Is the 2018 Honda Ridgeline a bad year?
163 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Ridgeline years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2018 Honda Ridgeline are in line with other Ridgeline years. Electrical system stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 Ridgeline owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 40,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 49 (30%) | 18k–53k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel system | 31 (19%) | 6k–63k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 10 (6%) | 19k–61k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 24 (15%) | 43k–98k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Body structure | 9 (6%) | 2k–24k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Backup camera | 31 (19%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 40,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 163 complaints: 3 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 1 reports an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
15 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2018 Honda Ridgeline: 8
The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure. Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash. Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Opening and closing the tailgate may break the rearview camera wiring harness, causing the rearview camera to fail. An inoperative rearview camera can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving. A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.
If the tonneau cover is not properly secured in the open or closed position, wind resistance may cause the cover to flip and buckle. If this occurs, the hinges between the center and rear panel may deform, possibly allowing the rear panel to separate from the vehicle. A separated panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash or injury.
Exposure to acids, such as from car wash soaps, can result in the fuel pump feed port cracking. A crack in the fuel pump feed port can allow pressurized fuel to leak out, increasing the risk of a fire.
The front driver and passenger powered seats in the Honda vehicles and the driver powered seats in the Acura vehicles may have been assembled with improperly manufactured rivets. In the event of a crash, the rivets can break causing the seats not to be secured to the floor. In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the floor, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 86
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 Honda Ridgeline. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications
MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power
Vehicle shows Transmission Temperature Too Hot on the MID with no related DTCs due to ATF deterioration causing high foaming and low viscosity
Vehicle running rough or in low power mode with the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with one or more of the DTC listed below (in Qualifiers) stored
NHTSA defect investigations: 5
Engine failure
Rear-View Camera Failure
Engine failure
Rear-View Camera Failure
Rear-View Camera Failure
Neighbouring years
2017 Ridgeline: 348 complaints, keep it · 2019 Ridgeline: 239 complaints, keep it.
Every Honda Ridgeline year
2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Ridgeline years side by side
Other Honda models: Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Pilot · Honda Prologue · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2018 Honda Ridgeline a bad year?
163 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Ridgeline years. At 40,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Honda Ridgeline?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (49), fuel system (31), transmission and drivetrain (10), engine (24), body structure (9).
How many recalls does the 2018 Honda Ridgeline have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 26V-365), Air bags (NHTSA 26V-332), Fuel system (NHTSA 23V-858), Backup camera (NHTSA 22V-867) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.