Honda Ridgeline electrical problems, 2017–2026
324 of the 1,414 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Honda Ridgeline 2017–2026 name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). The loudest years: 2017 (92), 2020 (49), 2018 (49). Filed under the same heading across these years: 8 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall campaign. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Honda Ridgeline electrical problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the electrical system | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | — | — | 1 TSB | the year → |
| 2025 | 25 | 28% | — | 1 TSB | the year → |
| 2024 | 21 | 35% | — | 1 TSB | the year → |
| 2023 | 18 | 14% | — | 16 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 | 20 | 17% | — | 23 TSBs | the year → |
| 2021 | 15 | 15% | — | 22 TSBs | the year → |
| 2020 | 49 | 29% | — | 16 TSBs | the year → |
| 2019 | 35 | 15% | — | 10 TSBs | the year → |
| 2018 | 49 | 30% | 33k | — | the year → |
| 2017 in depth | 92 | 27% | 42k | 39 TSBs · 1 recall | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the electrical system. Nothing here is a rate.
When the electrical complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 10 · 2020: 23 · 2021: 27 · 2022: 76 · 2023: 37 · 2024: 45 · 2025: 43 · 2026: 52
Across the model years, half of the 66 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 18,000 and 53,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Alarm system goes off every 20 minutes. This just started to happen. In california. Vehicle is parked stationary. The lights come on and stay on then the alarm goes off. But internal then external lights come on first, then the alarm goes off. It is dry no rain exists. When this condition occured
While driving in motion on a city street, all of the warning indicators on the dash will come on and cycle through stating there is a problem with each system. The indicators will remain on until I shutdown and restart the truck. This doesn't happen every time, but it has happened twice in the past 2 days
The wiring harness for the rear back up camera is beginning to fail. I know this is an issue and has been a recall on the 2017-2019 model years. The harness that fails is the exact same on the 2020 model and should be recalled as well
AT odometer reading 35870, while loading the pickup for a trip home the backup camera failed. No local dealership was open on the weekend and we were 600 miles from home.
The tailgate wiring harness is damaged by routine opening of the tailgate. This causes the wires to be severed, causing failure of the backup camera and other electrical systems in the tailgate. The wiring harness by design is not strong enough to handle the opening and closing of the tailgate. Ridgelineownersclub.
What is on file about the electrical system, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaign filed under this heading, any model year
- 16V888000 HighDec 9, 2016 · 9,179 vehicles
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2017 Ridgeline AWD vehicles manufactured April 1, 2016, to August 11, 2016. Water may enter the rear wiring harness through the connector located under the truck bed drain hole, possibly causing the connection terminals to corrode.
8 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Mar 26, 2026
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2017-2019 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the rearview camera inoperable. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
- Mar 11, 2026
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2017-2019 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the rearview camera inoperable. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
- Feb 24, 2026
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2017-2019 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the rearview camera inoperable. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
- Feb 17, 2026
- Over The Air - This update contains various performance enhancements and UI improvements.
- Jan 5, 2026
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2017-2019 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the rearview camera inoperable. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
- Nov 7, 2025
- Service Bulletin - The wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops charging, even when the phone remains in the correct position on the charger due to software specifications that can cause some phones to have issues charging.
- Oct 23, 2025
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2017-2019 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the rearview camera inoperable. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
- Oct 14, 2025
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2017-2019 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the rearview camera inoperable. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Honda Ridgeline
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Honda Ridgeline problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Honda Ridgeline years have the most electrical complaints?
2017, 92; 2020, 49; 2018, 49. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2024 (35%).
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the Honda Ridgeline?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading across these model years: 16V888000 (2017). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do electrical problems show up on the Honda Ridgeline?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 40,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 18,000 and 53,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.