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U.S. public vehicle records

2018 Honda RIDGELINE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

160 owner complaints analyzed

7 distinct recall campaigns

22,300 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 49 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 49 of 160 complaints (30.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues4729.4%
Transmission and shifting106.3%
Engine operation95.6%
Fuel system concerns95.6%
Braking behavior63.8%
Steering behavior42.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
49
Engine
22
Fuel/Propulsion System
17
Unknown Or Other
17
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
14
Fuel System, Gasoline
12
Power Train
8
Structure:Body
8
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System49
Engine22
Fuel/Propulsion System17
Unknown Or Other17
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera14
Fuel System, Gasoline12
Power Train8
Structure:Body8

Electrical System: 49; Engine: 22; Fuel/Propulsion System: 17; Unknown Or Other: 17; Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera: 14; Fuel System, Gasoline: 12; Power Train: 8; Structure:Body: 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
25
25,000 to 49,999
11
50,000 to 74,999
9
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00025
25,000 to 49,99911
50,000 to 74,9999
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 25; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 111 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2017
1
2018
13
2019
5
2020
14
2021
13
2022
55
2023
10
2024
21
2025
20
2026
8
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20171
201813
20195
202014
202113
202255
202310
202421
202520
20268

2017: 1; 2018: 13; 2019: 5; 2020: 14; 2021: 13; 2022: 55; 2023: 10; 2024: 21; 2025: 20; 2026: 8

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 47 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11206191 · 2019-05-08 (May 8, 2019)

TWO WAY TAILGATE BACK UP CAMERA WIRING BROKE AFTER ONLY 7000 MILES DUE TO POOR DESIGN, PER LIA HONDA REPRESENTATIVE.THIS WIRE HARNESS SUPPLIES BACK UP CAMERA VIEWING. AFTER 7000 MILES I WAS UNABLE TO SEE WHAT WAS BEHIND VEHICLE WHEN BACKING UP. WIRES BROKE DUE TO UNDER ENGINEERED HARNESS MATERIAL. AS TAILGATE CAN BE OPEN IN 2 WAY, UP/DOWN AND AS A SWINGING OUT DOOR, HARNESS IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO ENDURE SURE REPETITIVE MOTION. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THEY ARE SEEING MANY HARNESSES BEING REPLACED AND THERE IS NOW A BACK ORDER OF REPLACEMENT HA…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11206191 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11319870 · 2020-03-31 (March 31, 2020)

THE WIRING HARNESS (HONDA PART #32109-T6Z-AOO) BETWEEN THE LIFT GATE AND THE TRUCK BED FOR THE BACKUP CAMERA IS SUBJECT TO PREMATURE FAILURE. MY 2018 RIDGELINE BACKUP CAMERA QUIT, AND WHEN I DID RESEARCH ON THE RIDGELINE BLOGS, I FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THE HARNESS ITSELF IS SURPRISINGLY WIMPY FOR A HONDA PRODUCT. I HAD MINE REPLACED BY MY HONDA DEALER, BUT MY GUESS IS VIRTUALLY EVERY RIDGELINE WILL EXPERIENCE THIS FAILURE EVENTUALLY. I'VE TRIED TO ATTACH PHOTOS OF THE HARNESS, AS WELL AS THE EMAIL I RECEIVED FROM HONDA CUSTOMER SE…

Owner-reported narrative. 58,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11319870 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11322043 · 2020-04-23 (April 23, 2020)

I HAD A TRANS LITE ON THE DASH AND OVERHEATING ISSUES IN THE (6 SPEED) TRANSMISSION AT ABOUT 61000 MILES. THE ISSUE STARTED WITH A JUDDERING VIBRATION THAT WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER AT 39000 MILES. THEN I NOTICED INCREASED VIBRATION FROM THE TORQUE CONVERTER(JUDDERING) UP UNTIL THE TRANS INDICATED A CODE FOR THE CLUTCHES NOT LOCKING UP, WHICH CAUSES OVERHEATING. I NURSED THIS UNTIL I TOOK IT TO MANCHESTER HONDA FOR REPAIR. THEY SAID IF THIS IS A JUDDERING PROBLEM, IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRENTY UNTIL 80K MILES. THEY CHANGED THE FLUID …

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11322043 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11485720 · 2022-09-21 (September 21, 2022)

The rear camera shows black when shifting into reverse. Upon checking it appears the wire harness that contains the wiring from the camera to the dash is cracked. P/N32109-T6Z-A00. Approximately 40 other vehicles in the 2017-2018 years have experienced the same problem.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11485720 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11467913 · 2022-06-07 (June 7, 2022)

Unknown: Fuel pump problem. Engine stalls and slow down to dangerous speed on highway speed limit. Dealer unable to get fuel pump to fix this problem. Claim back order is the problem. On going problem for 10 plus days. Service advisor said truck can be driven. Still waiting on fuel pump.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11467913 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11489913 · 2022-10-19 (October 19, 2022)

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The power steering seized, and the contact had to coast to the side of the road. After pulling over, the vehicle was restarted but almost immediately stalled again. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were displayed. The vehicle had been towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the fuel pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure was re…

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11489913 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11327462 · 2020-06-05 (June 5, 2020)

ON 06/05/20, 15:37 I FUELED MY RIDGELINE AT RACEWAY # 6953 IN ALACHUA, FL 32616, PUMP 1. WHEN IT CAME TIME TO REMOVE THE FUEL PUMP NOZZLE FROM THE CAPLESS FILL SPOUT, IT WOULD NOT COME OUT! I TRIED FOR A FEW MINUTES TO NO AVAIL WHEN THE YOUNG GUY WHO WAS AT THE NEXT PUMP WAS OBSERVING MY SITUATION. HE CAME OVER AND TRIED WITH NO LUCK TO REMOVE IT. FORTUNATELY HE HAD A FLATHEAD SCREWDRIVER WITH HIM. IT TOOK HIM A FEW MINUTES OF PRYING THE CAP AT THE MOUTH OF THE FILL SPOUT UPWARDS ALSO TURNING THE FUEL PUMP NOZZLE SIDE TO SIDE. WE FINALLY TURNE…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11327462 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11460257 · 2022-04-09 (April 9, 2022)

My 2018 Honda Ridgeline began to make a loud knocking noise from the lower motor. I bought this vehicle last June with 47k miles on it. The vehicle has prompted me twice to change the oil. Both times I changes the oil myself within two days of the car warning stating I had 15% life of the oil. At the same time as the indicator light lit I began to notice the knocking sound. I change the oil the very next morning only to find the noise getting louder. The car is at the dealer now and the dealer is fighting me tooth and nail not to cover the work…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11460257 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11064413 · 2018-01-23 (January 23, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HONDA RIDGELINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAFETY SYSTEM FEATURE THAT DETECTS SURROUNDING VEHICLES DID NOT FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT ACTIVATE IN ORDER TO AVOID A CRASH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN VEERING OFF THE LANE, THE SYSTEM DID NOT ALERT THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OCEAN HONDA DEALER (8442 US-19, PORT RICHEY, FL 34668, [phone removed]) AND THE COURTESY PALM HARBOR HONDA (31200 US HWY 19 N, PALM HARBOR…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064413 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11321897 · 2020-04-22 (April 22, 2020)

VEHICLE REQUIRES FOOT ON BRAKE FOR STARTING. UPON APPLYING STARTER BUTTON THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN ALARMING AMOUNT IF VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR 30 DAYS AS WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE QUARANTINE. TWO TRIPS TO THE DEALER HAVE NOT PROVIDED ANY SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION FOR MY PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,503 miles reported. Look up ODI 11321897 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11650188 · 2025-03-24 (March 24, 2025)

The vehicle’s front suspension system failed, specifically the driver’s side and passenger’s side front strut assemblies and the driver’s side inner and outer tie rods. These components have been identified by the dealership as needing immediate replacement. The defective components should be available for inspection upon request, pending completion of repairs. The vehicle exhibited wobbling and a dragging sensation from the front left tire, which raised concerns regarding control and steering safety. A loose or faulty suspension or tie rod can…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11650188 at NHTSA ↗