Warnings problems of the 2018 Honda Ridgeline

The backup camera intermittently works. When put in reverse, sometimes I’ll have a black screen with grid lines, other times just a blank screen. Yes, it is available for inspection. I cannot see persons and property when backing up. I am afraid, in reverse, of running over persons shorter than the vehicle that only the backup camera would pick up. This has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service station. The vehicle has not been inspected by another entity. There has been no warning lights or messages from the vehicle about the issue. I purchased the vehicle in October 2022 and the issue started two weeks after purchase.

The wires connected to the rear backup camera in the tailgate have broken due to a design defect, making the camera inoperable. Opening and closing of the two-way tailgate, over time, have worn through the wires. I experienced this problem at roughly 50,000 miles with no unusual or overly frequent use of my tailgate. The electrical connection was designed in such a way that normal use of the tailgate causes the wires to break, which prevents the rear backup camera from functioning. I and many drivers rely on the backup camera, along with other aids such as the rearview mirrors, to prevent collisions with pedestrians, other vehicles and other objects when backing up. The defect is clear from the photo and is well-documented by hundreds of other Honda Ridgeline owners in online posts. I believe a class action suit is being prepared or has already been filed. Honda has refused to acknowledge this problem, though I spoke with a dealer who told me they have experienced many complaints identical to mine.

Due to a wiring failure the rear camera is not working correctly. Sometimes not at all. When it is working the normal of three possible views is not working. Research indicates this is a very common problem for this vehicle. As federal law mandates a camera, I feel this is s safety issue.