2019 Honda Ridgeline Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2019 Ridgeline most often write about fuel-system problems — fuel odors entering the cabin, stalled or hesitant acceleration, and fuel injector or in-tank fuel pump failures, sometimes after recall work. Hood flutter at highway speed, rearview camera failures linked to the tailgate wiring, and a mushy brake pedal are also repeatedly described. Many of these reports come in at low mileage, while engine rod-bearing failures appear at much higher mileage.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell in cabin and stalling / hesitation

   • 62 complaints (26%)
   • median 46,000 mi at 5.4 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe a strong gasoline odor from the engine bay that is drawn through the HVAC vents into the cabin, especially when stopped or after the truck is parked, and also notice the garage smelling of fuel hours later. Others report the engine stalling at speed or at a stop, hesitation when accelerating, sputtering, and check-engine or emissions lights; some were told the fuel pump or fuel injectors needed replacement, and several mention the repair recurring or their VIN not being covered. Reported from as low as a few thousand miles up to roughly 120,000 miles, on both cold starts and warm parked vehicles.

   Recall 23V858000Recall 21V215000Recall 19V0530004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel pump recalls (23V858000, 21V215000, 19V053000) were completed and whether any fuel injector or purge valve work was done. After a test drive, park the truck with the hood closed and check for a fuel smell around the front of the vehicle and in the cabin with the vents on fresh air.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Bought this 2019 Honda Ridgeline on 1/2/25. Honda corrected the recall for fuel pump and after that, my car is burning fuel like crazy. Now they said that I need to replace my fuel pump and they said my VIN is not included on the recall for fuel injectors. Honda know that they should recall all their 2019 Honda Ridgeline model and not just a specific VIN. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11638141, filed 2025-01, 70,437 miles

   “Strong fuel odor coming from the engine compartment which is drawn in through the HVAC vents while stopped. It also makes my garage smell like gasoline for hours after the vehicle is shut off. The dealer said they couldn't find a fuel leak. It doesn't do it every time, but most of the time. It's not only nauseating, but also embarrassing because it makes my new Honda smell like an old car with a gas leak.”

   NHTSA complaint #11189841, filed 2019-03, 2,800 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Hood flutter or vibration at highway speed

   • 19 complaints (8%)
   • median 6,650 mi at 1.1 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2025

   Owners describe the hood bouncing or fluttering at freeway speeds, particularly in gusty wind or when passing trucks, and some say they stopped to confirm the hood was latched. Complaints mention the latch needing considerable force, loose latch components, and adhesive holding the hood bracing separating; dealers reportedly torqued bolts, resealed or applied adhesive per a service bulletin, and in some cases replaced the hood striker under recall, with mixed results. Usually reported within the first several thousand to about 35,000 miles, mostly at highway speeds.

   Recall 21V932000

   What to check: Confirm recall 21V932000 (hood latch striker) was completed, and ask whether the hood bracing adhesive or latch hardware has been repaired. Drive the truck at highway speed or in crosswinds before buying and watch the hood line.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The hood on the 2019 Honda Ridgeline always jumps up ad down and vibrates violently at highway speeds. It is very unsettling since it is only held by a very lightwieght latch with a lightweight rivet to to the frame. I expressed this concern to the dealership when I took it in for the fuel pump inspection recall. They reattached the rubber gasket on the hood but there is no change in this problem . My concern is that the latch will let go under this stress and the hood will fly up on the highway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11218669, filed 2019-06, 15 miles

   “Hood flutters on highway. Happens more during windy conditions but can happen anytime while driving on highway. Looks like the hood is going to blow open. Brought it to dealership last year, they said they couldn't find an issue and did nothing.”

   NHTSA complaint #11315448, filed 2020-03, 10,500 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine rod bearing failure and engine noise

   • 23 complaints (10%)
   • median 81,150 mi at 7.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe flashing check-engine and oil lights, a knocking or clanking sound from the engine, and in some cases a rod going through the block and the engine seizing; dealers diagnosed worn or failed connecting rod bearings and recommended engine replacement. Several owners note their VIN was not included in the related recall. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 100,000 miles, often during highway driving.

   Recall 23V751000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 23V751000 (connecting rod bearing) applies to the VIN and was completed, and listen for knocking or ticking from the lower engine on a cold start and during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the check engine and oil warning lights started flashing on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over and checked under the hood of the vehicle but found no failure. Upon restart of the vehicle, an abnormal clanking sound started coming from the engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11573112, filed 2024-02, 56,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light was flashing on the instrument panel. The contact stated that there was a knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact associated NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); with the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11744792, filed 2026-06, 87,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Soft or low brake pedal

   • 14 complaints (6%)
   • median 3,000 mi at 0.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2025

   Owners report a mushy brake pedal with long travel, sometimes going nearly to the floor and requiring pumping to restore, and one noted it was worse once ambient temperatures rose above about 70 degrees. Some dealers described the feel as normal for the model, while others replaced the master cylinder and vacuum pump without fully resolving it. Reported very early, from under 1,000 miles to about 4,000 miles in the sampled complaints.

   What to check: With the engine running, hold steady pressure on the brake pedal and see whether it sinks or feels spongy, and ask for any service history on the master cylinder, brake fluid, or vacuum pump.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The brake pedal goes to the floor and requires pumping to restore to half way. This is extremely dangerous when driving in snowy conditions and the dealer states this is normal for Honda ridgelines. The vehicle will not stop without pumping the brakes when driving on the highway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11181324, filed 2019-02, 4,400 miles

   “My Ridgeline brakes provide a firm solid brake action with very little pedal travel when the temp is below 70 but after warmup, both vehicle and outside air temp warms to plus 70 degrees, the brakes turn into mushy soft and extremely long pedal travel. The Honda accord, civic, odyssey, and crv do not do this. The entry-level accord has most of the same systems that the rl has. No matter what trim level you have, 2wd or awd, when temps rise above 70 the brakes are frustrating poor to horrible. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11149743, filed 2018-11, 236 miles

Buying note. Check that the open recalls for this year — fuel pump, hood latch striker, rearview camera wiring, and connecting rod bearing — were completed for the specific VIN, and look for service records on fuel injectors and brakes. A highway test drive helps surface hood flutter and transmission or engine noises that are hard to spot around town.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.