2020 Honda RIDGELINE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Honda RIDGELINE has 220 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: beginning about 3 months ago the automatic idle stop (ais) would randomly not function at start-up during the length of a drive though there was no indication of any issue on the dash. shutting off and restarting would allow usually allow it to function normally. about 6 weeks ago the ais stopped th.

1 crash report 1 injury

220

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

46 complaints

21%

• Beginning about 3 months ago the Automatic Idle Stop (AIS) would randomly not function at start-up during the length of a drive though there was no indication of any issue on the dash. Shutting off and restarting would allow usually allow it to function normally. About 6 weeks ago the AIS stopped th
• STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT ON 10/4 & 09/27 ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WOULDN'T START. pEOPLE BEHIND ME HONKING THEIR HORNS FOR ME TO GO. ENGINEWOULDN'T START AND HAD GONE FROMDR TO PARK. DASH SAID SOMETHINGLIKE PRESS BRAKE AND START BUTTON.THE WHOLE TIME THE LIGHT WAS GREEN,IR WOULDN'T START. THE 1ST TIME
• Several times over the past two months, I started having issues with the auto engine idle stop. I'm at about 25,000 miles and my vehicle has completely stalled out 4 times in two months. This is due to a failure of the auto engine idle stop system to restart the engine after I take my foot off the b

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“Beginning about 3 months ago the Automatic Idle Stop (AIS) would randomly not function at start-up during the length of a drive though there was no indication of any issue on the dash. Shutting off and restarting would allow usually allow it to function normally. About 6 weeks ago the AIS stopped th”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

41 complaints

19%

• THE REAR WINDOW SWITCH DOES NOT FUNCTION ON DEMAND WHEN ACTIVATING TO OPEN THE BACK WINDOW IN STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. IT DOES FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECTED AND NOT AT THE WILL OF THE OPERATOR.
• Sunroof spontaneously shattered while driving. Sunroof is not safety glass and shattered into thousands of shards. If the inner cover had been open the driver would have been hit in the face with these glass shards while driving at highway speed. There was nothing on the roadway that could ha
• This complaint is about Tesla vehicles that I passed or passed me yesterday in Southern California on the 15 and 210 freeways. The conditions were treacherous with low visibility and rain. At least one dozen Tesla vehicles were encountered and none had their lights on although it was raining and vis

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE REAR WINDOW SWITCH DOES NOT FUNCTION ON DEMAND WHEN ACTIVATING TO OPEN THE BACK WINDOW IN STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. IT DOES FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECTED AND NOT AT THE WILL OF THE OPERATOR.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

34 complaints

15%

• ON 12 OR MORE OCCASIONS THE TRUCK BRAKED FOR NO REASON. NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME. IT'S BEEN TO THE SHOP 3 TIMES FOR THIS. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT HONDA HAS SEVERAL LAW SUITES ON THEIR CMBS SYSTEM GOING BACK TO 2015. SO WHY HAVE THEY BEEN ALOUD TO KEEP THIS SYSTEM IN CARS AND
• Like other Honda models being investigated, this 2020 Ridgeline also applies the automatic braking system with on vehicle directly ahead (nearest vehicle is 2 lanes over). The date below is today, but events were in the past
• 1st time we were driving on a mountain highway at 70 mph, when the truck self applied the brakes and we were nearly rear ended by another truck, there was no vehicle directly in front of our car to cause this to happen. I took the truck to the dealer as soon as we returned home, they found nothing

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ON 12 OR MORE OCCASIONS THE TRUCK BRAKED FOR NO REASON. NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME. IT'S BEEN TO THE SHOP 3 TIMES FOR THIS. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT HONDA HAS SEVERAL LAW SUITES ON THEIR CMBS SYSTEM GOING BACK TO 2015. SO WHY HAVE THEY BEEN ALOUD TO KEEP THIS SYSTEM IN CARS AND”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

34 complaints

15%

• I understand my vehicle has a start and stop function. It does not work as it’s intended per Honda dealership and page 400s of the owners manual. My car is been shutting off randomly as I’m giving it gas moving forward ( 1 time) and we’ll over 10 times as I’m backing up into my driveway. When I am b
• Strong engine oil odor after driving and then parking vehicle. Also checked engine oil, has a very strong gasoline smell to engine oil. Dealer claims unable to replicate, however I pointed out the smell to them once I arrived. Dealer mentioned that the smell was normal. They took the vehicle in anyw
• On numerous occasions (at least 5 times) the following occurred: Upon exiting the highway after approximately 90+ minutes of driving, the truck's check engine light starts flashing and the vehicle goes into "limp mode" and will barely accelerate to avoid oncoming traffic from behind. The vehicle mu

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I understand my vehicle has a start and stop function. It does not work as it’s intended per Honda dealership and page 400s of the owners manual. My car is been shutting off randomly as I’m giving it gas moving forward ( 1 time) and we’ll over 10 times as I’m backing up into my driveway. When I am b”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

12 complaints

• WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THE AUTO DIMMING HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT SYSTEM OFTEN FAILS TO DIM THE HIGH BEAMS WHEN AN ONCOMING VEHICLE IS APPROACHING - OFTEN CAUSING THE ONCOMING DRIVER TO "FLASH" HIS HIGH BEAMS IN ANGER. THE SYSTEM WILL ALSO DIM THE HIGH BEAMS WHEN IT SHOULDN'T.- WHEN THERE'S NO VEHICLE
• THE AUTO HIGH BEAM FEATURE DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. TURNS ON AND OFF AT IT'S OWN REFLECTION FROM ROADSIDE SINGS OF ALL SHAPE AND SIZES. FLASHES OTHER VEHICLES WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON LOW BEAM. HAVE COMPLAINED TO HONDA AND WAS TOLD IF I DID NOT LIKE IT TOO DEACTIVATE THE FEATURE.
• THE AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM FUNCTION IS ERRATIC AND HAS SWITCHED TO HIGH WHEN ON-COMING TRAFFIC IS APPROACHING. IT ALSO SWITCHES TO LOW WHEN THERE'S NO ON-COMING TRAFFIC. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS DURING HIGHWAY TRAVEL.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THE AUTO DIMMING HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT SYSTEM OFTEN FAILS TO DIM THE HIGH BEAMS WHEN AN ONCOMING VEHICLE IS APPROACHING - OFTEN CAUSING THE ONCOMING DRIVER TO "FLASH" HIS HIGH BEAMS IN ANGER. THE SYSTEM WILL ALSO DIM THE HIGH BEAMS WHEN IT SHOULDN'T.- WHEN THERE'S NO VEHICLE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 220 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: Beginning about 3 months ago the Automatic Idle Stop (AIS) would randomly not function at start-up during the length of a drive though there was no indication of any issue on the dash. Shutting off and restarting would allow usually allow it to function normally. About 6 weeks ago the AIS stopped th
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE REAR WINDOW SWITCH DOES NOT FUNCTION ON DEMAND WHEN ACTIVATING TO OPEN THE BACK WINDOW IN STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. IT DOES FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECTED AND NOT AT THE WILL OF THE OPERATOR.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: ON 12 OR MORE OCCASIONS THE TRUCK BRAKED FOR NO REASON. NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME. IT'S BEEN TO THE SHOP 3 TIMES FOR THIS. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT HONDA HAS SEVERAL LAW SUITES ON THEIR CMBS SYSTEM GOING BACK TO 2015. SO WHY HAVE THEY BEEN ALOUD TO KEEP THIS SYSTEM IN CARS AND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: I understand my vehicle has a start and stop function. It does not work as it’s intended per Honda dealership and page 400s of the owners manual. My car is been shutting off randomly as I’m giving it gas moving forward ( 1 time) and we’ll over 10 times as I’m backing up into my driveway. When I am b
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)