2012 Honda Ridgeline Reliability Report

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

Excellent

Ranks 1st of 17 Ridgeline years we score.

Owner complaints: 24; 12 are recall notices
Per 10,000 cars: 8.9; 13,541 made for the U.S.
Vs the average car: 0.26×; same age, 1× is average
Serious outcomes: 3; crash, fire, injury, stall or tow
Recalls: 11
NHTSA crash rating: Not rated; no overall rating

← 2011 Ridgeline 2013 Ridgeline →

Should You Buy the 2012 Honda Ridgeline?

Yes. Our reliability score for the 2012 Honda Ridgeline is 84 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 1st of the 17 Ridgeline years we score.

The most reported problem is taillights or brake lights, mostly parts breaking or coming apart (2 of 24 complaints). 3 of the 24 complaints describe a serious outcome, such as a crash, a fire, an injury or stalling while driving.

It has 11 recalls. For comparison, the 2011 scores 81 and the 2013 scores 82.

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 84
About a third of the problems of the average car its age
No do-not-drive or park-outside recalls

Cons

Taillights or brake lights: parts breaking or coming apart2 complaints

How the 2012 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 problems3 complaints · average car: about 19	0.22×	−5
Everyday problems9 complaints · average car: about 28	0.36×	−3
Problems in the last two years1 complaint · average car: about 1.6	Not counted	–
Recalls11 recalls · average car: about 4.7	1.9×	−8
Score		84

The last two years are not counted for the 2012 Ridgeline. Honda made 13,541 of them, and at this age an average car made in that number would get only about 2.7 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 24 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Honda Ridgeline, one by one, and grouped them by the problem they describe. The most reported problems come first.

Taillights or brake lights: parts breaking or coming apart
2 complaints (8%)
Parts breaking or coming apart.

Reported Once (12)

Show the 12 problems reported once

ABS: works on and off
Airbag warning light failure
Uneven tire wear: sticking or stiffness
Alternator or charging: a fire
Body seals (water leak): water leaking in
Exterior trim: parts breaking or coming apart
Fuel gauge or level sensor: wrong readings
Seats: parts breaking or coming apart
Stability control (VSA): works on and off
Steering: works on and off
Shifter or park: sticking or stiffness
Wiring, fuses or body control module: a fire

How the 2012 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 This year	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	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

2012 Honda Ridgeline Recalls

The 2012 Honda Ridgeline has 11 recalls. 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, September 2018
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 18V662000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Sep 27, 2018. By the first quarter of 2020, 83% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Improperly Installed Passenger Air Bag
An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA 18V268000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Apr 26, 2018. By the third quarter of 2019, 85% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.

Show 5 more recalls

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
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.
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.
Passenger Airbag Indicator/FMVSS 208
Without the proper passenger airbag indicator, the driver and other vehicle occupants may not be informed or aware that the front passenger airbag is off and will not deploy in a crash, thereby potentially increasing the risk of injury to a front passenger seat occupant that may have chosen to sit or been seated elsewhere in the vehicle if the correct indicator had been given.
NHTSA 12V432000 Owner letter (PDF)Issued Sep 5, 2012.
Spare Tire/FMVSS 110
An incorrect label could lead to improper tire inflation which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA 12V025000 Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jan 26, 2012.

2012 Honda Ridgeline Warranty Extensions and Programs

Honda has six customer support programs for the 2012 Honda Ridgeline, separate from its recalls. All six are for problems with the airbags. One has ended. Whether one applies to a car depends on its VIN, which a Honda dealer can check.

Customer support programHonda 18-053, 20-015, 18-056 and 19-002
Front passenger's airbag inflator
4 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.
19-002: Covered until September 30, 2028.
Bulletin 18-053 (PDF)Bulletin 20-015 (PDF)Bulletin 18-056 (PDF)Bulletin 19-002 (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)

2012 Honda Ridgeline NHTSA Investigations

NHTSA has opened one investigation that covers the 2012 Honda Ridgeline. It led to a recall.

Air bags failing to deploy after electrical overstress
Led to a recall
NHTSA's engineering analysis studied air bag computers used by six makers. It covered Honda Accords, Civics, CR-Vs, Fits and Ridgelines from 2012 to 2017. A crash-related electrical spike could damage a chip, so air bags might not deploy. NHTSA closed the case in September 2024 after maker recalls, including 20V-024. It did not clear vehicles outside the recalls.
NHTSA EA19001 Opening report (PDF)Closing report (PDF)Apr 19, 2019 to Sep 19, 2024

NHTSA Crash Test Ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for this model year. See the 2012 Ridgeline ratings on NHTSA.gov.

Pickup crew cab 4WD

OverallNot rated

Frontal crashNot rated

Side crashNot rated

Rollover4/5

Check Before You Buy

A checklist for the 2012 Ridgeline, from its 11 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, September 2018 NHTSA 18V662000
Look up the VIN at NHTSA to see all 11 recalls and which are still open.

On the Test Drive

Brake firmly from a moderate speed. A soft, hard or pulsing pedal, or a brake warning light, is a warning sign.

Ask the Seller

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

Taillights or brake lights
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.