2024 Honda Ridgeline Problems

What owners report

Complaints about the 2024 Ridgeline center on the automatic idle stop feature: owners say the engine shuts off at a light and then does not restart, sometimes forcing them to cycle the ignition while stopped in traffic. A second common theme is the automatic high beam system, which owners describe as switching erratically at night. Smaller groups of complaints involve false automatic emergency braking and the tailgate camera recall remedy not being available.

1. 1
   Engine

   Auto idle stop fails to restart the engine

   • 25 complaints (34%)
   • median 35,000 mi at 2.8 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe the engine shutting off at a traffic light or in stop-and-go traffic and then not restarting when the brake pedal is released. Many see a dash message asking them to shift to park and press the start button, and the truck only comes back after a full ignition cycle or several attempts. Some dealers replaced the battery or the starter, while others reported no stored codes or said nothing was wrong. Complaints also note that the idle stop feature defaults back on after each restart. Reported from under 1,500 miles up to roughly 40,000 miles, almost always while stopped in traffic or at a traffic light.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the idle stop active, come to a stop and let the engine shut off, then release the brake and confirm it restarts promptly. Ask the seller whether the battery or starter has been replaced and whether any software updates were applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Truck fails to restart after the auto idle shut off. The battery goes dead and I cannot restart. This has happened several times so I now turn the Idle Off feature off. However, since it does not stay off permanently, if I forget to turn if off the truck may fail to restart. It has left me stuck at intersections unable to restart on several occasions.”

   NHTSA complaint #11761132, filed 2026-08

   “I was on 93 north in stop and go rush hour traffic just north of Boston Ma. Came to a stop and my auto start stop shut off as usual but the car didn’t restart. I had to shut the car off and restart it as if I just got in it. This is a huge concern seeing how I’m in this traffic daily and it’s not a safe place for your car not to restart.”

   NHTSA complaint #11768664, filed 2026-10
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Automatic high beams switch erratically

   • 16 complaints (22%)
   • median 100 mi at 1.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners report the automatic high beam system turning the high beams on with oncoming traffic present and dropping to low beam without cause. Several describe rapid switching triggered by road signs, reflections or dark stretches, and say the practical fix is to switch the feature off. Dealers generally told owners the system was working as designed or found no fault; one complaint states a multifunction camera was replaced. Mostly reported during night driving on two-lane roads and in rural areas, across a wide spread of mileages.

   What to check: Take a night test drive on a dark road with oncoming traffic and watch whether the beams dim reliably. Ask whether the forward camera has been replaced or the system inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Using the Automatic High Beam system, the high beam may come on even if a car is coming toward me. Sometimes, the high beam will not transition to low beam until the incoming car is real close to me. The incoming car would put his high beam on to warn me. As well, the high bean can randomly transition to low beam for no reason. And a second after, come back to high beam. Really dangerous. I had other cars with this system and never had that kind of problems.”

   NHTSA complaint #11687477, filed 2025-09

   “The highbeams while not failing do not operate in a safe manner. While driving you are unable to really disable them. While driving about 12 miles down hill the Auto High beams repeatedly turned on likely blinding oncoming traffic and traffic passing me while I scrampled to turn them off so that I would not blind other drivers. These auto high beams seem poorly designed and poorly thought out there should be easier ways to disable them other than having to park and hold a lever down for like 40 seconds. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11633788, filed 2025-01
3. 3
   Forward collision avoidance

   Automatic emergency braking triggers with no obstacle

   • 5 complaints (7%)
   • typically at 1.0 yrs old
   • filed 2024–2026

   Complaints describe the collision mitigation braking system sounding alerts or applying the brakes when no vehicle is ahead, often with oncoming traffic on two-lane roads. Owners say the steering wheel shakes or a brake warning appears, sometimes followed by braking that slows the truck sharply. Dealers reportedly told owners the behaviour was within normal guidelines or attributed it to road conditions; in one case an alignment was performed without resolving it. Reported from low mileage onward, typically at highway speeds and on two-lane roads without a median.

   What to check: Ask whether the forward camera and radar have been inspected or recalibrated, and drive a two-lane road with oncoming traffic to see whether false alerts appear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Experiencing numerous false error warnings from Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) when meeting oncoming vehicles on straight or slightly curving two lane roads. I have taken my vehicle three times to be serviced for this specific reason and a Blind Spot Information System error. The BSI appears to be repaired now but the false CMBS warnings still have not been repaired. The most recent incidents listed below occurred today after picking up the truck from the BSI repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #11662965, filed 2025-05

   “My collision brake system goes off all the time at vehicles coming the opposite way on the road on two lane roads with no median strip I've taken to the dealership but they actually made it worse took back twice then contacted corporate Honda and they sent a tech. Out to this dealership he said alignment was off so they did that but it's still the same sometimes it will go off 3 times in a couple miles now rep says it's with in their guidelines and they are not going to do anything me and my wife don't want this truck if they won't repair”

   NHTSA complaint #11610326, filed 2024-08
4. 4
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Rearview camera recall remedy not available

   • 5 complaints (7%)
   • typically at 0.9 yrs old
   • filed 2024–2025

   Owners report being told the tailgate camera harness recall applies to their truck but that parts were not available, in some cases for months. A few describe being asked to return a newly delivered vehicle because the recall could not be completed yet. One dealer reportedly said the camera had to fail before the remedy could be performed. Raised at purchase or a first dealer visit, with one report at 100 miles and most others without a stated mileage.

   Recall 24V321000

   What to check: Check the recall status by VIN with a dealer and confirm whether the tailgate harness has been inspected or replaced. Verify the backup camera image appears each time reverse is selected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I attempted to have this recall address with no remediation. I went to the Dealer 2 months ago and called Honda's recall line and was told that Honda is not equipped to repair the vehicle due to a parts shortage.”

   NHTSA complaint #11625215, filed 2024-11

   “Ocean Honda of Hanover had leased me this vehicle with a safety recall not repaired.I drove the car up to Washington Mountain in NH with my family without knowing the vehicle had a safety recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11609864, filed 2024-08

Buying note. Two things are worth confirming before buying: that the tailgate camera harness recall has been completed, and how the truck behaves with the idle stop engaged in traffic. The automatic high beam complaints are consistent enough that a night test drive is worthwhile.

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.