NHTSA vehicle safety data

2021 Honda Ridgeline Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 103 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Honda dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2021 Honda Ridgeline, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2021 Honda Ridgeline owner complaints

Owners have filed 103 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Ridgeline, describing incidents dated March 1, 2021 to October 26, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Engine 33 complaints
  • Electrical System 15 complaints
  • Forward Collision Avoidance 15 complaints
  • Exterior Lighting 14 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 14 complaints
  • Power Train 11 complaints

Of the 103 complaints on file, 3 report a crash; across all 103 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11774177 · Filed

    With no warning engine started making a loud ticking noise and within a couple of days it was a loud knocking noise. Flashing check engine light came on and engine lost power. Shut down and restarted engine, knocking noise still there but check engine light is not flashing. Knocking noise is loud…

  • ODI #11770612 · Filed

    Engine seized Honda dealership found a hole in block. Estimated repair almost $13k for a used motor. Contacted American Honda and after several weeks they refused assistance. I was barely able to exit freeway. I had to walk as area was remote without cell coverage. I understand there is a lawsuit…

  • ODI #11763064 · Filed

    The auto idle function- the car engine doesn't restart. This has happened in a busy intersection and won't restart until you have made several attempts to restart. I have brought this to the attention of Honda certified techs.

Read all 103 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2021 Honda Ridgeline in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Rear Suspension Components May Fail

NHTSA #26V365000 · Structure — Frame and Members · NHTSA notice

Reported June 4, 2026 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Potentially affected: 965,561 vehicles

Completion not yet reported (dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Honda campaign AOU, AOT

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Air Bags May Deploy Unintentionally During a Crash

NHTSA #26V332000 · Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger · NHTSA notice

Reported May 21, 2026 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Potentially affected: 98,892 vehicles

Repair completion: 32.26% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified July 6, 2026 · Vehicles built through May 18, 2021 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Rearview Camera Image May Not Display

NHTSA #24V321000 · Back Over Prevention — Sensing System — Camera · NHTSA notice

Reported May 9, 2024 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Potentially affected: 187,290 vehicles

Repair completion: 81.95% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Honda campaign YI7 · Owners notified November 8, 2024 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Air Bag May Deploy Unintentionally During a Crash

NHTSA #24V064000 · Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger · NHTSA notice

Reported February 1, 2024 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Potentially affected: 750,114 vehicles

Repair completion: 57.68% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Honda campaign XHP, VHQ · Owners notified March 28, 2024

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Loose Fastener on Brake Booster Assembly

NHTSA #23V458000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Master Cylinder · NHTSA notice

Reported June 29, 2023 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Potentially affected: 124,077 vehicles

Repair completion: 88.42% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Honda campaign VEU, AEV, ZET · Owners notified August 7, 2023

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Side-View Mirrors May Detach/FMVSS 111

NHTSA #23V174000 · Visibility — Rearview Mirrors/Devices — Exterior · NHTSA notice

Reported March 16, 2023 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Potentially affected: 339,404 vehicles

Repair completion: 87.91% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Honda campaign FE5 · Owners notified January 17, 2024

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Seat Belt Retractor Malfunction/FMVSS 208

NHTSA #21V900000 · Seat Belts — Rear/Other — Retractor · NHTSA notice

Reported November 18, 2021 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Potentially affected: 4,346 vehicles

Repair completion: 85.4% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Honda campaign ABS, BBT, NBQ, RBR · Owners notified January 14, 2022

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Other Honda Ridgeline model years

Check your 2021 Honda Ridgeline VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Honda Ridgeline at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Honda VIN