Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2019 Honda Ridgeline owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My wife and I had decided to empty our storage unit, so on Memorial Day we began moving everything into the garage. After five or six trips Honda, I pulled the car up beside the RV and close to the house for what turned out to be the last load. I unloaded my bicycle and nearly everything else, leaving only a few small items, and then removed the massage table from the back seat. The engine was off this entire time. That was when I noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. At first, I thought the radiator had overheated, so I tried to open the hood, but it was too hot. I went into the garage for gloves and a fire extinguisher and tried again, but still could not get it open. Realizing the situation was getting worse and that I could not stop it there, I jumped into the car and tried to start it. …
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle briefly lost motive power before slamming into gear. The contact was unsure if any warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while the vehicle was parked inside the garage, the horn and panic alarm activated independently, and the headlights started flashing. The contact disconnected the battery to stop the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. An unknown software update was performed on the vehicle. The contact stated that when the windows were completely closed, there was a musty odor inside the vehicle. The contact was unsure where the odor was coming from. …
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. A diagnostic test revealed codes for the catalytic converter efficiency below threshold Bank 2, and Bank 2 air-fuel ratio imbalance. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the dealer referenced NHTSA ID Number: 10187289 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the speedometer malfunctioned and failed to provide the proper speed that the vehicle was traveling. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who reset the speedometer software but the failure later reoccurred. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 20,000.
2019 Honda Ridgeline alarm started going off at random times. This is a safety concern because it causes drain on battery and could affect vehicles ability to operate . The part is the keyless entry unit located behind glove box. I had to go out to check the car in the middle of the night several times. This part has been reported and listed here under bulletin SB-21-055. Honda offered extended warranty and fixed some vehicles as reported by some Ridgeline owners. This random alarm was reported by 86 Ridgeline owners according to Ridgeline owners club. The repair cost me $957 including a $287 charge for labor- according to the NHSTA bulletin SB 21-055 labor should be .03 to .08 hours to repair - beware of over charge for labor. Courtesy Honda of Palm Harbor Fl. Offered $100 off when informed of the keyless entry unit history. …
While opening the swinging tailgate, I noticed a rubbing sound. I closed the tailgate and opened it the standard method and noticed that the wire harness for the backup camera was out of the plastic holder/elbow and the outer harness shield had separated with the actual wires visible. I searched online and discovered this site: https://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/threads/2017-2020-broken-tailgate-harness-causes-backup-camera-failure.217776/page-10. Apparently this is a known issue and if I had not discovered it, the wires most likely would have been severed rendering the backup camera inoperative. I brought the truck to the dealership and they confirmed the problem and mentioned that they have replaced multiple wire harnesses on other Ridgelines with the same issue. The dealership was unsure why there isn't a recall or at least a TSB. …
This issue has been experienced by 100's of folks as found researching the issue on the internet. NHTSA has logged many of these including 11240893, 11302469, 11397199, 11438476, 11461046, 11488489, 141547651, 11523078, 11522464, 11518015, 11515091. You have a recall notice, 10197651 and Honda SB is 21-055. Issue: alarm goes off intermittently when the door is locked. dash electrical system and display clicks and flickers after the car is turned off alarm most recently would not shut off, and I could not unlock the vehicle with either key FOB. I had to use the manual entry and start and stop the car. This vehicle alarm has also gone off on its own when the car is unlocked sitting in my garage The back tailgate will not lock now, even if the other doors do unlock The dealer has had my car for 3 days and said that Honda isn't paying for this repair unless it is within the warranty. …
Vehicle had had a rodent due to the wires long story short through the next day I got a light and things were not driving right and I got it to the dealer thank God. Cost me roughly 250 to 300 to have it repaired on my own dime because they said a rodent chewed The wire. I see and hear from other Honda owners that is a major problem with soy based wires. I do not consider an animal a natural act. It's a pest therefore you child-proof that you do not leave wires on the bottom open to areas that a animal can get to The chew. I feel Honda should be looked at since they know of this problem they saw hot and deterrent capacity type tape to deter rodents. How do I not know one of those components is not going to be something that is life limb or eyesight next time and that one next little wire that that road and choose to is going to cause an accident? Please address thank you.
There was a following problem. The car began to turn on the ignition itself. It does not matter if the keys are inside the car or far away from it. This leads to a complete discharge of the battery. May trigger an alarm if the car is closed. Flashing malfunction indicators. A couple of times it was difficult to turn off the car. After pressing the start button to stop the engine, the engine continued to run. After repeating the attempts several times (4-5), the engine stopped. Also had trouble starting the car several times. The starter worked but the car would not start. Disconnecting the battery and connecting it again solved the problem and the car started. The car was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that Keyless access control unit is failing. After replacing the unit and at the moment the car is working as it should.
The backup camera stopped functioning due to a wiring defect. The backup camera is installed in the tailgate and wires go between the tailgate and the body on the driver's side. Due to a design defect, these wire are prone to wear, pinching, and being cut during normal operation of the tailgate. The copper in these wires on my truck is exposed and some wires are cut resulting in the backup camera no longer functioning. This creates a safety hazard for both the driver and other people, vehicles, etc. when the car is being backed up. This issue is being investigated on 2017-2018 Honda Ridgelines (NHTSA Action Number: PE22001) but is also occurring on 2019 models which are not currently included in the investigation. This problem first occurred on my truck less than one month and less than 1000 miles after the warranty expired.
Electrical complaints in other Ridgeline years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2019 Honda Ridgeline?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the electrical system of the 2019 Honda Ridgeline, 15% of the model year's 237 complaints. The component named most often is instrument panel › speedometer/odometer (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2019 Honda Ridgeline electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2019 Honda Ridgeline, though it has 11 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2019 Honda Ridgeline electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 39,000 miles, and 33% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.