2020 Honda Ridgeline Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around two things: the reversing camera going blank or flickering, and the idle stop system failing to restart the engine after a stop, sometimes leaving the truck in neutral. A separate group of reports covers the driver-assist warnings (collision mitigation, lane keeping, auto high beam) lighting up together, often traced to the front camera, and a smaller set describes brief loss of power and flashing check engine light after long highway runs.

1. 1
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Rearview camera blank, flickering or grid-lines only

   • 62 complaints (36%)
   • median 45,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners report that when shifting into reverse the screen shows only the yellow guide lines, a black image, or an intermittent picture that comes and goes. Several say the dealer traced it to the tailgate wiring harness and quoted a replacement; some describe a broken or chafed wire found inside the tailgate, and a few repaired a splice themselves. A number of complaints were filed after a recall repair on the camera harness was completed and the problem returned, or after owners were told their vehicle was not covered. Reported from a few thousand miles up to roughly 60,000 miles, with no clear weather or climate pattern in the sample.

   Recall 24V3210004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Shift into reverse and confirm a live image appears and holds for several seconds, and look at the wiring where it passes into the tailgate for chafing or exposed conductors. Ask whether the rear camera harness recall was performed and whether it was reworked since.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rear camera stopped working about six weeks ago. It does work intermittently when the tailgate is down. Dealer claimed I need new camera and harness, approaching $1,000! Independent repair shop confirmed it is just the harness. My understanding is that 2017-2019 models are under recall for the harness safety defect. Please extend this recall to the 2020 model year!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #11565777, filed 2024-01

   “AT odometer reading 35870, while loading the pickup for a trip home the backup camera failed. No local dealership was open on the weekend and we were 600 miles from home. Upon arrival, Monday, the local dealership was called and we were told the repair would not be covered by warranty and a similar recall on 2019 vehicles would not apply to 2020 model year for the same issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11534585, filed 2023-07
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Idle stop does not restart the engine

   • 32 complaints (19%)
   • median 18,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off at a stop and then failing to restart when the brake is released, with the truck shifting itself into neutral and warning lights across the dash; owners say they must select Park and press the start button to get going. Some describe a message pointing to a transmission problem at the same time, and several report the dealer could not duplicate the condition or had no fix. Appears at low mileage as well as higher mileage; several reports involve stop-and-go traffic or long highway drives followed by a stop.

   8 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask the dealer whether the idle stop product update or warranty extension was applied to this vehicle, and confirm the battery is healthy, since low battery condition is tied to the symptom in service literature.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The Autostart does not work. This has happened to me three times since I bought it brand new in April 2021. I have taken it to Honda for repairs and they did nothing as they could not replicate the issue. Just happened again on March 24th after driving 10 minutes on the highway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11651562, filed 2025-03

   “Whenever I’m driving in my vehicle everything seems to be fine until I stop at a red light. On three separate occasions, while my vehicle is stopped it will automatically go into neutral and stall. This causes my truck not to run properly. I have to shut my car off, and then turn it back on to put it in drive and operate it like normal. I’m unsure what my cars issue is but it is an inconvenience and a safety concern due to it keeps happening while in traffic.”

   NHTSA complaint #11669986, filed 2025-06
3. 3
   Engine

   Flashing check engine light with sudden loss of power

   • 11 complaints (6%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints describe the engine light flashing and power dropping sharply, sometimes limiting the truck to a crawl, typically after a long highway run followed by slowing for an exit or a stop. Owners report that shutting the engine off and restarting clears it and that no diagnostic codes are stored afterwards, which dealers have used to say nothing could be found. Some also report elevated engine noise or knock leading to major engine repairs. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to well over 100,000; several describe cold weather or long highway drives beforehand.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for any stored or pending codes rather than accepting a no-fault-found result, and check whether the vehicle has a history of repeated ignition coil or injector work. A pre-purchase scan for pending codes is worthwhile even if the light is off.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On two occasions, I was driving at freeway speeds in a cold climate for about an hour. I decelerated onto an off ramp. Upon acceleration, I received a flashing check engine light and reduced power. I was able to limp home at decreased speeds. I was able to pull codes p0304 - cylinder 4 misfire, p0305 - cylinder 5 misfire, c342d - manufacturer control. The problem went away after restarting the vehicle. I took the vehicle to the dealer, but they were unable to see any codes or reproduce the issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11394325, filed 2021-02, 4,700 miles

   “On numerous occasions (at least 5 times) the following occurred: Upon exiting the highway after approximately 90+ minutes of driving, the truck's check engine light starts flashing and the vehicle goes into limp mode and will barely accelerate to avoid oncoming traffic from behind. The vehicle must be stopped and turned off to clear the engine light and return to normal performance. The on-board computer does not store any diagnostic codes when this occurs. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11461465, filed 2022-04
4. 4
   Forward collision avoidance

   Driver-assist warnings all light up at once

   • 25 complaints (15%)
   • median 3,350 mi at 1.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe a cascade of warnings appearing together: collision mitigation, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise, road departure mitigation and auto high beam, sometimes with a transmission or emissions message. Some say the dealer pointed to the front camera or multi-cable assembly at the top of the windshield; others reported no stored codes, and the warnings sometimes clear after a restart or battery replacement only to return. A few describe the truck braking on its own with nothing in front of it. Mostly reported at low mileage, with several under 3,000 miles, and appearing intermittently rather than after a specific event.

   What to check: Test drive and watch the dashboard for driver-assist warning messages, and ask whether the front camera or its wiring has been replaced. Confirm the automatic emergency braking does not trigger falsely on curves or when oncoming traffic passes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 12 or more occasions the truck braked for no reason. Nothing in front of me. It's been to the shop 3 times for this. I have done research on this problem and found out Honda has several law suites on their cmbs system going back to 2015. So why have they been aloud to keep this system in cars and trucks.”

   NHTSA complaint #11415573, filed 2021-05, 2,000 miles

   “My Honda 2020 ridgeline has intermittent faults on the dash monitor, it displays ACC, LKAS, Collision Mitigation, High beam, lane departure warnings, and sometimes transmission problem. I am told it is the muti cable assembly sensor on the front window not communicating with the other sensors. I took my car to auto zone and they stated no communication, due to a bad battery. I replaced the battery, and it still has the multiple errors/ fault codes. During research several people have had this problem with Honda vehicles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11674702, filed 2025-07
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Auto high beam behaves erratically

   • 12 complaints (7%)
   • median 1,850 mi at 1.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners report the automatic high beam system switching to high with oncoming traffic present and dropping to low with the road clear, often reacting to roadside signs and markers. Some describe other drivers flashing back in response, and dealers reportedly said there was no bulletin covering the system or advised simply turning the feature off. Reported at very low mileage, typically within the first few thousand miles, and most often on highway driving.

   What to check: Drive a stretch of unlit road and watch whether the high beams switch appropriately around oncoming traffic and roadside signs; the feature can be turned off if it proves inconsistent.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The Automatic High Beams on my 2020 rarely activate and when they do, they dim almost immediately after seeing their own reflection even on tiny road markers. Occasionally, they'll activate or flash oncoming traffic which creates a hazard to their visibility and my safety. I alerted my local Honda Dealership at a scheduled service but they stated their were no service bulletins in effect for the Automatic High Beam system, and therefore nothing they would do.”

   NHTSA complaint #11426096, filed 2021-07

   “The auto high beam feature does not work correctly. Turns on and off at it's own reflection from roadside sings of all shape and sizes. Flashes other vehicles when it is supposed to be on low beam. Have complained to Honda and was told if I did not like it too deactivate the feature.”

   NHTSA complaint #11406889, filed 2021-04, 1,300 miles

Buying note. Check the reverse camera image and confirm any open recall work on the camera harness and passenger seat sensor has been completed, and ask for proof the idle stop update was applied. A scan for pending engine codes and a highway test drive are worth doing before buying, given the reports of intermittent power loss that leave no stored codes.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.