YearToAvoid

2017 Honda Ridgeline Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

86/100

#3 most-complained of 15 Ridgeline years

The 2017 Ridgeline ranks 3rd worst of 15 model years, with a Complaint Index of 86, 341 complaints, 8 recalls, and 7 fires reported to NHTSA. Electrical System and Engine issues each account for 28% of complaints, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other Ridgeline years.

Complaints
341
Recalls
8
Crashes / fires
3 / 7
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21.5
18.5 city / 25.5 hwy

Top 2017 Honda Ridgeline problems

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

  1. Electrical System97 (28%)
  2. Engine97 (28%)
  3. Collision Avoidance & Cameras46 (13%)
  4. Fuel System45 (13%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain41 (12%)
  6. Other37 (11%)
  7. Brakes22 (6%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers18 (5%)
  9. Structure & Body14 (4%)
  10. Lane Departure5 (1%)

What owners report

  • Backup camera stops working after the tailgate wiring harness breaks from repeated opening and closing.
  • Engine compartment fires reported both while parked and while idling, with flames sometimes blowing the hood open.
  • Windshield wipers intermittently fail to turn on or stop mid-stroke on the highway.
  • Collision mitigation braking system triggers false lockups, activating the brakes without cause.
  • Electrical faults trigger multiple dashboard warning lights along with a horn that honks repeatedly and won't stop.
  • Transmission jerks and bangs during gear changes before failing outright at high mileage.
2017 Honda Ridgeline complaints: complaints filed per quarter212016 Q32018 Q12019 Q32021 Q12022 Q32024 Q12025 Q3
429 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2022 Q1 (21).

2017 Honda Ridgeline recalls

8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V365000Jun 4, 2026Structure & Body880,514 vehicles

    Structure:frame and members

    American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.

    Risk: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 26V332000May 21, 2026Airbags98,892 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

  3. NHTSA 23V858000Dec 18, 2023Fuel System2,490,460 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

See all 8 recalls for the 2017 Honda Ridgeline →

2017 Honda Ridgeline fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18.5 MPG
Highway
25.5 MPG
Combined
21.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,025
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.

2017 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
2014Best1434617
2015No verdict020—
2017Avoid86341821.5
2018Good43161721.5
2019Avoid932371121.5

All Honda Ridgeline years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Honda Ridgeline reliable?
Compared to other Ridgeline years, the 2017 model ranks 3rd worst out of 15 years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 86 and 341 NHTSA complaints, so it's rated Avoid relative to other years.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Honda Ridgeline?
Electrical System and Engine issues each make up 28% of complaints, followed by Collision Avoidance & Cameras and Fuel System issues, each at 13%.
Does the 2017 Honda Ridgeline have engine fire recalls?
NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2017 Ridgeline, including a fuel system recall for fuel pump feed port cracking and an engine recall for a manufacturing defect in the connecting rod, both linked to fire reports.
What is the median mileage for reported failures on the 2017 Ridgeline?
The median mileage at failure across all reported problems is 40,000 miles, though Engine complaints show a higher median of 61,106 miles.
What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Honda Ridgeline?
EPA rates the 2017 Ridgeline at 21.5 mpg combined (18.5 city / 25.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,025.

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.