2009 Honda Ridgeline Reliability Report

NHTSA data as of Oct 15, 2026Published Oct 23, 2026

Excellent

Ranks 3rd of 17 Ridgeline years we score.

Owner complaints: 35; 19 are recall notices
Per 10,000 cars: 11.8; 13,531 made for the U.S.
Vs the average car: 0.32×; same age, 1× is average
Serious outcomes: 4; crash, fire, injury, stall or tow
Recalls: 8
NHTSA crash rating: Not rated; no overall rating before 2011

← 2008 Ridgeline 2010 Ridgeline →

Should You Buy the 2009 Honda Ridgeline?

Yes. Our reliability score for the 2009 Honda Ridgeline is 82 out of 100, which rates Excellent. Owners reported about a third as many problems as for the average car of the same age. It ranks 3rd of the 17 Ridgeline years we score.

The most reported problem is the frame and body structure, mostly parts breaking or coming apart (2 of 35 complaints). Owners also complain about tires. 4 of the 35 complaints describe a serious outcome, such as a crash, a fire, an injury or stalling while driving.

It has 8 recalls. For comparison, the 2008 scores 75 and the 2010 scores 77.

Before you buy, check that the recalls were done and get an independent inspection. The full checklist is at the end of this page.

Pros

Excellent reliability score of 82
About a third of the problems of the average car its age
No do-not-drive or park-outside recalls

Cons

Frame or structure: parts breaking or coming apart2 complaints
Tires: shattering or cracking2 complaints

How the 2009 Ridgeline Earned Its Score

Every model year starts at 100. Each part takes points away when this year has more problems than the average car of the same age. How we score

Score breakdown
Item	Vs average	Points lost
Starting score		100
Serious problems4 complaints · average car: about 19	0.27×	−6
Everyday problems12 complaints · average car: about 29	0.45×	−5
Problems in the last two years1 complaint · average car: about 0.6	Not counted	–
Recalls8 recalls · average car: about 4.1	1.6×	−7
Score		82

The last two years are not counted for the 2009 Ridgeline. Honda made 13,531 of them, and at this age an average car made in that number would get only about 1.0 complaints of any kind in two years. We need at least 5 to compare, so we leave this part out. Its 30% goes to serious and everyday problems instead, so they make up 80% of the score rather than 50%.

Each part shows two counts: this year's so far, and what an average car would have at the same age. For complaints, that average car was made in the same number as this one. “Vs average” compares the two counts, but in our scoring system we first add a little to both, so a few complaints cannot swing the result. That is why it is not simply one count divided by the other. The last two years count only complaints about five systems: the engine and fuel system, transmission, brakes, steering, and airbags and seat belts.

What Owners Report

We read all 35 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Honda Ridgeline, one by one, and grouped them by the problem they describe. The most reported problems come first.

Frame or structure: parts breaking or coming apart
2 complaints (6%)
Parts breaking or coming apart and rust or corrosion. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome.
Tires: shattering or cracking
2 complaints (6%)
Shattering or cracking and damage.

Reported Once (14)

Show the 14 problems reported once

Airbag inflator (rupture risk or Takata) failure
Airbag warning light
Uneven tire wear: pulling or wandering
Blower motor: stopped working
Brakes failure
Cooling system failure
Frontal airbags: deployment with no crash
Fuel leak
Transmission cooler failure
Stability control (VSA): warning lights
Steering: sticking or stiffness
Sunroof glass (shattered): shattering or cracking
Tire pressure monitoring: warning lights
Transmission: overheating

How the 2009 Honda Ridgeline Compares With Other Years

The other Ridgeline years of the 1st generation, 2006 to 2014.

Year	Rating	Score	Vs average	Per 10k cars	Recalls	Most reported problem
2014	Good	79	0.44×	15.8	6	Paint and rust: damage
2013	Excellent	82	0.33×	8.3	7	Airbags: no deployment in a crash
2012	Excellent	84	0.26×	8.9	11	Taillights or brake lights: parts breaking or coming apart
2011	Excellent	81	0.33×	11.9	10	Body seals (water leak): water leaking in
2010	Good	77	0.49×	19.0	9	Unintended acceleration (cause not stated)
2009 This year	Excellent	82	0.32×	11.8	8	Frame or structure: parts breaking or coming apart
2008	Good	75	0.56×	20.0	8	Blower motor: stopped working
2007	Good	77	0.49×	18.4	8	Frame or structure: rust or corrosion
2006	Good	70	0.76×	25.0	12	Blower motor: stopped working

See every Ridgeline year

2009 Honda Ridgeline Recalls

Eight recalls cover the 2009 Honda Ridgeline. The most recent was issued in June 2022: “Frame Corrosion May Cause Fuel Leak.” A VIN check at NHTSA shows which are still open on a given car.

Frame Corrosion May Cause Fuel Leak
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
NHTSA 22V430000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jun 16, 2022. By the second quarter of 2024, 42% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, June 2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 19V500000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jun 27, 2019. By the fourth quarter of 2020, 67% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, June 2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 19V501000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jun 27, 2019. By the fourth quarter of 2020, 42% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, March 2019
An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 19V182000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Mar 6, 2019. By the third quarter of 2020, 49% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, January 2018
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 18V041000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jan 9, 2018. By the second quarter of 2019, 79% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture, January 2017
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 17V029000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jan 10, 2017. By the second quarter of 2018, 68% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.

Show 2 more recalls

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture, May 2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 16V344000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued May 23, 2016. By the third quarter of 2017, 58% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 16V061000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Feb 3, 2016. By the second quarter of 2018, 82% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.

2009 Honda Ridgeline Warranty Extensions and Programs

Honda has six customer support programs for the 2009 Honda Ridgeline, separate from its recalls. All six are for problems with the airbags. Two have ended. Whether one applies to a car depends on its VIN, which a Honda dealer can check.

Customer support programHonda 18-053, 20-015 and 18-056
Front passenger's airbag inflator
3 programs with the same terms. Which one applies depends on the VIN.
The problem:
The front passenger's airbag inflator can be faulty, and the airbag warning light comes on.
The fix:
A Honda dealer replaces the front passenger's airbag inflator for free.
Who qualifies:
The airbag warning light must be on. A Honda dealer test must show the inflator is faulty. Only replacement inflators that fail later are covered. Open inflator recalls must be done first. Salvage or branded titles are not covered.
Coverage:
18-053: Covered until January 31, 2027.
20-015: Covered until January 31, 2030.
18-056: Covered until January 31, 2028.
Another program for the same problem, Honda 18-050, has ended.
Bulletin 18-053 (PDF)Bulletin 20-015 (PDF)Bulletin 18-056 (PDF)
Customer support programHonda 20-011
Driver's airbag inflator
The problem:
The driver's airbag inflator can be faulty, and the airbag warning light comes on.
The fix:
A Honda dealer replaces the driver's airbag inflator for free.
Who qualifies:
The airbag warning light must be on. A Honda dealer test must show the inflator is faulty. Only replacement inflators that fail later are covered. Open inflator recalls must be done first. Salvage or branded titles are not covered.
Coverage:
Covered until January 31, 2030.
Another program for the same problem, Honda 18-048, has ended.
Honda's bulletin (PDF)

NHTSA Crash Test Ratings

NHTSA gave the 2009 Ridgeline no overall, frontal or side rating. It did rate each seat in those tests and lists the seat ratings under Rating Breakdown on its page. We show them the same way below. These tests are from before 2011, so the stars are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and newer models. See the 2009 Ridgeline ratings on NHTSA.gov.

4-door with side airbags

OverallNot rated

Frontal crashNot rated

Driver seat5/5

Passenger seat5/5

Side crashNot rated

Front seat5/5

Rear seat5/5

Rollover4/5

Check Before You Buy

A checklist for the 2009 Ridgeline, from its eight recalls and the problems owners report most.

Confirm the Recalls Were Done

Ask the seller for proof that each of these recalls was repaired.

Frame Corrosion May Cause Fuel Leak NHTSA 22V430000
Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, June 2019 NHTSA 19V500000
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, June 2019 NHTSA 19V501000
Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, March 2019 NHTSA 19V182000
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, January 2018 NHTSA 18V041000
Look up the VIN at NHTSA to see all 8 recalls and which are still open.

On the Test Drive

Look for uneven tire wear and listen for clunks or humming that changes with speed.

Ask the Seller

Ask whether any of these were ever repaired, and ask to see the receipts.

Frame and body structure
Tires
Also ask for the service records, especially oil changes.

Before You Pay

Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
Decode the VIN to confirm the model year, engine and trim.
Check the title for salvage, flood or rebuilt branding.

What to do next

All Ridgeline Years →Best years and years to avoid, side by side.Compare With Other Years →Put up to four model years side by side.Find Warranty Extensions →Repairs Honda may still cover for this year.Decode a VIN →Confirm the exact year, engine and trim of a car.