2014 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 contact owns a 2014 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V430000 (Structure), the contact discovered severe corrosion on the rear frame of the vehicle. An independent mechanic refused to service the vehicle due to the extent of the corrosion. A dealer confirmed the frame failure but provided no assistance with the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and informed the contact that parts were unavailable, and a vehicle buyback would be offered. The contact was promised a follow-up call from the manufacturer; however, the contact had not heard back from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.

NHTSA ID

11753583

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

Mileage

155,000 mi

unknown

NHTSA ID

11642960

Incident

Feb 1, 2025

Hight Pressure Steering line failed causing steering failure and oil spraying over the engine and manifold, causing extreme smoke under the hood and possible fire in the engine compartment.

NHTSA ID

11619415

Incident

Oct 5, 2024

Backup camera became intermittent then failed completely. Display (left side of rear view mirror) shows only a blue screen with no image. It makes backing up difficult.

NHTSA ID

11576485

Incident

Dec 5, 2023

I responded to a recall for my 2014 Honda Ridgeline on October 19, 2023. I have gone through recalls before and did not think much of it until the dealership informed me that my vehicle was "CONDEMNED". I have been calling Honda America ever since and they are not responsive. I was given a case manager as of October 23rd but this case manager cannot get me a loaner vehicle or any other information on how Honda America will make me whole. I have one car in my family and we live in a rural area with no public transportation. If Honda is going to issue a recall and find no remedy they MUST be held accountable and must be responsive to people like me who needs a car to get to work. The Honda dealership made me sign a waiver saying I assume all responsibility if anything happens which is outrageous. I requested a loaner vehicle and they denied the request. I asked that my case be expedited and it's been 3 weeks with no word.

NHTSA ID

11553345

Incident

Oct 19, 2023

My local dealership, Wesley Chaple Honda, in Wesley Chaple Florida, cannot get the tool required to perform the recall /repair of the rusted gas tank belt support that the recall no. 22V430 refers to. I purchased the 2014 Honda Ridgeline in Butler, PA in 2014 and is considered the rust belt region which is causing the corrosion of the support. Honda claims there are not enough Ridgelines in Florida to supply the local dealership with the necessary repair parts and the special tool required to make the correction. The Honda Corp. customer support just says to take the vehicle back to the dealership for the recall, but the dealership here cannot perform the recall without the proper tool.

NHTSA ID

11550841

Incident

Oct 19, 2023

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Paint defect for 2014 Honda Ridgeline How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? NA Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Dealership auto body shop said that the car's paint seems to have a defect such as clear coat is gone on car that is why it is peeling badly which is resulting to rust. I do not know if the paint had been improperly applied or issues with chemical composition of the paint that lead to premature chipping and wear that is occurring with the car. I had a 2007 honda pilot older than the 2014 Honda Ridgeline and it is not even peeling and rusty like the ridgeline. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? By Martin--email [email protected] who is the body shop manager at Russ Darrow Honda. I brought it to Honda Corporation's attention at [email protected] Case #: 12815491 and they refuse to assist claiming that there is no recall and it is considered "normal wear and tear" which I do not believe that in my case is the truth. There have been several complaints about Honda ridgeline's customers who are unhappy about the peeling paint. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Started toward at the end of 2021 and then had it estimated in Mar 2022, cost over $10,519 for the paint alone. For a paint job that cost over $10519 that means that there must be something wrong with the car to being with during manufacturing. It should NOT be blame on normal wear and tear. Solution: I would appreciate for Honda to do a courtesy repair on the car such as a new paint job at their own expense. Perhaps NHTSA should contact and research about folks who are in the same position as I am with the peeling paint.

NHTSA ID

11519183

Incident

Nov 1, 2022

There was significant water infiltration on left side front at location around and below fuse block and parking brake. Soaked insulation up to driver side seat and back to the windshield on the same side were noted. Water infiltration after heavy rain was severe enough to cause audible parking brake alarm that wouldn't clear completely until the area had partially dried. This alarm is loud enough and persistent enough to cause driver distraction and would become intermittent as carpet dried. insulation had to be removed after it was noted still wet after three days of no rain and with what appeared visibly as black mold near steering column at floor board. This appears similar to water infiltration addressed in the Honda service bulletin 07-082 for the 2007 and 2008 year models of the Ridgeline truck.

NHTSA ID

11500999

Incident

Jan 3, 2023

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.