Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear differential pump motor connector area that corrodes the terminals.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Honda Ridgeline body problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Honda Ridgeline have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the body at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Ridgeline | 3 |
| 2014 Ridgeline | 6 |
| 2017 Ridgeline (this page) | 10 |
| 2018 Ridgeline | 8 |
| 2019 Ridgeline | 20 |
| 2020 Ridgeline | 3 |
| 2021 Ridgeline | 4 |
When does it fail?
Of the 10 body complaints filed for the 2017 Honda Ridgeline, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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 - The hood flutters or vibrates at highway speeds.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - One or more accessory running board lights are flickering or not working.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda (AHM) is collecting a HEALTHY tailgate harness from certain 2017-2018 Ridgelines which fits the criteria listed below.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda (AHM) is collecting a HEALTHY tailgate harness from certain 2017-2018 Ridgelines which fits the criteria listed below.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2017 Ridgeline report plastic body components buckling and melting repeatedly, including window trim, bumpers, wheel wells, and mirrors. One owner had replacements fail within a day. Honda acknowledged the same issue affects vehicles at its own headquarters but blamed external UV reflection and refused to change the plastic material.
Hood problems are widespread: owners describe violent shaking and lifting when passing trucks or in wind, with dealers denying repairs due to lack of a recall. One owner had a partial repair attempt that left cracks visible around the hood striker and ongoing vibration.
Water intrusion plagues these trucks. Multiple owners report soaked carpets in the rear cabin with musty odors, water leaking through the radio antenna area, and fuel doors freezing shut from water in the fuel neck. A separate complaint mentions bubbles under door panel paint.
At highway speeds, owners report the entire cab shakes when rear windows are open with front windows closed—starting around 55 mph and worsening with speed. One owner felt certain they had flat tires. Honda customer service dismissed this as normal, offered a $200 credit, and told the owner to accept it.
The tailgate latch clicks but fails to engage properly, creating a false sense of security where the gate could open unexpectedly while driving. Dealers expect owners to pay for repairs Honda won't acknowledge as defects.
Same Honda Ridgeline body reports on nearby years: 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Plastic trim buckling and melting
Plastic trim pieces on the vehicle body are buckling, wrinkling, and melting including window trim, front bumper, wheel well, and rearview mirrors. Occurs repeatedly even after replacement parts are installed. Owner reports the issue persists regardless of parking location.
When: Starts occurring within days of part replacement; progressively worsens over time
Symptoms owners cite: Plastic trim buckling and wrinkled appearance; Melting deformation of plastic components; Trim damage occurs on windows, bumper, wheel well, and mirrors; Problem reoccurs on replacement parts within one day
Repairs/costs cited: Honda replaced affected parts once; replacements failed within one day. Owner applied reflective tape as temporary mitigation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda acknowledged the same issue occurs on vehicles at Honda HQ. Honda attributes cause to UV reflective material from neighbor's windows but declined to redesign plastic material.
Hood lifting and violent shaking
Hood lifts on both sides and shakes severely when passing large trucks on two-lane roads and during windy conditions. Owner reports fear of hood flying off. Issue is intermittent, occurring only in wind or specific conditions.
When: Occurs during windy conditions and when passing large trucks; no problems on calm days
Symptoms owners cite: Severe hood shaking when passing large trucks; Hood lifting on each side; Repeated need to stop and verify hood is closed; Safety concern about hood flying off
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple service visits made; no repairs completed. Dealer stated no recall exists so repairs cannot be made.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued. Honda customer service provided no results.
Hood latch failure with cracking
Cracks found around hood striker area and hood continues to vibrate despite partial repair attempt. Dealer submitted case to DPSM (Dealer Problem Solving Meeting) but follow-up communication was not provided. Owner reports hood appears unsafe in windstorms and when passing semis.
When: Issue identified at service inspection on 02/08/2022
Symptoms owners cite: Cracks around hood striker; Hood vibration persists after repair attempt; Hood appears unsafe in windstorms and when passing trucks; Concerns about hood flying off in extreme conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Inspected and partially repaired by Classic Honda of Midland, TX on 02/08/2022. Case submitted to DPSM with no follow-up provided to owner.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall listed. Honda customer service stated dealerships are privately owned and cannot provide assistance.
Cab shaking at highway speeds
Entire cab vibrates violently starting at 55 mph and worsening at higher speeds when rear windows are open and front windows closed. Owner believes this is a design flaw and reports it did not occur in their previous 2007 Ridgeline.
When: Occurs at 55 mph and higher speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Entire cab shakes violently; Vibration worsens with increased speed; Shaking occurs with rear windows open and front windows closed; Severity makes owner feel like tires are flat
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted. Dealer and Honda customer service stated this is normal operation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda stated issue is normal for this model. Honda offered $200 credit and declined further action.
Tailgate latch failure
Tailgate latch clicks but does not engage, creating unsafe condition where tailgate appears secured but could open unexpectedly while driving due to internal disengagement. Owner currently manually checks tailgate before each drive.
When: Condition present; timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Latch clicks but tailgate does not open when released; Latch appears to disengage internally despite clicking; Tailgate could open unexpectedly while driving; Visual appearance suggests gate is secured when it is not
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed. Owner manually verifies tailgate security before each drive.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda USA expected owner to pay for repair. Second contact via email received no response.
Water intrusion and wet carpet in rear cabin
Water collects under the carpet in the rear cabin causing musty odor. Issue is widespread among second-generation Ridgelines based on owner research. Discovered after several months of musty smell.
When: Musty smell began in 2018; soaked carpet discovered after several months
Symptoms owners cite: Musty smell in rear cabin; Wet carpet under rear cabin flooring; Water collection under carpet
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed. Dealership refused to cover repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall or warranty coverage provided.
Door panel bubbles and seal gaps
Bubbles and gaps in the seal appeared on driver-side door and window panels while vehicle was stationary. Bubbles are located under the paint in the center and top edge of door body with no visible scratches, cracks, or signs of wear.
When: Discovered on November 15, 2020
Symptoms owners cite: Bubbles visible in door/window panel; Seal gaps present on driver-side door; Bubbles located under paint surface; No visible scratches or wear
Fuel door freezing
Fuel door freezes shut with water entering the fuel neck and freezing, preventing refueling. Owner notes potential safety hazard if owners attempt to heat frozen fuel neck with open flame or heating elements.
When: Condition present; timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel door freezes shut; Water enters fuel neck; Frozen water prevents fuel door opening; Unable to refuel vehicle
Water leakage around radio antenna
Water leaks into vehicle interior through the radio antenna area and runs down the inside of the vehicle on both sides of the rear window.
When: Condition present; timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Water leaking through radio antenna; Water running down interior on both sides of rear window; Interior water intrusion
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Water leaking in through radio antenna and runs down inside the vehicle on both sides of the rear window
Had body trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Honda Ridgeline?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 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?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 19,440 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2017/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.