VehicleVerdict

2025 Honda Ridgeline problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2025 Honda Ridgeline carries two red flags at once: 91 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages). It is one of the Ridgeline years to avoid.

Lighting leads the complaint categories with 23 reports (25% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

91

NHTSA complaints

2

Recalls

1

Investigations · 1 open

4

Crash-involved

1

Fires reported

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2025 compare to other Ridgeline years?

Ridgeline NHTSA complaints by model year, 2025 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, 2025 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Ridgeline years to avoid →

What are the most common 2025 Honda Ridgeline problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Lighting2325%
Driver Assistance1921%
Electrical System1314%
Other1213%
Engine78%
Speed Control44%
Brakes44%
Visibility & Wipers22%
Body & Structure22%
Transmission22%
Airbags11%
Fuel System11%
Steering11%

Does the 2025 Honda Ridgeline have recalls?

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

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.

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 headlights do not come on and if they do they almost always turn off immediately. The will not come on at speeds under 25 and this is too slow. To cap all of this they randomly come on when cars are driving towards you even though I have tried to disable this feature totally. They are a…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · September 12, 2025

“My Honda ridgeline had 7,590 miles when it started failing all the dash board lights turned on the engine decelerated I then tried to accelerate it rapidly accelerated my steering wheel vibrated I could not turn or slow down witch caused for me to crash ”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · July 27, 2025 · crash

“Engine "Stop/Start" turned off when trying to make a turn. When it did the steering would not move. Also when "Stop/Start" turns off it was dangerous when turning. I email Honda and they called me back. They could have it disabled but it would cost $80 and I would have to buy the part and they…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · April 1, 2025

“Auto idle start stop feature malfunction during a stop. Struggles to restart. Battery is new but still have issue with idle start stop. Multiple events. Almost no restart. Temporary fix is to turn off the feature manually before driving. Vehicle starts normally from off engine. Problem only happens…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · April 21, 2026

“My Honda ridgeline had 7,590 miles when it started failing all the dash board lights turned on the engine decelerated I then tried to accelerate it rapidly accelerated my steering wheel vibrated I could not turn or slow down witch caused for me to crash ”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · July 27, 2025 · crash

2025 Honda Ridgeline — common questions

Is the 2025 Honda Ridgeline reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 91 complaints put the 2025 model at #11 of 23 Ridgeline years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the Ridgeline years to avoid.

What are the most common 2025 Ridgeline problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are lighting (23 complaints), driver assistance (19 complaints), electrical system (13 complaints).

Does the 2025 Honda Ridgeline have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns affecting the 2025 Honda Ridgeline. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2025 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 2025 Honda Ridgeline?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2025 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.