YearToAvoid

2020 Honda Ridgeline Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 39 engine complaints for the 2020 Honda Ridgeline, 23% of all complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 99,000 miles. No related recalls are listed for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
39
23% of 169
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
99,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Auto idle-stop (AIS) system shuts the engine off at a stop and then fails to restart when the brake is released, sometimes stranding the vehicle in traffic.
  • A software update applied to fix the no-restart AIS problem did not resolve it for some owners, who had the issue recur afterward.
  • Vehicle unexpectedly stalls or drops into Neutral while stopped or during low-speed acceleration after a stop, requiring the driver to shut off and restart the engine.
  • Owners report the OEM starter failing with no warning, leaving the truck unable to start after functioning normally the day before.
  • One owner reported rod bearing failure on three cylinders accompanied by engine knocking, with mileage reported at 140,000 miles.
  • A misfire with the check engine light on was traced to a failed ignition coil at 118,000 miles.

When 2020 Honda Ridgeline engine complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 17, 2021, latest Sep 16, 2026.

2020 Honda Ridgeline engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Sep 2021Jul 2022Aug 2024Mar 2025Jul 2025Dec 2025Jul 2026
39 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Oct 2022 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2020 Honda Ridgeline

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Ridgeline model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20105 (12%)
  2. 20111 (3%)
  3. 20121 (4%)
  4. 20132 (4%)
  5. 20143 (9%)
  6. 20150 (0%)
  7. 201797 (28%)
  8. 201826 (16%)
  9. 201948 (20%)
  10. 202039 (23%)
  11. 202134 (34%)
  12. 202225 (21%)
  13. 202324 (19%)
  14. 202413 (22%)
  15. 202523 (26%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine complaints on the 2020 Honda Ridgeline?
NHTSA lists 39 engine complaints for the 2020 Ridgeline, which is 23% of the 169 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Honda Ridgeline engine problems?
No related recalls are listed in the data for this engine issue.
At what mileage do 2020 Ridgeline engine problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this engine issue is 99,000 miles.
What is the most reported engine-related symptom on the 2020 Ridgeline?
Many owners describe the auto idle-stop system shutting the engine off at a stop and then failing to restart, sometimes even after a software update.
Have engine complaints caused crashes or fires on the 2020 Ridgeline?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes and 0 fires linked to these engine complaints.

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.