NHTSA has 10 owner complaints on file for the 2026 Honda Ridgeline[1]. Exterior lighting is the biggest group, with 5 complaints[2].
Most reported problems
Here are the complaint groups, biggest first.
- Exterior lighting. 5 complaints[2]. In the stories we read, owners say the automatic high beams act oddly at night. They describe the lights flicking between high and low, reacting to road signs, or staying bright when other cars come the other way.
- Forward collision avoidance. 2 complaints[5]. One owner describes adaptive cruise control braking hard with a vehicle several car lengths ahead, and another describes the brakes not working properly while the truck shook and veered. One story links this to a crash.
- Engine. 2 complaints[6]. Owners describe a strong smell in a brand new vehicle and a loss of power on the highway that ended with a tow.
- Brakes. 1 complaint[7]. The owner describes the brakes not responding as expected.
- Lane departure. 1 complaint[8]. The owner describes the lane keeping assist jerking the wheel on its own.
- Structure. 1 complaint[9]. The owner describes a lingering chemical smell inside the truck.
Recalls
NHTSA's records show 0 recalls for the 2026 Ridgeline[10].
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
Safety ratings
Engine and size
Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.
| Engine | Horsepower |
|---|---|
| 2026 Honda Ridgeline with 3.5L 6-cylinder[13] | 280 hp |
These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.
| Version | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIDGELINE 4DR PICKUP[14] | 210 in | 79 in | 71 in | 125 in | 4,442 lb |
How 2026 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 242 | 12 |
| 2007 | 160 | 8 |
| 2008 | 143 | 8 |
| 2009 | 35 | 8 |
| 2010 | 42 | 9 |
| 2011 | 39 | 10 |
| 2012 | 24 | 11 |
| 2013 | 45 | 7 |
| 2014 | 34 | 6 |
| 2017 | 345 | 8 |
| 2018 | 162 | 7 |
| 2019 | 237 | 11 |
| 2020 | 169 | 8 |
| 2021 | 102 | 7 |
| 2022 | 117 | 3 |
| 2023 | 129 | 5 |
| 2024 | 69 | 1 |
| 2025 | 101 | 2 |
| 2026 | 10 | 0 |
NHTSA's counts for the Ridgeline show 10 complaints and 0 recalls for 2026[10]. Among the 19 model years listed, 0 have fewer complaints than 2026 and 18 have more[10]. The fewest complaints are for 2026 (10) and the most are for 2017 (345)[10]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 2026 Ridgeline?
The complaints on file for this truck are spread over a handful of groups, and exterior lighting leads them[2]. Owners who wrote in about the automatic high beams describe a feature that does not behave the way they expect. A few stories involve driver assist systems, and some of those mention a crash or an injury[5][8]. These are unverified reports sent to NHTSA, so treat them as signals and not as proof. If you are shopping, test the headlights and driver assists at night before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2026 Honda Ridgeline?
- Exterior lighting has the most complaints, with 5[2]. Forward collision avoidance and the engine group follow with 2 each[5][6].
- Are there recalls on the 2026 Honda Ridgeline?
- Any recalls are listed by code in the Recalls section of this page. The by-year fact shows 0 recalls in our data[10].
- How many complaints has the 2026 Honda Ridgeline received?
- NHTSA has 10 owner complaints on file[1]. They are unverified reports, and one complaint can name several parts.
- What is the gas mileage of the 2026 Honda Ridgeline?
- See the fuel economy section on this page. It is built from EPA data.
- Is the 2026 Honda Ridgeline reliable?
- Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so they say little on their own. See the by-year section to compare years of the same model, and the safety section for crash ratings.
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Honda Ridgeline
Compare all model years of the Honda Ridgeline
Other Honda models from 2026
Similar cars from 2026: pickup trucks
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 10 owner complaints on file for the 2026 Honda Ridgeline (1 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 5 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- EPA rating for Ridgeline AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 24 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, PU/CC AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
- 2 complaints name the forward collision avoidance component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 2 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 1 complaints name the brakes component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 1 complaints name the lane departure component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 1 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Honda Ridgeline model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Ridgeline AWD TrailSport, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S9), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 23 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, PU/CC FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
- EPA Test Car List, 2026 Honda Ridgeline with 3.5L 6-cylinder: rated 280 hp. www.epa.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, RIDGELINE 4DR PICKUP: length 210 in, width 79 in, height 71 in, wheelbase 125 in, curb weight 4,442 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov