When I bought my Ridgeline in 2019, Honda sent me a survey. I did a thorough job on it, which apparently flagged me as someone worth asking more, because they sent a second, longer one. I gave them detailed answers — but it was all in their format, so I never kept a copy. I always meant to write up my own notes. Something always came up.
I’ve since traded the truck for something with a third row. So here, finally, are the notes. Honda has actually fixed some of what I’d have flagged, and I’ll point those out as I go.
What I Loved
I really liked this small truck. Some people don’t think it’s a “real” truck. Who cares. It’s perfect if you need a comfortable ride more often than you need heavy-duty truck capability, which describes most people who buy trucks.
The ride was comfortable — large but not unwieldy. The 5,000-pound towing capacity was plenty. The bed was the right size; I just added a bed extender for longer wood or pipe. Interior was typical high-end Honda — good leather, good build.
The two best features, by a lot: the bed trunk and the dual-action tailgate. Both genuinely set it apart from every other small truck.
What I’d Tell Honda
The front end needed to look more like a truck and less like a Pilot SUV, and the split headlights were ugly — they’d look better as one piece. Honda fixed most of this except the split headlights.
The Black Edition wheels were too flat — not aggressive enough. Fixed in later models.
The electronics felt a generation behind. Old calculator-style speed display, dated graphics on the info screen, not enough physical controls (similar complaint to what I’d later have about Tesla). They added a knob back, so I think this one’s handled.
The emergency brake was a pedal up by your left knee. Terrible spot — it stuck out, I’d hit it with my legs, and once my pant leg actually caught on it. Why not an electric parking brake? I believe they made this change.
The shifter could be electronic too. I think they did this.
The turning radius wasn’t great. I’d love a more nimble truck — three inches narrower would help.
Power was adequate but not great. You had to stomp it to get going in a hurry, which isn’t my driving style, so I’d find myself waiting until I had plenty of room to pull out. That’s actually the biggest day-to-day difference between this truck and my Tesla.
No tailgate lock, which was a real omission. Should at least be electronic. Actually, it should just be electronic.
Garmin map updates were a pain.
Problems I Had
Honestly minimal, and most got covered by recalls.
Rear camera wiring harness. Known design flaw. Fixed under my extended warranty before the recall came out.
Flooded passenger carpet. Pulled up the carpet to dry it, read about how many other Ridgeline owners had this, tried hosing it down with Honda watching, eventually figured out the AC drain was clogged. Had it blown out, made it part of every oil change after.
Rear door lock. One rear door couldn’t be opened from the inside. Weird.
Transmission stutter. The transmission needs flushing on a tight schedule, and mine started stuttering before it was due. I recorded the dropping RPMs for Honda service, since my warranty was running out and I wanted any real issue documented. Turned out a flush solved it completely.
Accessories Worth Getting
Running boards, sill lights, mud flaps — all good. The cargo net was actually useful, not just dealer upsell.
I bought a separate set of wheels for winter tires and ended up liking them more than the OEMs, so I made them my three-season setup and put the snows on the originals. Eventually switched to snow-rated all-terrains.
Skip WeatherTech for the rear floor. I found a one-piece mat that covered the back seat and the under-seat area in one piece — way better at keeping debris out of the cracks.
The rolling tonneau cover is non-negotiable. It gives you the most flexibility for what you can actually do with the bed.
Camping in the Bed
I got the Honda bed tent and it came in handy. A full-size air mattress just fits, and the 120V outlet in the bed is perfect for inflating it. Only catch: the entry is high off the ground, so you need a step, bench, or cooler to climb out.
The best setup I worked out: bed tent for the kids, ground tent facing it for the adults. Double the awning coverage, a built-in “prison” to contain the kids, and a much easier middle-of-the-night bathroom situation.
Would I Buy Another?
If I ever needed a small truck again, yes. We just don’t right now — we needed the third row more than I needed the bed. But the Ridgeline did exactly what it was supposed to do for the years we had it, and I never regretted owning one.
Even that's Odd 
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