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Honda · NHTSA safety record

2013 Honda Ridgeline

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

45

Complaints

3

Crashes

1

Fires

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2013 Honda Ridgeline have filed 45 safety complaints with NHTSA between April 2015 and June 2025. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 35 of them (78%). The typical failure was reported at 33,000 miles, the median across the 11 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 7 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (7)

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

22V430000 · June 16, 2022

The defect
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles that were sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. An accumulation of road salt may cause the frame mounting surface, where the fuel tank mounting bands are attached, to corrode and possibly detach the fuel tank, which can result in a fuel leak.
The risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and repair the rear frame, as necessary, free of charge. Depending on the extent of any corrosion damage, Honda may offer to repurchase the vehicle. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is LCD.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 132,882 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

19V501000 · June 27, 2019

The defect
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 1,657,752 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

19V500000 · June 27, 2019

The defect
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B and W59.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 1,558 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

19V182000 · March 6, 2019

The defect
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
The risk
An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 1,101,534 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

18V662000 · September 27, 2018

The defect
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles nationwide. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2012 Acura RL, 2011 Honda Element and 2011-2013 Ridgeline vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Lastly, if not included above, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2011 Honda Element, 2010-2012 Acura RL and 2010-2013 Ridgeline vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are H2H and S2I.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 57,095 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

18V041000 · January 9, 2018

The defect
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura RL, 2010 Honda Element, and 2010-2013 Honda Ridgeline vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Honda is recalling certain 2010 Acura RL, 2010-2011 Honda Element and Honda Ridgeline vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." If not included in zones A or B above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura RL, Honda Element, and Honda Ridgeline vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are U0H, and G0I.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 24,945 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

16V061000 · February 3, 2016

The defect
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
The risk
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JY0, JY1, and JY2.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 2,232,187 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Electrical overstress

EA19001

Closed engineering analysis · opened April 19, 2019 · closed September 19, 2024 · led to recall 20V024

the air bags

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW.  These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes.  An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time.   In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU.  This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners.  Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation.  The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage.  There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation.  The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU.  If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC.  Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC.  All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled.  In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024.  With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 45.

AIR BAGS 35 78%
STRUCTURE 7 16%
ENGINE 2 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 4%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 2%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 2%
POWER TRAIN 1 2%
SEAT BELTS 1 2%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 2%
STEERING 1 2%
SUSPENSION 1 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2016 at 29.

2015 2016 2025
2015 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 70,000 miles

I WAS STOPPED IN A LEFT TURN LANE BEHIND ANOTHER CAR. A THIRD CAR CAME FROM BEHIND AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND HIT MY CAR FROM BEHIND, PUSHING IT VIOLENTLY INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT ACTIVATE ON IMPACT. I SUFFERED FACIAL AND ARM INJURIES FROM STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS WEARING SEAT BELT AND SHOULDER RESTRAINT. MY CAR WAS SUBJECT TO PRIOR TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL AND AIRBAG WAS REPLACED BY DEALER.

NHTSA complaint 11244627. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · towed

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 HONDA RIDGELINE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A WOOD CHIPPER. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIBS, CHEST, BACK, NECK, AND NOSE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING FACILITY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint 11032001. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

fire · 11,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA RIDGELINE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ANTENNA COVER WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A HEATING FAILURE THAT HEATED UP THE METAL, CAUSING THE LENS AND ANTENNA COVER TO MELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

NHTSA complaint 10763734. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

crash · towed · 10,000 miles

WHILE COMING TO A STOP TRUCK ACELERATES WILL NOT STOP UNTIL SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR HAS HAPPEN TWICE 2ND TIME RESULTING IN A CRASH REPORTED TO POLICE OF ST PETERS MO CASE NUMBER 2017-15285 TRUCK IS NOW AT HONDA DEALER HAPPENED ON CITY STREET REARENDING CAR IN FRONT

NHTSA complaint 11001735. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
The rear crossmember of the Honda Ridgeline 2013 RTL where the trailer hitch is attached is rusted through which could break when towing or driving causing an accident. I think Honda should weld a plate onto the crossmember beam and undercoat it. Thank you

NHTSA complaint 11669209. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Ridgeline. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V4300000(Structure). Several dealers had been notified about the recall and each confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint 11483218. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
1 air bag 2

NHTSA complaint 11479811. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
I took this vehicle to the local Honda dealership in Sioux Falls Sd in 2015 or 2016 and waited (approximately 4 + hours) while they stated they repaired the faulty airbags according to the recall - but since that time I keep receiving these notices so now I don’t know if the Honda dealership didn’t actually repair the passenger airbag or didn’t file the repair

NHTSA complaint 11437496. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Purchased used at dealer, brakes spongy and press all the way to floor. Dealer replaced pads and master cylinder, some improvement. Must pump brakes to stop.

NHTSA complaint 11418714. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

50,000 miles

I AM NOT SURE WHEN IT HAPPENED BUT AT SOME TIME THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT AND ASSEMBLY BLOW OFF OF MY TRUCK. I TRIED TO LOOK UP THE PART NUMBER AND SAW SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER OWNERS I AM TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THE CLIPS THAT HOLD THE ASSEMBLY IN PLACE ARE OFTEN BAD I HAVE A 500.00 DEDUCTIBLE AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE 800.00. I AM SAVING TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE I DON'T DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE THE SIDES ARE LOOSE SINCE THERE IS NOTHING HOLDING THEM IN PLACE SINCE I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN OR WHERE THIS HAPPENED THE REST OF MY REPORT IS ESTIMATED. *TR

NHTSA complaint 11330286. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Honda Ridgeline

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 80 2
2024 50 1
2023 126 5
2022 112 3
2021 98 7
2020 167 8
2019 232 11
2018 157 7
2017 337 8
2014 34 6
2012 24 11
2011 39 10 1
2010 42 9

Other 2013 Honda models

Every Honda on this site — 187 vehicles, 362 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst