Honda Ridgeline Years to Avoid
The Honda Ridgeline may be a beloved truck, but if you choose the wrong model year, you might regret it. Find out which Honda Ridgeline years to avoid.
Written by Elaine Duvet
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
The well-known
Honda
truck is one the best in its class. With a driving experience that’s smooth, upscale, and confident, the Honda Ridgeline is an awesome utility vehicle. However, choosing the wrong model year could affect your sanity and your bank account.
Jerry
, the car ownership super app
, checks out the Honda Ridgeline years to avoid. The Honda Ridgeline did have some good years
The best year for this unibody truck is the 2020 Honda Ridgeline. According to
WVDOT
, “Its drive is on a whole other level. This means that the manufacturer opted for an independent rear suspension, which has significantly boosted the handling of the truck.”With an all-wheel-drive functionality, the truck is a sweet drive on rough terrains. There’s also an ample amount of bed space to store your cargo. The only complaint so far is the non-user-friendly infotainment system.
The 2021 Honda Ridgeline isn’t that much different from the 2020 version, so it may not be worth the higher price. However, if you’re a gearhead, you may appreciate the modified infotainment system.
It’s still an excellent drive with a beefy V6 engine and minimal noise in the cabin. Consumer Reports gave the utility truck a reliability score of four out of five.
The 2022 Honda Ridgeline has all of the 2021 model’s features. According to WVDOT, “It has an amazing drive, thanks to its V6 engine. Its independent suspension allows for excellent handling.”
Other used Ridgelines we recommend include the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2018 model years.
Honda Ridgeline years to avoid
While the Ridgeline is a reliable used truck, there are a few model years that aren’t worth the headache. Consumer Reports gave the 2017 Ridgeline and 2018 Ridgeline a rating of three out of five.
The 2017 Ridgeline has three
NHTSA
recalls. According to WVDOT, “Owners of the 2017 Honda Ridgeline complained about warning lights activating and doors failing, which would result in people not being able to enter their vehicles. The fuel injectors were also prone to failing, resulting in a sudden shut down of the engine.”There are three recalls for the 2018 model as well, with a one out of five fuel system rating. According to
MotorBiscuit
, “The most commonly used 2018 Honda Ridgeline problems include transmission issues, fuel system problems, and issues with the truck’s brakes and power equipment.”Stay away from the boxy first-generation 2006 Ridgeline as well. Initially well-received, the truck couldn’t seem to catch a break. With the most overall complaints, many included issues with interior accessories and the truck’s engine. Problems with the airbags and seatbelts have also been recorded.
Owners experienced engine cylinder failure, and ticking sounds coming out of the engine. Uh…that doesn’t sound good. Body paint issues also plagued the 2006 model due to poor application procedures. No one wants paint developing in the spider cracks.
And, water leaked into the interior! Friends, just say no.
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Other models to avoid
Unfortunately, the 2008 model wasn’t much better, making it another Honda Ridgeline year to avoid. With paint and interior issues, the Ridgeline’s weather stripping would rot away and its clear coat would also peel off. Water leakage anyone? The AC was also known to fail and you couldn’t even count on the seats to last.
The 2007Honda Ridgeline had problems with body rusting and the clear coat peeling right off. And as you may know, rust can reduce your truck’s lifespan. Some models even consumed an excessive amount of oil.
The 2009 Honda Ridgeline had brakes that would grind—a lot. This could often lead to them wearing out sooner than expected, or even failing altogether. The truck's clear coat would also peel off like no one’s business.
It gets a little better with the 2019 Honda Ridgeline which can tow about 5,000 pounds and features high-end technology. According to WVDOT, “The fact that Honda uses unibody construction instead of a body on frame one means that it will provide you with an amazing driving experience.”
While there haven’t been too many issues thus far, there have been some reports of airbags not deploying.
The 2018 Ridgeline has had issues with the collision avoidance system failing to work and the sensing system not working properly either. You also can’t count on the rear-facing camera either. Not to mention, the truck had excessive wind noise which some drivers found quite irritating.
The Honda Ridgeline from 2014 wasn't all that bad, but it did have a couple of smaller issues. The truck was known to consume oil excessively and its engine would hesitate. According to WVDOT, “The infamous rodents chewing the wire insulation problem was also present on this model, which would result in damage that took thousands of dollars to repair.”
If you want to drive this Ridgeline today, make sure major steps are taken to prevent serious maintenance costs down the road.
4.7
