2025 Honda Ridgeline Problems

What owners report

Most reports for this model year come from trucks with very low mileage, and two themes dominate: the engine's auto idle stop feature sometimes fails to restart the engine at a stop, and the automatic high beam system switches between high and low beams inconsistently. A smaller but recurring group of owners describes false forward collision warnings and hard braking on two-lane roads and curves.

1. 1
   Engine

   Auto idle stop fails to restart engine

   Mentioned in 26 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the engine shutting off at a stop light or intersection and then not restarting when the brake is released, leaving the truck unable to move until it is shifted into park and restarted manually. Some report dashboard warnings such as a message to shift to park, temporary electrical blackout, or assorted warning lights for power steering, lane assist and hill descent, and a few say the vehicle had to be towed. According to complaints, dealers have replaced the battery, throttle body or starter in some cases, found no stored codes in others, and in several instances advised switching the idle stop feature off manually at each start. Reported across the sample from near-new up to roughly 25,000 miles, and several owners say it began within a few thousand miles of purchase.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a test drive, stop with the engine off in idle stop mode and confirm it restarts cleanly several times; ask the dealer whether any battery, starter or software work has already been done for this symptom.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Engine Stop/Start turned off when trying to make a turn. When it did the steering would not move. Also when Stop/Start turns off it was dangerous when turning. I email Honda and they called me back. They could have it disabled but it would cost $80 and I would have to buy the part and they would install it. This is a new truck bought last month.”

   NHTSA complaint #11657197, filed 2025-04

   “I was driving in a stop and go traffic due to a traffic accident ahead of me. One of the times I stopped it seemed like it stalled but it was still on and the dashboard told me to put it in park so I did and then I was unable to do anything with the truck the brake seized I couldn’t shut off the truck or change gears and I sat like that for 5-8 minutes. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11756804, filed 2026-08
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Automatic high beams switch erratically

   • 23 complaints (22%)
   • median 299 mi at 0.7 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners say the automatic high beam feature cycles between high and low beam on dark roads with no oncoming traffic, sometimes turning high beams on as another vehicle approaches, and is triggered off by road signs or reflective surfaces. Several mention the system only engages above roughly 40-45 mph and that turning it off is the only reliable workaround. Complaints describe dealers resetting sensitivity, replacing a sensor or the camera mounting, or telling owners the system was operating as designed. Mostly reported at low mileage and at night on rural or two-lane roads; a few complaints note the behavior appears from the first weeks of ownership.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive the truck at night on a two-lane road and watch whether the high beams behave; ask the dealer whether the sensor or camera has been replaced or adjusted already.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Automatic high beam function: Does not work properly, most road signs turn the high beams off, sometimes the high beams turn back on when another car is approaching. They don't activate at all until you speed reaches 45 mph. This is the same issue I experienced with my 2021 Ridgeline. The only difference is that on the 2021 model the function activated at 35 mph. This feature is basically useless and Honda should not be permitted to advertise this feature until corrected on all affected years.”

   NHTSA complaint #11695394, filed 2025-10

   “The auto headlights do not come on and if they do they almost always turn off immediately. The will not come on at speeds under 25 and this is too slow. To cap all of this they randomly come on when cars are driving towards you even though I have tried to disable this feature totally. They are a safety hazard and used to work on older models flawlessly.”

   NHTSA complaint #11687534, filed 2025-09
3. 3
   Forward collision avoidance

   False forward collision warnings and braking

   • 11 complaints (11%)
   • median 99 mi at 0.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners report the collision warning firing with no obstacle present, most often on two-lane roads when an oncoming vehicle passes or on curves and in roundabouts, producing brake warnings, steering wheel shake and audible alerts. Some say the system has applied braking when nothing was in the path, and several describe disabling the feature because of the frequency. Complaints mention dealers replacing a tailgate wiring harness or brake/cruise switch in one case, and otherwise not finding a fault. Reported on new and low-mileage trucks, typically on two-lane or curved roads rather than divided highways.

   Recall 24V321000

   What to check: Ask whether the radar and camera systems have been inspected or recalibrated, and test the adaptive cruise and collision warning on a two-lane road during the test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is a brand new 2025 Ridgeline with only 900 miles. The Collision Mitigation Breaking System and the Lane Keeping Assist System does not work properly on my vehicle. The dealer where I bought the vehicle (Dick Brooks Honda in Greer) has insisted there's nothing wrong with the vehicle on two occasions. However, I took the vehicle to another dealer; the master technician said there might be something wrong with the radar system in my vehicle and to take it back to the original dealer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11666262, filed 2025-06

   “Collision mitigation brake system vibrates steering wheel,flashes brake, sounds alarm every time a car approaches in opposite lane on curves and often for no traffic at all. It gives so many false alarms I've had to turn it off for safety.”

   NHTSA complaint #11669082, filed 2025-06
4. 4
   Brakes

   Soft or low brake pedal feel

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a brake pedal that travels well into its stroke before the truck slows, and a noticeable roll before the transmission holds the vehicle in park. One owner reports being told by a dealer that the truck drove like other units of the same model, and another reports a dealer declining to bleed the brake lines. Noted from purchase onward on trucks with little mileage; complaints do not tie it to a specific mileage range.

   What to check: Press the pedal firmly at a standstill and check for a long, spongy travel, and ask whether the brake system has been inspected or bled.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1. Soft / Spongy Brakes. Brake pedal depresses 1/3 - 1/2 way to the floor before the brakes grab. I had one close call hard stop incident, and now I allow extra car lengths for safety. 2. In park, the truck rolls noticeably before the transmission lock engages. I'd estimate 3 degrees. Your foot drags noticeably if on ground. Purchased new the end of May 29, 2025 and noticed these issues immediately. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11683529, filed 2025-08

   “honda placed panels in the cargo area that are toxic and have a high voc. I have been unable to park the car in the garage because of the toxic odor. The other issue is the air in the brake lines, which makes stopping the truck difficult. the truck is heavy and it just keeps moving when the brakes are applied. I went to dealer and they refused to bleed the brakes.it is absurd!!! the panels are a health concern; can these panels cause cancer; this is a safety issue as well. I hope you take this matter seriously. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11657077, filed 2025-04
5. 5
   Vehicle speed control

   Latency when downshifting with paddle shifters

   • 5 complaints (5%)
   • typically at 0.3 yrs old
   • filed 2024–2026

   A few owners report a delay after requesting a downshift with the paddle shifters, where the transmission briefly feels as though it is in neutral and the vehicle speeds up before the lower gear engages. One owner describes delayed or harsh gear engagement when moving from park into drive or reverse. Described as present since purchase, most often on descents and mountain roads.

   What to check: On a test drive, use the paddle shifters on a downhill stretch and note how quickly the downshift takes effect.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving mountain roads I often need to engage the paddle shift to downshift. When I do, the transmission has a lag where it feels like it goes into neutral for a second, the speed increases instead of decreasing, then the gear downshifts, the RPM's go up, but by then, it has defeated the purpose - I have to brake to slow down. Once I do, the lower gear helps me stay off the brakes until the descent is no longer. This is not a new occurrence, rather, it's been operating this way since we purchased the vehicle new.”

   NHTSA complaint #11726148, filed 2026-03

   “I purchased a 2025 Honda Ridgeline and noticed that the turn signal is hardly audible. If you have the radio on or the windows rolled down, you will not hear the warning tone. In the infotainment system there is an adjustment that allows you to raise the volume of the warning indicator and even at the highest volume you can barely hear it. I also found that I am not alone and that this ia a common problem with some Honda models. Every other car I have ever owned made a mechanical or audio tone to warn that the signal light is active. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11625364, filed 2024-11

Buying note. This model year's complaints are concentrated in electronics and driver-assist behavior rather than wear items, so a careful test drive that exercises the idle stop, automatic high beams and collision warning is worth more than mileage alone. Ask for any service history showing battery, starter, sensor or software work already performed.

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.