RoadVitals

2011 Honda Ridgeline Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
39
Latest Sep 29, 2025
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
8
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 Honda Ridgeline, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags2769.2%
  • Body & structure615.4%
  • Electrical12.6%
  • Engine12.6%
  • Exterior lighting12.6%
  • Suspension12.6%
  • Tires & wheels12.6%
  • Visibility12.6%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

27
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA RIDGELINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V344000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID 10968624 · filed Mar 27, 2017

TAKATA RECALL MY SISTER WAS DRIVING A 2011 HONDA RIDGELINE ON I-85 ON MAY 2, 2015 WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD SHE CORRECTED THIS AND THE TRUCK OVERTURNED. TWO OTHERS IN THE TRUCK WERE ABLE TO GET TO GET OUT BUT MY SISTER HAD TO BE CUT FROM THE VEHICLE. ALL WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AND RELEASED BUT 12 DAYS LATER MY SISTER DIED AS A RESULT OF TRAUMA TO THE LUNGS. RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE WERE DATED 02/12/2016 AND 05/23/2016 A LITTLE LATE. I HAVE THE ACCIDENT REPORT AND THE AUTOPSY BUT HAVE NO WAY TO UPLOAD THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID 10946923 · filed Jan 23, 2017
All 27 reports naming airbags

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I have repeatedly been in touch with dealerships and Honda USA about a paint defect. I have had this corroborated with paint and body shops and Honda. Refuses to do anything, even though they say it's a known issue for that year. And model.

NHTSA ID 11690310 · filed Sep 29, 2025

The contact owns a 2011 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, there was a loud squealing sound coming from the rear end of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware that the rear crossmember had snapped, and inside the rear driver’s side wheel well was melted, and the sidewall of the tire was damaged. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the rear subframe was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V430000 (STRUCTURE); as the possible cause for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 177,237.

NHTSA ID 11661227 · filed May 15, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

The back passenger door opens by itself while I'm driving. The heater mode never changes when I switch it to defrost, face, feet.

NHTSA ID 11449662 · filed Feb 1, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

FIREWALL: ON 12/2010, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE THERE WAS A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL FROM THE FIREWALL AREA. WINDSHIELD MOLDING: ON 07/2011, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE MOLDING CAME LOOSE & WAS FLAPPING IN THE WIND, I PUSHED IT BACK IN UNTIL A DEALER COULD LOOK AT IT & THEY RE-GLUED IT. HOWEVER, IT CAME LOOSE AGAIN JUST THE OTHER DAY. ROOF STOP LIGHT ASSEMBLY: ON 09/12/2011, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN A STATE HIGHWAY. (@65MPH) & THE ENTIRE REAR ROOF MOLDING CAME OFF THAT HOLDS THE STOP LIGHT ASSEMBLY & THIS MAY BE UNSAFE SINCE IT HOLDS A LIGHT ASSEMBLY. *KB

NHTSA ID 10425628 · filed Sep 15, 2011

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

FIREWALL: ON 12/2010, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE THERE WAS A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL FROM THE FIREWALL AREA. WINDSHIELD MOLDING: ON 07/2011, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE MOLDING CAME LOOSE & WAS FLAPPING IN THE WIND, I PUSHED IT BACK IN UNTIL A DEALER COULD LOOK AT IT & THEY RE-GLUED IT. HOWEVER, IT CAME LOOSE AGAIN JUST THE OTHER DAY. ROOF STOP LIGHT ASSEMBLY: ON 09/12/2011, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN A STATE HIGHWAY. (@65MPH) & THE ENTIRE REAR ROOF MOLDING CAME OFF THAT HOLDS THE STOP LIGHT ASSEMBLY & THIS MAY BE UNSAFE SINCE IT HOLDS A LIGHT ASSEMBLY. *KB

NHTSA ID 10425628 · filed Sep 15, 2011

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

New strut assemblies (complete struts, assembled by manufacturer) were professionally installed on 01/03/2023. During a road test, clunking on the front right of the vehicle. The vehicle was returned to the shop to investigate the issue. The issue was determined to be the strut assembly was not assembled correctly by the manufacturer. The retaining nut that hold the assembly together, was not torqued to the proper value. This could result in loss of control of the vehicle.

NHTSA ID 11500517 · filed Jan 6, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

MICHELIN LTX M/S P245 60 R18 RADIAL TIRES PURCHASED TWO YEARS AGO WITH MY 2011 HONDA RIDGELINE TRUCK. EXCESSIVE DRY ROT ON TOP BETWEEN TREAD AND ON SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES

NHTSA ID 10731699 · filed Jul 2, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2011 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that during rainy weather conditions, there would be rain exposure to the dashboard. The contact noticed that in the winter months the dashboard would have frost on it the same as the outside. The vehicle seemed as though a leak was coming from the windshield. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic but was not able to locate any fracture in the windshield. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100.

NHTSA ID 11478766 · filed Aug 11, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .