2006 Honda Ridgeline Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2006 Honda Ridgeline ranks worst of 19 model years, with a complaint index of 100 and 242 complaints covering 12 recalls. Airbags (26% of complaints) and electrical fires (19%) drive the Avoid verdict, with median failure mileage of 74,000.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 19 Ridgeline years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 242
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 12
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 21
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 15
- Injuries
- 19
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17
- 15 city / 20 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 19 / 99
Top 2006 Honda Ridgeline problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags63 (26%)
- Electrical System47 (19%)
- Structure & Body41 (17%)
- Engine28 (12%)
- Other21 (9%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires16 (7%)
- Transmission & Powertrain16 (7%)
- Fuel System15 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers14 (6%)
- Brakes13 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some airbags fail to deploy in frontal or side-impact crashes while the passenger airbag deploys instead.
- Owners report smoke and flames coming from the AC vents, sometimes spreading into the dashboard.
- A blower motor and AC wire harness were identified as a fire source in the electrical system.
- Engine bay fires were reported with debris caught between the exhaust and catalytic converter.
- Seat belt and SRS behavior during crashes left some owners unable to get a clear explanation from Honda.
2006 Honda Ridgeline recalls
12 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V430000Jun 16, 2022Structure & Body132,882 vehicles
Structure:frame and members
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles that were sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. An accumulation of road salt may cause the frame mounting surface, where the fuel tank mounting bands are attached, to corrode and possibly detach the fuel tank, which can result in a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the rear frame, as necessary, free of charge. Depending on the extent of any corrosion damage, Honda may offer to repurchase the vehicle. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is LCD.
- NHTSA 19V501000Jun 27, 2019Airbags1,657,752 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.
- NHTSA 19V499000Jun 27, 2019Airbags3,947 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.
2006 Honda Ridgeline fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15 MPG
- Highway
- 20 MPG
- Combined
- 17 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2006 compared with other Ridgeline years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Honda Ridgeline reliable?
- It is the lowest-ranked Ridgeline model year in NHTSA data, with a complaint index of 100 (the worst of 19 years) and 242 complaints tied to 12 recall campaigns.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2006 Honda Ridgeline?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 26% of complaints and involving 18 crashes, with a median failure mileage of 115,000.
- Does the 2006 Honda Ridgeline catch fire?
- NHTSA lists 15 fire reports for this year, many tied to the electrical system, including several owner accounts of smoke or flames from the dashboard AC vents.
- How does the 2006 Ridgeline compare to other years?
- It ranks 1st worst out of 19 model years with an index of 100, well above 2013 (Good, index 33) and 2014 (Best, index 11).
- How many recalls affect the 2006 Honda Ridgeline?
- NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the 2006 Ridgeline, most involving airbag inflators, plus one covering rear frame corrosion.