2012 Honda Ridgeline Problems & Owner Complaints

Air Bags 14

“2012 HONDA RIDGELINE SPORT. CONSUMER WRITES REQUESTING A STATUS UPDATE ON DRIVERS FRONT AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED A REASNABLE AMOUNT OF TIME HAD EXCEEDED FOR THE RECALL TO BE COMPLETED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE AN UPDATE. *JS”
NHTSA complaint #10980571, 2016

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA RIDGELINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.”
NHTSA complaint #10934861, 2016

“TAKATA INFLATORS: I HAD SERVICE PERFORMED FOR THE TAKATA AIRBAG ISSUE ON OR ABOUT JULY 13. WITHIN A MONTH THE SRS UNIT LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT IN TO LUCAS HONDA, WHERE I BOUGHT THE RIDGELINE. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF THEM NOT FINDING THE PROBLEM, THEY CAME BACK TO ME AND SAID THE SRS UNIT WAS BAD AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT. IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WOULD COST ME $700.+ TO FIX IT. I VEHEMENTLY PROTESTED THAT IT HAD TO BE FROM THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED, BUT THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT IT WAS. I FEEL THAT THEIR REPAIR CAUSED THE SRS UNIT TO FAIL AT MY EXPENSE.”
NHTSA complaint #10915717, 2016

Structure 4

“The contact owns a 2012 Honda Ridgeline. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V430000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer and manufacturer were made aware of the issue. The contact was informed by the dealer that no Southern States had the tools to complete the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. The contact stated that the recall was completed and that it is no longe…”
NHTSA complaint #11487288, 2022

“Roof Garnish Molding it’s pop ups two times and i change everything new but my concern is when i drive in the highway or interstate that part can blow off to the air and can cause an accident. Last time I went to the dealership was 07/01/2022. That’s my concern. Thank you.”
NHTSA complaint #11472293, 2022

“THIRD BRAKE LIGHT PANEL (ABOVE REAR WINDOW) BLEW OFF AT 75 MPH. IN CHECKING ONLINE, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER RIDGELINE TRUCKS.”
NHTSA complaint #11192134, 2019

Steering 2

“1. Left Rear Cam Bolt Seized, YES 2. This will not allow for any movement to have tires probably aligned. 3. Yes, I have documentation available upon request 4. No 5. It was caught during an alignment, I first noticed it during the first rear end recall but area was outside of "recall area" and was not addressed by Honda.”
NHTSA complaint #11549158, 2023

“I HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOSS IN POWER STEERING, SOMETIMES, WHEN DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES OF WATER. I SEE THIS AS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, AS IF YOU'RE EXPECTING TO BE ABLE TO TURN A CERTAIN WAY, AND THEN YOU CAN'T, YOU'RE GOING TO RUN INTO SOMETHING, AND THIS HAS ALMOST HAPPENED TO ME ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING, AND DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH EVERY PUDDLE. INDEED, IT HAPPENS FAIRLY INFREQUENTLY, WHICH TO ME, IS MORE DANGEROUS, AS YOU TEND TO FORGET ABOUT THE ISSUE. IF IT HAPPENED EVERY TIME, IT WOULD BECOME A HABIT. I SPOKE WITH TECHNICIANS AT HONDA, WHO WERE AWARE OF THE…”
NHTSA complaint #10852152, 2015

Unknown Or Other 2

“1. Left Rear Cam Bolt Seized, YES 2. This will not allow for any movement to have tires probably aligned. 3. Yes, I have documentation available upon request 4. No 5. It was caught during an alignment, I first noticed it during the first rear end recall but area was outside of "recall area" and was not addressed by Honda.”
NHTSA complaint #11549158, 2023

“Roof Garnish Molding it’s pop ups two times and i change everything new but my concern is when i drive in the highway or interstate that part can blow off to the air and can cause an accident. Last time I went to the dealership was 07/01/2022. That’s my concern. Thank you.”
NHTSA complaint #11472293, 2022

Electrical System 1 1 fire

“After returning from a short trip to the local convenience store smoke was observed coming from under the hood and also into the cabin as the truck was entering the driveway. Driver immediately opened the hood and witnessed that the engine was smoking and on fire. Driver immediately gained access to a hose and extinguished the fire with water. Per the attached photo and the attached service record the fire was initiated and involved the alternator and the attached wire harness. (Note that same week I observed a 2012 Honda Pilot in the shop with the same exact fire (cause and engine location)…”
NHTSA complaint #11487806, 2022 · fire

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 1

“ABS AND VSA LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTANT AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. PUMPING THE BRAKE ALLOWS SHIFT BUT LIGHTS STAY ON, THEN SOMETIMES JUST FLASH OFF AND STABILITY CONTROL AND ABS RESUME OPERATION. CAN BE DANGEROUS ON A SUDDEN STOP OR HIGH SPEED TURN.”
NHTSA complaint #11206829, 2019

Engine 1 1 fire

“After returning from a short trip to the local convenience store smoke was observed coming from under the hood and also into the cabin as the truck was entering the driveway. Driver immediately opened the hood and witnessed that the engine was smoking and on fire. Driver immediately gained access to a hose and extinguished the fire with water. Per the attached photo and the attached service record the fire was initiated and involved the alternator and the attached wire harness. (Note that same week I observed a 2012 Honda Pilot in the shop with the same exact fire (cause and engine location)…”
NHTSA complaint #11487806, 2022 · fire

Fuel/Propulsion System 1

“THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT ACCURATELY INDICATE THE FUEL CAPACITY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. ACCORDING TO THE PEARSON HONDA DEALER, LOCATED ON HULL STREET ROAD, MIDLOTHIAN, VIRGINIA, THE GAUGE IS OPERATING "NORMAL". WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FULL, THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR IS SHOWING, 3/4 READING. AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN LONGER, IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW THE FUEL CAPACITY DUE TO THE FAULTY READING OF THE GAUGE. I'M CONVINCED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, NOTWITHSTANDING THE ASSURANCE FROM THE DEALER. MY RESEARCH INTO THIS GAS GAUGE ISSUE WITH THE HONDA RIDGELINE, INDICATES THAT THE 2010 RIDGELINE MODEL, ALSO…”
NHTSA complaint #10682356, 2014

Seat Belts 1

“Because of well known water intrusion into the cabin from the firewall, over time the seat risers rust away, and then the compromised metal breaks, at which point the front of the seat is no longer bolted into the floor board. The seat swings backward uncommanded, and may is likely to startle driver, and cause crash. While the seat is swung backward, the driver has NO CONTROL OVER HIS POSITION IN THE VEHICLE. THE SEATBELT ALSO BECOMES COMPROMISED AS THE SEATBELT BELT BUCKLE IS CONNECTED TO THE SEAT ITSELF WHICH ITSELF BECOMES LOOSE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. I have a video of the broken ris…”
NHTSA complaint #11658675, 2025

Seats 1

“Because of well known water intrusion into the cabin from the firewall, over time the seat risers rust away, and then the compromised metal breaks, at which point the front of the seat is no longer bolted into the floor board. The seat swings backward uncommanded, and may is likely to startle driver, and cause crash. While the seat is swung backward, the driver has NO CONTROL OVER HIS POSITION IN THE VEHICLE. THE SEATBELT ALSO BECOMES COMPROMISED AS THE SEATBELT BELT BUCKLE IS CONNECTED TO THE SEAT ITSELF WHICH ITSELF BECOMES LOOSE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. I have a video of the broken ris…”
NHTSA complaint #11658675, 2025

Service Brakes 1

“ABS AND VSA LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTANT AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. PUMPING THE BRAKE ALLOWS SHIFT BUT LIGHTS STAY ON, THEN SOMETIMES JUST FLASH OFF AND STABILITY CONTROL AND ABS RESUME OPERATION. CAN BE DANGEROUS ON A SUDDEN STOP OR HIGH SPEED TURN.”
NHTSA complaint #11206829, 2019

Wheels 1

“1. Left Rear Cam Bolt Seized, YES 2. This will not allow for any movement to have tires probably aligned. 3. Yes, I have documentation available upon request 4. No 5. It was caught during an alignment, I first noticed it during the first rear end recall but area was outside of "recall area" and was not addressed by Honda.”
NHTSA complaint #11549158, 2023