NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
Road salt corrodes the frame where fuel tank straps attach, potentially causing the fuel tank to detach and leak.
This page covers 12 recalls and 24 owner complaints for the 2012 Honda Ridgeline.
The dominant theme in 2012 Ridgeline complaints centers on the airbag and restraint system, which accounts for more than half of all reports filed. Owners frequently describe a water intrusion problem originating at the firewall that leads to rust buildup in the seat mounting hardware over time. Several reports describe front seat risers corroding to the point where the seat detaches from the floor, causing the seat to swing rearward unexpectedly while driving. The structural complaint cluster is closely tied to this same corrosion pattern, with owners noting that compromised floor and mounting points make proper repairs difficult. Steering complaints are limited to a small number of reports, including at least one describing a seized cam bolt that prevents proper wheel alignment. A single report mentions an under-hood fire, and another notes a roof trim piece separating at highway speeds, neither appears as a recurring pattern across multiple filings.
24
Total Complaints
1
Fire-Related
By System
The 2012 Honda Ridgeline has 12 recalls, the most serious being defective frontal airbag inflators on both the driver and passenger sides that can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
These airbag inflator recalls span multiple filings, and prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue for all affected vehicles. A separate concern covers front passenger airbags that may have been incorrectly installed during a prior replacement, meaning the bag could deploy improperly in a crash. On the frame side, vehicles registered in northern and mid-Atlantic states have a corrosion issue where rust can reach the fuel tank area and cause a fuel leak, raising the risk of fire. A recall covering aftermarket accelerator pedal assemblies applies if the vehicle received one of those replacement parts: the pedal can bind and prevent the engine from returning to idle after the driver lifts off. Two lower-severity recalls round out the list: some vehicles may have an incorrect passenger airbag status indicator that fails to warn the driver when that airbag is off, and certain vehicles may carry a spare tire that does not match the tire information placard, which can lead to improper inflation and tire failure.
At a glance
What can fail
Road salt corrodes the frame where fuel tank straps attach, potentially causing the fuel tank to detach and leak.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and repair the rear frame at no cost. Honda may repurchase the vehicle if corrosion is severe.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rotating part of the accelerator pedal assembly can stick or bind, preventing smooth pedal operation.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the accelerator pedal assembly at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front airbag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front airbag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Driver air bag inflators installed during previous recalls or as service parts may explode during a crash when the air bag deploys due to a manufacturing defect.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflator with a different inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement, potentially affecting its ability to deploy properly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the passenger air bag and replace the module assembly if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from prolonged exposure to heat, humidity, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator can rupture during a crash due to chemical breakdown from long-term exposure to heat and humidity.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Moisture can seep into the dual-stage driver frontal air bag inflator over time, potentially causing it to rupture.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
An incorrect passenger airbag status indicator may have been installed, causing it to fail to meet federal occupant crash protection requirements.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger airbag indicator at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The spare tire installed may not match the tire specifications listed on your vehicle's tire information placard.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your spare tire and exchange it or update the placard as needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.