The Honda Ridgeline is a midsize pickup truck built with unibody construction rather than a separate frame, giving it car-like ride characteristics. It arrived for the 2006 model year and is known for its in-bed trunk and dual-action tailgate. Every Ridgeline uses a 3.5L V6 engine. We put all 14 Honda Ridgeline model years from 2010 to 2024 side by side, using the same rule for every year.
Honda Ridgeline by model year
Complaints per 100,000 sold. Red: more than twice the model average. Green: the fewest, among years at least three years old.
| Year | Per 100k sold | Complaints | Recalls | Top system | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 260 | 42 | 9 | Airbags | |
| 2011 | 400 | 39 | 10 | Airbags | |
| 2012 | 171 | 24 | 11 | Airbags | Fewest |
| 2013 | 254 | 45 | 7 | Airbags | Fewest |
| 2014 | 254 | 34 | 6 | Airbags | |
| 2015 | partial year | 2 | 0 | Airbags | |
| 2017 | 999 | 347 | 8 | Engine | Most complaints |
| 2018 | 530 | 162 | 7 | Electrical | |
| 2019 | 714 | 238 | 11 | Fuel system | |
| 2020 | 528 | 170 | 8 | Electrical | |
| 2021 | 249 | 103 | 7 | Engine | Fewest |
| 2022 | 278 | 119 | 3 | Visibility, lights and locks | |
| 2023 | 254 | 132 | 5 | Visibility, lights and locks | |
| 2024 | 161 | 73 | 1 | Electrical |
Why these years stand out
2017: most complaints. The 2017 Honda Ridgeline scored 999 complaints per 100,000 sold, 2.5 times the model average. Of its 347 complaints, 139 involve the engine or transmission, and the parts named most often are electrical system (93), engine (88) and fuel/propulsion system (43). NHTSA lists 8 recalls for this model year and 5 defect investigations.
2012, 2013 and 2021: fewest complaints. The 2012 drew 24 complaints, or 171 per 100,000 sold; The 2013 drew 45 complaints, or 254 per 100,000 sold; The 2021 drew 103 complaints, or 249 per 100,000 sold. These years have been on the road at least three years, which gives owners time to report problems, so a low count means something.
What Honda Ridgeline owners report most
Electrical complaints lead for the Honda Ridgeline, at 21% of all complaints for 2010-2024. Engine and transmission reports together make up 30%. One complaint can name more than one system, so the bars can add up to more than the total.
When problems are reported: mileage
365 Honda Ridgeline complaints list the odometer reading at the time of the problem. 68% were reported before 50,000 miles and 8% after 100,000. Most reports come early in ownership, which points to problems that show up while the vehicle is still fairly new.
Honda Ridgeline compared with other midsize trucks
In 1 of 13 model years the Honda Ridgeline drew fewer complaints per 100,000 sold than the average midsize truck we track for the same year. For 2024, the Honda Ridgeline scored 161 against a class average of 108. The class average only uses models with clean, published sales figures.
Honda Ridgeline generations
- 2006-2014First generation
3.5L V6 · 5-speed automatic
All first-generation trucks came with all-wheel drive and a lockable trunk under the bed floor.
- 2017-2024Second generation
3.5L V6 · 6-speed automatic (2017-2019); 9-speed automatic (2020-2024)
This generation adopted more conventional pickup styling, and front-wheel drive was offered on some trims from 2017 to 2020.
Honda did not sell a 2015 or 2016 model year Ridgeline between the two generations. The 9-speed automatic replaced the 6-speed automatic for 2020. The 2021 refresh brought a more upright front end and made all-wheel drive standard on every trim.
Honda Ridgeline fuel economy
The 2026 Honda Ridgeline is rated at 20 to 21 MPG combined by the EPA, depending on the version. Every year and engine will be on its own MPG page.
Crash test stars
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave the Honda Ridgeline these overall ratings (out of 5) for the model years it tested: 2017: 5, 2018: 5, 2019: 5, 2020: 5, 2021: 5, 2022: 5, 2023: 5, 2024: 5. Ratings can differ between body styles and drive types of the same year.
Questions
What is the best year for the Honda Ridgeline?
By complaints filed with NHTSA per 100,000 sold, 2012, 2013 and 2021 had the fewest among model years at least three years old. 2012 scored 171, against a model average of 398.
What years of the Honda Ridgeline have the most complaints?
2017. The 2017 scored 999 per 100,000 sold, with 139 engine or transmission complaints. A complaint is a report from an owner and does not prove a defect.
At what mileage do Honda Ridgeline owners report problems?
Across 365 complaints that list the odometer reading, 68% were filed before 50,000 miles and 8% after 100,000 miles. These are miles at the time of the reported problem, not how long the vehicle lasts.
How many recalls does the Honda Ridgeline have?
NHTSA lists 93 recall campaigns across model years 2010-2024 (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year). Check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaint counts are reports filed by owners with NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify them, and a complaint does not prove a defect. Scores are our calculation, explained on the Method page. Not affiliated with any automaker.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (complaints, recalls, investigations), data through October 2026; U.S. sales from manufacturer reports, compiled by motorwick; fuel economy: U.S. EPA estimates; crash tests: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.