AI Damage2020 Honda Ridgeline: common problems
Owners of the 2020 Honda Ridgeline filed 169 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. The maker issued 76 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 169
- involving a crash
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 76
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 29% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 22% of all complaints
- 3 Backover prevention 8% of all complaints
- 4 Forward collision avoidance 8% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 7% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 6% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- 8 Lane departure 5% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 49 complaints (29% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 11.
- Engine: 38 complaints (22% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Backover prevention: 14 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Forward collision avoidance: 14 complaints (8% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 12 complaints (7% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 9-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 169 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 49 | 0 | 11 |
| Engine | 38 | 0 | 4 |
| Backover prevention | 14 | 0 | 4 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 12 | 0 | 2 |
| Visibility | 10 | 0 | 24 |
| Air bags | 10 | 1 | 3 |
| Lane departure | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 10 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 13 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that the air bag had not deployed, and the seat belt had not restrained her. The contact stopped the vehicle and saw that the driver's side headlight was shattered, and a part of the front fender was dented. The contact also saw that the engine shield had been sheared off from under the vehicle.
Vehicle did not start, i repeated stepping on brake and start button again and did not start. I did it a third time and vehcile started. A police car behind me pulled up and asked if i was ok just as i started my vehicle and pulled away.
The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an abnormal knocking sound was heard, and smoke emerged from under the hood. No warning lights illuminated, and the engine failed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but was not inspected.
When driving normally, oncominng traffic is triggering the frontal collision warning system. Is some cases long enough to start the emergency braking procedure if I do not engage the brakes manually preventing the automatic emergency braking. This usually happens on curves in the road in typically right hand curves.
However, when releasing the brake pedal to proceed, the engine glitched and completely failed to restart, leaving the vehicle completely stalled, unpowered, and stranded in live traffic. The vehicle became a sitting duck in the intersection.
This hardware failure instantly disabled multiple core safety features simultaneously, including the Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation, and Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) ABS Braking and High Beam Support with all dash lights remaining on.
The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, there was a misfire coming from the engine with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and, upon inspection, the contact determined that one of the ignition coils had failed.
Multiple lights on dashboard and codes associated with driving support system, Collision Mitigation, Braking System, Lane keeping assist system, Road departure mitigation, Transmission System error. All these are showing up because of the front camera going out due to overheating.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 386 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 18% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Ridgeline has 130 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 169, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Backover prevention. Rear camera and parking sensors after a rear impact.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Service Bulletin - One or more accessory running board lights are flickering or not working due to a…
Service Bulletin - One or more accessory running board lights are flickering or not working due to a faulty running board light assembly.
- Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle…
Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque. Typically, the…
- Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear…
Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear differential pump motor connector area that corrodes the terminals.
- Service Bulletin - Customer complaint of the A/C not blowing cold air due to Oil/Refrigerant leak from the…
Service Bulletin - Customer complaint of the A/C not blowing cold air due to Oil/Refrigerant leak from the A/C compressor shaft seal.
- Service Bulletin - MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power
After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather (specifically near or below freezing temperatures). Usually after a long drive (around…
- Service Bulletin - The MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power
After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather (specifically near or below freezing temperatures). Usually after a long drive (around…
- Service Bulletin - Customer complaint received regarding the A/C not blowing cold air due to an…
Service Bulletin - Customer complaint received regarding the A/C not blowing cold air due to an oil/refrigerant leak from the A/C compressor shaft seal.
- Service NewsDue to On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) regulation change starting with 2019 vehicles, American…
Service NewsDue to On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) regulation change starting with 2019 vehicles, American Honda’s Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) On-Board Diagnostic monitors are now included in the…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2019-2023 Passports, 2016-2022 Pilots, & 2017-2023 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the front passengerâs power window inop from either the driverâs window switch, front…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2019-2023 Passports, 2016-2022 Pilots, & 2017-2023 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the passengerâs power window inop from driverâs master window switch. Customer may also…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2017-2023 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the power window master switch inop. Customer may also report that the other window switches are still operable. To better understand the…
- Service Bulletin - Customers have complained that the air conditioning system is not blowing cold air due…
Service Bulletin - Customers have complained that the air conditioning system is not blowing cold air due to Oil/Refrigerant leaking from the A/C compressor shaft seal.
NHTSA lists 76 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Honda Ridgeline?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, backover prevention. Total complaints: 169. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rear-view camera (25%), warning lights, check engine (12%), stalls while driving (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2020 Honda Ridgeline?
NHTSA lists 76 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2020 Honda Ridgeline from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2020 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.