Honda Ridgeline Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — 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.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
HONDA RIDGELINE 2017–2026 has 613 NHTSA complaints and 34 recalls. Electrical system (124) and engine (111) are top concerns. The 2019 model year alone accounts for 231 complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.
- Make
- Honda
- Model
- Ridgeline
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 613
- Safety recall campaigns
- 34
- Crash-related complaints
- 15
- Fire-related complaints
- 3
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2019 (231 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2023 (0 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Average
By model year
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 — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP 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.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
AverageBased on NHTSA complaint data, the 2017–2026 Honda Ridgeline shows notable patterns in electrical system (124 complaints) and engine (111 complaints) problems. The 2019 model year alone accounts for 231 complaints, the highest of any year. Buyers should prioritize inspecting these components and verifying recall completion. Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.
- Electrical system received 124 complaints, the highest of any component.
- Engine received 111 complaints, the second most.
- The 2019 model year has 231 complaints, far exceeding any other year.
- Electrical system failures (124 complaints).
- Engine problems (111 complaints).
- Exterior lighting issues (66 complaints).
2019 (231 complaints) and 2020 (163 complaints) are the worst, driven by electrical system and engine problems.
2017, 2018, and 2022 have zero complaints, suggesting fewer reported issues, but low sample size warrants caution.
- Inspect electrical system for any warning lights or accessory failures.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for engine and electrical repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect before purchase.
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
34 recalls foundSafety 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.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
EQUIPMENT
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
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.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 613 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
613 totalThese 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.
This is a followup to a complaint that I submitted on July 10, 2026 at 10:19:37 AM, tracking #11749522. The incident that I am reporting today occurred on July 7, 2026 when my son was driving my 2025 Ridgeline alone. I was not aware of this incident until I happened to mention to him what I had experienced with the auto stop re-start failure (no restart after auto start/stop engages). He then reported to me that on July 7th while he was driving the Ridgeline he experienced a similar incident. When he pulled up to a busy intersection the vehicle failed to re-start after shutting off at the intersection. He said he did not know what was happening and panicked a bit. Until I brought up my incident to him he said that he thought he had done something wrong when operating the Ridgeline because he does not drive the vehicle very often. He said that he placed the vehicle in park and opened the door, similar to what I had done. He said that after he did this the vehicle did re-start which is exactly what I experienced. This is two failures with same vehicle within the same week. I called the Honda Service Department on Friday, July 10, 2026 and have scheduled an appointment for Tuesday, July 14, 2026. When I mentioned NHTSA ODI had launched new Investigation on March 26, 2026 and mentioned Service Bulletins 23-008 and 23-099 to the Service Advisor he told me that they did not apply to my model year including 10-year extended warranty with unlimited mileage also did not apply. He said that my vehicle was still under factory warranty and to bring it in so that they can complete an analysis and order parts if needed. The Service Advisor said "full disclosure, Honda has not developed or provided the updated part needed to fix the problem." Those were his words. I have read that SB 23-008 and 23-099 do not fix this problem and if not completed correctly can create additional problems making me very concerned with what the dealer will propose to fix this problem.
When stopped in heavy traffic, the auto idle engaged. I got a "System problem detected. Shift to Park." warning. When I shifted to park the vehicle experienced a total electrical blackout, including a loss of hazard lights. It took several minutes for the modules to reboot. This happened 3 times in 20 minutes as I attempted to find a safe place to pull over. My life was put in danger because it was dark, raining heavily, and my hazard lights were inoperative. It happened a few hours after I bought the car at the dealership. I am waiting for a tow truck now. It is available for inspection.
No restart after auto start/stop engaged. The engine failed to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light and road intersection with the auto start/stop function engaged. This occurred at a very busy intersection on a road under construction. I had passengers in the truck with outside temperatures above 100 degrees. Traffic was extremely heavy and other vehicles were honking heavily. The vehicle would not re-start even after many attempts to push the ignition re-start button. At first I thought it was a battery issue but when pushing the ignition button there was absolutely no response by the starter. I was in a panic so I did not take a photo of the dash but everything seemed to go dead. I opened the door, got out and popped the hood. I checked the battery terminals. They seemed tight. I got back in the truck and pushed the starter button and the engine started like nothing was wrong and worked fine the rest of the day. This is the only the next morning so I have not driven the vehicle today or contacted the dealer service department yet. I intend to do so. I believe my truck experienced an Auto Idle Stop Restart Failure. I have read that opening and closing the door resets the vehicle's electrical system, allowing the push-button start to engage again. It seems this might be what happened when I got out to check the battery and then re-entered the vehicle. This situation left me and my passengers in a very dangerous situation. There were no warning lamps, messages or symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. I have read that this exact situation is a reoccurring issue with my model and year Honda Ridgeline and that Honda has not been able to effectively resolve this problem. This is a very serious problem and now I am almost afraid to drive my Honda truck which is almost new. Please help to correct this problem quickly as it creates very dangerous situations. I will be contacting the dealer service department today.
The auto stop start shuts off and does not always restart. While in traffic at a light multiple times it has shut off and not restarted .I have to turn off the vehicle and put it in park and restart the vehicle!
After braking to a stop, the default setting of the start stop system randomly fails at intersections and requires a complete restart of the vehicle. Has happened multiple times over the past two months. Dealer has checked all systems and can find no problems with battery or the system itself. Very hazardous when at a ramp end or a turn lane. The dealer recommended that the driver switch off the start stop system manually every time after starting.
The Auto Idle Stop system in the truck has become an issue with the vehicle stalling out (sometimes) when I hold the brake pedal. I have to then put the car into Park to restart the engine. This has been a safety issue when I'm driving in heavy traffic and the truck stalls and I can't move forward with the other vehicles. I have taken my truck to the Honda dealer and they could not reproduce the issue at that time. They inspected the vehicle, confirmed the battery is fine, etc. They did mention the vehicle seemed slow to start. I have experienced this as well. At this time, Honda says there is nothing they can do to help me. My truck is only a year old and still under warranty. But this is a serious safety issue and I've experienced some frightening conditions on the road because of it.
Read 14 more owner reports
I forgot to shut off truck when parking in my garage. 3 hours later a carbon monoxide alarm was triggered in the home. The truck was still running and garage was hot as hell, and truck was still running.
Auto Idle Stop fails to restart the engine quickly, causing delays or stalling resulting in a delayed response, hesitation, or the vehicle stalling completely in the middle of traffic, leaving me stranded until jump-start or fully cycle the ignition.
Truck has been leaking water inside evertime it rains. They say its something that was not welded at the honda plant it fills the floor boards up when it rains or i wash my car. It is become a serious safety problem due to the wetness in the vehicle and the gas and brake petals. I have tried gwt it fixed the dearship keeps saying waiting on honda rep or waiting on the body shop 6 months this is taking. The vehicle is outta commission due to anytime it rains as i am scared I will wreck it and kill someone.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?: The auto start stop feature failed, resulting in the vehicle lurching then dieing without any prior indication. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?: The vehicle's lurch and sudden loss of power occurred at a red light when turning left. If I were the first car in line, it would have left me in the intersection with a 65 mph speed limit, creating the potential for a significant accident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?: No it has not, but was taken to a dealer in the last two weeks for this problem, in which all systems were operating as intended. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others?: Yes it has where the problem could not be identified. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?: No warning lamp or messages were displayed prior to this safety incident. This is the third occurrence, I made another report on XXX. If needed, I can find the report number Vehicle failed to restart in 5 attempts, on the 6th attempt, the vehicle started but took an extended amount of time compared to normal. Video link immediately after the incident, the service advisor suggested I film this if it were to happen again. : [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) repeatedly has applied breaks under both highway and non-highwaty road conditions when there was no vehicle or presence of other risk factors that should have caused the system to activate. This continues to occur even after the vehicle indicated a functional issue with the system "CMBS(TM) Problem - The Collision Mitigation Braking System(TM) has a problem. Restart your vehicle. If the indicator remains on, have your vehicle checked by a dealer." on January 2, 2026, that Honda repaired/replaced sensors under warranty work stating the radar failed. The result of this condition has led to a number of false mitigation breaking at highway speeds and on non-highway roads. It has resulted in three near accidents over a period of 5 months. This presents itself every time I do not turn off the system manually. The Forward Collision Warning system presents warning notices when there is oncoming traffic on a two lane road and when there are curves in the road. It has also presented itself on the highway with oncoming traffic on curves in the road and when there is a minimal highway division in the center.
On two separate instances in the past month, I have come to a complete stop, and the engine automatically shuts off. Upon restarting it either failed to restart the engine or on this last occurence turned the engine over once, made the car lurch and took a few seconds for the engine to idle, almost as if the engine wasn't fully started and the starting motor kicked off as well as turned over slowly. The vehicle has 24,000miles and the batery is approximatley 15 months old and OEM.
The high beam lights cycle on off constantly when on auto approximately every 5-10 seconds even when there is no oncoming traffic
Automatic high beam headlights fail to work properly most of the time will not go back to low beams when a vehicle is in the opposite lane also will not go to high beams when no vehicles are in sight very frustrating and dangerous
The forward collision warning system consistently produces false errors resulting in flashing lights, shaking wheel, and audible alarms causing significant distraction from driver's focus. Daily frequency of alarms creates a false alarm risk as driver has to mentally adjust to ignore the alarm features in order to focus on driving. Primarily occurs on two lane roads where oncoming traffic is regularly misidentified by the system. Roughly 1-3 times per day on a 10 mile commute.
Over the past several months, the auto idle stop on my 2025 new honda ridgeline has been acting up, not always kicking off timely when lifting my foot off the gas pedal. It also completely failed to restart twice, disabling the car completely while at a traffic light until I could restart it. The first incident was late last year. The most recent one this past Thursday.
Auto idle start stop feature malfunction during a stop. Struggles to restart. Battery is new but still have issue with idle start stop. Multiple events. Almost no restart. Temporary fix is to turn off the feature manually before driving. Vehicle starts normally from off engine. Problem only happens with idle stops.
The auto idle stop system is not operating correctly when at a light or stopped it tends to go into neutral it has done it to me several times leaving me stranded at the light , for about month and now I’m at the dealer
I recently purchased a certified pre-owned 2025 Honda Ridgeline with 5000 miles, and within just one week of ownership, The carpet under the rear seat is completely soaked with water, clearly indicating an active leak inside the cabin. After looking into it further, I’ve also seen that water intrusion has been reported as a recurring issue with Ridgelines.
Similar to NHTSA Case #11713532 and 11657197. The idle stop system (AIS) does not always restart causing safety risk. I have been stranded multiple times now where the Ridgeline shuts off while waiting to turn on a highway and then will not restart. Today the dash lights would go out as if the battery was completely dead. I just had this in a few weeks ago for the same issue and the dealership replaced the battery. This was only a temporary fix. It is sitting at the dealership now and they are working with Honda. Please help.
Showing 20 of 613 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Honda Ridgeline
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Honda Ridgeline, in plain English.
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 — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Honda Ridgeline has 613 complaints on record across 10 model years.
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 34 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 15 of the Honda Ridgeline's 613 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Average) 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.
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 — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Honda Ridgeline vehicles on the road — 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.
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 — 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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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.
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Honda Ridgeline reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Honda Ridgeline reliable?
Average. The Honda Ridgeline has 613 NHTSA owner complaints and 34 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Honda Ridgeline years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2019 (231 complaints), 2020 (163 complaints), 2021 (96 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Honda Ridgeline problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (124 complaints); ENGINE (111 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (97 complaints).
Does the Honda Ridgeline have recalls?
Yes — 34 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Honda Ridgeline. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.