Honda Ridgeline Lemon Law

The defect Ridgeline owners raise most often is the transmission. Complaints include shuddering, gear slippage, hard banging or clunking noises, and jerky or delayed shifts, along with reports of torque-converter and clutch problems. Unlike some Honda transmission issues, the Ridgeline's has not been the subject of a broad recall, but that doesn't make it any less real — a persistent, unrepaired drivability defect is squarely what California's Lemon Law covers.

Ridgeline owners also report other recurring problems. Certain model years have been recalled for fuel-pump failures that can cause the engine to stall while driving, and for a rearview-camera wiring issue in the tailgate that can leave the backup camera blank. On top of that, owners describe electrical and infotainment glitches, idle-stop and Honda Sensing quirks, and A/C systems that stop cooling. Any one of these, if it can't be fixed, can support a claim.

You do not need a recall to be protected. If your Ridgeline has a problem that substantially affects its use, value, or safety, and the dealer can't fix it within a reasonable number of attempts — or the truck spends an extended time in the shop — California's Lemon Law may entitle you to a buyback, a replacement, or a cash settlement, with Honda paying your attorney fees.

A recall is not automatically a lemon — it's the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free repair. California's Lemon Law (the Song-Beverly Act) comes into play when a substantial defect can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, or when your Ridgeline has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days.

If your Honda Ridgeline qualifies, you may be entitled to a buyback (a refund of what you've paid, minus a mileage offset), a replacement vehicle, or a cash-and-keep settlement — and Honda pays your attorney fees on a successful claim, so pursuing your case costs you nothing out of pocket.