The best Ridgeline years to buy are 2014 and 2021. Avoid the 2017 and 2019: engine bearing failures, electrical faults and fuel pump recalls give them the highest complaint rates of any Ridgeline.
Best years: 20142021 Years to avoid: 20172019
Every Ridgeline year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 76 | - | 1 | Electrical | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 133 | - | 5 | Exterior Lighting | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 119 | 278 | 3 | Exterior Lighting | Average |
| 2021 | 103 | 249 | 7 | Engine | Good buy |
| 2020 | 171 | 532 | 9 | Electrical | Average |
| 2019 | 238 | 714 | 12 | Fuel System | Skip this year |
| 2018 | 163 | 533 | 8 | Electrical | Average |
| 2017 | 347 | 999 | 9 | Electrical | Skip this year |
| 2014 | 34 | 254 | 7 | Air bags | Good buy |
| 2013 | 45 | 254 | 8 | Air bags | Average |
| 2012 | 24 | 171 | 12 | Air bags | Few reports |
About the Ridgeline
The Ridgeline is Honda's unibody pickup. The first generation ran through 2014, and after a two-year break the second generation arrived for 2017 with a 3.5-liter V6. The 2017-2020 trucks drew many complaints, including engine connecting rod bearing failures like those on Honda Pilots of the same years, electrical faults and fuel pump recalls. From 2021 the complaint rate roughly halves.
- 2006-2014: First generation, 3.5 V6 and five-speed automatic. Few complaints.
- 2017 on: Second generation. Engine, electrical and fuel pump complaints on 2017-2020; nine-speed from 2020.
Ridgeline warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Honda files with NHTSA. 381 Ridgeline bulletins are on file in total.
Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque.
Warranty Extension - Warranty Extension reimbursement form for engine idle stop repairs made before the warranty extension notice date.
Warranty Extension - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart.
Service Bulletin - The PCM software may misinterpret sensor inputs as a deteriorated catalytic converter.
On, November 24, 2020, American Honda announced a warranty extension for certain 2016 Pilot vehicles.
Owner Notification Letter - On some 2017-19 Pilot, 2017-19 Ridgeline, and 2018-19 Odyssey models, the malfunction indicator light (MIL) may come on if one or more of the following diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) are stored: - P...
The vehicle may not start upon first press of the ENGINE START/STOP button.
Today, December 9, 2020, American Honda is announcing a warranty extension for certain 2015-17 Fit, 2016-18 HR-V, 2016-17 Pilot, and 2017 Ridgeline vehicles.
Owner Notification Letter - The vehicle may not start upon first press of the ENGINE START/STOP button.
Owner Notification Letter - On some 2016-17 Pilot, 2017 Ridgeline, and 2018 Odysey models, the malfunction indicator light (MIL) may come on if one of the following diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) are stored: - P0420 (rear bank...
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Ridgeline
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Preliminary evaluation PE25008 · 2017–2019 · opened Aug 2025
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline.
Engineering analysis EA25004 · 2020–2024 · opened Mar 2025
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles.
Engineering analysis EA25003 · 2017–2019 · opened Feb 2025, closed Sep 2026
On November 23, 2022, American Honda Motor Co.
Recall query RQ24013 · 2017–2019 · opened Nov 2024, closed Aug 2025
On November 8, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ24013 to assess the scope of Honda recall 23V-751 after receiving complaints that alleged connecting rod bearing failures in vehicles that were not within the scope of recall 23V-751.
Recall query RQ24011 · 2017–2019 · opened Jun 2024, closed Feb 2025
On June 26, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ24011) to assess the long-term suitability of the remedy for recall 22V-867, which was filed on November 23, 2022 by American Honda Motor Co.
Preliminary evaluation PE24004 · 2020–2023 · opened Feb 2024, closed Aug 2024 · led to recall 24V321
On February 13, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE24004 to assess alleged failures of the rear-view camera (RVC) in 2020-2023 Model Year (MY) Honda Ridgeline vehicles.
Preliminary evaluation PE22001 · 2017, 2018 · opened Feb 2022, closed Dec 2022 · led to recall 22V867000
On February 7, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE22-001) to assess alleged failures of the rear-view camera (RVC) in 2017-2018 Model Year Honda Ridgeline vehicles.
Engineering analysis EA19001 · 2012–2014 · opened Apr 2019, closed Sep 2024 · led to recall 20V024
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.
Ridgeline vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Honda Ridgeline?
2014 and 2021. The best Ridgeline years to buy are 2014 and 2021. Avoid the 2017 and 2019: engine bearing failures, electrical faults and fuel pump recalls give them the highest complaint rates of any Ridgeline.
Which Honda Ridgeline years should I avoid?
2017, 2019. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Honda Ridgeline average.
Does the Honda Ridgeline have engine problems?
Some 2017-2019 Ridgelines report connecting rod bearing failures, the same problem seen on Honda Pilots of those years. Check the VIN for open engine recalls and listen for knocking.
Based on 1,453 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.