2017 Honda Ridgeline — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $20,000–$29,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.
Deciding between model years? Compare the 3 Honda Ridgeline years we've written up →
Kestrel Take
The unconventional midsize — unibody, car-smooth, and clever (in-bed trunk, dual-action tailgate), with the durable 3.5L V6. It rides and drives better than any body-on-frame rival and tows a respectable 5,000 lbs, but it won't rock-crawl and the bed is car-based. If you want a comfortable, reliable daily that occasionally hauls, it's brilliant. Watch VCM oil use and buy the maintained one.
What we checked
Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11
NHTSA holds 337 owner complaints for the 2017 Honda Ridgeline, across 9 recall campaigns.
A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. The largest single group is the engine at 27%. That is notable without being overwhelming — worth checking, not worth panicking about.
9 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.
Not written up yet: the fuel system (45 complaints). That group is in the public record and is not covered by the issues below. Treat it as something to ask about, not as absent.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2017 Honda Ridgeline
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
Cylinder deactivation can cause some oil use and accelerate motor-mount wear; feel for vibration and check oil.
Repair cost (estimate): $300-$900
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Unibody with modest clearance and 5,000-lb tow — less rugged than rivals. Know what it is.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: not yet checked against public records.
The touchscreen without a physical volume knob is fiddly.
Repair cost (estimate): $0-$300
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under electrics and electronics (92).
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Oil consumption / vibration (VCM, mounts)
- ✗Expecting hardcore off-road ability
- ✗Neglected oil
- ✗Crash repair under paint
Good Signs
- ✓Steady oil, healthy mounts
- ✓Documented service
- ✓Clean, one-owner history
Found a specific Honda Ridgeline?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2017 Honda Ridgeline in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.
Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
Other Honda Ridgeline years
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