YearToAvoid

2012 Honda Ridgeline Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

7/100

#14 most-complained of 15 Ridgeline years

The 2012 Honda Ridgeline has 24 NHTSA complaints, 11 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 7, ranking 14th worst out of 15 model years — a Best verdict compared to other Ridgeline years. Airbags account for 58% of complaints, tied to Takata inflator recalls.

Complaints
24
Recalls
11
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
16 city / 21 hwy

Top 2012 Honda Ridgeline problems

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

  1. Airbags14 (58%)
  2. Structure & Body5 (21%)
  3. Other2 (8%)
  4. Steering2 (8%)
  5. Brakes1 (4%)
  6. Electrical System1 (4%)
  7. Engine1 (4%)
  8. Fuel System1 (4%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the third brake light garnish or roof molding detaching from the rear of the truck while driving at highway speeds.
  • Some drivers describe long delays getting Takata airbag inflator recall parts, with dealers unable to give a timeline.
  • One owner reported the SRS airbag control unit failing shortly after Takata recall service was performed.
  • Owners describe ABS and VSA warning lights coming on intermittently, sometimes preventing the shifter from coming out of park.
  • A driver reported smoke and fire coming from under the hood and into the cabin after a short trip.
  • One owner described water intrusion at the firewall causing seat riser rust and a seat swinging backward while driving.
2012 Honda Ridgeline complaints: complaints filed per month4Feb 2015Apr 2016Jul 2016Oct 2016Mar 2019Sep 2022May 2025
29 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2015 to May 2025; peak Jun 2016 (4).

2012 Honda Ridgeline recalls

11 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 11 recalls for the 2012 Honda Ridgeline →

2012 Honda Ridgeline fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
21 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.

2012 compared with other Ridgeline years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best2142917
2011Good29391017
2012Best7241117
2013Good3645717
2014Best1434617

All Honda Ridgeline years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Honda Ridgeline reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2012 Ridgeline has a Complaint Index of 7 and ranks 14th worst out of 15 model years, making it one of the better Ridgeline years.
What are the most common problems on the 2012 Honda Ridgeline?
Airbags make up 58% of complaints, mostly tied to Takata inflator recalls, followed by Structure & Body issues at 21%, including detaching trim panels.
Does the 2012 Honda Ridgeline have a Takata airbag recall?
Yes. Several recall campaigns, including 19V500000, 19V501000, 18V662000, 18V041000, and 17V029000, cover Takata airbag inflator replacement on the 2012 Ridgeline.
How does the 2012 Ridgeline compare to the 2017 or 2019 Ridgeline?
The 2012 Ridgeline has a Complaint Index of 7, far lower than the 2017 model's 86 and the 2019 model's 93, both of which carry Avoid verdicts.

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.