U.S. auto-safety regulators have closed an investigation into rear-view camera failures involving 129,092 model-year 2017–2019 Honda Ridgeline pickup trucks, ending the review without further action.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had been examining whether replacement wire harnesses installed under an earlier Honda safety recall could themselves fail after extended use.
After inspections, durability testing and owner surveys, the agency said the evidence did not support concerns that the repaired harnesses were prone to the durability failure being investigated.
- Vehicle: 2017–2019 Honda Ridgeline
- Investigation population: 129,092 trucks
- NHTSA investigation: EA25003
- Previous Recall Query: RQ24011
- Original recall: 22V-867
- Original recall population: 117,445 vehicles
- Issue: Rear-view camera tailgate wire-harness durability
- Engineering analysis opened: February 11, 2025
- Investigation closed: September 22, 2026
- Outcome: Closed without further action
Why Was NHTSA Investigating the Honda Ridgeline?
The investigation traces back to Honda safety recall 22V-867, filed in November 2022.
That recall involved certain 2017–2019 Honda Ridgeline pickups whose rear-view camera tailgate wiring harness could fatigue and break after repeated opening and closing of the tailgate.
If the wiring connection failed, the rear-view camera image could work intermittently or disappear entirely while the vehicle was in reverse.
Loss of the rear-view camera can reduce the driver's view of the area behind the vehicle and increase the risk of a backing collision or injury.
What Caused the Original Camera Problem?
Honda's original recall documentation said the harness protection was not sufficient in some vehicles.
The rear-view camera wiring used protective corrugated tubing and a harness guide. In affected assemblies, the tubing could provide insufficient overlap and the retaining zip tie might not hold the protection securely enough.
Repeated tailgate movement could then place stress on the wiring until the harness fatigued or broke.
Honda's Recall Repair
The recall remedy ultimately called for replacement of the tailgate wiring harness.
The replacement design used improved protection intended to better withstand repeated movement of the Ridgeline's tailgate.
Why Did NHTSA Reopen the Question?
The original recall did not completely end regulatory scrutiny.
In June 2024, NHTSA opened Recall Query RQ24011 to determine whether the replacement harness used as the recall remedy would remain durable over the long term.
The concern arose after reports of rear-view camera problems in some trucks that had already received the earlier recall repair.
At the time the Recall Query was upgraded, NHTSA's records identified one allegation received directly by the agency and 13 additional reports identified by Honda involving vehicles with recall-remedy harnesses.
NHTSA Upgraded the Review to Engineering Analysis EA25003
On February 11, 2025, NHTSA escalated the review into a formal Engineering Analysis identified as EA25003.
The investigation covered 129,092 model-year 2017–2019 Honda Ridgeline pickups.
The agency wanted to determine whether the reports represented a genuine durability weakness in the replacement harness rather than unrelated rear-view camera problems.
| Stage | Date | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Original recall 22V-867 | November 2022 | Address rear-view camera harness fatigue and failure |
| Recall Query RQ24011 | June 26, 2024 | Evaluate durability of recall remedy |
| Engineering Analysis EA25003 | February 11, 2025 | Conduct deeper testing and failure analysis |
| Investigation closed | September 22, 2026 | No further action taken |
What Did NHTSA's Testing Find?
NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Test Center conducted additional work that included owner surveys, vehicle inspections and durability testing of the rear-view camera wiring harness.
According to the agency's findings reported when the investigation was closed, the testing did not reproduce rear-view camera failures caused by damage to the recall-remedy harness.
The agency also determined that most of the reports it reviewed involved other rear-view camera or wiring failure modes that could not be tied to the specific durability concern under investigation.
The testing indicated that the remedy harness was not expected to fail from the investigated condition within a reasonable vehicle lifespan.
Why Did NHTSA Close the Investigation?
The engineering analysis was closed because the available evidence did not support the concern that the replacement harness used in the recall remedy had an unacceptable durability problem.
In practical terms, NHTSA did not identify evidence requiring Honda to conduct another recall specifically for the remedy harness issue examined under EA25003.
Does This Cancel the Original Honda Ridgeline Recall?
No.
Owners should distinguish between the investigation and the original safety recall.
The closure of EA25003 does not erase recall 22V-867. If an individual 2017–2019 Ridgeline still has that recall listed as open, the owner should have the recall remedy completed.
Safety recall repairs are provided without charge for eligible vehicles.
What Should Ridgeline Owners Do?
Owners of 2017, 2018 or 2019 Honda Ridgeline pickups should check their VIN for any open safety recalls.
If recall 22V-867 remains open, contact an authorized Honda dealer and arrange the required repair.
If the recall has already been completed but the rear-view camera:
- Works only intermittently
- Shows a black screen
- Stops displaying when the tailgate is moved
- Develops another camera or wiring-related problem
the vehicle should still be inspected. The closing of the NHTSA investigation does not mean every possible camera malfunction is normal or should be ignored.
Investigation Population vs Recall Population
This distinction is important because two different numbers appear in reporting around the case.
| Number | What It Represents |
|---|---|
| 117,445 | Vehicles potentially involved in Honda recall 22V-867 when originally filed |
| 129,092 | 2017–2019 Ridgeline population examined under Engineering Analysis EA25003 |
Therefore, saying Honda has now recalled 129,092 additional trucks would be inaccurate.
Why Rear-View Camera Reliability Matters
A pickup's rear-view camera is particularly useful when backing near pedestrians, trailers, parking obstacles or other vehicles.
The Ridgeline issue also shows how a seemingly small wiring component can affect a federally important safety function.
A camera itself may continue to operate correctly, but damage to the cable connecting it to the vehicle can still cause the displayed image to disappear.
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The most important takeaway is not that the Ridgeline never experiences rear-view camera failures. The investigation itself began because owners reported problems.
The narrower conclusion is that NHTSA's extended testing did not support the concern that Honda's replacement harness from the earlier recall was itself likely to fail from the durability mechanism being investigated.
That allowed regulators to close EA25003 without ordering another recall.
For owners, nothing changes about an existing open safety recall: check the VIN, complete any outstanding campaign, and have persistent camera problems inspected even if the earlier recall repair has already been performed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Honda issue a new recall for 129,092 Ridgeline trucks?
No. The 129,092 figure refers to the population covered by NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA25003. The investigation was closed without a new recall arising from the remedy-harness concern.
Which Honda Ridgeline years were investigated?
The investigation covered model-year 2017, 2018 and 2019 Honda Ridgeline pickups.
What was NHTSA investigation EA25003?
EA25003 was an engineering analysis examining whether rear-view camera wire harnesses installed as a remedy under an earlier Honda recall could fail after normal long-term use.
What was the original Honda recall number?
The original rear-view camera harness safety recall was NHTSA campaign 22V-867.
How many vehicles were in the original recall?
Honda's original recall filing listed 117,445 potentially affected 2017–2019 Ridgeline vehicles.
Why can the Ridgeline rear-view camera fail?
The original defect involved tailgate wire-harness fatigue caused by repeated opening and closing of the tailgate, potentially interrupting the camera connection.
Why did NHTSA close the investigation?
Testing, inspections and owner surveys did not support the concern that the repaired wire harnesses were likely to fail from the durability condition under investigation.
Should owners still complete recall 22V-867?
Yes. Closing the later engineering analysis does not cancel an open recall on an individual vehicle.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Engineering Analysis EA25003
- NHTSA — Safety Recall Report 22V-867
- Honda — Safety Recall Service Bulletin 22-049
- Reuters — September 22, 2026 investigation closure report
Editorial note: DriveSpecLab distinguishes between a safety recall and a defect investigation. Recall eligibility is VIN-specific, and owners should verify current open campaigns through NHTSA or Honda.
Last updated: September 23, 2026
