Before You Buy

Honda Ridgeline: Buy Score, Reliability & Ownership Costs

Midsize Truck · Pickup Truck (Crew Cab, Unibody)

MSRP Range$42,290–$49,190
A gray 2026 Honda Ridgeline pickup truck parked at a trailhead in overcast daylight, shot candidly at a three-quarter angle.
Engine3.5L V6, 280 hp
Transmission9-speed automatic
DrivetrainAll-wheel drive, standard on every trim
Fuel Economy20-21 mpg combined, depending on trim

Our Verdict

Based on model-specific reliability data, ownership costs, and longevity signals.

Buy
81/100

Buy Score™

Pros

  • iSeeCars shows exceptional 5-year value retention (~76% of original value) — well ahead of most trucks and minivans
  • Standard all-wheel drive and Honda Sensing driver-assist suite on every trim
  • Unique lockable in-bed trunk (7.3 cu ft) and dual-action tailgate not offered by body-on-frame rivals
  • Car-like ride and handling versus traditional midsize trucks

Cons

  • RepairPal ranks it 6th of 7 midsize trucks, with a slightly above-average severe-repair rate
  • 2026 IIHS testing flagged its front crash-prevention system after criticism in vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian tests
  • Unibody construction means lower towing (5,000 lb) and payload than body-on-frame rivals like the Tacoma or F-150
  • 21 mpg combined trails compact/midsize crossovers with similar cargo capability

Can this car reach 300,000 miles?

Likely

The current (second-generation, 2017+) Ridgeline resolved most of the cylinder and transmission complaints tied to older model years. Honda's V6/9-speed combination is shared with other well-regarded Honda products, supporting a reasonable shot at 250,000+ miles with routine upkeep.

First-Time Buyer Friendly

55/100

Livable, but the complexity or running costs here reward buyers who already have some ownership experience.

Reliability Timeline

What tends to need attention, and when — based on model-specific reliability data.

RoutineModerateMajor

30,000 miles

Routine oil changes and tire rotations

60,000 miles

Infotainment touchscreen inspection — owners report the touchscreen degrading over time on some model years
Brake pad replacement

100,000 miles

Spark plugs and coil packs
Transmission fluid service

150,000 miles

Suspension bushings and CV joints on higher-mileage examples

200,000+ miles

V6 and 9-speed automatic commonly still running well with routine maintenance

What It Actually Costs to Own

The Ridgeline's standout ownership number is resale: iSeeCars puts its 5-year value retention well ahead of typical trucks and minivans alike, which offsets its below-average city fuel economy.

Estimated Annual Fuel Cost$2,000
Estimated Annual Insurance$1,460
Estimated Annual Maintenance$480
Estimated Annual Repairs$502
Estimated Annual Registration$210
5-Year Depreciation~24% of purchase price

Full Specifications

Engine3.5L V6, 280 hp
Transmission9-speed automatic
DrivetrainAll-wheel drive, standard on every trim
Fuel Economy20-21 mpg combined, depending on trim
Towing CapacityUp to 5,000 lbs
In-Bed Trunk7.3 cu ft lockable storage under the bed floor
Warranty3 yr/36,000 mi basic, 5 yr/60,000 mi powertrain

Check for open recalls before you buy

We don't yet have a live recall feed wired up for the Honda Ridgeline, so we won't guess at a number here. Before you buy any specific Ridgeline, run its VIN throughNHTSA's free recall lookup tool— it takes about 30 seconds and confirms whether that exact vehicle has any open, unrepaired safety recalls.

Similar Vehicles

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Sources: RepairPal model reliability score (3.5/5.0), annual repair cost ($502), and 6th-of-7 midsize truck ranking: repairpal.com/reliability/honda/ridgeline (live lookup, 2026). iSeeCars 5-year value retention (~76.4%, depreciation ~23.6%): search-aggregated iSeeCars resale-value data for the Ridgeline (live lookup, 2026). 2026 MSRP ($42,290–$49,190), V6/9-speed specs, towing, and in-bed trunk: automobiles.honda.com/ridgeline and cars.com 2026 Ridgeline pricing (live lookup, 2026). Common problems (touchscreen degradation, valve springs/cylinder issues on older years, transmission complaints): slashgear.com, carcomplaints.com, and hondaproblems.com Ridgeline pages (live lookup, 2026). 2026 IIHS front crash-prevention criticism despite a 'good' side-impact rating: autoevolution.com and foxnews.com coverage of 2026 IIHS Ridgeline testing (live lookup, 2026).