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Direct rivals · Direct rivals in the midsize truck segment

2020 Honda Ridgeline vs 2020 Jeep Gladiator

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-06-14 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2020 Honda Ridgeline edges ahead by a narrow margin

These two are direct rivals built for the same use case. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline comes out slightly ahead on reliability data (3.6 versus 3.3), but the margin is small enough that specific feature preferences could legitimately tip the choice the other way.

More reliable

2020 Honda Ridgeline

3.6/5
Reliability score
160 complaints
2 recalls (0 critical)
$10,100 repair exposure
vs

2020 Jeep Gladiator

3.3/5
Reliability score
475 complaints
2 recalls (0 critical)
$10,600 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline edges this one, but it's tight. We're talking 3.6 versus 3.3 on reliability. Close enough that specific feature preferences or one favorable price could legitimately swing it the other way.

If you lean 2020 Honda Ridgeline, know what you're getting into on lighting and airbags. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2020 Jeep Gladiator sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2020 Jeep Gladiator? Watch the electrical and steering. The 2020 Honda Ridgeline has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2020 Honda Ridgeline
2020 Jeep Gladiator
electrical
42 reports
moderate · ~$850
155 reports
moderate · ~$850
steering
No reports
181 reports
moderate · ~$700
powertrain
9 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
45 reports
severe · ~$2,500
engine
21 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
25 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
visibility
7 reports
moderate · ~$350
18 reports
moderate · ~$350
suspension
No reports
11 reports
moderate · ~$900
lighting
10 reports
moderate · ~$250
No reports
brakes
4 reports
moderate · ~$450
6 reports
severe · ~$450
body
3 reports
moderate · ~$1,500
7 reports
moderate · ~$1,500
airbags
9 reports
severe · ~$1,100
No reports

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2020 Honda Ridgeline or the 2020 Jeep Gladiator?

Based on the NHTSA data we track, the 2020 Honda Ridgeline comes out ahead with a reliability score of 3.6 versus 3.3. The margin is narrow, so the verdict could shift if you weight specific categories differently or factor in your own use case.

What goes wrong more often on the 2020 Honda Ridgeline?

Compared to the 2020 Jeep Gladiator, the 2020 Honda Ridgeline sees more reported issues in lighting and airbags. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2020 Jeep Gladiator?

Compared to the 2020 Honda Ridgeline, the 2020 Jeep Gladiator has more complaints in electrical and steering. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

Both vehicles have 2 active recalls. Total recall count alone isn't a great signal — what matters is severity. See the recall counts by severity in the comparison table.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $10,600 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. Verify each vehicle's federal record: 2020 Honda Ridgeline on NHTSA · 2020 Jeep Gladiator on NHTSA. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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