Last updated: 2026-10-10
2025 Honda Ridgeline Reliability Report
The 2025 Honda Ridgeline rates excellent for reliability, but owners report erratic automatic high beams and Auto Idle Stop restart failures.
Recalls
1
Complaints
42
Complaint Rate
8.7per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
N/A
Annual Fuel Cost
$2,850–$3,000
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Excellent standing and a five-star crash rating, held back by erratic automatic high beams and idle stop restart failures.
Top Issues to Watch
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING (17)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (7)
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (4)
Should You Buy the 2025 Honda Ridgeline?
Reliability is excellent. Among 2025 trucks this one sits well above average, and within the nine scored Ridgeline model years it is among the stronger ones. The 2024 and 2026 model years rate about the same, so no neighboring year clearly beats it. Federal crash testing gave it 5 of 5 stars.
Most complaints involve electronics and driver aids, not the drivetrain. The automatic high beams are the biggest issue. They stay bright for oncoming cars, drop to low beam on dark empty roads, and many owners switch them off. Auto Idle Stop can fail to restart the engine at a stop, leaving the truck stalled in traffic, with reports from 10,000 to 21,000 miles. Forward collision alerts can fire falsely on two-lane roads and briefly brake the truck. One engine complaint describes a fire in a truck with under 4k miles. Federal recall records show one recall, for back over prevention.
Ask the seller for proof the recall work was done. On a test drive, try the high beams at night and the idle stop restart. A low complaint count for 2026 mostly reflects less time on the road.
Compared to the 2026 Honda Ridgeline, which scored 1 points higher. See also the 2024 Honda Ridgeline for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Strong reliability score
- +Low recall count
- +5-star NHTSA crash rating
- +Only 42 complaints reported
Cons
- −Above-average complaint rate for Truck
- −EXTERIOR LIGHTING: Automatic high beams switch on and off erratically (17 complaints)
- −1 fire incident reported in owner complaints
Compare 2025 Honda Ridgeline With
2025 Toyota Tacoma
Reliability: 70/100
2025 Ford Ranger
Reliability: 74/100
2025 Chevrolet Colorado
Reliability: 83/100
2025 Nissan Frontier
Reliability: 84/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 1 manufacturer recall issued
Other
HIGH RISK- EXTERIOR LIGHTING (17)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (7)
Recall Overview
1
recall on record
The 2025 Honda Ridgeline carries 1 recall — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
8.7
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 1.2
Safety Incidents
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2025 Honda Ridgeline Recall Details
1 recall has been issued for the 2025 Honda Ridgeline. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
BACK OVER PREVENTION
Honda (America Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ridgeline vehicles. The rearview camera (RVC) tailgate wire harness may fatigue and break, which can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying.
Consequence
A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the RVC tailgate wire harness, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Honda service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is YI7.
Buying a used 2025 Honda Ridgeline? Check its history first
Exterior lighting problems lead owner complaints about the 2025 Honda Ridgeline, and 1 recall was issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2025 Honda Ridgeline NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 16.4%
Safety Technologies
Honda RidgelineRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
5Maintenance rating: 5 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
Honda Ridgeline Resale Value
The Honda Ridgeline is estimated to retain about 85.8% of its original value after 3 years, based on observed used-car listings.
This benchmark covers the Honda Ridgeline model overall and is not specific to the 2025 model year.
- Value Retained
- 85.8%
- Depreciation
- 14.2%
- Listings Analyzed
- 50
after 3 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.
Explore Honda Ridgeline depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comMPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
20–21 MPG
Fuel cost: $2,850–$3,000/yr
Fuel only
18 city / 23–24 hwy MPG
Based on EPA fuel-cost estimates. Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2025 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgeline AWD 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S9) | 18 | 24 | 21 | $2,850 |
| Ridgeline AWD TrailSport 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S9) | 18 | 23 | 20 | $3,000 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2025 Honda Ridgeline.
Drive a dark road at night above 45 mph and check that the auto high beams dim for oncoming cars.
Drive a curvy two-lane road and watch for false brake warnings or automatic braking as oncoming traffic passes.
Sit through several stops with Auto Idle Stop on and confirm the engine restarts every time.
Press the brake pedal hard and repeatedly, and walk away if it feels spongy, sinks far, or returns slowly.
Shift from park to drive and reverse several times and time any delay before the gear engages.
Run adaptive cruise on the highway and note any warnings, sudden disengagement, or overly hard braking.
Ask for service records showing radar adjustments, sensor replacements, or wiring harness repairs for driver-assist faults.
Signal with the radio on and windows down to check whether you can hear the turn signal tone.
2025 Honda Ridgeline Common Problems by Component
42 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
17 complaintsAutomatic high beams switch on and off erratically. They often stay bright as oncoming cars approach, blinding other drivers. On dark roads with no traffic they drop to low beam, often because of reflective road signs. Several reports say the system won't turn on below about 40 to 45 mph, and changing the sensitivity setting doesn't help. Dealers often find no fault, and one sensor replacement did not cure it. Many owners just turn the feature off. Some say the problem has carried over from Ridgelines built since 2020.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
7 complaintsThe Auto Idle Stop system throws errors and sometimes fails to restart the engine at a stop, leaving the truck stalled in traffic. Some drivers needed a jump start. Other reports describe collision mitigation braking and lane keeping that work poorly, adaptive cruise that brakes too hard, and auto high beams that won't dim. The turn signal tone is barely audible even at maximum volume. One complaint says the exposed neutral button can be bumped while driving, which drops the moving truck into neutral. Dealers often find nothing wrong.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4 complaintsStop-start and emission system warnings come and go at random. In one report, a replacement sensor failed within a month. Auto idle stop sometimes fails to restart the engine at an intersection, and the dash may briefly show messages like Auto High Beam Error or Brake System Problem. Another complaint repeats the very quiet turn signal tone, which the dealer could only address by raising the software setting. A single report describes a strong chemical odor from the cargo area panels along with spongy brakes.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (4 complaints)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
4 complaintsFalse collision alerts are the main complaint, mostly on two-lane roads. When an oncoming vehicle passes in a right-hand curve, the system flashes a BRAKE warning, shakes the steering wheel, and sounds an alarm, even with both vehicles in their own lanes. Sometimes it also brakes the truck for 1 to 2 seconds, which risks a rear-end crash. Brief unneeded braking also happens at low speed behind turning cars. Some owners say the alerts come several times per drive, and some have switched the system off.
SERVICE BRAKES (2 complaints)
SERVICE BRAKES
2 complaintsThe brake pedal feels spongy and soft, so the truck is hard to stop. Some drivers say they have to pump the pedal to get a firm feel. Complaints include a near rear-end collision and a pedal that is slow to return after release. The problem shows up early, with reports at 4181 and 10,800 miles. A dealer inspection found nothing wrong with the brakes. One report also says the blind spot warning light is dim and hard to see in bright sunlight.
POWER TRAIN (2 complaints)
POWER TRAIN
2 complaintsThe transmission is slow to engage and shifts harshly. Reports describe gear changes that lag and then slam into the next gear while driving. Shifting from park into drive or reverse can take up to 9 seconds, and the gas pedal does nothing during the wait. Another complaint says the truck rolls noticeably in park, about 3 degrees, before the lock holds, along with a spongy brake pedal. Repeat dealer visits concluded the truck drives like any other Ridgeline.
ENGINE (2 complaints)
ENGINE
2 complaintsSafety-relatedThere are only two reports, but one is serious. A truck with under 4k miles started pouring smoke from its sides with no dashboard warning. It caught fire and was a total loss. The other complaint describes heavy oil consumption at about 1,300 miles, with no warning light. The dealer found no failure. With so few reports there is no clear pattern, but the fire is the most dangerous failure in this truck's complaint file.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (2 complaints)
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2 complaintsAdaptive cruise control and road departure mitigation cut out mid-drive and show a warning to see the dealer. In one case the dealer replaced the tailgate upper wiring harness and the brake/cruise switch at 254 miles, but the fault came back by 4385 miles. Restarting the truck clears it only for a while. Separately, auto idle stop worked for about 10k miles and then began failing to restart the engine, with no warning light. That can leave the truck stranded.
STEERING (1 complaints)
STEERING
1 complaintEngine "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.
AIR BAGS (1 complaints)
AIR BAGS
1 complaintSafety-relatedWhile turning left on a snowcovered road, my passenger airbags deployed when I slid into the curb. The only damage was to my rear passenger wheel. The force to the vehicle should not have been hard enough for the airbags to deploy. No warning lights prior to the accident.
When Do 2025 Honda Ridgeline Problems Start?
Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.
Best & Worst Honda Ridgeline Years
Best Honda Ridgeline Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreHonda Ridgeline Years to Avoid
Honda Ridgeline Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 70/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 65/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 70/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 75/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 78/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 78/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 85/100 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 85/100 | Excellent |
| 2026 | 86/100 | Excellent |
Honda Ridgeline Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2025 Honda Ridgeline reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2025 Honda Ridgeline?
Does the 2025 Honda Ridgeline have automatic high beam problems?
Has the 2025 Honda Ridgeline been recalled?
Is the 2025 Honda Ridgeline better than the 2024 or 2026?
Don’t buy a 2025 Honda Ridgeline without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2025 Honda Ridgeline
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2025 Honda Ridgeline does best on repair costs (100/100) and worst on complaint severity (70/100). 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.
Get notified when new recalls or reliability data is added for the Honda Ridgeline.
No spam. Only data updates for this model.
Browse More Honda Models
Honda Accord
Score: 87/100
Honda CR-V
Score: 83/100
Honda Civic
Score: 94/100
Honda HR-V
Score: 100/100
Honda Odyssey
Score: 74/100
Honda Passport
Score: 84/100
Browse More 2025 Vehicles
2025 Nissan Ariya
Score: 88/100
2025 Honda HR-V
Score: 88/100
2025 Acura ZDX
Score: 88/100
2025 Kia Carnival
Score: 88/100
2025 Hyundai Elantra
Score: 87/100
2025 Toyota Corolla Cross
Score: 86/100
See incorrect data? Report an issue