Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Honda Ridgeline owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact's wife owns a 2017 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that the AWD and battery fan warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer where he was informed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and informed him that there were no recalls on his wife's vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V888000 (Electrical System) which he linked to the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
After arriving home and turning off the vehicle, there was a lot of flickering of the lights and clicking noises in the engine. The dash displayed all emergency startup lights and performed the following message on the dash, "Keyless Start System Error." I took it to the dealer who ran a diagnostic, and provided me the diagnostic paperwork showing 4 codes in the Security, Power Control Unit, Mode Menu, Lighting, Keyless Transmitter, Gauges, and door locks. The dealer confirmed that this was in no relation to the recent recall of the Ridgeline Keyless Start System Error with DTC B12C5 and that the Keyless System Main Control Unit failed, part number 38320-T6Z-A21. I had to replace the unit and am now out of pocket quite a bit of money. I have reported the issue to Honda directly and hoping a refund will be provided. …
When reversing, I've had several instances over the past several years where the backup screen just went to black (Head unit displays black, with the guide marks.) i figured it was a software issue. However, when the back-up camera ceased working I googled the issue with "2017 Honda Ridge-line and backup camera" and found that severed wires at the tailgate left corner hinge area is a common issue. I found the harness broken at the pivot point of tailgate. (Left bottom corner of tailgate)Tailgate wiring exposed in hinge. Plastic cover has split/separated. I am a sixty-three year old female so I'm not using the tailgate/truck bed very much. I took it to the dealership (04/12/22); they told me they have not had any reported instances of this issue and then requested how I broke the harness! …
I am writing in regards to our 2017 Honda Ridgeline. We have purchased 6 Honda vehicles over the years from Shockley Honda in Frederick Maryland, and this is our second Ridgeline. However our truck has been in the shop for almost a month and we do not know when it can be repaired. On April 29th at 4:30 AM our alarm system repeatedly went off. We got it to the dealership to learn that we would need to replace the Body Control Module However this part is on national backorder with no estimated date of delivery. We are currently without a vehicle which has been an extreme inconvenience. We have researched this problem and we have learned that this is a common problem and has happened numerous times in the 2017-2022 Honda Ridgelines. I do not understand how your large Company has not identified this as a major problem and safety issue. …
So I complained before and nothing has happened. I took my Ridgeline in for the recall on the backup camera and my camera still flickers or goes out. Happens randomly not all the time. I brought it up twice to the Honda dealership and they couldn't help me since it was working fine when I brought it in. And my transmission since 20k miles still lags and jutters and makes clanking sounds. I have done multiple transmissions fluid changes like recommended but I don't trust it. And only the first time they covered it and did a software update but that didn't fix it then my warranty expired and they wanted to charge me for any repairs after. I have had this issue since I bought the Ridgeline. Not even 100k miles and I can't trust it to drive more than an hour. This been happening for years and I complained before but nothing ever got done. …
The vehicle alarm will go off intermittently, when parked. I have to keep the vehicle unlocked, which is extremely unsafe since it is in my driveway. You cannot replicate this since you do not know when it will happen. I travel a lot, and when I left the vehicle at the airport the alarm ran down my battery and I had to have it jumped. Now I cannot lock my vehicle when parked at the airport. I took it in to get it checked out and they said they found an error code identifying the control unit issue. I paid for the part, which was to be ordered and that was over a month ago. I called to check on the part, and they said there were over 250 in line ahead of me for this part. If there are that many folks waiting for this control unit part, there is obviously a problem. I am attaching the file of my payment for the part and labor. …
My 2017 Ridgeline had clicking noises in the dash and the interior lights were flickering, truck was in the garage at home. I was able to start the truck and move it outside. I was afraid it may be a short and start a fire. Upon turning off truck it started making the noises again and interior lights flickering. I took it to Honda the next day and after two days they claimed they couldn't figure it out but charged me to disconnect my after market amp and labor for diagnostic. Two days later the issue persisted. I called Honda again and brought it in, this time there was a code to read. The code was "keyless start system problem" so they ordered the module to fix it but explained that it was on backorder and there was no ETA on when I'd get the part. A few weeks later I was stranded at work because my truck had been trying to go into accessory mode all day with the horn blowing. …
Rear back up camera is failing, camera view is going in and out. Upon inspection of the rear tailgate it is clear the wiring going from the main body of the truck to the tailgate is exposed from the plastic casing and some of the wires are breaking themselves causing the malfunction. This truck only has ~43k miles on it and the tailgate gets used semi-frequently, by no means is it used excessively. It is ridiculous that such an important piece of safety equipment would not be better made to withstand the normal wear and tear of use and fail at such low mileage. This failure has caused a massive blind spot when reversing and could put pedestrians or other vehicles in harms way. No I have not taken this into the manufacturer nor has it been confirmed by the dealer. …
The alarm system goes off at random times throughout the day, headlights stay on after the alarm activates, interior dash warning lights flicker and voltage fluctuates with sound. Happens if Key Fob is in my pocket or not. Events started in Oct 2019 and continued until Sep2020, when I unplugged the hood alarm activation switch. This disabled the alarm from going off at random times but didn't stop the dash warning lights from flickering and voltage fluctuating sounds. As of OCT 2021, now a slew of dash warning lights from "trailer assist, uphill assistant, lane assistant" plus many more have taken over my dash. At random times the brake assist will activate and cause my truck to temporarily lock up, then go back to normal. It appears to happen to be worse after heavy rains.
2017 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E, keyless entry module wasn't working properly so I had to buy a new one. I was told about the issue when I took my Honda Ridgeline to the Honda dealership for my oil change.The entry control module is currently ordered but we don't know when it will come in. I also informed the service manager about my on/off switch not operating correctly. He informed me that it was on recall so it will repaired for free. I don't know why the keyless entry module wasn't repaired for free since I bought the used 2017 Honda Ridgeline with Honda's extended warranty. Currently I have no vehicle to use because Honda informed me that they don't currently have any because of the pandemic, currently no vehicles in their lot are able to loan to customers.
Related recalls
Electrical system › Wiring
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.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear wiring harness and related components, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Electrical complaints in other Ridgeline years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2017 Honda Ridgeline?
NHTSA has 93 complaints about the electrical system of the 2017 Honda Ridgeline, 27% of the model year's 345 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2017 Honda Ridgeline electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-888 (wiring, Dec 9, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2017 Honda Ridgeline electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 42,000 miles, and 30% before 25,000 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.