Recall 16V888 affects 9,179 2017 Honda Ridgeline trucks for rear wiring harness corrosion. Repair is free at any franchised Honda dealer.
Honda is recalling 9,179 2017 Ridgeline AWD trucks because water can enter the rear wiring harness connector under the truck bed drain hole and corrode the terminals. Corrosion can raise electrical resistance and unexpectedly activate the vehicle stability assist system, increasing crash risk; Honda dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The rear wiring harness on the 2017 Honda Ridgeline carries electrical signals between the truck's rear drivetrain sensors and control systems. In an AWD Ridgeline, those signals help the all-wheel-drive system and vehicle stability assist know what the rear wheels are doing. The harness connection is supposed to stay protected from water and road grime.
On affected Ridgelines, a supplier placed a wiring connection joint under the truck bed instead of inside the cabin. That location sits near the bed drain area, so water can enter the connector. Moisture then corrodes the terminals, raises electrical resistance, and disrupts signals from rear drivetrain components. In limited circumstances, corrosion at the rear wheel speed sensor terminals can be read as wheel slip by the stability system, leading to unintended deceleration.
The warning sign is a malfunction indicator lamp, or MIL, tied to AWD system failure. If that light comes on, the truck can shift into fail-safe mode and run in front-wheel drive.
Who's affected?
| 2017 Honda Ridgeline | wiring |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 9,179 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 462 field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific pickup truck.
What's the safety risk?
Corrosion in the rear wiring harness can increase electrical resistance and unexpectedly activate the vehicle stability assist system, which increases crash risk. A malfunction indicator light alerts the driver to an AWD system failure, so treat that warning as a reason to schedule service soon. Repair is free at any franchised Honda dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017 Honda Ridgeline is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Honda dealer to schedule the free rear wiring-harness inspection and repair, which addresses corrosion that can trigger the VSA system.
- Bring any Honda recall notice you received, and reference recall number 16V888 when you call.
- Ask the dealer whether related rear wiring components need replacement before you leave the appointment.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete, and call Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138 if the VSA system activates unexpectedly.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Honda technician inspects the rear wiring harness and related components under the truck bed drain area. If the harness, connector, or related parts show corrosion or damage, the dealer replaces the affected components. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. Honda is not offering a separate reimbursement program for repairs paid before owner notice because the new vehicle warranty would have covered this problem without owner payment. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| December 7, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| December 9, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
| January 24, 2017 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| January 24, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| February 3, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V888?
Recall 16V888 covers 9,179 2017 Honda Ridgeline AWD vehicles with rear wiring-harness connectors that let water in under the truck bed drain hole. Corrosion can increase electrical resistance and activate the vehicle stability assist system unexpectedly, increasing crash risk.
What should I do if my 2017 Honda Ridgeline is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Ridgeline is included in recall 16V888. If it is, contact a franchised Honda dealer to schedule the rear wiring harness inspection. The dealer will replace the harness and related components as needed for free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair this defect at no cost. Honda dealers will inspect the rear wiring harness and related components, then replace the affected parts as needed free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 16V888?
The safety risk is unexpected activation of the vehicle stability assist system. Water intrusion at the rear wiring harness connector can corrode the terminals, increase electrical resistance, and cause the system to activate without warning, increasing crash risk.
What if I bought my 2017 Honda Ridgeline used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your Ridgeline is included, then reference recall 16V888 or Honda recall KD3 when you call the dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V888000 |
|---|---|
| Honda customer service | 1-888-234-2138 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V888 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V888000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →