Rust has always been an issue for vehicle owners, especially in northern states where salt and other de-icing agents are used. Salt is highly corrosive to metal, which is why Honda has just issued a recall for its Ridgeline trucks. Rusting chassis components are causing potentially dangerous results. And it affects 112,000 Ridgelines, mostly from the north and also Canada.

Which year Honda Ridgeline pickups are in the recall?

The Ridgeline pickups built between 2006 and 2014 are part of this recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that the metal straps holding the gas tank can rust at the frame attachments. This could cause the tank to separate from the body. 

The NHTSA first started receiving complaints about rust issues in 2016. For whatever reason, these did not prompt any investigation. But Honda Canada was also getting those same reports and decided to launch its own investigation in 2019. Besides the reports of corrosion, there were also claims of loud banging noises coming from the rear of the trucks. 

After it began investigating the problem, Honda USA began its own investigation. There have been no reports of fuel leaks in either country. But June 9 Honda determined that the threat was real and that a recall was needed. 

What is Honda’s fix for the Ridgeline recall?

Honda is now contacting Ridgeline owners in states susceptible to winter rust conditions. Inspections will be done by Honda dealers to determine if corrosion is extreme enough to warrant repairs. It says that it can do one of three things.

The dealer can attach a metal brace to prevent the tank from separating from the frame. It will also clean the frame, apply anti-corrosive wax, and weld in repair plates where rust is causing damage. Honda can also perform repairs on the frame itself. And finally, it can offer to repurchase the Ridgeline when appropriate. 

The states where this recall is active include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin.

Have there been other recalls for the Ridgeline?

In all, the NHTSA has issued 23 recalls for the Honda Ridgeline since the first in 2007 for collapsing hood prop rods. Of those, 10 were related to airbag malfunctions or to the sensors or inflators that are part of the airbag system. Fuel pump failures in 2019 were a well-publicized recall because it took in many models made by Honda. 

Dealers were notified on June 17, and affected Ridgeline owners will begin receiving the recall notices starting in August. If you think you have a Ridgeline truck affected by the recall, you can look up your vehicle’s VIN number on the NHTSA website to see if it is part of this recall.