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⚑ NHTSA Official DataUpdated: Jun 2026Methodology

Honda Ridgeline Reliability by Year
Best & Worst Years, Problems & Recalls β€” NHTSA Data

Comparing used Honda Ridgeline options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

πŸ“‹
1,306
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
πŸ””
56
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
πŸ’₯
25
Crash-Related
crash complaints
πŸ”₯
14
Fire-Related
fire complaints
πŸ₯
18
Injuries Reported
across all years
πŸ“ˆ
Poor
Reliability Signal
overall trend

Model-year trends show patterns. Run a VIN check for the exact Honda Ridgeline you plan to buy.

Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Honda Ridgeline has 1,306 owner complaints and 56 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2017 drew the most complaints; 2026 drew the fewest.

Honda Ridgeline β€” key reliability facts
Make
Honda
Model
Ridgeline
Model years analyzed
2017–2026 (10 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
1,306
Safety recall campaigns
56
Crash-related complaints
25
Fire-related complaints
14
Worst model year (by complaints)
2017 (331 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2026 (6 complaints)
Top reported issue area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Β· Data last refreshed Jun 14, 2026
This Ridgeline has 56 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free β†’

Honda Ridgeline: Which Years to Avoid & Which to Buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used β€” lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

⚠ Years to Avoid
2017 Honda Ridgeline331 complaints2019 Honda Ridgeline227 complaints2020 Honda Ridgeline160 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

βœ“ Best Years to Buy
2026 Honda Ridgeline6 complaints2024 Honda Ridgeline45 complaints2025 Honda Ridgeline59 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β€” lower risk starting points.

⭐ NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

2026
2026 HONDA RIDGELINE PU/CC N/A AWD
Overall Safety
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Frontal Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Side Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Rollover Risk
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…4/5
2025
2025 Honda RIDGELINE PU/CC AWD
Overall Safety
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Frontal Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Side Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Rollover Risk
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…4/5
2024
2024 Honda RIDGELINE PU/CC AWD
Overall Safety
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Frontal Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Side Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Rollover Risk
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…4/5
How to Read NCAP Stars
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5 stars - Excellent
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…4 stars - Good
β˜…β˜…β˜…3 stars - Average
β˜…β˜…2 stars - Below average
β˜…1 star - Poor
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings

What the Complaint Data Suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

The HONDA RIDGELINE has 1,306 NHTSA complaints and 56 recalls on record. 25 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key Findings
  • 1,306 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 56 federal recall campaigns
  • 25 crash-related complaints on record
Top Concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
⚠️ Worst Years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

βœ… Best Years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to Check Before Buying Used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume β€” popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

πŸ“… Problems by Model Year (Best vs. Worst Years)

2017
331
2018
157
2019
227
2020
160
2021
94
2022
109
2023
118
2024
45
2025
59
2026
6
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jun 2026

πŸ”” NHTSA Safety Recalls

56 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Campaign #26V365000April 6, 2026

Safety Recall

Component: STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Campaign #26V365000April 6, 2026

Safety Recall

Component: STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Campaign #24V321000September 5, 2024

Safety Recall

Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Campaign #24V321000September 5, 2024

Safety Recall

Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Campaign #24V321000September 5, 2024

Safety Recall

Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Campaign #24V321000September 5, 2024

Safety Recall

Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Campaign #24V321000September 5, 2024

Safety Recall

Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Campaign #24V064000January 2, 2024

Safety Recall

Component: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Campaign #24V064000January 2, 2024

Safety Recall

Component: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Campaign #26V332000

Safety Recall

Component: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Campaign #21V900000

Safety Recall

Component: SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR
Campaign #23V174000

Safety Recall

Component: VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
Campaign #23V458000

Safety Recall

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
Campaign #26V332000

Safety Recall

Component: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Campaign #23V458000

Safety Recall

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
Campaign #20E068000

Safety Recall

Component: EQUIPMENT
Campaign #21V932000

Safety Recall

Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
Campaign #23V174000

Safety Recall

Component: VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
Campaign #23V458000

Safety Recall

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
Campaign #23V858000

Safety Recall

Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

πŸ”§ Most-Reported Problem Areas

Based on component keywords extracted from all 1,306 NHTSA complaints.

1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
290 complaints
2
ENGINE
241 complaints
3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
178 complaints
4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
142 complaints
5
POWER TRAIN
127 complaints
6
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
123 complaints
7
BACK OVER PREVENTION
109 complaints
8
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
84 complaints

πŸ“‹ NHTSA Complaint Reports

1,306 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

πŸ’₯ CrashπŸ₯ 1 InjuryFORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTUREApr 2026

Car was on the highway braking hard with the ACC even if the vehicle in front was atleast 4/5 car lengths away. Moved to the right lane to stop it and came up to a box truck and the car automatically broke very hard and LKA started jerking the wheel to the left lane causing the rear bumper to collide with the cars in the next lanes front bumper. My vehicle pit maneuvered into the median ditch and flipped once.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGMar 2026

The contact owns a 2026 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that the vehicle was test-driven for two days prior to being purchased. The vehicle was then purchased brand new and was driven for 30 minutes to the residence, and was parked in the garage with the windows rolled up. The contact noticed that there was an abnormally strong odor coming from the inside and the outside of the vehicle. The contact experienced intermittent and persistent headaches, which the contact attributed to the vehicle's volatile organic compounds. The contact had scheduled an appointment with a medical Doctor. The dealer was notified of the failure, and a complaint was filed. The dealer offered to install an Ozone generator to absorb the strong chemical odor. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 129.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEMar 2026

The contact owns a 2026 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated while driving 8 MPH on the highway, the vehicle started shaking and veered to the left while another vehicle was passing in the adjacent lane and slowed down independently. The brakes failed to work properly, and the vehicle skidded to a stop. The Automated Emergency Steering (AES) was engaged. The brake light and Active Safety System warning lights became illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer guided the contact in checking the Automotive Radar System. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20. The VIN was not available.

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGMar 2026

Automatic headlights have a delay in turning off the high beams that causes oncoming traffic to be subjected to high beams until they are way too close.

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGFeb 2026

The Auto High Beam features turns on and off indiscriminately, often going off on a dark section of road or staying on with oncoming traffic. This is dangerous as I lose clear vision of the road or the oncoming driver could be blinded by the light. The dealer admits that the feature, which is listed on the car sticker and in the manual, effectively does not work. Honda will say that it works as designed. In which case it is a faulty design. My Subaru Outback has the same feature that works flawlessly, so I do understand what proper operation is. Additionally this and other safety features are suppressed under 45 miles an hour. Typically the safety features are most valuable on single lane roads where the speed is less than 45 MPH.

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGJan 2026

Auto dimming headlights, regardless of any changes settings will only engage the high beams a few seconds at a time regardless of current lighting conditions or light on the road. Even in the total lack of any extension light source the lights will change to high beams and a few seconds later revert to low beams

SERVICE BRAKESApr 2026

2024 Honda Ridgeline. Brakes stick or slow to release. Feels like brakes are dragging. Delayed acceleration. This is unsafe. Dealer has had vehicle 7+ days total across 2 repair attempts from March 25th 2026 thru April 1st 2026 and again April 29th 2026 and dealership still has the vehicle. Has not been able to fix the issue. Honda issued Dealer Message on August 7, 2025 stating "American Honda Motor Co.,Inc. is searching for certain 2023-2025 Odysseys, Passports, and Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the brakes sticking. Vehicle purchased April 1st 2024 and has 12,700 miles. Currently at dealership for 2nd attempt. this is a known safety defect Honda is actively investigating. Sticking brakes crash risk. Delayed acceleration. Feeling of brakes dragging. Ongoing intermittent issue. I have been offered a loaner vehicle on both occasions.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERApr 2026

My husband was driving the vehicle to school with the sunroof shade closed. Without any impact or anything hitting the sunroof, it shattered. I tried filing a warranty claim with Honda, and they denied the claim without requesting any evidence.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPERMar 2026

The auto high beam is widely known to be so bad it behaves the opposite of how it should. It frequently blinds other drivers when it should not turn high beams on, often blinding them in the last few seconds before passing, causing a dangerous situation, not to mention the possibility of drivers thinking it was done on purpose maliciously. This has led to near road rage experiences. The high beams also rarely turn on when they should but at least there is a manual override.

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGFeb 2026

LIGHTED RUNNING BOARD LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY QUIT WORKING. HONDA HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BUT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEFeb 2026

My Honda CMBS system has false warnings from cars coming from the other lane and road markers setting off the system. I had numerous incidents where the steering wheel shakes and a brake warning illuminates with no possibility of an accident. After this warning the car would automatically brake to stop you. I have taken this vehicle to the dealer twice they said it is perfect. Honda knows this system is defective. In the owners manual they describe all the false warnings. I have experienced every one in the manual. I have begged the dealer and Honda company that I believe the camera mounted in front of the mirror is too sensitive and defective but they won’t replace it. The camera also controls the automatic bright lights and they won’t stay on for more than 6 seconds. I contend that this camera also sets off the emergency braking due to oncoming lights or reflective lights in the road. There is a class action lawsuit over this system up to a 2023 Ridgeline. All I want is a new camera and the Cmbs system to work correctly but Honda won’t repair it. They deny it is defective. They claim they can’t duplicate it. Of course they drive it once and say it’s fine. Please make Honda replace this faulty system

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTINGFeb 2026

The Automatic High Beam system does not work properly and are very inconsistent. When enabled, the high beams often turn on for a brief moment then turn off. Sometimes this occurs when there is a road sign reflection or a light on a home on the side of the road. When the system is enabled, the high beams often fluctuate on and off even when there is no oncoming traffic. What is worse is that the high beams sometimes remain on with oncoming traffic, blinding the oncoming driver. I am reporting that this has occurred ever since I purchased the vehicle in 2024. The dealer indicated this is a known problem and that Honda doesn't seem to be doing anything about it.

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGJan 2026

The Auto High Beams (AHB) fail to work correctly. When set to on, they will come on for maybe 3-4 seconds then turn off, and maybe repeat the next time. The bigger issue is they fail to turn off many times when approaching oncoming traffic. The feature is dangerous by not turning on when they should and not turning off when they should. This is a widespread problem reported by many. The Honda dealer said they adjusted the sensitivity of the AHB when in fact there is no such adjustment. There is clearly something wrong with the implementation on the Ridgeline as other same year Honda models (we have a 2924 CRV) do NOT have this problem.

ENGINEJan 2026

Vehicle has stalled after being stopped at red light. Does not occur all the time. Only when in idle mode.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMDec 2025

Auto Start/Stop Malfunction. On two occasions the Auto start/stop has shut the engine off at a stop light and after releasing the brake the vehicle went completely dead. Dashboard/radio and all electronics dead. After multiple attempts the vehicle finally restarted. Now the normal start is sluggish like a low battery. Battery was replaced under warranty and check out multiple times by the dealership with them not able to find any issues.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEDec 2025

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, stability assist, steering assist, ABS/VSA, hill-start assist. The vehicle is fully available for inspection upon request. During each failure, the vehicle abruptly enters reduced-power β€œlimp mode” without warningβ€”resulting in loss of engine power, disabled AWD, and disables all safety/stability systems. These events have occurred in normal traffic, including at red lights and in intersections, creating a risk of rear-end collisions, inability to accelerate, and loss of vehicle control. I transport an autistic child, making reliability and predictable vehicle behavior critical to passenger safety as well. The problem has been reproduced and documented by multiple authorized Honda dealerships. The vehicle has now undergone 13 repair attempts in the first 14 months of ownership, across 6 different Honda dealerships. All have been unable to diagnose or permanently repair the defect. The vehicle has been repeatedly inspected by Honda technicians, who escalated the issue to Honda Tech Line. Tech Line documents (dated 10/1/25) show that no aftermarket modifications exist and that the failure is verified but intermittent and ongoing. Warning Lamps / Symptoms: Each failure event triggers a full dashboard sweep including: – AWD System Problem – Emissions System Problem – Transmission System Problem – Power Steering System Problem – Vehicle Stability Assist Problem – Hill Start Assist Problem – Brake System Warning – Road Departure Mitigation Problem – Blind Spot Information System Problem There is a federal lawsuit filed filed in Oregon District court case 6:25-cv-02142-AP

ENGINEOct 2025

Between 1,000-1,400 rpm there is a lower end engine knock.sounds like a bearing.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERSep 2025

I was driving alone on US-HWY 45 in Chunchula, AL......I heard the loudest noise ever sounded like a high power rifle blast in my ear then I was showered with glass. The sunroof exploded. I had a police report written, I literally thought I had been shot at. There was only myself and one other very small vehicle way ahead of me. No trees hanging over the road or anything.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURESep 2025

While idling at a traffic light,2 systems shut down: Adaptive Cruise Control & Road Departure Mitigation System. Also the BRAKE SYSTEM light came on, but the brakes continued to work.

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGSep 2025

Using the Automatic High Beam system, the high beam may come on even if a car is coming toward me. Sometimes, the high beam will not transition to low beam until the incoming car is real close to me. The incoming car would put his high beam on to warn me. As well, the high bean can randomly transition to low beam for no reason. And a second after, come back to high beam. Really dangerous. I had other cars with this system and never had that kind of problems.

Showing 20 of 1,306 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Before You Buy, Check the Exact Honda Ridgeline

These pages show model-year patterns across 10years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

πŸ“– Understanding This Data

πŸ“‹

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β€” but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Honda Ridgeline has 1,306 complaints on record across 10 model years.

πŸ””

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Honda Ridgeline has 56 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

πŸ’₯

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 25 of the Honda Ridgeline's 1,306 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β€” a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

🧭

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

πŸ“Š

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β€” simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

πŸ”

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Honda Ridgeline vehicles on the road β€” not any specific car. Two Honda Ridgeline vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

πŸ”Ž

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β€” NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Honda Ridgeline has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

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πŸ“ Check a Honda Ridgeline by State

Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Honda Ridgeline.

VIN check in CaliforniaVIN check in TexasVIN check in FloridaVIN check in New YorkVIN check in PennsylvaniaVIN check in IllinoisVIN check in OhioVIN check in GeorgiaFree VIN check β†’

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