Midsize pickups · model years 2017 to 2023
Toyota Tacoma vs Honda Ridgeline: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Tacoma and the Ridgeline split evenly (3 each, the rest too close to call).
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2017 to 2023 | Tacoma | Ridgeline |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 6.5% | 1.8% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 0.8% | 1.2% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 4.0% | 1.2% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 15,000 | 40,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 1.9 | 2.9 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 1 | 7 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Tacoma owners complain about most is transmission and drivetrain; for the Ridgeline it is electrical. Complaints citing brakes make up 17% of all Tacoma complaints, against 4.1% on the Ridgeline. The Ridgeline leans the other way on electrical: 22% of its complaints, against 9.5% for the Tacoma.
Toyota TacomaHonda Ridgeline
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Tacoma is brake wear (18% of its complaints). On the Ridgeline it is infotainment problems (21% of its complaints), against 1.6% on the Tacoma.
| Problem | Tacoma | Ridgeline |
|---|---|---|
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 1.6% 15 | 21% 264most in 2017 · 43k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 18% 172most in 2019 · 8k mi | 3.8% 4712k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 12% 112most in 2019 · 12k mi | 10% 126most in 2017 · 41k mi |
| Fuel pump failure | 8.3% 78most in 2018 · 24k mi | 2.4% 3070k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 4.6% 4348k mi | 5.9% 7487k mi |
| Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing | 0 | 10% 126most in 2017 · 84k mi |
| Headlights too dim or fail | 0 | 7.0% 88most in 2023 |
| Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard | 4.0% 388k mi | 1.8% 2360k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Tacoma owners report problems earlier. Half the Tacoma complaints that give a mileage come before 15,000 miles; for the Ridgeline the halfway point is 40,000. 83% of Tacoma reports and 62% of Ridgeline reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Toyota TacomaHonda Ridgeline
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 458 for the Tacoma and 401 for the Ridgeline.
Worst and best years
The 2024 Tacoma draws 3.7 times the complaints of a typical Tacoma year for its age. No Ridgeline model year stands out from the rest.
Toyota Tacoma
Honda Ridgeline
- Years to avoid: none stands out
- Best years: none since 2016 is clearly better
Toyota TacomaHonda Ridgeline
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Ridgeline draws more recalls: 2.9 campaigns per model year against 1.9 for the Tacoma. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Toyota Tacoma
13 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: equipment (3), transmission and drivetrain (2) and service brakes, hydraulic (2).
- 20V-682 (fuel system) covers 4 model years
- 20V-012 (fuel system) covers 2 model years
Investigations
- EA19001: Electrical overstress (closed, led to a recall)
Honda Ridgeline
20 recall campaigns and 7 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: fuel system (3), structure (3) and backup camera (2).
- 26V-365 (structure) covers 7 model years
- 26V-332 (airbags) covers 6 model years
Investigations
- PE25008: Engine failure (open)
- EA25004: No restart after auto start/stop engages (open)
- EA25003: Rear-view camera failure (closed)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Tacoma complaints report a crash: 6.5%, against 1.8% for the Ridgeline. Fire reports: 8 for the Tacoma and 15 for the Ridgeline. Complaints on file report 1 death in the Tacoma and 0 in the Ridgeline for these model years.
Toyota TacomaHonda Ridgeline
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Toyota Tacoma or the Honda Ridgeline more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Tacoma and the Ridgeline split evenly (3 each, the rest too close to call). NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Tacoma has 943 complaints and the Ridgeline 1,253 for model years 2017 to 2023, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Tacoma or the Ridgeline?
The Tacoma has 13 recall campaigns and the Ridgeline 20 across model years 2017 to 2023. The Ridgeline draws more recalls: 2.9 campaigns per model year against 1.9 for the Tacoma.
What are the most common problems on the Tacoma and the Ridgeline?
The most reported problem on the Tacoma is brake wear (18% of its complaints). On the Ridgeline it is infotainment problems (21% of its complaints), against 1.6% on the Tacoma.
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