YearToAvoid

2019 Honda Ridgeline Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

93/100

#2 most-complained of 15 Ridgeline years

The 2019 Honda Ridgeline ranks 2nd-worst of 15 model years, with 237 complaints, a complaint index of 93, and 11 recalls. NHTSA lists Fuel System as the top problem area, covering 31% of complaints, giving it an 'Avoid' verdict relative to other Ridgeline years.

Complaints
237
Recalls
11
Crashes / fires
8 / 2
Injuries / deaths
9 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21.5
18.5 city / 25.5 hwy

Top 2019 Honda Ridgeline problems

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

  1. Fuel System73 (31%)
  2. Engine48 (20%)
  3. Electrical System36 (15%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain36 (15%)
  5. Other27 (11%)
  6. Structure & Body23 (10%)
  7. Collision Avoidance & Cameras16 (7%)
  8. Brakes15 (6%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers8 (3%)
  10. Airbags4 (2%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while parking, with the brake pedal depressed, leading to low-speed crashes into walls, columns, or poles.
  • Owners describe the Honda Sensing collision mitigation braking system triggering unexpectedly, bringing the truck to an abrupt stop mid-parking maneuver.
  • Some owners report the front seat belt pretensioner failing to secure the driver during a crash, allowing the driver to slide down the seat.
  • Owners report the forward collision warning and automatic braking system failing to activate before a crash, with airbags also not deploying on impact.
  • Owners describe smoke or fire coming from the engine compartment while the vehicle was stopped, with no warning lights illuminated beforehand.
  • Owners report a gasoline smell inside the cabin at startup that fades within about 30 seconds.
2019 Honda Ridgeline complaints: complaints filed per quarter352018 Q42019 Q42020 Q42021 Q42022 Q42023 Q42024 Q42025 Q4
293 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q4 (35).

2019 Honda Ridgeline recalls

11 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 11 recalls for the 2019 Honda Ridgeline →

2019 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.

2019 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
2017Avoid86341821.5
2018Good43161721.5
2019Avoid932371121.5
2020Caution64169821.5
2021Caution50101721

All Honda Ridgeline years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Honda Ridgeline reliable?
Relative to other Ridgeline model years, the 2019 ranks 2nd-worst out of 15 years tracked, with a complaint index of 93 and 237 NHTSA complaints, so it carries an 'Avoid' verdict compared to other years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2019 Honda Ridgeline?
NHTSA data shows Fuel System complaints are the largest category, making up 31% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 46,000 miles.
Does the 2019 Honda Ridgeline have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2019 Ridgeline, covering areas including fuel system, engine, structure and body, and collision avoidance/camera systems, and none are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2019 Ridgeline compare to the 2017 or 2018 model?
The 2017 Ridgeline has a higher complaint index of 86 and is also rated 'Avoid,' while the 2018 model has a lower complaint index of 43 and a 'Good' verdict, making 2019 worse than 2018 but slightly better than 2017 on complaint index.
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Honda Ridgeline?
EPA rates the 2019 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.