2020 Honda Ridgeline: engine stalls while driving

Filed Aug 4, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · CA

The vehicle's Auto-Idle Stop (AIS) feature is defective and creates a severe safety hazard. While stopped at a busy road intersection, the feature engaged and shut the engine off normally. However, when releasing the brake pedal to proceed, the engine glitched and completely failed to restart, leaving the vehicle completely stalled, unpowered, and stranded in live traffic. The vehicle became a sitting duck in the intersection. This is a recurring issue that requires a complete ignition power cycle to recover, posing an immediate risk of a rear-end or side-impact collision. It happens most often under heavy load. Hot day with AC on, or Cold day with Heater on and seat warmers. Dealer ignored or failed to re-create at first because it was intermittent. I've been through SOFTWARE UPDATE, STARTER, RELAY REPLACEMENT AND VALVE ADJUSTMENTS (twice) and a new BATTERY over several years and it still stalls. It's dangerous and terrifying to be immobilized in traffic when it won't start.

Filed Nov 17, 2025 · Fuel system · MO

Auto stop start does not work properly in this vehicle after repeated fixes by Honda and dealership. Vehicle sometimes does not restart after stop start engaged at stop causing a stall like event. Auto stop start tries to start vehicle after stop but vehicle either stalls/fails to restart or is extremely slow to restart. Vehicle has been repaired, new starter, new battery, new relays less than one year ago and vehicle is now experiencing the same issues. Owner (me) is now disabling feature every time vehicle is started to prevent system from engaging.

Filed Oct 9, 2025 · MA

1. Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior. Driver mirror fell off. 2. Windshield multipurpose camera unit, u3000-49, burned out. Requiring replacement within 4 years of purchase. 3. The auto idle stop stalls the car.

Filed Sep 18, 2025 · Engine · RI

Truck stalls repeatedly at intersections due to failure of ignition to restart after stop signs or stoplights. Warning lights come on and complete restart is required. Other motorists become agitated.

Filed Sep 7, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · VA

My 2020 Honda Ridgeline has an Auto Idle/Start system. The truck engine turns off when it stops, then automatically turns on when brake is released or gas pedal pressed. There was a Honda notice issued that the system may not automatically restart. A fix (software update) from Honda was implemented on my truck on 03/29/23. This "fix" did not work. On 09/05/25 at 1:25 pm I pulled up to an intersection. The Auto Idle system automatically turned off the engine as intended. About 2 minutes later, when the brake was released and gas pedal pressed, the engine did not restart. The truck stalled. Various efforts (~ 1 minute of panic) ensued to start the engine. Eventually, put the truck in park, waited, then started the engine. This situation occurred during high traffic at a busy intersection. It caused other drivers to take risks pulling out in front of other cars to get around my stalled vehicle. It was a very dangerous situation. A class action lawsuit was filed against Honda about this. Honda claims their software update fixed the problem. My scary experience shows that it did not fix the issue. Their auto idle/start system is simply unsafe. Also, it is not possible to permanently disable it.

Filed Aug 8, 2025 · SC

AIS system not working properly . Vehicle stalls when brake is applied when car is stopped and at idle. Does not restart when brake is released as designed . This creates a safety hazard when in traffic . This has occurred frequently . Automatic Idle Stop/Start (AIS) System

Filed Jul 7, 2025 · Engine · MA

My Ridgeline has stalled during normal operation 3 times. The 1st was in April 2024, and the latest was this week. All three times it stalled when accelerating after a traffic stop. The first was at a stop sign at the bottom of a hill. The second was at a traffic light, it should be noted that the start/stop was "off" on this incident. And the latest incident was during stop and go traffic on the highway. * Yes - available for inspection. * Safety - could be a safety issue when a vehicle doesn't operate in a normal manner. * Dealer/Others - no I haven't had it inspected, I have been monitoring this issue on the internet. * Symptoms - there were none before the incidents

Filed Jun 28, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · OH

Whenever I’m driving in my vehicle everything seems to be fine until I stop at a red light. On three separate occasions, while my vehicle is stopped it will automatically go into neutral and stall. This causes my truck not to run properly. I have to shut my car off, and then turn it back on to put it in drive and operate it like normal. I’m unsure what my cars issue is but it is an inconvenience and a safety concern due to it keeps happening while in traffic.

Filed Mar 31, 2025 · Engine · CA

I've had the start stop issue not function multiple times. I had to replace the battery did the software update for it and it still does not start occasionally. I have to restart the vehicle like if it was parked. Stalling on a light is why I no longer use this feature, I just press on the start stop button every single time I start the engine. This has happened multiple times throughout the years.

Filed Apr 15, 2024 · Engine · OH

When stopping at a red light and or stop sign the engine shuts off as designed. But intermittently on restart after taking foot off the brake and pressing the gas, the engine will stall and not start. It acts like a weak battery but other times it starts perfectly fine. Have to put it in park to get it restarted. In the meantime traffic is backed up behind you.

Filed Jan 25, 2024 · Fuel system · MO

The vehicle auto stop start function failed causing the vehicle to stall. Recall for previous known issue with this system has been performed. Vehicle has a brand new battery installed by Honda service at a Honda dealership. When outside temperature is below 10 degrees Fahrenheit intermittently at a stop where the vehicle auto stop start engages and stops the engine the system fails to restart. Warning in panel states to press brake and push start button to restart vehicle. Vehicle stalled and was immobile at intersection until driver restarted vehicle manually.

Filed Jul 18, 2023 · Transmission · TX

The 2020 Ridgeline has a feature that turns off the ignition when stopped for more than a couple of seconds. It then automatically restarts when you move your foot off the brake to the accelerator. On several occasions the car does not automatically, and displays a message on the dashboard that you need to shift to park and restart it. This process, shifting to park and attempting to restart, does not work for some time though. There was a recall notice on it, which I had completed by the dealer. When it happens, it produces a very dangerous situation where the car is stalled in traffic with other lanes moving and we are not able to move. The car has been into the dealer on three occasions and I received a letter from Honda, stating that once the recall on the issue was completed, if the situation persisted, they would replace the unit. I just brought it back to the dealer because the recall did not fix it and they stated that they knew nothing about the letter from Honda.