The Lemon Index2018 Honda Ridgeline.
The 2018 Honda Ridgeline is about average by owner complaints: 46 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 113, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 8 recalls, and it gets 21 to 22 mpg combined. The best Honda Ridgeline year is 2007.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 162 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Honda Ridgeline year. 2018 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 2K to 50K miles on the car (49 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- electrical complaints mostly came at 11K–47K miles
Recalls 8
- body structure 2026
The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.
- airbags 2026
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
- fuel system, gasoline 2023
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Show all 8 recalls
- back over prevention 2022
Opening and closing the tailgate may break the rearview camera wiring harness, causing the rearview camera to fail.
- body structure 2021
The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving.
- equipment 2020
If the tonneau cover is not properly secured in the open or closed position, wind resistance may cause the cover to flip and buckle.
- fuel system, gasoline 2019
Exposure to acids, such as from car wash soaps, can result in the fuel pump feed port cracking.
- seats 2018
The front driver and passenger powered seats in the Honda vehicles and the driver powered seats in the Acura vehicles may have been assembled with improperly manufactured rivets.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Honda told dealers about
Honda sent dealers 113 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Service bulletin - The hood flutters or vibrates at highway speeds
- Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the…
- Service bulletin - The customer is unable to insert the fuel nozzle into the filler neck and…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenEngine failure2025
- ClosedRear-view camera failure2025–2026
- ClosedRear-view camera failure2024–2025
- ClosedEngine failure2024–2025
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Ridgeline PU/CC AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Honda Ridgeline PU/CC FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Rear camera failure due to wiring harness sever at tailgate pivot point.
2018 Honda Ridgeline owner · NHTSA complaint 11362378
More owner reports
Water collects behind capless fuel filler flapper and in cold temperatures, an ice plug forms behind flapper. Ice plug prevents opening flapper to insert gas nozzle and and inability to refuel vehicle.
NHTSA complaint 11057271
The vehicle alarm went off for no reason the keyless remotes stopped working locked out of vehicle backup manual key would not work researched issue on the internet many same vehicle owners had same problem
NHTSA complaint 11397199
Quick answers
Is the 2018 Honda Ridgeline reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.1× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 113; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Honda Ridgeline year by this measure since 2010 is 2013.
What are the most common 2018 Honda Ridgeline problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (35%), fuel or ev drive system (24%) and body structure (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2018 Honda Ridgeline have?
8 safety recalls (latest: body structure). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Honda Ridgeline get?
21 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2018 Honda Ridgeline safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2018 Honda Ridgeline problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 2,000 and 50,000 miles. The middle report was at 22,300 miles, from 49 complaints.
Does the 2018 Honda Ridgeline have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2018 Honda Ridgeline cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2018 Honda Ridgeline have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Honda Ridgeline year is better than the 2018?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2013, 2018 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works