Honda Ridgeline Maintenance & Tune-Up Costs (Complete Guide)

From downtown driving to outdoor adventures, the Honda Ridgeline is a one-size-fits-all alternative to traditional pickup trucks.

It offers a smooth ride thanks to its unibody platform and has a spacious 4-door cab with seating for five.

In this article we’ll give you the full breakdown of maintenance, tune-up and running costs.

Here is the short answer to are Honda Ridgeline expensive to maintain:

The Honda Ridgeline has very reasonable maintenance costs. It would cost you around $502 to maintain a Honda Ridgeline every year, which is significantly lower than the average of $936 annually for full-size pickup trucks. A tune-up will be around $460, including the replacement of spark plugs.

Are Honda Ridgelines Expensive to Maintain?

Not only is a Honda Ridgeline reasonably inexpensive to buy brand new, but it is also reasonably cheap to maintain, and that is one of its big advantages.

When looking to buy a new vehicle it’s important to assess maintenance costs to ensure you’re able to properly look after it.

Failing to stay on top of routine servicing and repairs will lead to poor reliability and shorten the lifespan of your truck.

Below you’ll find a complete price breakdown for some of the most common costs for the Honda Ridgeline, all data is from RepairPal:

Honda Ridgeline Maintenance	Cost
Average annual repairs and maintenance	$502
Alternator replacement	$593 – $902
Oil change	$120 – $136
Wiper blade replacement	$68 – $74
Air filter replacement	$43 – $65
Battery replacement	$209 – $217
New brakes	$245 – $269
Coolant Change	$63 – $80
New tires (set of 4)	$564 – $575
New tire (one only)	$141 – $144
New spark plugs	$156 – $339
Tire & wheel assembly rotate & balance	$79 – $100
New transmission	$3000 – $4000
Tune-up	$366 – $549
Insurance	$1454 / year (average)

How Much is a Tune-Up on a Honda Ridgeline?

This will vary greatly depending on where you take your truck and you’ll likely have to pay more at a Honda dealership than your local mechanic.

You can expect to pay in the region of $366 – $549 for a fairly comprehensive Honda Ridgeline tune-up that includes, but is not limited to:

New spark plugs
Filters changed
Coolant flush
Cleaning IAC valve (idle air control)
Throttle body clean
Transmission and differential fluid change

Whilst your truck is under warranty it is advised you get your truck serviced at a registered Honda dealership.

Regular tune-ups are highly recommended because:

They can bring more power back to your engine.
Helps your engine run efficiently and start smoothly, which equates to lower emissions and better fuel economy.
Ensures long-term engine health and performance

Alternator Replacement Cost?

A new alternator on a Honda Ridgeline will set you back between $590 – $902 for a replacement which should last around 80,000 to 150,000 miles or 5 – 10 years

Labor costs are around $200 while parts are roughly $600.

While the battery is used for starting your truck when the engines off, the alternator keeps your truck alive when the engine is running.

The alternator powers most electronic components while you’re driving around or idling and is also responsible for charging the battery of your truck while driving.

Oil Change Cost?

An oil change should be performed on the Honda Ridgeline every 3,000 – 5,000 miles for conventional oil.

Synthetic oil typically should be changed every 7,500 – 10,000 miles.

The cost of an oil change should cost in the region of $120 to $136, this includes parts and labor, however does not include taxes and fees. An oil change is one of the most meaningful and vital services for your truck.

At most, oil change intervals should not exceed 10,000 miles, twelve months, or 350 hours of engine run time (whichever comes first)

Wiper Blade Replacement Cost?

This is a relatively simple and quick fix, and you can easily save yourself a few bucks by buying your own wiper blades and installing them yourself, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials on this.

Most Honda Ridgelines use a 26″ wiper blade on the driver’s side and a 24″ on the passenger side but be sure to double-check first.

Wiper blades for the Honda Ridgeline can be picked up for around $40, and installed by yourself for free.

However, if you want a professional to fit them for you then you can expect to pay in the region of $70 for parts and labor with taxes and fees on top.

Air Filter Replacement Cost?

According to RepairPal, air filter replacement cost on a Honda Ridgeline is between $43 to $65, not including taxes and fees.

The good news is this task, which should be performed annually or whenever the filter is clogged or dirty, is another fairly straightforward DIY.

Simply open the hood, locate and open the air filter’s housing, remove the old one, insert the new one and replace the housing cover.

This will help both your car and your bank account breathe a little easier, lots of tutorials on YouTube for this one also.

Battery Replacement Cost?

According to RepairPal, the cost of a battery replacement for a Honda Ridgeline should cost between $209 and $217.

Whilst there are no specific mileage recommendations for when a battery needs to be replaced, they do eventually die.

In general, it’s a good idea to replace your battery once every 4-5 years.

A vehicle’s battery life varies depending on many different factors such as climate, driving habits, and battery type, among many others.

New Brakes Cost?

Honda Ridgeline brake pads can last anywhere between 30,000 to 60,000 miles and necessary brake work isn’t a cost you can afford to neglect.

The average cost to replace your Honda Ridgeline brake pads, according to RepairPal, is between $245 and $269.

Brake pads will wear out at different rates depending on factors such as climate and your style of driving.

Pro tip: To prolong the life of your brakes – Keep your speed low in heavy traffic and avoid any sudden braking.

Cost to Change Coolant?

If it’s just a top-up your truck requires then this is a simple task you can perform yourself.

You can pick up coolant at any gas station for a few bucks and top up to the level required.

If on the other hand, you require a coolant change, which simply involves draining the coolant from the base of the radiator and then replenishing with fresh fluids, this is going to cost you a bit more.

According to RepairPal, the average cost of a Honda Ridgeline coolant change is between $63 and $80 (excluding taxes and fees).

How Much Does a New Transmission Cost?

The average cost for an aftermarket or rebuilt transmission for a Honda Ridgeline is anywhere from $3000 – $4000. This range may vary depending on the model year.

Transmissions on the Honda Ridgeline typically last 10 – 14 years or around 150,000 to 200,000 miles, depending on how well they are maintained and how the truck is driven.

Tire & Wheel Assembly, Rotate & Balance Cost

According to RepairPal, the average cost for a Honda Ridgeline tire & wheel assembly rotate & balance is between $79 and $100 – this does not include taxes and fees.

Tire rotate ensures each tire gets worn evenly whilst balancing ensures they roll smoothly and there’s no vibration (this also helps improve your fuel economy).

How much Insurance Cost?

According to insuraviz.com, the average cost of Honda Ridgeline insurance is $121 / month or $1454 / year (that is roughly $100 above the national average).

These figures can vary greatly depending on a number of factors such as your age, driving record and state requirements etc.

It’s always best to shop around and get at least 3 quotes, make sure the company you choose is reputable.

Honda Ridgeline Repair Costs Compared to Similar Trucks

In this section we’ll compare the maintenance costs of the Honda Ridgeline to some of its biggest rivals, using data from RepairPal.

Honda Ridgeline Vs Ford F-150

The F-150 is the world’s best-selling vehicle and is available in a wide range of workhorse engines.

The Honda Ridgeline is notably cheaper to maintain though, with an annual repairs total of $502 Vs the F-150’s $788.

	Honda Ridgeline	Ford F-150
Reliability rating	3.5/5.0	3.5/5.0
Repair Pal ranking	6th / 17	7th / 17
Visits to a repair shop per year	0.3	0.3
Probability of a repair being severe	15%	15%

The F-150 will be a first-choice pick with tall drivers and their passengers, as it has much greater head and legroom than the Ridgeline.

The Ford outperforms the Honda in terms of performance with a much greater towing capacity however it does cost more to buy and maintain.

You may also be interested in our article: Ford F-150: 8 common problems

Honda Ridgeline Vs Toyota Tundra

Launched in ’99, the Tundra was the first-ever full-size pickup truck built by a Japanese automaker in North America.

The Tundra will set you back around $606 in annual maintenance whilst the Ridgeline will set you back $502.

	Honda Ridgeline	Honda Ridgeline
Reliability rating	3.5/5.0	3.5/5.0
Repair Pal ranking	6th / 17	2nd / 17
Visits to a repair shop per year	0.3	0.3
Probability of a repair being severe	15%	13%

The Ridgeline has a similar turning radius to the Tundra, so both should maneuver just as easily in and out of tight spots.

In terms of towing capacity, the Tundra is the clear choice over the Ridgeline.

You may also be interested in our article: Toyota Tundra Maintenance Costs

Honda Ridgeline Vs Ram Pick-Up

The Ram 1500 was launched in 1981 and is none of the best-selling pickup trucks in the US

In terms of repair costs, the Ram is the more expensive option of the two with an average annual repair cost of $691 Vs. $502 for the Honda Ridgeline.

	Honda Ridgeline	Ram 1500
Reliability rating	3.5/5.0	3.5/5.0
Repair Pal ranking	6th / 17	4th / 17
Visits to a repair shop per year	0.3	0.3
Probability of a repair being severe	15%	15%

Both vehicles are similarly priced however the Ram 1500 offers significantly more performance and towing capability.

The Honda is highly praised for its reliability though with Consumer Reports ranking it in first place in the smaller pick-up class with a reliability score of 4.0/5.0.

You may also be interested in our article: Ram 1500 Maintenance Costs

How Long is the Honda Ridgeline’s Manufacturers Warranty?

When you drive your new Honda Ridgeline off the dealership lot, you’ll be covered by Honda’s factory warranty of 36,000 miles / 3 years basic coverage and 60,000 miles / 5 years (whichever comes first) powertrain coverage.

This length of protection is actually quite common among car manufacturers however it is on the shorter side of warranties

You can check your vehicle warranty status, track your service history, view your owner’s manual and more at the Honda Owner’s website, If you cannot find the VIN number, the only real way to check your vehicle’s factory warranty is to call or visit your local dealership.