NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Honda Ridgeline. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
SMELL OF GAS IN THE CABIN AT ENGINE STARTUP. DISSIPATES WITHIN ABOUT 30 SECONDS.
THE HOOD MOVES UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ESPECIALLY WHEN ENCOUNTERING STRONG WIND GUSTS. FOR INSTANCE, IF THE WIND IS BLOWING HARD OR WHEN YOU MEET SEMI TRUCKS GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE MOVEMENT IS SIGNIFICANT AND VERY NOTICEABLE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I STOPPED TO MAKE SURE THE HOOD WAS LATCHED. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM (TSB 17-083) AND DEALER APPLIED SOME ADHESIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TSB. IT SEEMED TO HELP, BUT DID NOT ELIMINATE THE MOVEMENT. I AM CONCERNED THAT DOWN THE ROAD THE HOOD COULD COME APART OR COME OFF.
A few weeks after I purchased a new 2019 Ridgeline I’ve noticed that brake pedal did not feel right. First what I noticed sometimes when I go to start the car the brake pedal is very hard, I have not experienced that with any other car. Then I noticed that when I’m on the light standing with the car running brake pedal sinks all the way to the bottom. Then I have to press the brake a few times for it to go back to normal hight. I took the car to a Honda Service on 6600 N Western in n Chicago back in 2019/2020 and they tested the car I’m not sure if they were able to reproduce same issues but they told me that the brake works fine. I got the car back, after I noticed when pressing brake there is a clicking sound coming from the brake pedal area not all the times sometimes, also noticed that sometimes it takes more pressure to apply to the brake in order for car to stop. At that time I looked online and I wasn’t able to find anybody reporting same issues. Now when I go online on Honda forums I see more people complaining about same or similar issues. I still own the car with only 38000 miles on it and still have same brake issues with it.
THE HOOD FLUTTERS AT CERTAIN TIMES UNDER TURBULENCE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN CONDITIONS ARE PERFECT SO THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIX BECAUSE HE CAN'T DUPLICATE IT. IT HAPPENS IN GUSTY WINDS OR WHEN DRIVING AROUND SEMITRUCKS.
The hood shakes, flutters, bounces, in the wind. It is very unnerving thinking hood will detach and fly up and hit windshield while driving. Took the ridgeline to Honda of Ames Iowa. The glue holding the subframe to hood failed and Honda of Ames said it was out of warranty with 61,094 miles. My opinion was glue failed was not the problem but a design flaw in the hood. Honda of Ames Iowa referred me to a 3rd party for repair. I performed my own repair by glueing hood with gorerilla glue and hood still shakes, flutters, bounces.
SMELL OF FUEL OR BURNT OIL EMANATING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ENTERING CABIN THROUGH HVAC SYSTEM WHEN IDLING. WARM ENGINE ALSO EMANATES FUEL/BURNT OIL SMELL AFTER IT IS PARKED AND SHUT OFF. WHEN PARKED IN AN ENCLOSED GARAGE THE SMELL CAN BE OVERWHELMING. TOOK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY CLAIM THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. WHEN RESEARCHING ONLINE INDICATIONS ARE IT MAY BE A LEAKING PCV HOSE THAT IS ALLOWING FUMES TO PERMEATE. THE SITUATION IS ONGOING AND FREQUENTLY NOTICEABLE BOTH IN THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE.
TRUCK IS GETTING GAS FUMES INTO THE CABIN INTERMITTENTLY. SMELL COMES THROUGH THE A/C-HEATER VENTS. DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN OUTSIDE AIR CIRCULATION IS SHUT OFF. MAKING OWNER GET HEADACHES AND FEEL ILL. HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THIS, OF WHICH THEY HAVE NOT ESTABLISHED THE ISSUE. THIS IS COMMON FOR THIS MAKER AND THEY HAVE HAD OTHER CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS REGARDING THIS. HAPPENS WHEN THE TRUCK IS RUNNING. CAN BE WHEN DRIVING OR SITTING AND IDLING. CAN BE AT ANY LOCATION. OCCASIONAL FEUL SMELL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AS WELL WHEN TRUCK IS SHUT OFF.
HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN LOWER AND UPPER GEARS WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENED MOSTLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SOMETIMES ON A TURN.OTHERWISE FUNCTIONED OK. DEALER REPLACED THE SECONDARY VALVE BODY AND REMEDIED THE SITUATION. ALL UNDER WARRANTY
Hood is warped because of 3 years of it not latching properly. Recall did not fix the problem. According to the recall, if the hood is damaged they are supposed to replace it, which it is damaged. Honda Autonation 104 refuses to do so saying "this is normal" and I have provided Honda service people that will vouch for us. Provided photos and videos. Safety is put at risk for the driver and passengers along with other motorists if a failure happens and the hood fly's open at highway speeds it could cause death. Yes has been confirmed by dealer employees and and other service shops. The dealer managers refuse to even come look at the vehicle even when it is there at the dealer. First appeared 6 months after we bought the vehicle brand new from said dealer. Has been documented on many of our oil change visits. Still refuse to replace damaged/warped hood. To add to our frustration, Corporate Honda is also in agreement with the dealership. No one from the dealership or Corporate Honda has ever actually inspected the hood. This vehicle, 2019 Honda Ridgeline, has never been involved in any sort of accident and has been very well maintained and taken care of.
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while passing semi- trucks on the highway traveling the opposite direction, the hood lifted up and vibrated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but it was unknown if the vehicle was diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 0.
WHEN TURN ON THE ENGINE HAS A RARE SOUND LIKE A COMBUSTION. MEET THE TECHNITIAN IN HONDA AND HE SAY THAT IS NOT NORMAL BUT HAPPENS IN SOME RIDGELINES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HONDA RIDGELINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A TOXIC CHEMICAL TYPE ODOR WAS PRESENT IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK. BUTLER HONDA (2631 NORTH COLUMBIA ST, MILLEDGEVILLE, GA) EXAMINED THE VEHICLE BUT THE CAUSE OF THE ODOR COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HONDA RIDGELINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAILGATE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE LEFT TO RIGHT POSITION. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE SPARE TIRE WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE. WEST BROAD HONDA(7014 W. BROAD ST, HENRICO, VA) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,900.
NOT SURE THAT IT'S SO MUCH OF A SAFETY ISSUE,AS IT IS A BLACK PAINT ISSUE. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN THE EARLY PART OF MAY 2019. I WASHED IT A WEEK LATER AND NOTICED BLACK BUBBLES TOWARD THE DRIVERS BACK WINDOW. WHEN I HAD PROBLEMS GETTING THE TRUCK TO PASS EMISSIONS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I POINTED IT OUT TO THE SALESWOMAN. SHE DIDN'T SAY MUCH. SO TODAY I WASHED MY TRUCK AGAIN. NOTICED 2 CHIPS DOWN TO THE PRIMER ON THE HOOD. I TOOK PICS. I KNOW WE HAVE A 7 YEAR WARRANTEE ON THE PAINT AND INTERIOR. MY PROBLEM IS I'M AFRAID THE REPAINT WILL NOT BE NOR LAST AS LONG AS THE ORIGINAL PAINT JOB. I PAID 53K FOR THE TRUCK WITH 6 MILES ON IT. NOW I'M THE ONE WITH THE BURDEN THAT IT MIGHT HAVE TO BE REPAINTED. I FEEL THEY NEED TO LOOK AT THEIR BLACK PAINT. MAKE SURE THAT THE PAINT IS RELIABLE. I TOOK PICS. THEY COULD BE BETTER. I CAN TAKE MORE. I'D ALSO BE WILLING TO TAKE THE TRUCK DOWN SO THEY CAN ANALYZE THE PAINT.
THE HOOD VIBRATES AND BOUNCES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AS IF THE HOOD IS NOT COMPLETELY LATCHED.
STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH IS DRAWN IN THROUGH THE HVAC VENTS WHILE STOPPED. IT ALSO MAKES MY GARAGE SMELL LIKE GASOLINE FOR HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A FUEL LEAK. IT DOESN'T DO IT EVERY TIME, BUT MOST OF THE TIME. IT'S NOT ONLY NAUSEATING, BUT ALSO EMBARRASSING BECAUSE IT MAKES MY NEW HONDA SMELL LIKE AN OLD CAR WITH A GAS LEAK.
BRAKES PUSHED ALMOST TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP, HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE.
THE HOOD VIBRATES AND BOUNCES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AS IF THE HOOD IS NOT COMPLETELY LATCHED. ALSO, THE HOOD DOES NOT LATCH EASILY. IT TAKES CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO GET THE HOOD LATCH TO SECURE. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST WAS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THE FUEL PUMP INSPECTION RECALL. ON THIS VISIT THE HOOD BOLTS WERE TORQUED TO SPEC. THE SECOND TIME, AN INSPECTION OF THE HOOD REVEALED THE ADHESIVE HOLDING THE HOOD BRACING HAD SEPARATED FROM THE HOOD. IT ALSO SHOWED THE HOOD HOOK WAS HITTING THE HOOD LATCH OFF CENTER (SCRATCHES ON ONE SIDE OF THE HOOK) MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CLOSE AND LATCH SECURELY.
MY DASHBOARD ON MY 2019 HONDA RIDGELINE IS MELTING. IT CAUSES A GLARE THAT IS REFLECTED OFF OF THE WINDSHIELD AND INTO THE DRIVERS EYES. THE HONDA FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE SAID THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT! THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY THREE MONTHS OLD WITH 4302 MILES ON THE ODOMETER! IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE INFERIOR MATERIALS IN OTHER AUTO MANUFACTURERS VEHICLES!
THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND REQUIRES PUMPING TO RESTORE TO HALF WAY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS AND THE DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL FOR HONDA RIDGELINES. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP WITHOUT PUMPING THE BRAKES WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.
THE HOOD ON THE 2019 HONDA RIDGELINE ALWAYS JUMPS UP AD DOWN AND VIBRATES VIOLENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT IS VERY UNSETTLING SINCE IT IS ONLY HELD BY A VERY LIGHTWIEGHT LATCH WITH A LIGHTWEIGHT RIVET TO TO THE FRAME. I EXPRESSED THIS CONCERN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR THE FUEL PUMP INSPECTION RECALL. THEY REATTACHED THE RUBBER GASKET ON THE HOOD BUT THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THIS PROBLEM . MY CONCERN IS THAT THE LATCH WILL LET GO UNDER THIS STRESS AND THE HOOD WILL FLY UP ON THE HIGHWAY.
ONE COMMON MISUNDERSTANDING IN DISCUSSIONS I SEE ON 2017-19 RIDGELINE CMBS AND ACC WHILE IN ACTIVE TRAFFIC, IS THAT THE RIDGELINE HONDA SENSING SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION THE SAME AS ACURA OR ANY HONDA CAR. THE RIDGELINE ACC DISENGAGES AT 22 MPH AND TO THE BEST OF MY UNDERSTANDING AFFECTS THE CMBS, DELAYING FULL ENGAGEMENT. FURTHERMORE, RIDGELINE CMBS ON IT'S OWN ENGAGES DRAMATICALLY LATE EVEN WHEN SET AT MAX DISTANCE, IN MY OPINION INEFFECTIVE FOR CRASH MITIGATION. DRIVER SWITCHING FROM A SUBARU WITH EYESIGHT TO RIDGELINE WITH HONDA SENSING FOR EXAMPLE IN MY OPINION, CONSTITUTES A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE RIDGELINE CMBS TURNED OFF UNTIL I GET CLARIFICATION FROM ANYONE AT HONDA WHO IS MORE INTERESTED IN SAFETY RATHER THAN LIABILITY. AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY WILL DISCUSS THIS VERBALLY ONLY AND VERY GUARDEDLY WITH LITTLE OR NO DISCUSSION HOW THE CMBS SYSTEM FUNCTIONS ON RIDGELINE. THIS BEGS THE QUESTION, WHY OFFER CMBS AND ACC WHEN IT ONLY TELLS YOU ARE ABOUT TO HAVE A COLLISION RATHER THAN BRAKE TO A STOP, ALMOST LIKE A RADAR DETECTOR INFORMING YOU THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO GET A TICKET. A VISIT TO MY HONDA DEALER 5-2-19 CONFIRMS THEY FOUND NO CODES OR PROBLEMS WITH THE HONDA SENSING SYSTEM AND ARE UNABLE TO OFFER FURTHER ASSISTANCE. *JS
BRAKES ARE EXTREMELY SOFT APPROACHING A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION.
LEAKING WATER ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, CALLED THE C PILLAR LEAK THAT IS WIDESPREAD. MINE HAPPENS AFTER GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH. STARTED LIKE A TRICKLE OF WATER DOWN AND EVENTUALLY GETS WORST. THIS IS MY 2ND 2019 RIDGELINE FIRST ONE HAD A SIMILAR LEAK AND THEY SWAP IT DUE TO LEMON LAW APPLICATION AFTER DEALER FAILED TO FIX AFTER 2 ATTEMPTS. NOW I AN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE NEW ONE. HONDA EITHER UNRESPONSIVE OR NOT OFFERING ANY CUSTOMER SERVICE, CERTAINLY A FACTORY DEFECT THAT NEED TO BE CORRECTED BY TSB PROPERLY. DEALER IS TRYING BUT HONDA NEED TO BE WAKEN UP. I SEARCHED GOOGLE AND IT HAS HAPPEN TO OTHER PEOPLE TO.
Rear seat belt behind passenger side (right) locks in place and will not move. To remedy this issue the belt needs to be unlatched and returned to the unused position. I cannot make the belt lock in place. I returned the vehicle to my dealer and reported the problem. They could find nothing wrong. This has reoccurred occasionally since I bought the truck. Our remedy is to not use that seat.
MY RIDGELINE BRAKES PROVIDE A FIRM SOLID BRAKE ACTION WITH VERY LITTLE PEDAL TRAVEL WHEN THE TEMP IS BELOW 70 BUT AFTER WARMUP, BOTH VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WARMS TO PLUS 70 DEGREES, THE BRAKES TURN INTO MUSHY SOFT AND EXTREMELY LONG PEDAL TRAVEL. THE HONDA ACCORD, CIVIC, ODYSSEY, AND CRV DO NOT DO THIS. THE ENTRY-LEVEL ACCORD HAS MOST OF THE SAME SYSTEMS THAT THE RL HAS. NO MATTER WHAT TRIM LEVEL YOU HAVE, 2WD OR AWD, WHEN TEMPS RISE ABOVE 70 THE BRAKES ARE FRUSTRATING POOR TO HORRIBLE. MY HONDA DEALERSHIP MANAGER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER BOTH DROVE MINE RL AND WE TEST DROVE SEVERAL OTHERS. THEY CONFIRM EXACTLY THE SAME BRAKING EXPERIENCES. THE POSITION OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT APPEARS TO BE THAT HONDA INTENDED TO MAKE THE RL WITH INCONSISTENT, TEMP SENSITIVE AND EXCESSIVE PEDAL TRAVEL AS "OKAY" WHEN THE CLIMATE BECOMES WARM TO HOT. THIS CONDITION IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES WITH THIS COMPLAINT.
THE BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY MUSHY WITH QUITE A BIT OF TRAVEL AND IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE BEFORE WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES.