VehicleVerdict

2018 Honda Ridgeline problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2018 Honda Ridgeline carries two red flags at once: 194 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA — 2.9× the Ridgeline norm — and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: Engine failure). It is one of the Ridgeline years to avoid.

Electrical System leads the complaint categories with 49 reports (25% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

194

NHTSA complaints

8

Recalls

5

Investigations · 2 open

4

Crash-involved

1

Fires reported

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2018 compare to other Ridgeline years?

Ridgeline NHTSA complaints by model year, 2018 highlighted429 complaints2003: 0 complaints2004: 0 complaints2005: 0 complaints2006: 294 complaints2007: 195 complaints2008: 155 complaints2009: 39 complaints2010: 50 complaints2011: 44 complaints2012: 30 complaints2013: 55 complaints2014: 35 complaints2015: 2 complaints2017: 429 complaints2018: 194 complaints2019: 291 complaints2020: 220 complaints2021: 134 complaints2022: 149 complaints2023: 164 complaints2024: 68 complaints2025: 91 complaints2026: 9 complaints
Ridgeline NHTSA complaints by model year, 2018 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Ridgeline years to avoid →

What are the most common 2018 Honda Ridgeline problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System4925%
Driver Assistance4222%
Fuel System3015%
Engine2312%
Other179%
Body & Structure95%
Visibility & Wipers74%
Transmission74%
Brakes42%
Speed Control21%
Seats11%
Suspension11%
Airbags11%
Latches & Locks11%

Does the 2018 Honda Ridgeline have recalls?

8 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

26V365000SuspensionJune 4, 2026 · 880,514 units

Defect

American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.

Consequence

Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.

26V332000AirbagsMay 21, 2026 · 98,892 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

Consequence

Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

23V858000Fuel SystemDecember 18, 2023 · 2,490,460 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence

Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

22V867000Driver AssistanceNovember 23, 2022 · 117,445 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Ridgeline vehicles. Opening and closing the tailgate may break the rearview camera wiring harness, causing the rearview camera to fail.

Consequence

An inoperative rearview camera can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the rearview camera wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 31, 2023. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is 6RW.

21V932000Latches & LocksNovember 29, 2021 · 724,826 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Passport, 2016-2019 Pilot, and 2017-2020 Ridgeline vehicles. The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving.

Consequence

A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will either repair the hood latch striker, or replace the hood if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is PBV.

20E068000OtherSeptember 17, 2020 · 151,343 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling all Honda Genuine Accessory Tonneau Covers, part number 08Z07-T6Z-100F, sold for installation on 2017-2020 Ridgeline trucks. If the tonneau cover is not properly secured in the open or closed position, wind resistance may cause the cover to flip and buckle. If this occurs, the hinges between the center and rear panel may deform, possibly allowing the rear panel to separate from the vehicle.

Consequence

A separated panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash or injury.

Remedy

Honda will notify all registered owners of 2017-2020 Honda Ridgelines, and dealers will install tethers onto any Honda Genuine Accessory Tonneau Cover to prevent panel separation and apply warning labels, free of charge. In addition, an updated accessory user's information manual will be provided. The recall began October 26, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is F8M.

19V053000Fuel SystemJanuary 24, 2019 · 106,683 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Ridgeline trucks. Exposure to acids, such as from car wash soaps, can result in the fuel pump feed port cracking.

Consequence

A crack in the fuel pump feed port can allow pressurized fuel to leak out, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, if necessary, and install a fuel pump cover, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. The recall number for this recall is Q3V.

18V221000SeatsApril 5, 2018 · 5,810 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Pilot and Ridgeline vehicles and 2018 Acura MDX vehicles. The front driver and passenger powered seats in the Honda vehicles and the driver powered seats in the Acura vehicles may have been assembled with improperly manufactured rivets. In the event of a crash, the rivets can break causing the seats not to be secured to the floor. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Consequence

In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the floor, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat frame assembly in Acura MDX vehicles, and replace the driver and front passenger seat slide rail frames in Honda Pilot and Ridgeline vehicles, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is D0S, and T0T.

Open NHTSA investigations

PE25008

Engine failure

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.  The subject engine failures were analyzed as part of a Recall Query (RQ24013).  It was determined that these engine failures are outside the scope of Honda Recall 23V-751. Further, evidence gathered in conjunction with RQ24013 does not suggest this failure is caused by the same crankshaft manufacturing defect that is addressed by Honda in Recall 23V-751.  Based on analysis of data from RQ24013, NHTSA has closed that investigation. The significant number of reports of engine failure in vehicles outside the scope of RQ24013 presents a potential safety risk that warrants further investigation.  ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to further evaluate the scope and severity of the potential problem and to fully assess the potential safety-related issues.  To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

EA25003

Rear-View Camera Failure

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. (Honda). Recall 22V-867 addressed concerns of a loss of the Rear-View Camera (RVC) function in model year (MY) 2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. Recall 22V-867 states that the RVC wire harness was manufactured with a protective corrugated tubing which was insufficient to protect against bending wear and zip ties which were insufficiently tightened and would not keep the protective tubing in place. The consequence is that the RVC wire harness may fatigue and break after repeated opening and closing of the tailgate. This ultimately results in the failure of the RVC image to display due to a lack of connectivity. Honda’s remedy identified in the recall filing was a replacement harness with longer protective corrugated tubing and sufficiently tightened zip ties. This remedy part was also installed as a production part in certain MY 2019 Ridgeline vehicles. On May 3, 2024, Honda submitted recall 24V-321 to ODI, addressing concerns of a loss of the RVC function in MY 2020-2024 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. Recall 24V-321 states that the RVC wire harness was manufactured with a material which was susceptible to breakage upon repeated opening and closing of the tailgate, which ultimately leads to a complete loss of RVC function. Honda’s remedy identified in the recall filing was a replacement harness manufactured by a new supplier with improved material properties to withstand wear from bending. Since the remedy parts for recall 22V-867 and the production parts recalled under 24V-321 use the same supplier and materials for critical components in the RVC wire harness, ODI opened RQ24011. To date, ODI has received 1 allegation of a 22V-867 remedy RVC wire harness failure. Honda indicated that it is aware of a total of 14 reports regarding remedy RVC wire harness failures associated with Recall 22V-867. Additional remedy parts may not have yet seen sufficient wear to induce the failure. ODI also believes further testing is necessary to assess the potential failures in these parts. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the rear view camera harness failures in 2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. To review the ODI report cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“BACK UP CAMERA INOPERABLE RELATED TO FAILURE OF WIRING HARNESS TO TAILGATE. STRESS POINT IN HARNESS SEVERS ELECTRICAL CONNECTION LEADING TO NO IMAGE FROM CAMERA. THIS INITIALLY OCCURRED WHILE BACKING BOAT TRAILER DOWN ACCESS RAMP AT NOBLEBORO, MAINE PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCH. HEAVILY TINTED REAR WINDOW IN…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · July 11, 2020 · crash

“The failed system is the Backup camera and the failure can be inspected. Our safety is compromised because we cannot see objects behind the vehicle before or during backing maneuvers. The damage has been reported and confirmed by the Honda dealer as well as an independent. There was no warning of…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · March 15, 2022

“WATER GETS IN BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND FLAP OF THE CAPLESS FUEL FILLER NECK AND FREEZES. THIS HAPPENS WHEN IT IS RAINING AND THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING. IF THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE FREEZING THE WATER JUST SITS BETWEEN THE TWO FLAPS. I DON'T KNOW WHEN (STATIONARY, IN MOTION, TURNING…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · January 3, 2018

“After performing regular maintenance to Honda Ridgeline 2018 by replacing the spark plugs, spark plug number 4 was contaminated with oil. All other 5 spark plugs had not sign of oil. This was discovered during the 100K miles tune up. A leaking component (e.g. a tube seal) in the well or an…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 4, 2025

“A fire started in the engine compartment of the 2018 Honda Ridgeline. The vehicle was being driven while towing a lightweight trailer. The driver pulled over to allow vehicles to pass and check the trailer. The driver allowed the engine to idle. As the driver returned to the vehicle she smelled and…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · May 26, 2022 · fire

2018 Honda Ridgeline — common questions

Is the 2018 Honda Ridgeline reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 194 complaints put the 2018 model at #6 of 23 Ridgeline years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the Ridgeline years to avoid.

What are the most common 2018 Ridgeline problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (49 complaints), driver assistance (42 complaints), fuel system (30 complaints).

Does the 2018 Honda Ridgeline have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns affecting the 2018 Honda Ridgeline. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2018 Honda Ridgeline under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — 2 investigations remain open (Engine failure). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Honda Ridgeline years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Ridgeline years to avoid are 2017, 2006, 2019, 2020, 2007, 2018, 2023, 2008, 2022, 2021, 2025, 2024. The cleanest record among Ridgeline years belongs to 2005.

How safe is the 2018 Honda Ridgeline?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2018 Honda Ridgeline earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.