VehicleVerdict

2023 Honda Ridgeline problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline carries two red flags at once: 164 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA — 2.4× the Ridgeline norm — and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages). It is one of the Ridgeline years to avoid.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across lighting (39), driver assistance (29), and other (19), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

164

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

2

Investigations · 1 open

2

Crash-involved

5

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2023 compare to other Ridgeline years?

Ridgeline NHTSA complaints by model year, 2023 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, 2023 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Ridgeline years to avoid →

What are the most common 2023 Honda Ridgeline problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Lighting3924%
Driver Assistance2918%
Other1912%
Engine1912%
Electrical System1610%
Transmission106%
Steering74%
Fuel System64%
Visibility & Wipers42%
Brakes42%
Body & Structure32%
Speed Control32%
Suspension21%
Airbags21%
Tires & Wheels11%

Does the 2023 Honda Ridgeline have recalls?

5 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.

24V321000Driver AssistanceMay 9, 2024 · 187,290 units

Defect

Honda (America Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ridgeline vehicles. The rearview camera (RVC) tailgate wire harness may fatigue and break, which can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying.

Consequence

A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the RVC tailgate wire harness, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Honda service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is YI7.

24V184000SteeringMarch 7, 2024 · 245 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Passport and Ridgeline vehicles. The inner ball joint housing in the steering gearbox assembly may loosen and detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.

Consequence

A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the steering gearbox as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is LHY.

23V458000BrakesJune 29, 2023 · 124,077 units

Defect

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.

Consequence

Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.

Open NHTSA investigations

EA25004

No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages

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. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports 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.

“The auto high beams do not work with any consistency. They don't come when they should or will turn off because of a reflection from a road sign. Sometimes, they will activate right before a car passes you which causes that driver to flash me and now we both can't see! I can't believe Honda would…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · March 16, 2024

“The contact owns a 2023 Honda Ridgeline. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V321000(BACK OVER PREVENTION) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · July 15, 2024

“Driving approximately 15mph on a gravel road in my subdivision I noticed smoke or steam coming from under the hood. The time was approximately 10: 30 am on June 4,2026 the 2023 Honda Ridgeline with 41,000 miles was immediately stopped and put in park. I exited the vehicle and started to open the…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · June 4, 2026 · fire

“After months of using my new Ridgeline the garage door closed inadvertently once i passed down the garage motor impacting the vehicle at the exit. The Ridgeline uses the homelink on the rear-view window which is included as part of the Ridgeline. I contacted HONDA and they referred me to Homelink…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · May 20, 2024 · crash

“Driving approximately 15mph on a gravel road in my subdivision I noticed smoke or steam coming from under the hood. The time was approximately 10: 30 am on June 4,2026 the 2023 Honda Ridgeline with 41,000 miles was immediately stopped and put in park. I exited the vehicle and started to open the…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · June 4, 2026 · fire

2023 Honda Ridgeline — common questions

Is the 2023 Honda Ridgeline reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 164 complaints put the 2023 model at #7 of 23 Ridgeline years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the Ridgeline years to avoid.

What are the most common 2023 Ridgeline problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are lighting (39 complaints), driver assistance (29 complaints), other (19 complaints).

Does the 2023 Honda Ridgeline have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2023 Honda Ridgeline. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2023 Honda Ridgeline under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages). 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 2023 Honda Ridgeline?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2023 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.