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2021 Honda Ridgeline Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 102 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Ridgeline, most often about the engine (31% of complaints, typically around 50,000 miles). It is 10th of 20 Ridgeline model years by number of complaints and has 7 recalls.
Most common 2021 Honda Ridgeline problems
Engine
32 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while at a stoplight, the auto start/stop feature malfunctioned, and after releasing the brake pedal, the engine failed to automatically restart as designed. After shifting back to park(p), the vehicle restarted and operated as normal. The cause of the…
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment while accelerating and there was a loud popping sound coming from the engine compartment shortly afterwards. The low oil level warning light was…
Electrical
15 complaints · 15%Driver assistance
15 complaints · 15%Parts named most often: automatic emergency braking, warnings, adaptive cruise control, assist.
Lights
14 complaints · 14%Automatic high-beam system on 2021 models functions erratically, sometimes coming on when cars are approaching. Also turns on and off constantly from reflections on road signs and even mile markers
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that there was moisture inside driver's side headlight housing. The contact took the headlight assembly apart and blew out the moisture. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.…
Other or unspecified
14 complaints · 14%Transmission
11 complaints · 11%Fuel system
6 complaints · 6%Body and structure
5 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: body.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2021 Honda Ridgeline recalls
Suspension: rear
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: front passenger
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Backup camera: camera
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rvc tailgate wire harness, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed november 8, 2024. Owners may contact honda service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is yi7.
Full defect summary
Honda (america honda motor co) is recalling certain 2020-2024 ridgeline vehicles. The rearview camera (rvc) tailgate wire harness may fatigue and break, which can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying.
Air bags: front passenger
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed march 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are xhp and vhq.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 pilot, accord, civic sedan, hr-v, odyssey, 2020 civic coupe, fit, 2021-2022 civic hatchback, 2021 civic type r, insight, 2020-2021 cr-v, cr-v hybrid, passport, ridgeline, accord hybrid, 2020 acura mdx, 2022 acura mdx, 2020-2022 acura rdx, and 2020-2021 acura tlx vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Brakes: master cylinder
Risk: Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed august 7, 2023. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are veu, aev, and zet.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 civic, 2020-2023 ridgeline, 2021-2023 passport, 2021-2022 pilot, and 2020 acura mdx vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.
Visibility and wipers: exterior
Risk: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed january 17, 2024. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is fe5.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 pilot and ridgeline, and 2020-2022 passport and odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 111, "rear visibility."
Seat belts: retractor
Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed january 14, 2022. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2021 accord sedan, accord hybrid, cr-v, ridgeline, 2022 insight and cr-v hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
No restart after auto start/stop engages
Summary
On june 3, 2022, the oï¬ce of defects investigation (odi) opened preliminary evaluation pe22005 after the agency received voqs and several ï¬eld reports concerning the auto idle stop (ais) feature on 2016-2019my honda pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traï¬c light or road intersection with the ais function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5l engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On january 6, 2023, honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019my honda pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 acura tlx, 2016
Rear-view camera failure
Summary
On february 13, 2024, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened preliminary evaluation pe24004 to assess alleged failures of the rear-view camera (rvc) in 2020-2023 model year (my) honda ridgeline vehicles. At this time, odi has received a total of 50 complaints with allegations of the rvc image failing to display when the vehicle was in reverse. The rvc wire harness is routed near the hinge in the tailgate, in a location where frequent opening and closing of the tailgate causes bending stress on the harness. Honda determined the wire harness was manufactured with a material which is permeable to water and salt, which when it freezes and thaws, combined with tailgate usage, ultimately
Questions about the 2021 Honda Ridgeline
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 Honda Ridgeline?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (32 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles); electrical (15 complaints); driver assistance (15 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2021 Honda Ridgeline have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 4, 2026 (suspension). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2021 a bad year for the Honda Ridgeline?
- It is 10th of 20 Ridgeline model years by number of complaints, with 102 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.