The Honda Ridgeline is a unique unibody midsize pickup.
Although its known to be very reliable, it is not immune from door locking problems.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the Ridgeline’s most common locking problems and how to fix them.
Table of Contents
1. Honda Ridgeline Tailgate Not Locking or Unlocking
If your Honda Ridgeline tailgate won’t lock it is likely because the power locking setting is disabled.
The “Tailgate Power Locking” is a customizable feature that can be set to Enable or Disable.
Use the audio/information screen to customize this feature.
- With the power mode in ON, select Settings.
- Then select “Vehicle”
- Then select “Door Setup”
- Then select “Tailgate Power Locking”
- Here you can select Enable or Disable
There is also a switch in the glove box that prevents the tailgate from unlocking. The manual states: “The trunk main switch will also disable the tailgate lock/unlock function when its setting is Enable”.
Owners on ridgelineownersclub.com shared the following insights:
“Ok, I feel dumb. Not sure how after a 11 months the switch in the glove box got thrown but I was able to unlock the tailgate.”
“The switch resolved the locked tailgate issue.”
“I just verified that setting the Trunk Main switch to OFF does prevent the tailgate from unlocking if the tailgate lock/unlock function is enabled.”
“I flipped that switch in the glove box now it works”
You should also check that you don’t have any blown fuses.
If it still doesn’t lock it could be caused by a variety of electrical or mechanical failure, in which case you should speak with your dealer.
2. Honda Ridgeline Central Locking Not Working
If the power lock doors aren’t working as they should on your Ridgeline, then there is a few likely culprits.
Key Fob Battery
The first thing you should do is change the battery in your fob and give the inside of the fob a clean.
If you have multiple fobs, to be on the safe side change the battery in them also.
A low key fob battery can cause a wide range of issues, especially with central locking.
It is also possible the fob is faulty or may need reprogramming.
“You may want to try the batteries in the fobs.” – RidgelineOwnersClub.com
12V Battery
A faulty or weak 12V battery can cause a wide range of problems including those related to the power locks.
The best thing to do is to have a battery health check or simply replace the battery.
Be sure to check the battery connections are tight and free from rust, dirt and grime.
Faulty Door Locking Module
A faulty locking module can cause a wide range of issues with the power door locks.
The door control module is located in the door panel, fixing these can be quite technical and it’s often better to just buy a replacement and have it fitted by a trained professional.
Faulty Door Switch
The door switch (sensor) is designed to detect whether the car door is open or closed. If these are broken or faulty they can relay incorrect signals and affect the locking of doors.
Check The Fuses
A blown fuse can cause issues with the door locks.
You can find a list of fuses online for your model year Ridgeline and test across the fuses with a voltmeter on the continuity setting – it should beep showing that the fuse is still intact.
Clean & Lubricate The Door Locks & Latches
Try cleaning and lubricating the door locks and latches.
A quick clean and some WD-40 might be all it takes to resolve the issue.
Make sure all the doors all open and shut properly and there is nothing obstructing them e.g. bits of dirt, leaves, grime etc.
“Sticky lock can prevent the latch assembly from power-locking. Hose the insides of all your locks with aerosol graphite if it’s found to be sticking. Don’t forget the ignition lock too if it’s been neglected.” – RidgelineOwnersClub.com
Faulty Door Lock Actuator
Its not uncommon on any car for the door actuator to fail as it is subject to a lot of wear and tear from continually being used.
If you are mechanically inclined and you can pinpoint the faulty actuator you can replace these without too much trouble, otherwise it might be best to leave it to the professionals.
“Most likely the actuator.” – RidgelineOwnersClub.com
“Yup that sounds like a classic Honda lock actuator problem.” – RidgelineOwnersClub.com
“My guess would be the door lock actuator. If thats what it is, cost is about $20-$30 bucks for parts” – RidgelineOwnersClub.com
Related: Honda Ridgeline Alarm Going Off? (15 Common Causes)
3. Honda Ridgeline Unlocking Itself
Some Ridgeline owners have reported problems with one or more of the doors unlocking on their own when they shouldn’t.
Key Fob In Car
If your Ridgeline is unlocking itself when leaving the vehicle then one possible cause is that you have a spare key fob left in the vehicle.
This feature is designed so that you don’t inadvertently lock yourself out.
Faulty Door Lock Actuator / Door Switch
Another common cause is simply a faulty door lock actuator or door switch (sensor).
Over time these can fail due to simple wear and tear and in some cases these parts have recalls issued on them so it’s always a good idea to run a VIN check on your vehicle.
Similarly if the wiring is damaged or faulty, this can cause the car to unlock itself too.
The best thing to do is visit your dealer and ask them to inspect your door latches and actuators and run some diagnostic tests.
If the doors are unlocking whilst driving then it’s almost certainly the actuator, as owners from RidgelineOwnersClub.com point out.
“You have a bad actuator. Every time you go over 9 mph they’re trying to lock and one isn’t locking. I hope that’s wrong but that’s probably it.”
“I agree, sticking actuator is most likely. You need to investigate each door.”
Electrical Issues
There is a wide range of electrical issues that could cause your Ridgeline to unlock unwarranted, such as:
- Damaged wiring
- Faulty Body Control Module
- Faulty Keyless Access Module
Ask your dealer to run some diagnostic tests.
Faulty Key Fob
A faulty key fob can cause a wide range of issues including unlocking the vehicle when it shouldn’t.
It may just need a new battery or need the inside cleaned.
You can also try removing the battery and using your spare fob to see if the problem persists, although it is possible that both the fobs are broken and/or low on battery.
Accidental Press Of Unlock Button
It’s possible you may have accidentally pressed the unlock button on the key fob.
Auto Door Unlocking
The Ridgeline has a feature that can be enabled/disabled called “Auto Door Locking/Unlocking”.
All doors will unlock when the driver’s door is opened when this setting is enabled.
You can turn off or change to another auto door locking/unlocking setting using the multi-information display.
4. Honda Ridgeline Locking Itself
If you’re Ridgeline keeps locking itself it could be caused by a number of reasons.
Auto Door Locking Feature
The Ridgeline can automatically lock the doors every time the vehicle’s speed reaches about 10 mph. This is part of a feature that can be enabled/disabled called “Auto Door Locking/Unlocking”.
On newer models, you can turn off the auto door locking setting using the driver information interface.
Auto Door Locking Feature
Some Ridgelines are programmed to lock after a certain amount of time in case you accidentally pressed the unlock button, as explained by owners from ridgelineownersclub.com below:
“If you lock the Ridgeline and then unlock it but don’t open any doors within a certain amount of time then it will relock itself. This is a nice feature that prevents someone from accidentally unlocking their Ridgeline without meaning to.”
“You only need to open a door, any door, and it will keep the auto lock from resetting and locking. You only have 30 seconds though.”
“If the doors were locked, and you unlocked them with the key fob and opened only the trunk, then the doors will lock back after 30 seconds. If you open a door, they won’t lock back automatically.”
“This is different from the auto lock when reaching 9 mph, etc. You can’t disable this feature. It’s so that if you accidentally unlock the door, it will relock and keep people from accessing your truck when you think it is locked.”
Other Common Causes
- Defective door lock actuator
- Key fob issues (
- Faulty wiring harness
- Defective tailgate switch
- Issues with aftermarket alarms
5. Honda Ridgeline Not Locking Or Unlocking With Fob
A Honda Ridgeline that does not lock or unlock with the key fob is often caused by a weak key fob battery, or by excess dust/dirt buildup inside the fob. It’s also possible that your key fob is not working properly and needs to be repaired and/or reprogrammed.
Other causes include:
- Faulty actuator
- Low 12V battery
- 12V battery has loose connections
- Blown fuse
- Door not shut properly
Related: Honda Ridgeline Beeping Problems? (12 Causes & Solutions)
6. Honda Ridgeline Door Not Locking
If your Honda Ridgeline door locks don’t work at all, you might have an issue with the door lock actuator or the locking mechanism.
Before you take off the door panel though, check if you can lock the car using either the key, the door switch or the fob. If only one of these methods doesn’t work, just focus on troubleshooting that first.
The key cylinder can go bad over time which would prevent you from locking the door using the key. If you can still lock the door using the key, it might just be the door actuator that needs to be replaced. If the door switch doesn’t work, the switch itself or its wiring might be bad.
Signs of a bad door actuator include:
- Strange electric motor noises
- Keeps unlocking on its own
- Becomes harder to move by hand
- Door doesn’t latch closed properly
Door locking issues can also be caused by a faulty BCM (Body Control Module) or what Honda calls a MICU (Multiplex Integrated Control Unit).
The BCM controls the car’s electrical accessories and can cause strange electrical gremlins if it’s shorted. Your dealer or mechanic should be able to diagnose this properly.
7. Honda Ridgeline Not Beeping When Locked
If your Honda Ridgeline does not beep when you lock the doors it is often caused by a weak key fob battery. It may also be caused by not closing your hood, tailgate or a door properly.
“As simple as it may sound, try putting a new battery in the fob. Several other members did that and the problems went away. Good luck!” – ridgelineownersclub.com
It can also be caused by the Keyless Lock Answer Back feature being turned off.
When you exit your Ridgeline and lock it using the fob, you have the option of having beeping ‘on’ or ‘off’. This can be adjusted using the Keyless Lock Answer Back feature.
This can be set from the display unit.
- Go to menu
- Using the scrolling wheel, go down to ‘Settings’
- Then scroll down to ‘Vehicle Settings’
- Then scroll down to ‘Door/Window Setup’
- Then scroll down to ‘Keyless Lock Answer Back’
If it’s on ‘Off’ the car will make no sound when you lock it.
If its ‘On’ it will beep when you lock it
Then just use the return / back button to get back to the main screen.
Resources
https://owners.honda.com/vehicle-information/manuals
https://owners.honda.com/help/customer-relations
https://owners.honda.com/service-maintenance/recalls
http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/AH/AT6Z2222OM/enu/AT6Z2222OM.PDF
