Midsize pickups · model years 2019 to 2021
Honda Ridgeline vs Ford Ranger: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Ranger looks better on 2 and the Ridgeline on 1, with 4 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2019 to 2021 | Ridgeline | Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 2.4% | 4.9% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 0.4% | 1.2% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 2.2% | 2.8% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 30,000 | 38,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 5.7 | 5.0 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 6 | 1 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Ridgeline owners complain about most is engine; for the Ranger it is transmission and drivetrain. Complaints citing engine make up 21% of all Ridgeline complaints, against 11% on the Ranger. The Ranger leans the other way on transmission and drivetrain: 39% of its complaints, against 11% for the Ridgeline.
Honda RidgelineFord Ranger
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Ridgeline is infotainment problems (20% of its complaints). On the Ranger it is transmission shudder (22% of its complaints), against 2.2% on the Ridgeline.
| Problem | Ridgeline | Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 20% 102most in 2020 · 39k mi | 7.3% 3736k mi |
| Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard | 2.2% 11 | 22% 110most in 2019 · 62k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 11% 58most in 2019 · 26k mi | 11% 55most in 2019 · 50k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 3.7% 196k mi | 8.7% 446k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 6.9% 3578k mi | 5.3% 2736k mi |
| Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing | 7.9% 4070k mi | 0 |
| Transmission fails or needs replacement | 0 | 6.1% 3160k mi |
| Suspension noise, struts or alignment | 0 | 4.5% 23 |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Ridgeline owners report problems earlier. Half the Ridgeline complaints that give a mileage come before 30,000 miles; for the Ranger the halfway point is 38,000. 68% of Ridgeline reports and 63% of Ranger reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Honda RidgelineFord Ranger
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 146 for the Ridgeline and 210 for the Ranger.
Worst and best years
No Ridgeline model year stands out from the rest. The 2019 Ranger draws 1.8 times the complaints of a typical Ranger year for its age.
Honda Ridgeline
- Years to avoid: none stands out
- Best years: none since 2016 is clearly better
Honda RidgelineFord Ranger
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The two draw recalls at about the same rate: 5.7 campaigns per model year for the Ridgeline and 5.0 for the Ranger. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Honda Ridgeline
17 recall campaigns and 6 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: structure (3), fuel system (3) and seat belts (2).
- 26V-332 (airbags) covers 3 model years
- 26V-365 (structure) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- PE25008: Engine failure (open)
- EA25004: No restart after auto start/stop engages (open)
- EA25003: Rear-view camera failure (closed)
Ford Ranger
15 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: transmission and drivetrain (3), backup camera (3) and visibility (2).
- 21V-811 (seat belts) covers 3 model years
- 23V-379 (equipment) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- RQ21002: Rearview camera fmvss 111 noncompliance (open)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Ranger complaints report a crash: 4.9%, against 2.4% for the Ridgeline. Fire reports: 2 for the Ridgeline and 6 for the Ranger.
Honda RidgelineFord Ranger
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Honda Ridgeline or the Ford Ranger more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Ranger looks better on 2 and the Ridgeline on 1, with 4 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Ridgeline has 507 complaints and the Ranger 508 for model years 2019 to 2021, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Ridgeline or the Ranger?
The Ridgeline has 17 recall campaigns and the Ranger 15 across model years 2019 to 2021. The two draw recalls at about the same rate: 5.7 campaigns per model year for the Ridgeline and 5.0 for the Ranger.
What are the most common problems on the Ridgeline and the Ranger?
The most reported problem on the Ridgeline is infotainment problems (20% of its complaints). On the Ranger it is transmission shudder (22% of its complaints), against 2.2% on the Ridgeline.
More comparisons
- Toyota Tacoma vs Ford Ranger2019 to 2021
- Toyota Tacoma vs Honda Ridgeline2017 to 2023