NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
This page covers 7 recalls and 45 owner complaints for the 2013 Honda Ridgeline.
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2013 Honda Ridgeline centers heavily on airbags, which account for the large majority of reports filed. Owners most often describe airbags failing to deploy during frontal or rear-impact collisions, with several accounts noting the driver-side airbag specifically did not activate despite significant impact forces. A smaller but recurring group of structural complaints involves the rear crossmember, the steel beam where the trailer hitch mounts, with owners reporting it rusting through and raising concerns about towing integrity. Fuel and propulsion complaints are limited to just a couple of reports and don't form a clear pattern. The airbag non-deployment theme is the clear standout here, with owners describing collisions where they struck the steering wheel or interior surfaces after the airbags stayed closed.
45
Total Complaints
3
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Honda Ridgeline has 7 recalls, the most serious being defective airbag inflators on both the driver and passenger sides that can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
Both the driver and passenger frontal airbag inflators are affected by the well-known Takata inflator issue, which has been filed across multiple campaigns covering different model years and regional configurations. In a crash that triggers airbag deployment, the inflator can rupture rather than inflate the bag normally, scattering sharp metal shards toward the driver, front passenger, and anyone else in the vehicle. One of the passenger-side filings applies specifically to vehicles ever registered in high-humidity states and territories, including Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Texas, and several others, where moisture accelerates the risk. The driver-side inflators and the remaining passenger-side inflators apply more broadly regardless of registration location. Prior repair attempts across earlier campaigns did not fully resolve the issue for all affected vehicles, which is why multiple filings remain open.
On the structural side, certain Ridgelines sold or registered in states across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast are subject to a separate recall involving the frame. Road salt and moisture common to those regions can corrode the frame to the point where the fuel tank strap or surrounding structure may allow fuel to leak. A fuel leak near any ignition source raises the risk of a vehicle fire. This recall is geographically scoped to the rust-belt states where corrosion conditions are most severe.
At a glance
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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 can fail
Road salt corrodes the frame where fuel tank straps attach, potentially causing the fuel tank to detach and leak.
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 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 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
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.