
Reports include broken crankshaft counterweights and seized bearings requiring engine replacement, as well as the stop/start system stalling at stop signs. These are serious, expensive failures that can happen even on relatively new trucks.
The automatic high beam system is widely criticized for turning on high beams when oncoming cars are close, blinding other drivers. It may also fail to dim when it should, creating a dangerous situation at night.
Owners report false warnings from the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) when meeting oncoming vehicles, and the auto high beam behaves opposite to expectations. These false alerts can distract or startle the driver.
“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 FIT — 51 recalls
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…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Fit and 2019-2022 HR-V vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the engine is started with a key, due to a design error in the audio display power circuit. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of…
The risk: An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the display audio unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 13, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is 6DW. This recall has…
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Fit and 2019-2022 HR-V vehicles that were previously recalled under NHTSA recall number 23V-046. The rearview camera image may not display when the engine is started with a key, due to a design error in the audio display power circuit.…
The risk: An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the display audio unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Honda service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are TIQ and DIR. Vehicles previou…
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,…
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 (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.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requiremen…
The risk: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FE5.
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…
Buyer analysis
Honda FIT or Honda Ridgeline: which should you buy?
The Honda Fit has fewer complaints per year (about 114) than the Ridgeline (about 138), but the Fit's issues are more often electrical and air bag related, with higher crash and injury counts. The Ridgeline has more engine and lighting complaints, including serious engine failures. In practice, the Fit may be simpler but has more safety-related complaints, while the Ridgeline's problems can be costlier to fix.
Key differences
- The Fit has 59 crash-related complaints and 60 injuries, while the Ridgeline has only 25 crash-related and 19 injuries, despite the Ridgeline having more total complaints.
- Electrical problems are the top complaint for both, but the Fit's are mainly blank instrument panels, while the Ridgeline's involve cascading warnings and stop/start failures.
- The Ridgeline has 275 engine complaints, including broken crankshafts and seized bearings, whereas the Fit has 140 engine complaints, often misfires and power loss.
- The Ridgeline's exterior lighting complaints (144) center on auto high beams blinding oncoming drivers, a specific safety concern not seen in the Fit's top issues.
- Check the instrument panel display in cold weather: look for blank or garbled pixels that may indicate the electrical issue owners report.
- Verify that any open air bag recalls (especially occupant classification sensor) have been repaired, as parts may have been unavailable.
- Test the automatic engine stop/start system: ensure the engine restarts promptly when you release the brake or press the accelerator, as stalling has been reported.
- Check the auto high beam function at night: see if it flashes or fails to dim around oncoming cars, a common complaint.
Before you buy
- Ask for the full NHTSA recall history and confirm all recalls are closed, especially air bag and electrical recalls.
- Take a test drive in cold weather if possible to check for blank instrument panels (Fit) or stop/start stalling (Ridgeline).
- Have a mechanic scan for stored error codes, especially engine misfire codes (Fit) or powertrain codes (Ridgeline).
- Inspect the fuel gauge and odometer operation on the Fit, and the auto high beam and collision warning systems on the Ridgeline.
- Review the owner's complaint history on NHTSA.gov for the specific model year you are considering to see if patterns persist.
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 FIT | Honda Ridgeline |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 36 | 168 |
| 2019 | 136 | 232 |
| 2018 | 117 | 160 |
| 2017 | 43 | 337 |
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 FIT or Honda Ridgeline in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda FIT vs Honda Ridgeline
- Honda FIT total complaints
- 1,136
- Honda Ridgeline total complaints
- 1,379
- Honda FIT total recalls
- 51
- Honda Ridgeline total recalls
- 56
- Honda FIT avg complaints/year
- 113.6
- Honda Ridgeline avg complaints/year
- 137.9
- More reliable overall
- Honda FIT
- Honda FIT top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Ridgeline top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM