Service Bulletin - The engine will not crank on initial startup after precipitation and sub-freezing temperatures. Water can enter the starter motor, and when temperatures drop below freezing, the water will freeze inside the starter motor. This will prevent the starter from cranking the engine.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Honda Ridgeline electrical problems
moderate Owners of the 2020 Honda Ridgeline have filed 44 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
44
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Ridgeline | 83 |
| 2018 Ridgeline | 49 |
| 2019 Ridgeline | 29 |
| 2020 Ridgeline (this page) | 44 |
| 2021 Ridgeline | 13 |
| 2022 Ridgeline | 15 |
| 2023 Ridgeline | 14 |
| 2024 Ridgeline | 12 |
What stands out
Owners have filed 44 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 13 model years of Honda Ridgeline in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2023 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the rearview camera inop. Customer may also complain of the tailgate lock inop, alarm activating on its own, or cargo light inop. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. Typically, the customer can immediately restart the vehicle by selecting Park and pushing the ENGINE START/STOP button.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2023 Ridgelines with a customer complaint of the rearview camera inop. Customer may also complain of the tailgate lock inop, alarm activating on its own, or cargo light inop. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. Typically, the customer can immediately restart the vehicle by selecting Park and pushing the ENGINE START/STOP button.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Two dominant electrical failures plague the 2020 Ridgeline. The automatic idle-stop feature shuts down the engine at traffic lights as designed, then fails to restart when the driver releases the brake. Owners report the truck won't crank, occasionally shifts itself to Neutral, and requires manual Park shift and restart—sometimes after multiple attempts. This has happened at busy intersections with oncoming traffic, creating immediate hazard. Honda issued a software update in early 2023 that owners say did not fix the problem, and the system cannot be disabled. An NHTSA investigation (EA25004) exists for the Honda Pilot on the same issue.
The rear backup camera wiring harness breaks at the tailgate hinge where the cable flexes during repeated opening and closing. The camera display goes black (yellow grid lines only) with no warning. Owners have found severed and corroded wires inside the harness. Full dealer replacement exceeds $500. Honda issued recalls for 2017–2019 models (Service Bulletin 22-049) but excludes the 2020 Ridgeline despite identical design and failure. One owner reported their dealer-repaired harness failed again within a year.
A smaller number report complete dashboard blackouts—loss of gauges and all warning lights—attributed to software programming flaws. One owner's $1,600 repair was denied coverage despite the same failure triggering recalls on Passport, Pilot, and Odyssey models from the same generation.
Same Honda Ridgeline electrical reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Automatic Engine Idle Stop (AIS) / Auto Start-Stop Failure to Restart
Engine shuts off as intended via the automatic idle-stop feature, but fails to restart when brake is released or accelerator pressed. Vehicle may shift to Neutral independently, requiring driver to place transmission in Park and manually restart. Occurs at traffic lights and during stop-and-go traffic.
When: 18,000 to 50,000+ miles; recurring incidents reported as frequent as every other day or multiple times over months
Symptoms owners cite: Engine will not crank or start after idle-stop shutdown; Vehicle shifts to Neutral unexpectedly during failure event; Dashboard lights flicker rapidly during failure; Speedometer needle bounces wildly; All dash warning lights illuminate during restart attempt; Message appears on dash (various reports of 'SHIFT TO PARK', neutral notification, or generic pre-start warnings); LKAS (Lane Keeping Assist System) randomly displays disabled message; Trim computers and MPG average reset to zero; Economy mode switches off after restart
Codes mentioned: EA25004
Repairs/costs cited: Software update issued by Honda on 03/29/23 reported by one owner to be ineffective; system cannot be permanently disabled per owner report
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued software update; owners report it did not resolve the problem. Class action lawsuit filed against Honda. No recall issued for 2020 Ridgeline; similar investigation (NHTSA) noted on Honda Pilot which shares electrical and drivetrain components.
Rear Backup Camera Wiring Harness Failure
Wiring harness at the flexible section near the rear tailgate hinge breaks or corrodes due to repeated opening and closing of the tailgate. Camera display becomes intermittent, flickering, or goes completely black (showing only yellow grid lines). Owners have found severed or broken wires and corrosion in the harness.
When: 40,000 to 50,000+ miles; some failures reported earlier; one vehicle had intermittent issue at ~40k miles and complete failure by 42,163 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Backup camera display blank or black (yellow grid lines only); Intermittent camera operation before complete failure; No warning lamps or messages before failure; Sudden loss of rear video feed; Flickering image before going dark; Wires visibly severed, broken, or corroded at tailgate hinge area
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replacement cost exceeded $500 for full harness replacement; owners have spliced wires or repaired harness themselves as workaround. Replacement harness repair performed by dealership; one owner reported failure recurred at higher mileage after dealer repair. Parts shortages reported for recall-related repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls issued for 2017–2019 model years (TBS 22-049 referenced; FMV SS101 & FMV SS111 referenced in one narrative); 2020 Ridgeline not included in recall despite identical design and failure mode. One owner reported warranty coverage was denied; another reported dealer said not covered by current recall. Active recall mentioned as PE24004 (similar issue).
Dashboard Panel / Instrument Cluster Blackout
Dashboard display loses multiple gauges and warning lights simultaneously, resulting in complete loss of speedometer, tachometer, turn signals visibility, and sometimes backup camera display. Exact failure described as inappropriate software programming.
When: Not specified in narratives; occurred upon disengaging cruise control during highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple warning lights appear on dash; Loss of dash gauges (speedometer, tachometer, turn signals); Entire dash 'blacks out' losing all instrumentation; Backup camera feed lost; Loss of safe driving visibility
Codes mentioned: FMV SS101, FMV SS111
Repairs/costs cited: Authorized Honda dealer diagnosis: failure of dash panel; repair cost $1,600.00
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Similar failure known to American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Recalls issued for 2017–2019 Passport, Pilot, and Odyssey with extended warranty coverage due to inappropriate software programming. Honda declined goodwill assistance for 2020 Ridgeline owner citing lack of official service history (owner services own vehicles).
Rear Tailgate Wiring Harness Recall Parts Shortage
Recall issued for tailgate/camera/rear warning system harness replacement, but authorized dealers do not have parts in stock and cannot provide timeline for availability. Dealership reports same part shortage affecting concurrent fuel pump and electric steering campaigns.
When: As of October 15, 2024 (two recall notices issued prior)
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice issued but parts unavailable; No estimated timeline for part availability; Dealer unable to complete safety recall repair
Repairs/costs cited: Parts on manufacturer back order; fuel pump and electric steering campaign parts also unavailable from same dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Safety recall issued but manufacturer unable to supply adequate repair parts to dealers, preventing completion of released National Safety Recall.
Synthesized from 44 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Backup camera stopped working. Possible electrical wiring harness defective and severed prematurely. This was a safety feature that stopped working on a vehicle that’s not even 3 year old.
Wire harness for back up camera needed to be replaced. Dealer said not covered by current recall, ie 2020's are not covered
Had electrical trouble with your 2020 Honda Ridgeline?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2020 Honda Ridgeline?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 44 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 44 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 18,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/Honda/Ridgeline.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.