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Honda Ridgeline: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Honda Ridgeline problems by model year, from 1,441 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2017 (47%, 159 drivetrain complaints), 2019 (45%, 103 drivetrain complaints) and 2022 (42%, 36 drivetrain complaints). 7 of the 11 Honda Ridgeline years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2014 (5%), 2011 (8%) and 2010 (14%). 2014, 2011 and 2010 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2013 (40%) to 2014 (5%), down 35 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2017 drew the most drivetrain complaints (159 of 471 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Honda Ridgeline year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Ridgeline | no elevated signal | 14% | 3 | 42 | 9/11 | 10 |
| 2011 Ridgeline | no elevated signal | 8% | 1 | 39 | 10/11 | 11 |
| 2012 Ridgeline | too few to score | – | 2 | 24 | – | 12 |
| 2013 Ridgeline | high | 40% | 4 | 45 | 5/11 | 8 |
| 2014 Ridgeline | no elevated signal | 5% | 1 | 34 | 11/11 | 7 |
| 2015 Ridgeline | too few to score | – | 0 | 2 | – | 0 |
| 2017 Ridgeline | high | 47% | 159 | 342 | 1/11 | 9 |
| 2018 Ridgeline | no elevated signal | 31% | 50 | 162 | 8/11 | 8 |
| 2019 Ridgeline | high | 45% | 103 | 236 | 2/11 | 12 |
| 2020 Ridgeline | elevated | 33% | 49 | 169 | 7/11 | 9 |
| 2021 Ridgeline | high | 42% | 35 | 101 | 4/11 | 7 |
| 2022 Ridgeline | high | 42% | 36 | 117 | 3/11 | 3 |
| 2023 Ridgeline | elevated | 34% | 30 | 128 | 6/11 | 5 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Honda Ridgeline years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Honda Ridgeline engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the Honda Ridgeline involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 31 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2019 | 19V053000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2017–2019 |
| Apr 2019 | 19V298000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys | 2019 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V215000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019 |
| Nov 2023 | 23V751000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical | 2017–2019 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V858000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2017–2020 |
26 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2012 | 12V025000 | tires | 2011 |
| Feb 2016 | 16V061000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 |
| May 2016 | 16V344000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Dec 2016 | 16V888000 | electrical system: wiring | 2017 |
| Jan 2017 | 17V029000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V041000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010, 2011, 2013 |
| Apr 2018 | 18V221000 | seats | 2018 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V662000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V664000 | seat belts: pretensioner | 2019 |
| Nov 2018 | 18V848000 | structure: body: roof and pillars | 2019 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V182000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V500000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V501000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 |
| Oct 2019 | 19E068000 | vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 |
| Sep 2020 | 20E068000 | equipment | 2017–2020 |
| Nov 2021 | 21V900000 | seat belts: rear/other: retractor | 2021 |
| Nov 2021 | 21V932000 | structure: body: hood | 2017–2020 |
| Jun 2022 | 22V430000 | structure: frame and members | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 |
| Nov 2022 | 22V867000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2017–2019 |
| Mar 2023 | 23V174000 | visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior | 2020–2021 |
| Jun 2023 | 23V458000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder | 2020–2023 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V064000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2020–2021 |
| Mar 2024 | 24V184000 | steering: rack and pinion | 2023 |
| May 2024 | 24V321000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2020–2023 |
| May 2026 | 26V332000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 |
| Jun 2026 | 26V365000 | structure: frame and members | 2017–2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Honda Ridgeline
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Honda Ridgeline
What are the worst years for the Honda Ridgeline?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Honda Ridgeline years are the 2017 (47% of relevant complaints, high), the 2019 (45% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2022 (42% of relevant complaints, high). 7 of 11 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Honda Ridgeline?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Honda Ridgeline years are the 2014 (5%), the 2011 (8%) and the 2010 (14%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Honda Ridgeline have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 11 scored years, 471 of 1,223 relevant NHTSA complaints (39%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2013, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Honda Ridgeline reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 7 of 11 Honda Ridgeline years we score have an elevated complaint share and 4 do not. Pooled across those years, 39% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Honda Ridgeline?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Honda Ridgeline years we track, out of 31 in total: 21V215000 (Mar 2021, 2019), 23V751000 (Nov 2023, 2017–2019), 23V858000 (Dec 2023, 2017–2020), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.