2008 Honda Ridgeline Problems & Complaints

Avoid2.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Ridgeline at the same age

Owners have filed 143 complaints about the 2008 Honda Ridgeline with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 2.8× as many as a typical Ridgeline model year at the same age, which makes the 2008 one of the Ridgeline years to avoid. The most reported problem area is the air bags (60 complaints, typically around 95,000 miles). 8 recalls cover this model year.

143complaints
8recalls
3crashes
6fires
2injuries
0deaths

Most common 2008 Honda Ridgeline problems

  • Air bags~95,000 miles
    6042%
  • Electrical system~70,000 miles
    3021%
  • Body & structure~90,000 miles
    1410%
  • Engine & cooling~140,000 miles
    107%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~161,000 miles
    86%
  • Brakes~29,000 miles
    75%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof~30,000 miles
    64%
  • A/C & heater~82,000 miles
    64%
  • Transmission & drivetrain~140,000 miles
    53%
  • Equipment & accessories~71,000 miles
    32%
  • Steering~45,000 miles
    32%
  • Other / not specified~145,000 miles
    21%
  • Speed control & acceleration
    11%
  • Wheels & tires
    11%
  • Suspension~141,000 miles
    11%

Share of the 143 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Honda Ridgeline complaints by model year

’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’262421601433542392445343451622371691021171296910110
Owner complaints per model year, Honda Ridgeline. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Ridgeline years: 2012, 2014, 2011. Years to avoid: 2017, 2019, 2025, 2023, 2020. Compare all years →

2008 Honda Ridgeline recalls (8)

Structure › Frame and members

NHTSA recall 22V-430 · Jun 16, 2022 · 132,882 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles that were sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont,…

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the rear frame, as necessary, free of charge. Depending on the extent of any corrosion damage, Honda may offer to repurchase the vehicle.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-500 · Jun 27, 2019 · 1,558 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-501 · Jun 27, 2019 · 1,657,752 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-182 · Mar 6, 2019 · 1,101,534 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011…

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 17V-029 · Jan 10, 2017 · 308,884 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2011 Honda Element vehicles, 2005-2012 Acura RL vehicles, 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2005-2008 Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California,…

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 16V-344 · May 23, 2016 · 1,790,894 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia,…

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Show 2 more recalls

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 16V-061 · Feb 3, 2016 · 2,232,187 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Structure › Body › Hood

NHTSA recall 07V-542 · Nov 21, 2007 · 410 vehicles

On certain vehicles, the hole in the sheetmetal front bulkhead that serves as the base and pivot point for the hood support rod was not punched to specification. The hood support rod May fail to hold the hood in position due to insufficient strength.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the prop rod base hole and, if necessary, install reinforcement parts free of charge. The recall began on December 5, 2007. Owners May contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

What 2008 Honda Ridgeline owners say

Air bags all 60 →

The contact owns a 2008 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who retrieved a failure code for resistance in front passenger's side air bag inflator. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V501000 (Air Bags); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The local dealer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 183,000.

183,000 miles · May 2022

I had my recall done at gunn Honda in san antonio, texas in July of 2017. Now I had a wreck on August 18, 2017, it is a total lost. That what is going on now you can check with my insurance geico policy # 4126-49-54-82.

100,000 miles · Aug 2017 · crash

Electrical system all 30 →

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Honda Ridgeline. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the top panel on the roof of the vehicle where the courtesy lights and wiring were housed detached completely onto the road. In addition, the air conditioner became inoperable and the wiring harness melted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000. The VIN was unavailable.

90,000 miles · Mar 2015 · fire

A/C blower motor quit running(intermittently) dec. 2016 & July 2017, stopped completely July 2017. No heat in winter and no cooling in summer. Also battery was drained of it's charge , had to be jump started with potential need for replacement. Dealer is working on fixing. Found a transistor failed then later found a burnt elec. Connector in wiring harness. Dealer contacted Honda corp., no 2008 recalls but mfg. Will accept 50% reduction of repair part replacement of harness, truck is at dealer service for mon. Tues. & wed.,7/31/17 thru. 8/2/17, received loaner car till it is fixed. Costs are now up to over $650 and climbing. (not including my major stress and inconvenience for a 79 year old.) checked on various web sites and found many major safety and expensive electrical issues with this Honda issue as well as fire destruction in some cases, but no recalls. …

27,000 miles · Jul 2016

Body & structure

The contact owns a 2008 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated while his wife was driving at 65 MPH, she heard an abnormal sound. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact's wife was able to drive to her residence. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while he was driving the vehicle. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact saw that the fuel tank had detached and was resting on the drive shaft. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired as the parts were not available. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V430000 (Structure), which he associated with the failure. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time to complete the recall repair. …

115,000 miles · Jul 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Honda Ridgeline. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V430000 (Structure). The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where they performed a punch test, and was informed that since the vehicle passed the test, they would not buy it back. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, the mechanic was made aware that the fuel tank was corroded. The dealer stated that the fuel tank would not be inspected. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called another local dealer, Bergstrom Honda (3285 S. Washburn St., Oshkosh, WI 54904; [phone]), and was informed that the manufacturer had closed the recall case and needed the manufacturer to reopen the recall case. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

150,000 miles · Aug 2022

2008 Honda Ridgeline engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
3.5L 6-cyl5-speed automatic4WD/AWD15 / 20 / 17

EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Honda Ridgeline a good car?

Based on 143 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Ridgeline rates avoid: 2.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Ridgeline at the same age. It is one of the Ridgeline years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2008 Honda Ridgeline?

The air bags — 60 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (30) and body & structure (14).

How many recalls does the 2008 Honda Ridgeline have?

There are 8 recalls for the 2008 Honda Ridgeline, the most recent from June 16, 2022 (frame and members). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Honda Ridgeline?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2014 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017, 2019, 2025, 2023 and 2020. See the full Honda Ridgeline years comparison.

At what mileage do 2008 Honda Ridgeline problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 70,000 miles; 36% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.