YearToAvoid

2013 Honda Ridgeline Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#13 most-complained of 19 Ridgeline years

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

The 2013 Honda Ridgeline has 45 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 33, ranking 13th out of 19 model years with a Good verdict. Airbags account for 78% of complaints, tied to Takata inflator recalls, but crashes and fires tied to this year are rare.

Complaints
45
Recalls
7
Crashes / fires
3 / 1
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
16 city / 21 hwy

Top 2013 Honda Ridgeline problems

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

  1. Airbags35 (78%)
  2. Structure & Body7 (16%)
  3. Brakes2 (4%)
  4. Engine2 (4%)
  5. Fuel System2 (4%)
  6. Other2 (4%)
  7. Electrical System1 (2%)
  8. Seat Belts1 (2%)
  9. Steering1 (2%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (2%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the antenna cover melted after an internal heating failure near the windshield, discovered while the vehicle was parked.
  • Some drivers describe the truck accelerating on its own when coming to a stop, failing to slow down until shifted out of gear.
  • Owners report a dashboard warning light flickering off and on, followed by loss of traction and limited steering control.
  • Several owners describe the driver frontal airbag failing to deploy during a rear-end collision, resulting in facial and arm injuries.
  • Drivers report a sudden loss of engine power when braking with a foot still on the gas pedal, especially at slow speeds or turns.
  • Multiple owners describe frustration with Takata airbag inflator recall repairs, including long wait times and dealers requiring loaner vehicle agreements.
2013 Honda Ridgeline complaints: complaints filed per month6Apr 2015Apr 2016Aug 2016Jun 2017Mar 2019May 2021Jun 2025
55 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2015 to Jun 2025; peak Jul 2016 (6).

2013 Honda Ridgeline recalls

7 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 7 recalls for the 2013 Honda Ridgeline →

2013 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.

2013 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
2011Caution22391017
2012Caution6241117
2013Good3345717
2014Best1134617
2015No verdict020—

All Honda Ridgeline years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Honda Ridgeline reliable?
NHTSA lists 45 complaints for the 2013 Ridgeline with a complaint index of 33, ranking 13th out of 19 model years. It carries a Good verdict relative to other Ridgeline years.
What is the top problem area for the 2013 Ridgeline?
Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 35 of 45 complaints (78%), largely tied to Takata inflator recalls.
Does the 2013 Ridgeline have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2013 Ridgeline, most involving airbag inflator replacements, plus one covering rear frame corrosion inspection.
How does the 2013 Ridgeline compare to other years?
The 2013 model year has a complaint index of 33, lower than 2006 (100) and 2017 (83), and is rated Good while years like 2006, 2017, 2019, 2023, and 2025 are rated Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Honda Ridgeline?
EPA rates the 2013 Ridgeline at 17 mpg combined (16 city/21 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.