Is the Chevrolet Colorado more reliable than the Honda Ridgeline?

Yes, by a slight margin. The Colorado draws 8.8 complaints per 10,000 sold against 14.2 for the Ridgeline, and it has far fewer recalls. Both trucks have serious problems, so the lead is small. Check each truck's service history, especially the transmission on the Colorado and the engine on the Ridgeline.

Which has more recalls, the Colorado or the Ridgeline?

The Ridgeline has more. Federal recall records show 35 recalls across its nine model years, compared with 9 for the Colorado. Run the VIN of any truck you are considering and confirm that every open recall has been completed before you buy it.

What is the biggest problem with the Honda Ridgeline?

Engine failure is the most serious. Owners describe a knocking or clacking at startup that gets worse over days, then a flashing check engine light and total power loss, often at highway speed. Dealers found metal shavings in the oil pan. Some owners paid for the replacement engine after warranty ended.

What goes wrong with the Chevrolet Colorado?

Power train complaints lead, with transmissions failing suddenly while driving and the truck losing acceleration. Electrical complaints come next, including headlights that pulse when the heated seats are on. Brake master cylinder failures on nearly new trucks are also reported, and the pedal can sink to the floor.

Which Colorado and Ridgeline years should I avoid?

For the Colorado, avoid 2018 and 2023, its weakest years. For the Ridgeline, avoid 2019 and 2020. Newer years may look cleaner, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so do not treat a short complaint list as proof of better reliability.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Colorado vs Honda Ridgeline: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Chevrolet Colorado

Good

Honda Ridgeline

Good

The Chevrolet Colorado edges out the Honda Ridgeline on reliability, with fewer complaints per truck sold and far fewer recalls. The lead is slight. The Ridgeline's rod bearing engine failures decide it, but the Colorado has serious transmission and brake complaints of its own.

How Do the Chevrolet Colorado and Honda Ridgeline Generations Compare?

Most used Colorados you will see are second generation, which ran from the 2015 to 2022 model years with facelifts in 2015 and 2021. The third generation began with 2023, and 2023 is one of the weakest years, so it is not a safe pick just because it is newer. A shopper looking at 2018 to 2022 is shopping the second generation. For the Ridgeline, the second generation started in 2017 and the data lists it through 2023, with a refresh for 2021. That refresh gives a clear dividing line, and the weakest years, 2019 and 2020, both came before it.

Verdict

The Chevrolet Colorado is more reliable than the Honda Ridgeline, scoring 79/100 vs 77/100.

Slight edge to the Colorado. Owners file fewer complaints per truck sold, and federal recall records show 9 recalls against 35 for the Ridgeline. The Ridgeline's engine reports weigh most: connecting rod bearing failure that can end with a dead engine on the freeway. The Colorado is no clean sheet, though. It has sudden transmission failures and brake master cylinder failures on nearly new trucks, so the gap between the two is small.

Key Differences

1Chevrolet Colorado has 26 fewer total recalls
2Chevrolet Colorado has 5.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Chevrolet Colorado scores 2 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

3Chevrolet Colorado

—

1Honda Ridgeline

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Chevrolet Colorado vs Honda Ridgeline: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Colorado vs Honda Ridgeline at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Colorado	Honda Ridgeline
Reliability Score	79/100	77/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	9	35
Complaints per 10k Sold	8.8	14.2
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	6	3

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Colorado and Honda Ridgeline?

Safety systems drive the worst Colorado reports. Transmissions fail suddenly and the truck loses acceleration in traffic. Brake master cylinders fail on nearly new trucks, and the pedal sinks to the floor. Service brakes carry 3 crash-linked complaints, and the Ridgeline has none in that area. The Ridgeline's problems lean toward cost and nuisance. Tailgate wiring cracks and kills the backup camera. Automatic high beams misbehave. Rod bearings fail and take the engine with them. Its engine area has a crash-linked complaint, and the Colorado's engine area has none.

Chevrolet Colorado vs Honda Ridgeline common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Colorado	Honda Ridgeline
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.5Low	2.6Low
POWER TRAIN	2.3Low	1.3Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.9Very Low	1.3Low
ENGINE	0.5Very Low	1.6Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.2Very Low	1.8Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.7Very Low	0.5Very Low
STEERING	1Very Low	0.1Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	0.8Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.8Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.7Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.3Very Low	0.4Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	0.5Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.2Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	0.1Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.1Very Low
EQUIPMENT	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Chevrolet Colorado vs Honda Ridgeline Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Colorado vs Honda Ridgeline year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Colorado	Honda Ridgeline	Edge
2026	88/1000R / 0C	86/1000R / 2C	Chevrolet Colorado
2025	83/1000R / 19C	85/1001R / 42C	Honda Ridgeline
2024	76/1003R / 82C	85/1001R / 41C	Honda Ridgeline
2023	73/1003R / 113C	78/1003R / 105C	Honda Ridgeline
2022	81/1001R / 39C	78/1002R / 106C	Chevrolet Colorado
2021	78/1001R / 59C	75/1005R / 90C	Chevrolet Colorado
2020	81/1000R / 71C	70/1007R / 158C	Chevrolet Colorado
2019	78/1000R / 139C	65/10010R / 222C	Chevrolet Colorado
2018	75/1001R / 173C	70/1006R / 153C	Chevrolet Colorado

Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 Chevrolet Colorado scored 81/100 and the 2024 Honda Ridgeline scored 85/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Colorado vs the Honda Ridgeline?

Pick the Colorado if you want the lower complaint rate and fewer recalls. Target 2019 through 2022, which sit inside the same second generation and avoid the weakest years, 2018 and 2023. Before buying, ask whether the transmission and brake master cylinder have ever been replaced, and test the heated seats and steering wheel at night, because owners report headlights pulsing when they are on. Pick the Ridgeline if you can accept a higher complaint rate and want a truck with a two-way tailgate. Skip 2019 and 2020, the weakest years. Check that the backup camera works through several tailgate cycles, since the harness wires crack where the tailgate bends. Listen for knocking or clacking at a cold start. That noise comes before rod bearing failure in owner reports. Ask for proof of any engine replacement, and confirm that open recalls were completed, because owners report replacement parts being unavailable for one camera recall.

Chevrolet Colorado vs Honda Ridgeline: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Colorado more reliable than the Honda Ridgeline?: Yes, by a slight margin. The Colorado draws 8.8 complaints per 10,000 sold against 14.2 for the Ridgeline, and it has far fewer recalls. Both trucks have serious problems, so the lead is small. Check each truck's service history, especially the transmission on the Colorado and the engine on the Ridgeline.
Which has more recalls, the Colorado or the Ridgeline?: The Ridgeline has more. Federal recall records show 35 recalls across its nine model years, compared with 9 for the Colorado. Run the VIN of any truck you are considering and confirm that every open recall has been completed before you buy it.
What is the biggest problem with the Honda Ridgeline?: Engine failure is the most serious. Owners describe a knocking or clacking at startup that gets worse over days, then a flashing check engine light and total power loss, often at highway speed. Dealers found metal shavings in the oil pan. Some owners paid for the replacement engine after warranty ended.
What goes wrong with the Chevrolet Colorado?: Power train complaints lead, with transmissions failing suddenly while driving and the truck losing acceleration. Electrical complaints come next, including headlights that pulse when the heated seats are on. Brake master cylinder failures on nearly new trucks are also reported, and the pedal can sink to the floor.
Which Colorado and Ridgeline years should I avoid?: For the Colorado, avoid 2018 and 2023, its weakest years. For the Ridgeline, avoid 2019 and 2020. Newer years may look cleaner, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so do not treat a short complaint list as proof of better reliability.

More Chevrolet Colorado comparisons

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More Honda Ridgeline comparisons

Honda Ridgeline vs Toyota Tacoma reliability Honda Ridgeline vs Ford Ranger reliability Honda Ridgeline vs Nissan Frontier reliability Honda Ridgeline reliability by year Honda Ridgeline years to avoid

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How we score the Chevrolet Colorado and Honda Ridgeline

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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