Home › Cars › Honda › Ridgeline › 2020
2020 Honda Ridgeline problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
33% of relevant owner complaints on the 2020 Honda Ridgeline are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 21 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 29%).
Does the 2020 Honda Ridgeline have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 49 of 148 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Honda Ridgeline concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%), and the largest group is filed under engine (38). For comparison, the 2019 scores 45% and the 2021 scores 42%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2020 compares with other Honda Ridgeline years
Of the 11 Honda Ridgeline years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the 5th-best on engine and transmission share (33%). The worst is the 2017 (47%), the best the 2014 (5%). By volume, the 2020 drew 169 complaints (49 drivetrain), against 236 for the 2019 and 101 for the 2021.
Honda Ridgeline years to avoid and best years →
2010 Ridgeline problems · 2011 Ridgeline problems · 2013 Ridgeline problems · 2014 Ridgeline problems · 2017 Ridgeline problems · 2018 Ridgeline problems · 2019 Ridgeline problems · 2020 · 2021 Ridgeline problems · 2022 Ridgeline problems · 2023 Ridgeline problems
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Honda Ridgeline
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2020 Honda Ridgeline said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 49 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2020 Honda Ridgeline fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Honda Ridgeline involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 9 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.…
8 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2020 Honda Ridgeline? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2020 Honda Ridgeline
Does the 2020 Honda Ridgeline have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 49 of 148 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Honda Ridgeline concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Honda Ridgeline?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 Honda Ridgeline is electrical system: 49 of 169 complaints (29%) name it, followed by engine (38) and forward collision avoidance (14). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 33% of the relevant total.
Is the 2020 Honda Ridgeline reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 33% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 11 Honda Ridgeline years we score, it ranks 5th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Honda Ridgeline?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Honda Ridgeline involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 9 in total: 23V858000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Honda Ridgeline years are better?
Among the Honda Ridgeline years we track, the 2014 (5%), the 2011 (8%) and the 2010 (14%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (33%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/honda-ridgeline
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.