2019 Honda ridgeline. Consumer writes in regard to defective brake pedal. The consumer stated the vehicle had soft/spongy brakes and to correct the safety concern the master brake cylinder and brake booster both were replaced. The problem still persisted, so the consumer sold the vehicle on 07/27/22.
2019 Honda Ridgeline brakes problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
2crashes
2injuries
What stands out
Of the 11 model years of Honda Ridgeline we track for brakes problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 10.
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report brakes that become soft, spongy, or mushy with excessive pedal travel—sometimes so much travel that the pedal hits the floor. Many say the brakes feel dramatically worse once the truck warms up above 70°F, yet Honda dealers have told owners this is normal for the Ridgeline. Several owners describe needing to pump the brake pedal multiple times just to restore normal feel or stop the truck, which is particularly dangerous in snow or on the highway.
Some owners report hard, difficult-to-press pedals at startup that gradually ease up. Others describe the pedal sinking to the floor while idling at traffic lights. One owner heard a clicking sound from the brake pedal area. A few reported sudden total brake failure—one truck accelerated into a wall despite the brake pedal being pressed, and another collided with a vehicle when the brakes wouldn't stop it.
Repairs attempted include replacement of the brake master cylinder and brake booster, but in at least two cases the soft-pedal problem persisted even after both components were replaced. One owner mentioned knowledge of a recall for brake failure but never received a notification. Dealership visits have been frequent and often unsuccessful in correcting the issue.
Failure modes owners describe
Soft, spongy, or mushy brake pedal with extended travel
Brake pedal becomes soft, spongy, or mushy with excessive travel distance—sometimes requiring multiple pumps to restore firmness or restore pedal position. Occurs consistently or intermittently across driving conditions.
When: Occurs after warmup when temperatures exceed 70°F; also reported at low mileage (100–6,000 miles); one case reported at 38,000 miles; another at idle on inclines or during sudden stops
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal feels soft or spongy; Excessive pedal travel to the floor or near-floor; Requires pumping brake pedal multiple times to restore firmness or height; Braking feel becomes progressively softer after vehicle warms up above 70°F; Less noticeable when temperatures are below 70°F
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite brake master cylinder and brake booster replacement; one owner reports diagnosis included brake booster and master cylinder replacement (parts on order, weeks to obtain); another reports both master cylinder and brake booster were replaced but problem persisted
Hard brake pedal at startup
Brake pedal becomes very hard and difficult to press when the engine is first started, but returns to normal after several presses or normal operation.
When: Occurs at startup; reported at low mileage (few weeks after purchase)
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal is very hard to press when starting the car; Pedal returns to normal height after pressing the brake several times
Brake pedal sinking to floor while at idle
While standing at a traffic light with the engine running, the brake pedal sinks all the way to the floor. Pedal requires multiple presses to restore to normal height.
When: Occurs at idle while stopped at traffic lights; reported at low mileage (few weeks after purchase)
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal sinks all the way to the floor while stopped with engine running; Requires multiple brake presses to restore pedal to normal height
Clicking sound from brake pedal area
Audible clicking noise emanates from the brake pedal area during brake application, occurring intermittently.
When: Reported at low mileage (few weeks after purchase of new vehicle); intermittent occurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Clicking sound from brake pedal area during brake pedal operation; Intermittent occurrence—not every time brakes are pressed
Increased brake pedal pressure required for stopping
Owner must apply significantly more force to the brake pedal than normal to achieve adequate braking; reported on newer vehicles at low mileage.
When: Reported at low mileage (few weeks after purchase); also reported at 6,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Requires increased pedal pressure to apply brakes effectively; Takes more effort to stop the vehicle even at slow rolling speeds
Brake ineffectiveness—inability to stop
Brake system fails to produce adequate stopping force. In one reported incident, brake failure led to a crash into a wall at 30,000 miles. Another incident involved collision with another vehicle when brakes pushed almost to the floor without stopping the car.
When: Reported at 30,000 miles (parking incident); 6,000 miles (sudden loss of effectiveness); incident reports do not specify mileage for all cases
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes suddenly become ineffective; Vehicle does not stop even with pedal pressed hard; Brake pedal extends fully to floor with no stopping power; Vehicle independently accelerated while brake pedal was depressed (one incident)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner's shop diagnosed brake booster and master cylinder replacement needed; one case involved independent acceleration resulting in crash—airbags deployed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer aware of failure in at least one case; directed owner to contact insurance. Owner mentions knowing of a recall for brake failure but received no notification.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had brakes 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 brakes problem on the 2019 Honda Ridgeline?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 8,185 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 $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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.