Honda Ridgeline
Problems & Worst Years
Every reported problem for the Honda Ridgeline, model year by model year — ranked from 584 federal NHTSA complaints across 2017–2023.
Backup cameras and wiring harnesses anchor much of the Ridgeline's complaint record across its seven reported model years. The 2017 launch year drew 160 complaints spread across 24 problem types, led by a tailgate wiring harness failure (20 occurrences) and a backup camera failure tied to that same wiring harness (20), plus engine rod bearing failure (15) and outright engine seizure (14). Recalls 16V888, 19V053, 23V751, and 23V858 apply to that year. The following year, 2018, saw backup camera failure alone jump to 40 occurrences out of 95 total complaints, with a capless fuel system prone to water accumulation and freezing adding another 15.
That camera and wiring theme peaked in 2020, the highest-volume year in this data at 186 total complaints, where a lane departure and forward collision avoidance system malfunction led at 55 occurrences, followed by engine knocking tied to connecting rod and bearing wear (30) and, notably, an auto start/stop system failure (29) alongside a related engine stall at idle (24) — echoing the same stop-start stalling pattern seen in Honda's larger Pilot. No safety-rated complaints appear that year, however, which is a meaningfully different picture than some of Honda's other models with this same stop-start issue.
Complaint volume dropped off considerably after 2020: 2021 through 2023 each logged under 65 total complaints, with automatic high-beam headlight malfunctions becoming the recurring top issue and recall 24V184 attached to 2023. Across the full seven years, backup camera and wiring harness failures show up often enough — 2017 through 2020 — to be worth testing directly: check the backup camera image quality and confirm the tailgate wiring hasn't been previously repaired. Engine rod bearing noise is the secondary item worth a mechanic's listen. These figures reflect what owners chose to report to NHTSA rather than a measured failure rate, and a full service history alongside a hands-on inspection will tell you more than the model year by itself.
Honda Ridgeline problems by year
Complaint volume by model year (bar = relative to the worst year). Theworst yearsare the most-complained-about, weighted by safety-risk problems.
| Year | Complaint volume | Problems | Safety / High | Most common problem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017worst | 146 | 24 | 0/9 | Tailgate Wiring Harness Failure Electrical · 20 complaints |
| 2018 | 79 | 8 | 0/3 | Backup Camera Failure Electrical · 40 complaints |
| 2019worst | 110 | 13 | 1/6 | Backup Camera Failure Due to Wiring Harness Issues Electrical · 35 complaints |
| 2020worst | 96 | 12 | 0/3 | Lane Departure and Forward Collision Avoidance System Malfunction Electrical · 55 complaints |
| 2021 | 48 | 9 | 1/3 | Automatic high-beam system malfunctions Electrical · 20 complaints |
| 2022 | 50 | 7 | 0/2 | Automatic High Beam Headlights Malfunction Other · 22 complaints |
| 2023 | 55 | 10 | 1/3 | Automatic High Beam Malfunction Electrical · 24 complaints |
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls, 2017–2023. Problem clustering and year rankings are derived from the complaint record; complaint volume reflects reports filed, not total incidence or fault rate. Vehicle image is illustrative.