YearToAvoid

2009 Honda Ridgeline Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

17/100

#16 most-complained of 19 Ridgeline years

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

The 2009 Honda Ridgeline carries a Caution verdict, driven mainly by 8 recall campaigns rather than complaint volume alone. It ranks 16th worst of 19 model years with a complaint index of 17, and airbags account for 60% of its 35 complaints.

Complaints
35
Recalls
8
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
15 city / 20 hwy

Top 2009 Honda Ridgeline problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags21 (60%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (11%)
  3. Structure & Body3 (9%)
  4. Electrical System2 (6%)
  5. Fuel System2 (6%)
  6. Other2 (6%)
  7. Steering2 (6%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain2 (6%)
  9. Brakes1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Airbag inflators were flagged under multiple Takata recalls, with owners reporting warning lights and needing driver or passenger inflator replacement.
  • Suspension and tire complaints describe premature dry rotting and cracking of the original Michelin tires well before expected wear.
  • Some owners report the vehicle pulling to one side despite repeated alignments.
  • A transmission cooler line and radiator issue caused hesitation, engine revving, and stalling at highway speed on one reported vehicle.
  • One owner described a full brake pedal depression during deceleration that triggered the VSA warning light without an immediate fix.
  • An electrical harness failure was reported that disabled the A/C blower despite the control screen showing normal operation.
2009 Honda Ridgeline complaints: complaints filed per month9Nov 2009Jan 2013Jun 2015Feb 2016Jul 2016Mar 2017Dec 2022
39 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2009 to Apr 2025; peak Jul 2016 (9).

2009 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 2009 Honda Ridgeline →

2009 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.

2009 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
2007Caution44160817
2008Caution39143817
2009Caution1735817
2010Caution2842917
2011Caution22391017

All Honda Ridgeline years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Honda Ridgeline reliable?
It carries a Caution verdict based on NHTSA data. Its complaint index of 17 is low compared to other Ridgeline years, but the verdict is capped at Caution because it has 8 recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit.
What is the biggest problem with the 2009 Honda Ridgeline?
Airbags are the top problem area, making up 60% of complaints (21 of 35), tied to multiple Takata inflator recall campaigns.
Does the 2009 Honda Ridgeline have a Takata airbag recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists several airbag recall campaigns covering the 2009 Ridgeline, including driver and passenger frontal inflator replacements.
How does the 2009 Ridgeline compare to other model years?
It ranks 16th worst out of 19 model years by complaint index, better than 2006 (index 100, Avoid) and 2017 (index 83, Avoid), but its Caution verdict reflects recall count more than complaint volume.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Honda Ridgeline?
EPA rates it at 17 mpg combined (15 city / 20 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800.

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.