Service Bulletin - One or more accessory running board lights are flickering or not working due to a faulty running board light assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Honda Ridgeline body problems
moderate Owners of the 2019 Honda Ridgeline have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 9,800 miles 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 →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Ridgeline | 10 |
| 2018 Ridgeline | 8 |
| 2019 Ridgeline (this page) | 20 |
| 2020 Ridgeline | 3 |
| 2021 Ridgeline | 4 |
| 2023 Ridgeline | 3 |
When does it fail?
Of the 20 body complaints filed for the 2019 Honda Ridgeline, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Among the 14 model years of Honda Ridgeline in our records for body problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
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 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 ↗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 Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2018-2019 Odysseys, Pilots & Ridgelines with a customer complaint of a chirp noise heard inside cabin or coming from the engine compartment. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant complaint is hood vibration at highway speeds (55–75 mph), especially in wind gusts or when passing semi-trucks. Owners describe intense shaking, bouncing, and fluttering that makes them worry the hood will pop open. Several report the hood lifting 4–5 inches in strong crosswinds, with the leading edge deforming upward. The hood doesn't latch easily—some say it takes considerable force—and the latch is often significantly loose.
Recall campaign 21V932000 (issued January 2022) addressed this with a striker support plate installation and latch tightening. Many owners complied but reported the vibration continued unchanged. Dealerships claimed the repair was complete and declined further action, with some telling owners the vibration is normal or that the hood is designed to be held only by the front latch, not the sides.
Owners note that Honda's own recall remedy documentation mentioned complete hood replacement as an option for damaged hoods, yet most dealers refused to perform it. Some owners resorted to Guerilla Tape or aftermarket adhesive to hold the hood down temporarily, without lasting success. A few noted the hood bracing's adhesive had separated from the hood structure itself—a structural failure.
Two tailgate complaints emerged: one blocking the spare tire in door-open mode at 1,900 miles, and another about a weak hinge that allows the tailgate to slam shut on people loading cargo.
One complaint described hood paint blistering and chipping to primer within a week of purchase, despite the 7-year paint warranty.
Same Honda Ridgeline body reports on nearby years: 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Hood vibration, flutter, and bouncing at highway speeds
Hood vibrates, shakes, bounces, and flutters at highway speeds (typically 55–75 mph), especially in turbulent air, wind gusts, or when passing semi-trucks. The hood moves up and down as if not fully latched. Owners report the hood lifting 4–5 inches in extreme cases, with deformation of the leading edge and separation of internal hood bracing adhesive from the hood structure.
When: Typically at highway speeds (55–75 mph); often 35,000–61,000+ miles. First appearance reported as early as 6 months after purchase for some owners.
Symptoms owners cite: Hood vibrates, shakes, bounces, or flutters at highway speeds; Loud banging noise during flutter events; Hood lifts 4–5 inches in high-wind conditions; Gaps visible between hood and grill, allowing air entry; Hood latch is significantly loose or difficult to engage; Hood does not latch easily; requires considerable force; Deformation of leading edge of hood (upward warping); Adhesive separation holding hood bracing to hood skeleton; Hood hook hitting latch off-center (scratches observed)
Repairs/costs cited: Recall campaign 21V932000 remedy: striker support plate installed and hood latch tightened. TSB A17-083 completed (adhesive applied to hood bracing). Guerilla Tape or similar duct tape applied by owners as temporary workaround. Some owners report re-gluing hood bracing with aftermarket adhesive (Gorilla Glue) without success. Dealership torqued hood bolts to spec in some cases. Hood replacement offered under recall guidelines per some owner accounts but not always honored by dealers.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 21V932000 (Structure, Latches, Locks/Linkages) issued; recall notice sent January 2022. TSB A17-083 referenced in complaints. Manufacturer informed owners that hood replacement could be provided under recall but some dealers refused. Some owners report recall remedy notes indicated hood could be completely replaced at no cost. Dealerships claimed no further action possible after initial repair; some stated vibration is normal or that hood does not secure on sides (only at front latch).
Tailgate latch failure (door mode)
Tailgate cannot be opened in the door (left-to-right swing) position, rendering the spare tire inaccessible. Occurs at very low mileage.
When: Reported at approximately 1,900 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate cannot be opened from left-to-right (door) position; Spare tire becomes inaccessible
Tailgate hinge weakness (hinge mode)
Tailgate hinge is insufficiently strong to hold the tailgate open when in hinge mode. The tailgate slams shut, striking persons loading cargo into the truck bed. Occurs on level or unlevel ground.
Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate slams shut unexpectedly when open in hinge mode; Hinge unable to hold tailgate open reliably; Impact hazard to person loading cargo; Problem worsens on unlevel ground
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda reportedly made aware of issue but no response documented in complaint.
Hood paint defects (blistering and chipping)
Black paint on hood develops bubbles (blistering) and chips down to primer shortly after purchase and routine washing. Owner concerned about durability of any future touch-up or repaint under the 7-year paint warranty.
When: Appeared within approximately 1 week of purchase (vehicle purchased early May 2019)
Symptoms owners cite: Black paint bubbles (blistering) on hood near driver's back window; Paint chips down to primer on hood surface; Paint defect visible after routine washing
Repairs/costs cited: Owner aware of 7-year paint warranty but concerned about repaint durability.
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The hood flutters at certain times under turbulence at freeway speeds. It only happens when conditions are perfect so the dealer refuses to fix because he can't duplicate it. It happens in gusty winds or when driving around semitrucks.
I was driving at 65 Miles and I felt something wrong was happening, the hood was totally opened while I was driving .its was a windy day and I thought was the wind . I stopped and I closed it very well but the fallowing week I had the same issue with my car.
Had body trouble with your 2019 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 2019 Honda Ridgeline?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 20 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 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 2,600 and 16,000 miles, with the median around 9,800. A quarter of owners report trouble before 2,600; a quarter make it past 16,000. 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/2019/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.