Service Bulletin - (Repair Procedure and Parts Information Revision) In salt-belt states where de-icing agents are used to maintain the roadway, the de-icing agents, along with mud and dirt, could accumulate along the rear frame where the fuel tank is mounted. Over time, the accumulated de-icing agents/mud/dirt mixture could cause the fuel tank band mounts to corrode and separate from the frame. If this occurs, an unsecured fuel tank can become damaged from undercarriage impact, which can possibly result in fuel leakage. Inspect the rear frame for rust and corrosion, if needed, install the kit.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Honda Ridgeline body problems
moderate 27 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
When does it fail?
Of the 27 body complaints filed for the 2006 Honda Ridgeline, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 14 model years of Honda Ridgeline we track for body problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 27.
Owners have filed 27 body complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
SERVICE BULLETIN - BECAUSE OF A WEAK CLIP, THE INNER DOOR HANDLE CABLE CAN DISCONNECT FROM THE DOOR HANDLE. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE BULLETIN - DUE TO A WEAK CLIP, THE INNER DOOR HANDLE CABLE CAN DISCONNECT FROM THE DOOR HANDLE AND THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. THE TECHNICIAN WILL REPLACE THE INNER DOOR HANDLE CABLE END CLIP.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗INNER DOOR HANDLE CABLE END CLIP.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WATER LEAK AT RIGHT FRONT FLOOR.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2006 Ridgeline suffers from pervasive sealing failures and corrosion. Owners in salt-belt states describe severe rear subframe rust where road salt accumulates, compromising fuel tank mounting; the NHTSA recall (22V430000) found cases so corroded that dealers deemed repair impossible. Parts shortages kept vehicles grounded for weeks or months, with some owners offered buyback when repair proved unfeasible.
Water intrusion ranks as the second-biggest complaint. Multiple owners report water pooling on interior floors after rain, soaking carpets and creating mold—one owner pulled 7–8 gallons from the floor using a wet vac. Repairs require disassembling fenders to access and seal areas left unsealed at the factory.
Door mechanisms fail across the board: latches jam, locking actuators quit, and interior handles break, trapping owners inside or leaving vehicles unsecured. One driver had to hold the door open while steering to a dealership after accidentally triggering the latch mechanism.
Water also seeps into the instrument panel, shorting the airbag system repeatedly. One owner's airbag light stayed on through 40,000 miles and five repair attempts despite full module replacement.
A roof panel flew off at highway speed; dealers acknowledged seeing this multiple times but claim it's not a safety issue. Seat fabric stains from minimal moisture despite appearing resistant, and the truck bed scratches easily despite advertising otherwise.
Same Honda Ridgeline body reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Rear subframe corrosion and fuel tank insecurity
Road salt accumulation on rear frame causes corrosion, leading to fuel tank becoming unsecured on its mounting. Severe corrosion can render repair impossible and prevent recall remedy completion.
When: Mileage varies; noted at 88,000, 200,000, and 260,000 miles; corrosion progresses over vehicle's life in salt-belt regions
Symptoms owners cite: Loud noises from rear of vehicle; Check engine warning light illumination; Visible rust and corrosion holes on frame and rocker panels
Repairs/costs cited: NHTSA Campaign 22V430000 prescribed inspection and replacement of rear subframe. Parts unavailable for months; severe corrosion cases deemed non-repairable by dealers. Some owners offered vehicle repurchase when repair deemed impossible.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 22V430000 (Structure) recall initiated for vehicles registered in salt-belt states only. Recall coverage excludes Tennessee and North Carolina despite these states using road salt. Affected states include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C. Manufacturers delayed repairs due to parts distribution issues and did not complete repairs in reasonable timeframe. Some owners reported extended wait times (weeks to months) for manufacturer decision on replacement vs. repair.
Water intrusion into passenger compartment
Water enters vehicle from exterior through improperly sealed areas in the chassis, accumulating on interior floors and soaking carpets. Multiple entry points identified requiring fender disassembly to access and repair.
When: Occurs after rainfall or wet weather; timing varies by owner (some after moderate rains, others chronic)
Symptoms owners cite: Wet rear floor boards and entire back floor puddling; Water on driver and front passenger floor boards; Water accumulation under driver's side carpet spreading toward rear and passenger side over time; Wet and ruined carpet with high likelihood of mold and mildew development; Potential rust and corrosion inside vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Repair requires disassembling fender and sealing areas not properly sealed during production. One owner removed approximately 7.5–8 gallons of water using a wet/dry vac from interior. Carpet replacement may be necessary.
Instrument panel water seepage causing airbag system failure
Gap on front of instrument panel allows water to seep into electrical components, rendering entire airbag system inoperable. Airbag warning light illuminates continuously.
When: First noticed at 70,000 miles; failure recurred through 110,000 miles despite multiple repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light continuously illuminated; Entire airbag system inoperable
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced seat belt connector, front airbag apron, rear airbag apron, airbag rear module, and entire computer system; failure recurred multiple times over three years. Manufacturer provided extra warranty coverage but issue persisted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer offered extended warranty package; did not resolve recurring issue
Door latch and lock mechanism failures
Multiple door latch and lock defects prevent normal door operation and compromise vehicle security and egress. Driver-side door became impossible to open from inside; rear door locks fail to engage automatically.
When: Timing varies; reported from early ownership through later mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Driver's door locked from inside, unable to open; Rear door locks fail to lock automatically when driving; requires manual locking from inside each door; Door latch prevents door from closing once disturbed; Door cannot be secured for safety, especially hazardous with children in vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Door had to be driven open to dealership. Manual latch adjustment caused permanent closure failure requiring dealership intervention. Rear locks require manual engagement for vehicle security.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Technical Service Bulletin exists for defective door clips/actuators. Dealers acknowledged issue but some stated it was not a safety recall.
Interior door handle cable failure
Inner cable of door handle breaks, preventing door from being opened from inside of vehicle.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside
Repairs/costs cited: Repair cost not covered by warranty
Roof panel detachment
Rear portion of roof became loose and separated from vehicle while driving at highway speed, creating serious risk of impact to following traffic.
When: At approximately 50 mph during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: 5-foot by 8-inch steel roof panel broke loose and flew off completely
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership stated not a safety issue despite hazard to following vehicles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership claimed issue not a safety concern and stated they have seen this occur multiple times even in small towns
Truck bed paint durability
Truck bed surface scratches easily despite Honda advertising scratch-resistant finish and claiming no bed liner required.
When: Occurs with normal use without protective coverings
Symptoms owners cite: Scratches in bed surface from routine use
Trunk/lower tailgate latch failure
Rear tailgate latch and lower trunk compartment lid mechanisms fail to operate. Trunk lid stuck closed; tailgate stuck in closed position.
When: At 72,000 miles for tailgate; timing unspecified for trunk lid
Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate latch fails to release and open tailgate; Trunk compartment lid will not open despite key insertion and clicking sound; Key turns only to 10 o'clock position and will not turn further
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not yet diagnosed or repaired for tailgate latch failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of tailgate latch malfunction
Seat fabric defects and staining
Interior seat fabric stains easily from minor moisture exposure and armrest contact, discoloring rapidly despite being described as resistant.
When: Occurs from early ownership with normal use
Symptoms owners cite: Seats discolor when wet from door opening during rain; Seats discolor from armrest contact; Repeated staining even after dealer replacement with Honda original materials
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced seats with Honda original materials once; same defect recurred. Owner now uses aftermarket seat covers.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer replaced defective seat fabric with Honda original materials
Mold growth on brake line and frame corrosion
Mold observed on rear brake line; inspection revealed corrosion on pieces holding brake line to vehicle, creating future leak risk.
When: Discovered during inspection; timing relative to vehicle age not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Mold visible on rear brake line; Corrosion on brake line mounting hardware
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle washed and repainted to address mold; no current leak but corrosion concerns remain
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Inside door releases will not work. Honda had a technical service bulletin on this matter of defective door clips. However when I called the dealer said this was not a safety recall. How can this not be a safety issue? What happens if the vehicle is in an accident and driver and/or passengers need to get egress the vehicle quickly but the door releases will not work. This is an unsafe condition…
Had body trouble with your 2006 Honda Ridgeline?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2006 Honda Ridgeline?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 27 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 43,675 and 145,000 miles, with the median around 72,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 43,675; a quarter make it past 145,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Honda/Ridgeline.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.