NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of July 2026, the NHTSA has logged 45 complaints against the 2025 Honda Ridgeline. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2025 Honda Ridgeline complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2025 Honda Ridgeline has generated 90 NHTSA complaints and has 1 active recall. If your 2025 Honda Ridgeline has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Honda pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
The 2025 Honda Ridgeline has generated 32 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2025 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the automatic high beam headlights were activated, but failed to illuminate as needed; however, the high beam headlights illuminated when there was oncoming traffic, affecting the vision of the oncoming driver. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the vehicle was performing as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 500.” (NHTSA Complaint #11720894)
Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2025 Honda Ridgeline has 8 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “This is design feedback. When taking curves to the right on 2 lane highways and especially when the oncoming is a truck, and the forward collision warning set on short, the system experiences a spurious event: BRAKE warning and wheel shake. Lane departure is off. Both vehicles in their lanes. Suggest Honda use right curve inputs (camera right curve view) to reduce the radar scan field to avoid these spurious alarms. I’ve not had this experience with numerous other vehicles by different manufacturers. On a right curve the radar is looking at the oncoming lane. This should be analyzed and corrected.” (NHTSA Complaint #11690731)
The 2025 Honda Ridgeline has generated 4 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “On multiple Honda vehicles there appears to be a problem with their turn signal volume. We own both an Acura with the volume perfect; the Honda Ridgeline is just about audible with the software volume at its maximum. After sending a request for assistance for info or update to Honda on their complaint line I’ve yet to hear back. Multiple stops at the dealership they have not provided assistance other than to increase the software setting. The volume is so low I am concerned that it’s going to cause me to lose track that it’s on or more so that I think it’s on causing a distraction when changing lanes. After searching the database there does not appear to be anything registered, might get this started.” (NHTSA Complaint #11718530)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2025 Honda Ridgeline have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 4 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “New 2025 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition with under 4k miles on it. Driving one day (10/30/25), smoke started to bellow out from the sides. Nothing on the dashboard indicated a problem. Everyone jumped out and was safe from injury. The truck went up in flames and literally blew up. We have a video of the incident. The truck was a complete loss, and it was difficult to deal with Honda, so we decided settle with the insurance company. Honda after a while stopped taking my calls and would put me on hold indefinitely if I call in. They were given permission to inspect the vehicle from the insurance agency but to my knowledge have not.” (NHTSA Complaint #11705807)
Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2025 Honda Ridgeline has 4 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2025 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that the high beam lights turn on and off while driving 45 MPH or above at night. The contact stated that the headlights were flashing oncoming drivers. The contact had to deactivate the feature. Additionally, while driving on two occasions using the adaptive cruise control, the vehicle was braking hard. The contact was concerned about being rear-ended. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the vertical mounting of the radar sensor was slightly off. The dealer leveled the system. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 99.” (NHTSA Complaint #11629269)
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2025 Honda Ridgeline by the NHTSA or Honda. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver’s rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the RVC tailgate wire harness, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Honda service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda’s number for this recall is YI7.
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2025 Honda Ridgeline:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Honda to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Honda must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2025 Honda Ridgeline qualifies as a lemon under California law, Honda may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Honda a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Honda dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Honda pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Honda a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Honda is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2025 Honda Ridgeline has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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