In June 2021, three Honda Ridgeline owners filed a form-action lawsuit centered around the failure of certain condom components that the pop truck offers. The failure is serious enough, according to these owners, to put the truck's occupants, other people, and surrounding holding in danger. The trouble even impacts the backup cameras.

What is at the eye of this serious result?  Which safety components are impacted, and what do Honda Ridgeline owners need to know? We have all the details.

The tailgate woes of the Honda Ridgeline

The infotainment screen of a 2021 Honda Ridgeline pickup truck displaying the backup camera function
2021 Honda Ridgeline camera brandish | American Honda Motor Co., Inc

The class-activeness lawsuit is centered effectually the Honda Ridgeline'due south tailgate in the model years 2017 to 2019. The accommodate claims that a faulty wiring harness is causing the electrical failure of multiple condom components, including the truck'south backup cameras.

The tail-gate offered on Honda Ridgeline has two-way functionality. Information technology can open vertically like any traditional tailgate. It can also open horizontally for convenience. Operating this machinery is a wiring harness that employs several different wires to transport data and ability to the truck's backup camera.

According to consumer site CarComplaints.com, the lawsuit explains the presence of defects in the wiring harness insulators, strain reliefs, and metal conductors inside the wires that tend to break. The lawsuit alleges that, every bit a outcome of the premature wiring failure, short circuits crusade the backup camera only to work sporadically, if at all.

How does this happen? When the tailgate opens horizontally, it supposedly crimps the wiring harness located at the tailgate pivot. In a short period of time, the damage from tailgate usage breaks down the coating on the wires and somewhen the wires themselves. According to the plaintiffs, the wiring setup isn't designed to weather the clothing from tailgate usage.

Information technology'southward non brand-new information

Allegedly, the automaker is aware of the problem with the 2017 to 2019 Honda Ridgeline tailgates. Technical service bulletins (TSBs) were issued to dealerships regarding the issue. It's also alleged that Honda was enlightened of the problem earlier the trucks ever left a dealership lot.

At that place have been reports of Honda dealers explaining to Ridgeline owners that the issue is common with replacement wiring harnesses for the tailgates on backorder. With Honda supposedly refusing to recall the popular trucks to address the issue, owners are left footing the bill for repairs.

The lawsuit explains that while Honda has washed cypher to assist Ridgeline owners bargain with the issue, dealers have been told Honda is collecting affected Ridgeline parts for investigation.

Overview of the 2021 Honda Ridgeline

The latest Honda Ridgeline might right the wrongs of its recent predecessors. It's the only truck Honda offers and is quite different from standard pickup trucks. It might non exist an off-roading warrior, and it doesn't have a diesel fuel powertrain option, but it'southward spacious and comfy.

The latest Ridgeline offers good acceleration thanks to a potent 3.5-liter V6 engine that puts out 280 hp.  It can only tow about five,000 pounds, but its payload rating is decent, and it offers a refined and composed ride.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline also still offers the versatile tailgate and other innovative features that take earned it proficient reviews and a coveted Editors' Option award from Car and Driver. The fact that the complaints about the tailgate issue dropped after the 2019 models would advise Honda has been working behind the scenes to correct the problem.

Additionally, there'due south a new Honda Operation Development package that you can become with all trims of the 2021 Honda Ridgeline. It gives you lot black over-fenders, HPD graphics on the truck bed, a blacked-out grille, and eye-catching statuary wheels. Yous too get all-terrain tires and distinct eighteen-inch wheels.

In that location's an updated infotainment organization, and all-bike drive is now standard. With a bold new expect, an impressive list of driver-help features, and a comfortable, spacious motel, the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is definitely an improved truck.

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