YearToAvoid

2008 Honda Ridgeline Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2008 Honda Ridgeline has a Complaint Index of 39, ranking 12th among 19 model years, and carries a Caution verdict capped due to 8 recall campaigns. Airbags account for 42% of complaints, followed by electrical system issues at 21%.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
39/100
#12 of 19 Ridgeline years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
143
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
8
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
3
reported in complaints
Fires
6
Injuries
2
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2014
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
15 city / 20 hwy
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Top 2008 Honda Ridgeline problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags60 (42%)
  2. Electrical System30 (21%)
  3. Structure & Body14 (10%)
  4. Engine10 (7%)
  5. Fuel System8 (6%)
  6. Brakes7 (5%)
  7. Other6 (4%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers6 (4%)
  9. HVAC5 (3%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain5 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Brake pedal reportedly lost pressure suddenly after a pop and snap sound, leading to a crash in one case.
  • Electrical wiring harnesses near the instrument panel or dash reportedly melted or burned, in some cases igniting fires with no prior warning.
  • Heater and air conditioning blowers reportedly failed after wiring harnesses overheated, sometimes at very low mileage.
  • Owners report the lower tailgate cables loosening repeatedly, causing the tailgate to malfunction even after dealer repairs.
  • Some owners describe engine surge lasting one to two seconds when slowing down or with cruise control engaged.
  • Windshield wipers reportedly stopped working after snow packed into the gap between the hood and windshield.
2008 Honda Ridgeline complaints: complaints filed per quarter342008 Q32010 Q42012 Q42014 Q32016 Q22017 Q42021 Q42024 Q1
143 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2016 Q3 (34).

2008 Honda Ridgeline recalls

8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 19V500000Jun 27, 2019Airbags1,558 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 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 S5B and W59.

  3. 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.

See all 8 recalls for the 2008 Honda Ridgeline →

2008 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.

2008 compared with other Ridgeline years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Avoid1002421217
2007Caution44160817
2008Caution39143817
2009Caution1735817
2010Caution2842917

All Honda Ridgeline years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Honda Ridgeline reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2008 Ridgeline a Complaint Index of 39, ranking 12th out of 19 model years, with a Caution verdict. The rating is capped at Caution partly because of 8 recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit.
What is the biggest problem with the 2008 Honda Ridgeline?
Airbags are the top problem area, making up 42% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 70,000 for the model year overall and 88,400 for airbag-specific complaints.
Does the 2008 Honda Ridgeline have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2008 Ridgeline, most involving airbag inflators, plus one covering rear frame corrosion and one covering a hood support rod defect.
How does the 2008 Ridgeline compare to other years?
The 2008 model's Complaint Index of 39 is better than the 2006 (100, Avoid) and 2017 (83, Avoid) model years, but worse than the 2014 model year, which scores 11 and earns a Best verdict.
Were there fires reported in 2008 Ridgeline complaints?
NHTSA lists 6 fire-related complaints for the 2008 Ridgeline, mostly tied to the electrical system, with 30 total electrical complaints reported.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.