Best Honda Ridgeline Years to Buy
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, the best Honda Ridgeline years to buy are 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates among years with enough road time to judge, while 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 are the years to skip.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of October 2026 · How we rate model years
Buy these years
Skip these years
Full failure breakdown: Honda Ridgeline years to avoid →
Every Honda Ridgeline year, ranked by federal record
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 64 | 2 | OK |
| 2024 | 46 | 1 | OK |
| 2023 | 121 | 5 | AVOID |
| 2022 | 111 | 3 | AVOID |
| 2021 | 94 | 7 | AVOID |
| 2020 | 162 | 9 | AVOID |
| 2019 | 229 | 12 | AVOID |
| 2018 | 157 | 8 | AVOID |
| 2017 | 333 | 9 | AVOID |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | OK |
| 2014 | 33 | 7 | BEST |
| 2013 | 45 | 8 | BEST |
| 2012 | 24 | 12 | BEST |
| 2011 | 39 | 11 | BEST |
| 2010 | 42 | 10 | BEST |
| 2009 | 35 | 9 | BEST |
| 2008 | 140 | 10 | OK |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts are severity-weighted rates per year on the road, compared within the model’s own history.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best year for the Honda Ridgeline?
2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 — based on federal NHTSA records, they show the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Honda Ridgeline model year with meaningful time on the road. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
Which Honda Ridgeline years should I avoid?
2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by engine issues. The full breakdown is on our Honda Ridgeline years-to-avoid page.
Is a used Honda Ridgeline a good buy?
Year-dependent. Across 1,677 NHTSA owner complaints on record, the spread between the cleanest and worst Honda Ridgeline years is significant — pick from the best-year list, confirm the specific car's history by VIN, and negotiate from what buyers actually paid rather than asking prices.
How do I buy the best Honda Ridgeline year for the right price?
Two steps: verify the exact car (free VIN decode, then the recall/complaint record for that VIN), and negotiate the out-the-door price in writing. CarWhere's AI car-buying agent does the second part for you — it contacts dealers about the exact Honda Ridgeline you pick, requests written itemized out-the-door quotes, and negotiates them down while you approve every message ($34.99/month, includes Pro pricing data).