2020 Honda Ridgeline: won't start

Filed Sep 16, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · MA

Engine idle stop function failed to restart automatically while i was stopped at a stop light. I was at a complete stop at a four way intersection with vehicles behind me and my vehicle did not restart after light turned green and i released brake and stepped on accelerator. error message flashed stating to press brake and push start button. Vehicles behine me honked for me to proceed but i could not move. i turned on my hazards and attempted to restart engine. i stepped on brake and pushed start button. Vehicle did not start, i repeated stepping on brake and start button again and did not start. I did it a third time and vehcile started. A police car behind me pulled up and asked if i was ok just as i started my vehicle and pulled away. This is the second time this has happended but i did not report it and thought it was me not stepping on the brake hard enough. the first time was about six months ago in a similiar situation at a four way traffic light.

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 Jun 19, 2026 · Electrical, Lights · NJ

BCM module failure. Keyless entry error. Vehicle dashboard lit up with many errors. Car alarm went on and off. Car will not start . Disconnect battery toe reset. Drove home and the car doesn’t want to stop running or idling. Disconnect battery till it turns off.

Filed Feb 6, 2026 · Engine · TX

After parking on the roadside with engine off for about 10 minutes, the truck would not start. I tried to start twice; the dash lights came on, I could hear the starter try to engage, felt a slight forward lurch from the vehicle, then nothing. The starter seemed to disengage' the dash lights stayed on, and the electric system went into ACC mode. I tried twice with same result. I attempted to put the shift selector in neutral, but it stayed in Park. I was seated in truck, seat belt on, foot pressing on brake pedal. After waiting a few minutes, it cranked and started normally. No further issues the rest of the day. The weather was mild, sunny, temperatures in the mid-60’s fahrenheit.

Filed Oct 6, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · TX

While stopped at a traffic light on a state highway the idle stop did shut off the engine. When the light turned green, I released the brake, but the engine did not crank or start. After placing transmission into Park, I attempted to start normally. There was no response to the start button being pushed, other than all the typical pre-start warning lights check on the panel. Tried to start with transmission selector in Neutral..same result. All doors and hood was closed, driver in seat, belt fastened, and key nearby. I attempted to get out and push the truck to the side of road with assistance. Unable to do that because of the transmission park interconnect. After about 3 minutes trying multiple times to start the engine, it finally did start normally. The vehicle battery is pretty new and checking the voltage at home, it is fine. This is a dangerous situation. This “ Idle stop” system is senseless and a safety hazard. I have not received any notice from Honda about any recall on this system.

Filed Aug 16, 2025 · FL

Auto Idle Stop system is not working correctly. Usual it happens at a traffic light, the truck Auto Idle Stop system sometimes will not start the engine and requires me to put it in park and restart with the primary starter. Took the truck to Honda dealer and they told me the best remedy was to turn off the Auto Idle Stop system every time I use the truck. This does not seem like a reasonable fix. I have had the truck or 5 years, but only have about 26000 miles on the vehicle.The Auto Idle Stop system has failed to work approximately 15 to 20 times since I bought the truck new in 2020.

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 Feb 5, 2025 · Engine · CO

Checked oil display at 40% on 04JAN2025, had to put in 2.5 qts 0-40 viscosity engine oil to get between bottom and top level markers on the oil dipstick. On 08AN2025 at approx 4:35AM, on the way home, heard engine noise (like 2-spoons tapping together) and within 1-minute the engine died and will not start, just a click. Had the vehicle towed to my residence (approx .5 mile) and parked for 3-weeks to check if battery, bad gas, and/or transmission neutral safety is/are the issue(s). Finally got the vehicle towed to a local shop on 29JAN2025. Called local shop on 31JAN2025 and informed that there is no oil in the engine, and recommended to replace the engine. Note: oil/filter changed on MAY2024, and have purchased oil/filter on 07JAN2025 to change oil as soon as the oil displays 30%

Filed Aug 22, 2024 · Engine · NY

OEM starter that vehicle came with failed at 40,000 miles. Took vehicle to Honda dealership and dealership stated that starter motor was weak and need replacing. No warning such as weak or delayed start was present. Vehicle simply would not start in the morning after functioning properly the day previously. Jumping the vehicle did not help. The vehicle starter giving out so early and unexpectedly could leave motorists stranded at unexpected places or times.

Filed Jun 18, 2023 · CT

This a transmission and auto idle shut off issue. The condition has happened 8-11 times over the 80K miles I have owned this vehicle. It happened today Sunday 6/18/2023 at 12:13pm. With the auto idle shut off engauged, at a stop light, foot on the brake and waiting for the light to change to green, the transmission will shift from drive to neutral, without touching anything. I will get a notification on the dashboard " that I need to put my foot on the brake to start the car", but my foot is on the brake already, waiting for the light to change. The vehicle will not start in neutral, I have to put the vehicle into park to start the vehicle. If I don't see the notification on the dashboard, focused on watching the light change, when the light turns green, take my foot off the brake, the next thing I know, I am rolling backwards towards a vehicle behind me. When the light turns green, the vehicle behind me thinks I am going to move forward, instead I am rolling backwards towards them, before I reapplied the brakes. Twice the vehicle behind me looked like they were going to hit, but stopped short. I have been the two dealerships with my concerns and one did a software update, but the problem continues to persist. One dealer recommended notifying Honda of America and I have done this. 6/12/2023 case 13880068, no response yet and 6/17/2023 second request case 13893182. At first I thought I was doing something with my hand, but I now drive with my right hand on the passenger armrest to make sure I have no involvement in the condition I have describe.

Filed Oct 12, 2022 · Engine · TX

Engine fails to restart after Idle Stop engaged. Engine stops normally when brake pedal is pressed and vehicle comes to full stop. Brake pedal is then released to restart engine but the engine does not start. Dashboard says "Shift to Park". The transmission is shifted to Park and then Start button is pushed to restart engine. Sometimes the Start button has to be pushed multiple times to restart engine. This is a safety issue because the vehicle cannot move in traffic, crossing an intersection, etc. It is equivalent to an engine stall. This happens approximately 10% of the time when the Idle Stop is engaged. Also, sometimes the engine will start but after a hesitation or a struggle to start. In this situation, "Collision Mitigation System Warning" displays on the dashboard. This happens probably 25% of the time. Battery and starter have no problem starting the vehicle outside of these conditions.

Filed Oct 5, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · OK

Stopping at a stop light on 10/4 & 09/27 engine shut down and wouldn't start. People behind me honking their horns for me to go. Enginewouldn't start and had gone fromdr to park. Dash said somethinglike press brake and start button.the whole time the light was green,ir wouldn't start. The 1st time it happened I thought it was the econ on but the 2ndtime it wasn't on. I have an appointment today at eskridge in okc. This is so scarry,ithought I needed to report it. I am scarred that engine and everything will shut down again.