Ram 1500 vs Honda Ridgeline: Which Years to Avoid
Ram 1500 owners should avoid 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019, while Honda Ridgeline owners should avoid 2006, 2017, 2019, 2023 and 2025. The Ram 1500 logs 11,628 total complaints across 14 model years (831 per year) versus the Ridgeline's 2,167 across 19 years (114 per year), though totals aren't sales-normalized. Fuel economy is close: 19.2 mpg combined for the Ram 1500 versus 19.1 mpg for the Ridgeline.
Head to head
Ram 1500
- Model years
- 2009–2025 (14)
- NHTSA complaints
- 11,628
- Per model year
- 831
- Recall campaigns
- 93
- Years to avoid
- 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019
- Best years
- 2024
- Top problem area
- Engine
- Avg. EPA combined MPG
- 19.2
- Avg. NHTSA overall rating
- 4.3 ★
Honda Ridgeline
- Model years
- 2006–2025 (19)
- NHTSA complaints
- 2,167
- Per model year
- 114
- Recall campaigns
- 39
- Years to avoid
- 2006, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2025
- Best years
- 2014
- Top problem area
- Electrical System
- Avg. EPA combined MPG
- 19.1
- Avg. NHTSA overall rating
- 5.0 ★
Year by year
Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.
| Year | 1500 | Ridgeline | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Complaints | Recalls | MPG | Verdict | Complaints | Recalls | MPG | |
| 2006 | — | — | — | — | Avoid | 242 | 12 | 17 |
| 2007 | — | — | — | — | Caution | 160 | 8 | 17 |
| 2008 | — | — | — | — | Caution | 143 | 8 | 17 |
| 2009 | Good | 37 | 2 | — | Caution | 35 | 8 | 17 |
| 2010 | — | — | — | — | Caution | 42 | 9 | 17 |
| 2011 | — | — | — | — | Caution | 39 | 10 | 17 |
| 2012 | — | — | — | — | Caution | 24 | 11 | 17 |
| 2013 | Caution | 1,276 | 11 | 17 | Good | 45 | 7 | 17 |
| 2014 | Avoid | 1,766 | 16 | 19 | Best | 34 | 6 | 17 |
| 2015 | Avoid | 1,448 | 17 | 19.5 | No verdict | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | Avoid | 1,541 | 16 | 19.5 | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | Caution | 878 | 13 | 19 | Avoid | 341 | 8 | 21.5 |
| 2018 | Caution | 661 | 15 | 19 | Caution | 161 | 7 | 21.5 |
| 2019 | Avoid | 1,477 | 29 | 19 | Avoid | 237 | 11 | 21.5 |
| 2020 | Caution | 628 | 14 | 19 | Caution | 169 | 8 | 21.5 |
| 2021 | Caution | 678 | 15 | 19 | Caution | 101 | 7 | 21 |
| 2022 | Caution | 612 | 16 | 20 | Caution | 117 | 3 | 21 |
| 2023 | Caution | 201 | 11 | 19 | Avoid | 127 | 5 | 21 |
| 2024 | Best | 74 | 6 | 19.5 | Caution | 59 | 1 | 20.5 |
| 2025 | Caution | 351 | 8 | 21 | Avoid | 89 | 2 | 20.5 |
Complaint Index by year
Ram 1500
Honda Ridgeline
Frequently asked questions
- Which Ram 1500 years should I avoid?
- NHTSA data flags 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019 as Avoid years for the Ram 1500, with 2019 having the highest complaint index at 100 and 29 recall campaigns.
- Which Honda Ridgeline years should I avoid?
- NHTSA data flags 2006, 2017, 2019, 2023 and 2025 as Avoid years for the Ridgeline. The 2006 model has the highest complaint index at 100, with 99 reported deaths tied to airbag issues.
- Does the Ram 1500 have more complaints than the Ridgeline?
- Yes, the Ram 1500 has 11,628 total complaints versus 2,167 for the Ridgeline, but the Ram 1500 also covers more model years and the data is not normalized for sales volume.
- How do the Ram 1500 and Honda Ridgeline compare on fuel economy?
- They're nearly identical: the Ram 1500 averages 19.2 mpg combined and the Ridgeline averages 19.1 mpg combined across their model years.
- Is there a best year for either truck?
- NHTSA data shows the 2024 Ram 1500 as its Best year with a complaint index of 8, and the 2014 Ridgeline as its Best year with a complaint index of 11.