2011 Honda Ridgeline Problems & Complaints

Average25% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Ridgeline at the same age

Owners have filed 39 complaints about the 2011 Honda Ridgeline with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the Ridgeline at the same age. The most reported problem area is the air bags (27 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles). 10 recalls cover this model year.

39complaints
10recalls
2crashes
0fires
0injuries
1deaths

Most common 2011 Honda Ridgeline problems

  • Air bags~100,000 miles
    2769%
  • Body & structure~129,000 miles
    615%
  • Other / not specified~49,000 miles
    513%
  • Engine & cooling~10,000 miles
    13%
  • Lights~10,000 miles
    13%
  • Wheels & tires~75,000 miles
    13%
  • Electrical system
    13%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof~0 miles
    13%
  • Suspension
    13%

Share of the 39 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 →

2011 Honda Ridgeline recalls (10)

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 18V-662 · Sep 27, 2018 · 57,095 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles nationwide. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2012 Acura RL, 2011 Honda Element and 2011-2013 Ridgeline vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska,…

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 18V-041 · Jan 9, 2018 · 24,945 vehicles

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura RL, 2010 Honda Element, and 2010-2013 Honda Ridgeline vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands…

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Show 4 more recalls

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.

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.

Equipment › Other › Labels

NHTSA recall 12V-025 · Jan 26, 2012 · 206 vehicles

Honda is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 ridgeline vehicles manufactured from August 25, 2011, through November 29, 2011. The spare tire installed in affected vehicles May not match the information on the vehicle's tire information placard.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tire and if necessary, exchange the spare tire assembly or replace the tire information placard free of charge. The safety recall began on February 10, 2012.

What 2011 Honda Ridgeline owners say

Air bags all 27 →

Takata recall my sister was driving a 2011 Honda Ridgeline on I-85 on May 2, 2015 when the vehicle started off the left side of the road she corrected this and the truck overturned. Two others in the truck were able to get to get out but my sister had to be cut from the vehicle. All were taken to hospital and released but 12 days later my sister died as a result of trauma to the lungs. Recalls for this vehicle were dated 02/12/2016 and 05/23/2016 a little late. I have the accident report and the autopsy but have no way to upload them.

100,000 miles · May 2015 · crash

I was traveling 20-25 MPH when I noticed another car abruptly making a left hand turn in front of me. This car was traveling the same direction as me. I tried to avoid hitting the car by swerving to the right, but I clipped the passenger rear quarter which resulted in a airbag deploying in my vehicle . The impact on my vehicle was on the front driver side. The airbag on the passenger side deployed, but the driver side did not deploy. Could this be a defect with the air bag problem out there currently? Nobody was hurt but it makes a person wonder what if.

56,000 miles · Nov 2014 · crash

Body & structure

The contact owns a 2011 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, there was a loud squealing sound coming from the rear end of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware that the rear crossmember had snapped, and inside the rear driver's side wheel well was melted, and the sidewall of the tire was damaged. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the rear subframe was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V430000 (STRUCTURE); as the possible cause for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 177,237.

177,000 miles · May 2025

The contact owns a 2011 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the rear driver's side tire was at an angle. The contact also stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the rear end of the vehicle was rocking back and forth. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and a local dealer where it was diagnosed with a rusted sub frame. The contact was advised that the vehicle should not be driven. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.

Frame and members · 129,000 miles · Jul 2024

2011 Honda Ridgeline engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
3.5L 6-cyl5-speed automaticAWD15 / 20 / 17

EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Honda Ridgeline a good car?

Based on 39 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Ridgeline rates average: 25% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Ridgeline at the same age. It is one of the best Ridgeline years by this measure. 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 2011 Honda Ridgeline?

The air bags — 27 complaints, 69% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the body & structure (6) and engine & cooling (1).

How many recalls does the 2011 Honda Ridgeline have?

There are 10 recalls for the 2011 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 2011 Honda Ridgeline problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 38% 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.