YearToAvoid

2020 Honda Ridgeline Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

64/100

#6 most-complained of 15 Ridgeline years

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline carries a Complaint Index of 64 and ranks 6th worst of 15 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 169 complaints and 8 recalls, with the Electrical System (35% of complaints) as the top problem area.

Complaints
169
Recalls
8
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21.5
19 city / 25 hwy

Top 2020 Honda Ridgeline problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System59 (35%)
  2. Other42 (25%)
  3. Engine39 (23%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras28 (17%)
  5. Airbags10 (6%)
  6. Visibility & Wipers10 (6%)
  7. Lane Departure9 (5%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain9 (5%)
  9. Fuel System8 (5%)
  10. Brakes5 (3%)

What owners report

  • Rearview backup camera image disappears or fails, sometimes tied to a tailgate wiring harness that gets pinched or breaks.
  • Auto engine stop-start feature causes delayed restarts at stoplights or intersections, taking several seconds and occasionally minutes to fire back up.
  • Auto high-beam dimming system misfires, either failing to dim for oncoming traffic or dimming when no vehicle is present.
  • Vehicle shakes and feels unstable at highway speeds (40-50 MPH) with no warning lights present.
  • Brake booster tie rod fastener recall repair parts were unavailable for an extended period after owner notification.
2020 Honda Ridgeline complaints: complaints filed per quarter232020 Q32021 Q32022 Q32023 Q32024 Q32025 Q32026 Q3
228 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2020 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q2 (23).

2020 Honda Ridgeline recalls

8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V365000Jun 4, 2026Structure & Body880,514 vehicles

    Structure:frame and members

    American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.

    Risk: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 26V332000May 21, 2026Airbags98,892 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

  3. NHTSA 24V321000May 9, 2024Collision Avoidance & Cameras187,290 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

See all 8 recalls for the 2020 Honda Ridgeline →

2020 Honda Ridgeline fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
25 MPG
Combined
21.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,025
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2020 compared with other Ridgeline years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Good43161721.5
2019Avoid932371121.5
2020Caution64169821.5
2021Caution50101721
2022Caution71117321

All Honda Ridgeline years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Honda Ridgeline reliable?
Compared to other Ridgeline model years, 2020 carries a Complaint Index of 64 and ranks 6th worst out of 15 years tracked, earning a Caution verdict. Years like 2010, 2012, and 2014 score much lower (21, 7, 14).
What are the main problems with the 2020 Honda Ridgeline?
NHTSA complaint data shows the Electrical System as the top issue, accounting for 35% of complaints, followed by Engine problems at 23% and Collision Avoidance & Camera issues at 17%.
Does the 2020 Honda Ridgeline have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2020 Ridgeline, covering areas including airbags, the rearview camera wire harness, fuel pump module, brake booster, side-view mirrors, and hood latch striker. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2020 Ridgeline compare to the 2019 and 2017 models?
The 2019 Ridgeline (Complaint Index 93) and 2017 Ridgeline (Complaint Index 86) both carry Avoid verdicts, worse than the 2020's Complaint Index of 64 and Caution verdict.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Honda Ridgeline?
EPA rates the 2020 Ridgeline at 21.5 MPG combined (19 city / 25 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,025.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.