2018 Honda Ridgeline · symptom sheet
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails
- 67owner reports
- 50,000median miles
- $600median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 18, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
90 of the 161 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 67 of those describe infotainment, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2018 Ridgeline.
Narrower sheets: Backup camera goes black or freezes (52 reports)
Tick what matches of 67 reports
Infotainment on other Ridgeline years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2021, 2022, 2023.
What this problem usually is
Screen complaints read like a list of small betrayals. The display goes black or freezes, the backup camera shows nothing when you shift into reverse, CarPlay or Android Auto keeps dropping, or the radio changes volume on its own. Many owners had a software update that didn't fix it. A narrower sheet covers backup camera failures on their own, and another covers screens that freeze.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the camera (65 reports) and the head unit or screen (14 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the electrical system covers the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
Opening and closing the tailgate may break the rearview camera wiring harness, causing the rearview camera to fail.
All 8 recalls on the 2018 Honda Ridgeline, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Ridgeline
Rear-view camera failure. Closed sep 18, 2026.
Rear-view camera failure. Closed feb 11, 2025.
Rear-view camera failure. Closed aug 5, 2024, led to recall 24V-321.
Rear-view camera failure. Closed dec 19, 2022, led to recall 22V-867.
Fire. Closed jun 16, 2009, led to recall 10V-001.
What owners paid
7 of the 67 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $400 to $833.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 37,000 and 52,904 miles, from the 22 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2018 Honda Ridgeline that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
The Bluetooth HandsFreeLink (HFL) system freezes after a phone call, and the stored voice tags are missing when the ignition is turned to ON.
What owners wrote
“Back up camera failed due to wiring harness to tailgate being cracked, splintered and pinched. Protective covering is split, exposing electrical wires that supply power to backup camera and other crucial electrical components in rear of vehicle. Harness is pinched at a compromising position at tailgate and cracked exposed wiring. Mileage on Vehicle 50,000 miles.”
Filed Feb 21, 2022 · 50,000 miles
“Wiring harness is failing in tailgate. Protective covering is split, exposing electrical wires that supply power to backup camera and other crucial electrical components in rear of vehicle. Harness does not seem secure when opening the tailgate and has excessive motion. Mileage on Vehicle 25,944 miles.”
Filed Feb 17, 2022 · 25,944 miles
“The Rear Camera system has completely failed and the wiring harness is severed due to the engineering failure. The harness is pinched and the opening and closing of a door panel causes the harness to fray and split, exposing wires that led to a complete failure.”
Filed Feb 14, 2022
“Rear camera failure; wiring harness failed just after warranty expired; wiring harness frayed and wires broken where harness traverses from rear cab body to tailgate;”
Filed Feb 13, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 67 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works