2013 Honda Ridgeline

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.

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 ID

11669209

Incident

Jun 17, 2025

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 ID

11483218

Incident

Aug 24, 2022

1 air bag 2

NHTSA ID

11479811

Incident

Jun 1, 2022

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 ID

11437496

Incident

Jan 4, 2016

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 ID

11418714

Incident

Nov 15, 2019

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 ID

11330286

Incident

Apr 6, 2020

Mileage

50,000 mi

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 ID

11244627

Incident

Aug 14, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL - DEALER WILL NOT PROVIDE RENTAL VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11229872

Incident

Jul 5, 2019

Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag Inflator for 2007-11 CR-V and Other Listed Years and Models.

Service Bulletin - A pop or clunk is heard from the rear suspension in cold weather going over bumps potentially due to the rear bump stops loosening and are moving in the top mounting cap for the rear dampers.

Service News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS receiver Capacity resulting in rollover of the internal chip memory; the rollover occurred on January 1, 2022, at 12:00AM local time.

Service Bulletin - (Repair Procedure and Parts Information Revision) In salt-belt states where de-icing agents are used to maintain the roadway, the de-icing agents, along with mud and dirt, could accumulate along the rear frame where the fuel tank is mounted. Over time, the accumulated de-icing agents/mud/dirt mixture could cause the fuel tank band mounts to corrode and separate from the frame. If this occurs, an unsecured fuel tank can become damaged from undercarriage impact, which can possibly result in fuel leakage. Inspect the rear frame for rust and corrosion, if needed, install the kit.

Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only.

ServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited GPS receiver capacity resulting in "rollover" of the internal chip memory; the "rollover" will occur on January 1, 2022, at 12:00AM local time. As a result, once specific triggers are met, the navigation date and time will be incorrect.