Honda vehicles equipped with the zf-9 speed transmission cannot be placed into "neutral" if the vehicle's battery is flat. A special Honda tool that is not included with each vehicle, is the only way to place the zf 9 speed transmission into neutral, to allow for towing, or physically moving the vehicle out of traffic, if the vehicle's battery fails. Honda should include this tool…
2020 Honda Ridgeline powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2020 Honda Ridgeline have filed 9 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Ridgeline | 41 |
| 2018 Ridgeline | 8 |
| 2019 Ridgeline | 35 |
| 2020 Ridgeline (this page) | 9 |
| 2021 Ridgeline | 11 |
| 2022 Ridgeline | 10 |
| 2023 Ridgeline | 10 |
| 2024 Ridgeline | 5 |
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Driving up a grade my small dog move forward onto forward part of console and steped on gearshift buttons and vehicle shifted in to neutral. Engine rev. Up to 5000 RPM. Had to remove dog from gear shift panel slow down engine and vehicle back in gear and excelerate away from large truck approaching the rear of my vehicle. Vary scary, why does Honda put a push button transmission controls on a…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2020 Honda Ridgeline?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 9 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.