The Lemon Index2020 Honda Ridgeline.
The 2020 Honda Ridgeline is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 64 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 212, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 9 recalls, and it gets 21 to 22 mpg combined. The best Honda Ridgeline year is 2007.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 169 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Honda Ridgeline year. 2020 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 2K to 55K miles on the car (25 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 9
- body structure 2026
The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.
- airbags 2026
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
- back over prevention 2024
The rearview camera (RVC) tailgate wire harness may fatigue and break, which can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying.
Show all 9 recalls
- airbags 2024
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
- fuel system, gasoline 2023
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
- brakes 2023
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.
- visibility 2023
The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach.
- body structure 2021
The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving.
- equipment 2020
If the tonneau cover is not properly secured in the open or closed position, wind resistance may cause the cover to flip and buckle.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Honda told dealers about
Honda sent dealers 76 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Video Message - It concerns how to replace a leaky front rocker arm oil control valve
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
- Service Bulletin - Honda has received customer complaints of the air conditioning system not…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenNo restart after auto start/stop engages2025
- ClosedRear-view camera failure2024
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda RIDGELINE PU/CC AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Honda RIDGELINE PU/CC FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Wire harness for back up camera needed to be replaced. Dealer said not covered by current recall, ie 2020's are not covered
2020 Honda Ridgeline owner · NHTSA complaint 11498199
More owner reports
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.
NHTSA complaint 11407144
The backup camera stopped working. The wires to the camera broke. This is the same issue as the 2017 - 2019 Ridgeline recall. When will the 2020 models be recalled?
NHTSA complaint 11547871
Quick answers
Is the 2020 Honda Ridgeline reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 2.1× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 212; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Honda Ridgeline year by this measure since 2010 is 2013.
What are the most common 2020 Honda Ridgeline problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (27%), lights (16%) and engine (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2020 Honda Ridgeline have?
9 safety recalls (latest: body structure). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Honda Ridgeline get?
21 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2020 Honda Ridgeline safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2020 Honda Ridgeline problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 2,000 and 55,000 miles. The middle report was at 18,000 miles, from 25 complaints.
Does the 2020 Honda Ridgeline have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 11% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2020 Honda Ridgeline cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2020 Honda Ridgeline have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Honda Ridgeline year is better than the 2020?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2013, 2018 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works