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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThere is no reliable fleet-wide ranking of the most common Honda Ridgeline failures: owner complaints are not a census, and complaint summaries disagree. The best-documented concerns are specific safety campaigns affecting certain vehicles—not every truck in the listed model years. Check a Ridgeline’s VIN to establish coverage and whether a repair is complete.
What the evidence can—and cannot—tell you
Owner complaints can help regulators identify potential patterns, but they do not establish how often a defect occurs across the Ridgeline fleet. NHTSA considers complaints alongside manufacturer information and other evidence when deciding whether further investigation is warranted. Complaint totals and rankings from different public summaries are not directly comparable, so the problems below are documented concerns, not a statistical “top five.” See NHTSA’s safety-problem reporting resource and its data documentation.
Documented Honda Ridgeline problems and campaigns
| Concern | Model-year scope and eligibility | What may happen | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rearview-camera harness damage | 2017–2019 Ridgelines, all trims covered by Honda Service Bulletin 22-049; VIN eligibility applies. | Tailgate movement can damage harness wires, causing an intermittent or blank rearview-camera display. | Have a Honda dealer check VIN eligibility and the repair status. Honda’s stated correction is tailgate-harness replacement. |
| Connecting-rod-bearing damage | Certain 2017 and 2019 Ridgelines; eligibility is VIN-specific. | Honda says improper crankshaft-journal dimensions can increase friction, accelerate engine deterioration, and potentially cause engine failure and loss of motive power. | Check the VIN and contact a Honda dealer about the applicable campaign; model year alone does not confirm coverage. |
| Fuel-pump motor impeller | Certain 2017–2020 Ridgelines; eligibility is VIN-specific. | An impeller may swell and seize the pump, potentially preventing the engine from functioning as intended and causing a stall or loss of motive power. | Ask a Honda dealer to check the VIN. Honda’s bulletin identifies difficult starting, hesitation while driving, or a check-engine light with DTC P0087 as relevant symptoms. |
| Rear-subframe corrosion | Certain 2017–2023 Ridgelines in the specified salt-belt sale population; not all vehicles in those years are included. | Corrosion at rear-suspension mounting points may lead to fracture. A rear wheel could become misaligned or inadequately retained, affecting handling, stability, and braking. | Check the VIN and ask a dealer to inspect the vehicle. The recall remedy is inspection and reinforcement-kit installation, with repair or replacement as needed. |
Rearview-camera harness: 2017–2019
Honda Service Bulletin 22-049, version 3, dated August 28, 2024, says tailgate articulation can damage harness wires and make the rearview camera intermittent or blank. Honda’s listed correction is replacement of the tailgate harness. The bulletin covers all trims in these model years, but a vehicle’s campaign eligibility must still be checked by VIN. The repair is a dealer campaign procedure, not a generic DIY fix. Read Honda Service Bulletin 22-049.
Connecting-rod-bearing damage: certain 2017 and 2019 trucks
Honda Service Bulletin 24-002 identifies certain 2017 and 2019 Ridgelines that may have internal connecting-rod-bearing damage. Honda describes improper crankshaft-journal dimensions as a cause of increased friction that can accelerate engine deterioration or lead to failure, with possible loss of motive power. Coverage is VIN-specific. Read Honda Service Bulletin 24-002.
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In an information request dated September 15, 2025, NHTSA said it had received 414 reports of connecting-rod-bearing seizure and engine failure across specified Honda and Acura models using the 3.5-liter V6. That multi-model figure included 2017–2019 Ridgelines outside the scope of Recall 23V-751; it is not a Ridgeline-only count or a failure rate. Read NHTSA’s information request.
Fuel-pump impeller: certain 2017–2020 trucks
Honda Service Bulletin 24-025 describes a fuel-pump impeller that may swell and seize the pump. Affected vehicles may not run as intended, and a stall or loss of motive power is possible. Honda lists difficulty starting, hesitation while driving, and a check-engine light with diagnostic trouble code P0087 among symptoms relevant to its campaign guidance. These symptoms do not by themselves prove that a vehicle is covered; check its VIN with a Honda dealer rather than treating a generic pump replacement as the campaign remedy. Read Honda Service Bulletin 24-025.
Rear-subframe corrosion: certain 2017–2023 trucks in listed states
NHTSA’s Part 573 Safety Recall Report 26V365, submitted June 4, 2026, concerns premature corrosion at rear-suspension mounting points on certain vehicles sold in states where de-icing agents are used heavily. The filing lists 110,070 potentially involved Ridgelines within a total recall population of 880,514 vehicles across four Honda and Acura models. American Honda estimated that 1% of that total four-model population—not 1% of Ridgelines—has the defect. These are potentially involved populations, not counts of confirmed failures.
If a mounting point fractures, a rear wheel could become misaligned or inadequately retained, compromising handling, stability, and braking. The filing lists abnormal rear-suspension noise or vibration and changes in handling as possible warnings. The remedy is dealer inspection and installation of a reinforcement kit, with repair or replacement as needed. Because coverage is geographically and VIN limited, a model-year match alone is not enough. Read NHTSA’s Part 573 recall report.
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How to check a Ridgeline before buying or driving it
- Get the full VIN. Use the 17-character vehicle identification number, not just the model year or a seller’s description.
- Check open recalls by VIN. Use NHTSA’s recall lookup, then ask an authorized Honda dealer to confirm Honda campaign eligibility and whether applicable work is still open.
- Ask for repair documentation. If a seller says a campaign was completed, request the invoice or repair order and verify the status by VIN. A previously repaired vehicle may not appear as an open recall.
- Describe symptoms clearly. Note when the camera blanks, the engine hesitates, starting becomes difficult, a warning light appears, or rear-suspension noise or handling changes occur. A symptom warrants diagnosis but does not prove a campaign defect.
- Arrange a professional inspection where appropriate. In particular, do not infer rear-subframe condition from a clean-looking exterior; ask a dealer to check whether the vehicle falls within the corrosion campaign and inspect the relevant mounting points.
Covered manufacturer safety-recall repairs are free at an authorized manufacturer dealership. Confirm that a particular repair is covered and available by VIN with Honda or the dealer. NHTSA explains recall lookup and repair information.
What about other owner-reported issues?
Owner comments and complaint summaries also mention electronics, lighting, start/stop behavior, and other symptoms. The available evidence does not establish a stable cross-generation order or comparable frequency for those themes, so they should not be presented as the Ridgeline’s most common failures. Treat an individual report as a reason to investigate that vehicle’s symptoms, not as proof of a widespread defect.
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