I ran my Ridge into a ditch to avoid a collision. :mad: Here is what needs to be replaced/repaired so far: Front Bumper, Rt Fog Light, RT front fender, side air bags (curtains), headliner, passenger seat belt, various suspension parts for the right front wheel and the roof shell due to buckling.

Here is my dilemna, I am OK with everything except the roof thing. Body shop folks tell me that the Ridge is the only truck that has a seperate roof shell from the roof structure that provides safety and stability. And, that replacing the roof shell in no way compromises the structure. (Note: the structure will not be cut off, replaced or repaired as it was not damaged). He then goes on to tell me that if this were a Ford, Chevy, etc. that it would be a total loss due to the roof shell and structures are made together (as in one piece) in the American made vehicles.

Has anyone else out there had this type of damage to their Ridge? And, if so, were you happy with the truck after the repair? I am considering replacing the Ridge with another one (07) due to roof buckling concerns once I get it back from the body shop. :confused:

Would appreciate all comments, good or bad. Thanks in advance!

If you hit the ditch hard enough to buckle the roof then you probably have other issues. How many opinions have you got so far?

I think I would find another body shop or two and ask them to take some measurements on a frame machine. For the roof to buckle some other components had to move significantly. I doubt they moved back on their own.

Most insurance companies and body shops that work for them take the attitude that if you can't see it there isn't a problem. In a collision most of the damage can't be seen.

Most insurance companies and body shops that work for them take the attitude that if you can't see it there isn't a problem. In a collision most of the damage can't be seen.

Now THAT is a scary thought. I can somewhat understand their approach to damage like that because there's no way that you can point to it and say "See, there's a problem and it must be corrected!" It's like dealing with medical insurance --- "Please do an MRI on my RL."

Let us know how this turns out, and let's all hope that no one else ever needs that info.

In a collision most of the damage can't be seen.

I don't think your statement is an accurate representation of all accidents. Though, I had an accident earlier this year with my previous vehicle that didn't look too ominous from the outside. However, an initial, professional inspection by the body shop told a different story where the entire frame, major suspension components and a large portion of the body needed to be replaced.

The result?

The vehicle was a total loss, even without a teardown inspection. It wasn't a marginal total loss where the repair cost was a portion of the value. In this case the cost to repair exceeded the total value.

This was a fairly new, luxury SUV.

So, yes, at certain times there can be massive amounts of hidden damage in a wrecked vehicle.

No wonder insurance is so high. Like many of our other consumer products, it seems like vehicles are no longer meant to be fixed.

I'm glad today's vehicles absorb the crash energy rather than the occupants, makes for higher repair costs to the vehicle, but lower medical bills for the passengers...

I'm glad today's vehicles absorb the crash energy rather than the occupants, makes for higher repair costs to the vehicle, but lower medical bills for the passengers...


AMEN. I'd rather pay an extra couple dollars a year to drive a car that's going to save my butt in a wreck. Having been in a bad wreck prior the Ridgeline I'm certainly glad that the car was built to protect me.

I ran my Ridge into a ditch to avoid a collision. :mad: Here is what needs to be replaced/repaired so far: Front Bumper, Rt Fog Light, RT front fender, side air bags (curtains), headliner, passenger seat belt, various suspension parts for the right front wheel and the roof shell due to buckling.

Here is my dilemna, I am OK with everything except the roof thing. Body shop folks tell me that the Ridge is the only truck that has a seperate roof shell from the roof structure that provides safety and stability. And, that replacing the roof shell in no way compromises the structure. (Note: the structure will not be cut off, replaced or repaired as it was not damaged). He then goes on to tell me that if this were a Ford, Chevy, etc. that it would be a total loss due to the roof shell and structures are made together (as in one piece) in the American made vehicles.

Has anyone else out there had this type of damage to their Ridge? And, if so, were you happy with the truck after the repair? I am considering replacing the Ridge with another one (07) due to roof buckling concerns once I get it back from the body shop. :confused:

Would appreciate all comments, good or bad. Thanks in advance!

I actually was thinking about this last night.

I remember seeing awesome photos of the frame and body structure of the ridgeline. In order for the roof to buckle other components of the vehicle must have had to flex significantly for this to happen.

While the skin of the roof may not be entirely structural, though that is debateable as I feel any component of a vehicle contributes to it's structure, I do think that if you look at this photo http://world.honda.com/news/2005/photo/c050110/images/19.jpg

You'll see that it seems as though a lot of metal would have to move a significant distance for it to cause a buckled roof.

It may be that your damage is more serious than you suspect.

It may be that your damage is more serious than you suspect.

I agree completely. Since the Ridge did not roll and the roof skin was damaged, I personally would never drive the vehicle again, no matter what BS was agreed to between the body shops and the insurance companies involved.

Latest update:

Removal of the headliner revealed no damage to the structure. It appears that the buckling of the roof was caused by the side curtains deploying? At least that is what the body shop is saying.

The buckling occured at both of the forward corners of sun/moon roof (this is where the curtains are physically attached) and at the rear points where the curtains were attached. The roof is not buckled in any other spots.

I have asked for the truck to be put on a frame machine to see if there was any warping of the frame/structure as someone previously suggested. While the body shop didn't want to do it as they said it was unnecessary I insisted.

This crash occured at < 30 mph and I ran through the ditch. The truck couldn't have been hurt too bad as I drove it > 300 miles to get back home and it drove fine believe it or not (just the steering wheel was cocked about 20 degrees off center.

Thanks for all of the input, keep them coming and I will keep everyone posted.

I have over 20 years experience in auto insurance claims...working with body shops, total losses, everything....not unusual at all for a hard front end impact to result in secondary damage in the roof area, particularly in the areas you describe. A unibody vehicle will flex in a collision. The roof is basically a thin, fairly flat piece of metal that will de-form in areas where there is dissimilar support--like around pillars, moonroofs, etc. A good, comprehensive measurement of the vehicle's structure to make sure all control points are within spec is easy to do and should give you assurance that the structure of your vehicle has been returned to pre-loss condition. The roof can probably be repaired vs being replaced (better...preserves factory welds), and as an FYI....the Ridge is NOT the only vehicle with a separate rook skin from structure....other vehicles are out there that are made this way. Was only the skin (outer sheet metal) effected or (with headliner removed) is there evidence the roof structure was effected? My bet is only the outer skin was effected, which is really no big deal for a collision as you describe.

The body shop removed and replaced the roof panel. Fortunately there was no structural damage to the unibody. Although the truck was in the body shop for two months (I just got in back last Friday) the body shop did an outstanding job. The paint matches perfectly and there are no squeaks, rattles, etc. Overall I am very happy with the process except for the wait time but it seems as though it was worth the wait.

Merry Christmas to all.