2020 Honda Ridgeline: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 158 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, engine, and exterior lights. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2020- Owner complaints
- 158
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes reported
- 1
- 1 injury
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2020 Honda Ridgeline: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Ridgeline is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2020 Honda Ridgeline. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 21–22 mpg |
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Ridgeline that averages well under the EPA 21 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Auto idle stop restart failure
25,000–26,000 miles
Backup camera harness failure
40,000–60,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Honda Ridgeline, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Electrical42No crashes
The backup camera screen goes black. It fails on and off at first, then stops working completely. Dealers trace it to the wiring harness where it flexes at the tailgate hinge, the same flaw recalled on 2017 to 2019 trucks. Some recall repairs fail again within a year, and parts shortages delay others. The auto idle stop feature also fails to restart the engine at lights, which leaves the truck stalled in traffic, sometimes for minutes. A software update did not fix it for some owners. A few report the whole dash going dark while driving.
Engine21No crashes
Rod bearings fail and the engine knocks, and dealers call for a new short block or a full engine replacement. Reported failures happen at 70,000 and 140,000 miles, with no warning lights. One engine ran out of oil between changes and died. The auto idle stop restart failure shows up here as well. Other reports describe a starter that quit at 40,000 miles, a gasoline smell in the engine oil, and loss of power at highway speed that dealers could not reproduce.
Exterior lights10No crashes
The automatic high beams behave erratically. They stay on into oncoming traffic, then dim for reflections from road signs and markers, or flicker with nothing ahead. Other drivers flash their lights in response. The problem shows up mostly on highways and is often present from new. Dealers find no service bulletin or fix, and one owner was told to turn the feature off. Headlights packing with snow and ice in winter is a separate complaint, and so is waiting on parts for the camera harness recall.
Airbags91 crash
Nearly every report is about a recall delay, not a failure. Owners get notices for air bag recall 24V064000, but dealers have no parts, and many say the wait has gone on too long. Several of these owners also hold the back-over prevention camera recall, which is waiting on the same parts. One crash report describes an animal strike at about 35 mph. The air bag did not deploy, the seat belt did not restrain the driver, and she was injured.
Transmission8No crashes
The transmission shifts itself into neutral while reversing and shows a warning to stop driving. Other trucks flash the check engine light and go into limp mode after long highway drives, with no stored codes and no fix from the dealer. In one case the instrument cluster went dark and the shifter locked in park, and the truck had to be towed. With a dead battery, the 9-speed cannot be put in neutral without a special Honda tool. Idle stop failures and AWD and charging warnings also appear here.
Backup camera6No crashes
The rearview camera shows a black screen or no image in reverse. Where dealers diagnose it, the cause is the camera wiring harness. Reported failures range from about 15,000 to 60,000 miles. Several reports concern recall 24V321000 parts that dealers cannot get. Others say the camera still fails after the recall repair was done. Most failures come without a warning light.
Automatic emergency braking5No crashes
The truck brakes hard on its own with nothing ahead, including at highway speeds near 70 mph, and drivers nearly get rear-ended. One owner counts 12 or more events. Some trucks show a "BRAKE" alert for oncoming traffic. Dealers usually find nothing wrong, even after repeat visits. A separate failure shuts off the driver aids all at once, with warnings for adaptive cruise, collision mitigation, lane keeping and auto high beams. Clearing the codes helps only briefly.
Wipers and visibility5No crashes
The rear camera cuts out on and off, then shows only guide lines or a black screen. Opening the tailgate sometimes brings the image back for a while. Dealers find frayed or exposed wires in the tailgate harness and replace it, sometimes at the owner's cost because the 2017 to 2019 recall did not cover these trucks. Some side mirrors installed under a recall are wavy and distorted, which makes the driver's mirror hard to use.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Ridgeline owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
AT odometer reading 35870, while loading the pickup for a trip home the backup camera failed. No local dealership was open on the weekend and we were 600 miles from home. Upon arrival, Monday, the local dealership was called and we were told the repair would not be covered by warranty and a similar recall on 2019 vehicles would not apply to 2020 model year for the same issue.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2023
Sunday March 23, 2025 vehicle would not restart after the auto engine idle shut off feature turned off the engine. Attempted to restart several time with no success. Vehicle finally did restart when jumped the battery. Could be a safety hazard being stuck in traffic. Have not reported to dealer but will on next scheduled service. No warning lamps indicated a problem but every lamp on the dash console lit up when attempting to restart.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2025
Spun Rod Bearing at 70,000 miles. Truck will need a new Short Block. Truck has been at the dealer for all recommended service and oil changes.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2025
I've had the start stop issue not function multiple times. I had to replace the battery did the software update for it and it still does not start occasionally. I have to restart the vehicle like if it was parked. Stalling on a light is why I no longer use this feature, I just press on the start stop button every single time I start the engine. This has happened multiple times throughout the years.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2025
Auto dimming/high beam feature flickers on and off intermittently at night without little relation to oncoming vehicles or dark highways. I have asked my local dealer twice to repair this problem, with no resolution. (see attached invoices). I also opened case with the manufacturer (Honda), and they declined to address my issue. I believe this is a safety issue because it is distracting to me and oncoming drivers.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2023
Honda Ridgeline's "Auto High-Beam Headlights" do not work as advertised. They do not automatically engage high-beam headlights when appropriate. When this features rarely engages, the high-beams often disengage quickly - which distracts the driver and creates a temporary dangerous situation. I believe that this can be fixed with software.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2023
How the 2020 compares with other Ridgeline years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2020 ranks second for owner complaints among 9 Ridgeline years, about 1.7 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Electrical4216
- Engine2110
- Exterior lights1013
- Airbags90
- Transmission89
- Backup camera66
Where the 2020 fits in the Ridgeline's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2020 is the fourth model year of the Ridgeline's second generation (2017–2023).
Honda updated the Ridgeline for 2021, so a 2020 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2021 (not on a 2020)
- Updated front fascia
- Improved technology features
- New trim levels
Recalls to confirm (7)
Recall repairs are free at any Honda dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
24V321000Backup cameraMay 2024
Honda (America Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ridgeline vehicles. The rearview camera (RVC) tailgate wire harness may fatigue and break, which can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying.
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the RVC tailgate wire harness, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Honda service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is YI7.
24V064000AirbagsFeb 2024
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024, October 18, 2024, and August 2025. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
23V858000Fuel systemDec 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
23V458000BrakesJun 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.
Risk: Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.
23V174000Wipers and visibilityMar 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility.".
Risk: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FE5.
21V932000Body and structureNov 2021
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Passport, 2016-2019 Pilot, and 2017-2020 Ridgeline vehicles. The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving.
Risk: A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will either repair the hood latch striker, or replace the hood if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is PBV.
20E068000EquipmentSep 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling all Honda Genuine Accessory Tonneau Covers, part number 08Z07-T6Z-100F, sold for installation on 2017-2020 Ridgeline trucks. If the tonneau cover is not properly secured in the open or closed position, wind resistance may cause the cover to flip and buckle. If this occurs, the hinges between the center and rear panel may deform, possibly allowing the rear panel to separate from the vehicle.
Risk: A separated panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash or injury.
Fix: Honda will notify all registered owners of 2017-2020 Honda Ridgelines, and dealers will install tethers onto any Honda Genuine Accessory Tonneau Cover to prevent panel separation and apply warning labels, free of charge. In addition, an updated accessory user's information manual will be provided. The recall began October 26, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is F8M.
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2020 owner complaints, side by side
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