All new Honda Ridgelines come with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty from the factory.
Jump to insightQuotes we received for an extended auto warranty on a 2021 Ridgeline ranged from $936.07 to $1,028.16 a year, which is nearly the cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightHonda has average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightHonda Ridgeline extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Ridgeline comes with. Honda Ridgelines come with the following warranties from the factory:
- A three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- A five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty
Factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner. So if you buy a 2-year-old truck with 20,000 miles on it, you still have one year or 16,000 miles worth of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage remaining.
For an extended warranty on your Honda Ridgeline, you have two options:
- Buy the official Honda extended warranty, called Honda Care.
- Buy a plan from a third-party extended warranty company, which allows you to take your truck to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs.
If you’re deciding between a Honda Care plan and a third-party extended warranty, it’s important to note that Honda Care requires you to get approval before taking your car to a mechanic outside of the Honda repair network. This can complicate the claims process. Third-party extended warranties typically provide more repair-shop flexibility, allowing you to use any ASE-certified mechanic.
That said, if you go to an authorized Honda dealer for repairs, you’re guaranteed access to factory-trained technicians and genuine Honda parts, which might not be the case with an independent mechanic. Honda Care also offers a 100% money back satisfaction guarantee if you decide you don’t want the plan within the first 60 days.
Are you prepared for a major car repair bill?
A ConsumerAffairs investigation found that only 41% of American drivers surveyed had enough cash to cover a $1,000 repair bill, and 13% of respondents had no way to handle a repair bill that large, even with credit.
In either case, you’ll generally get the most value by purchasing whichever plan offers comprehensive, exclusionary protection (often called bumper-to-bumper or Platinum). These plans cover 90% or more of the parts on your vehicle. Less comprehensive Gold, Silver and powertrain plans may be cheaper, but they tend to cover fewer parts per dollar.
Auto warranties don't cover damage or accidents, and repairs generally aren't covered if you don't properly maintain the vehicle or you make aftermarket modifications. They only pay for repairs and replacements of specifically covered parts that fail from normal wear and tear.
In general, here are the differences between what a bumper-to-bumper warranty and a powertrain warranty cover:
| Warranty type | Typical coverage | Not covered |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper-to-bumper |
Engine Drive axle Differential assembly Transmission and transfer case Steering Seals and gaskets Air conditioning/heating Core electrical components Front and rear suspension Brakes Cooling system Fuel delivery system |
Spark plugs Battery cables Tires Fluids and lubricants Upholstery Paint Handles |
| Powertrain | Parts that create power and deliver it to the wheels | Parts not related to the engine, transmission or drive axle |
Some extended auto warranty plans fall somewhere between bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage.
» LEARN: What to know about manufacturers’ extended warranties
How much does a Honda Ridgeline extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $936.07 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Honda Ridgeline registered in Austin, Texas, with 40,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,028.16 annually for 30 months of coverage for the same vehicle with the same mileage. Both quotes assumed a $100 deductible. Note that both of these are third-party extended auto warranty companies.
Compare quotes from multiple providers to be sure that you're getting a good deal on an extended warranty.
The official Honda extended warranty is called Honda Care, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Honda dealer to compare your options.
Prices, term lengths, mileage caps and deductible options vary among the Honda Care plans, but dealers say that you can get the lowest price and the longest term — eight years or up to 120,000 miles from original owner's purchase date — if you get a plan before your car hits 6,000 miles.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 Ridgeline with zero miles typically has cheaper extended warranty options than a 2020 model with 50,000 miles, for example.
For context, the average cost of an extended warranty is around $1,000 per year of coverage. The quotes we collected for our hypothetical 2021 Honda Ridgeline aligned pretty closely with this average.
Keep in mind that some extended auto warranties start from the original owner's purchase date of the vehicle. So if the factory warranty lasts for four years and 50,000 miles, a six-year/100,000-mile plan may only provide two additional years or 50,000 additional miles of coverage.
Honda Care extended warranty plan details
For new vehicle coverage, Honda Care can be purchased before the factory warranty expires — in fact, the earlier you get coverage, the better pricing and terms you may qualify for. For pre-owned vehicle coverage, you can purchase a plan as long as the vehicle is a 2023 or newer model and has no more than 36,000 miles on the odometer.
Rather than offering a variety of coverage tiers, with higher-priced plans equalling more vehicle parts covered, the difference in Honda’s extended warranty plan, Honda Care, is that plans are available for different phases of a vehicle’s life. It does, however, offer a powertrain-level plan for pre-owned and certified used vehicles only.
Coverage tiers
You can purchase a Honda Care plan for your Ridgeline in any of these categories:
- New vehicle coverage
- Pre-owned vehicle coverage
- Certified additional coverage
- Certified used additional coverage
- Certified used powertrain coverage
- Powertrain coverage (pre-owned vehicles only)
Powertrain and certified used powertrain coverage includes the engine, front and rear drive axles, transmission, and applicable seals, gaskets and fluids.
New, pre-owned, certified used and certified additional coverage includes drivetrain components, electronics, the chassis, and heating and cooling systems, as well as accessories such as navigational systems.
Included benefits
If you purchase a Honda Care plan for your Ridgeline, you’ll also have access to these benefits:
- 24-hour roadside assistance: This includes towing services, lockout assistance, tire changes, battery jump-start and fuel delivery service.
- Rental car reimbursement: If your Ridgeline is in the shop for covered repairs, Honda Care may reimburse your rental car expenses up to $35 per day for up to six days.
- Trip interruption coverage: If your Ridgeline experiences a mechanical breakdown and needs a covered repair while you’re more than 100 miles from home, you may qualify for Honda Care’s trip interruption benefit. This covers meals and lodging expenses up to $100 per day for up to three days while your vehicle is being worked on.
- Concierge services: You can use Honda Care for assistance with things such as airline information and hotel reservations.
Honda Ridgeline extended warranty pros and cons
Several pros and cons apply to extended car warranties in general:
Pros
- Provides peace of mind once the factory warranty expires
- Potentially less expensive than average extended warranty costs
- Helps make repair costs more predictable
- Can add value to a used Ridgeline with remaining factory warranty
Cons
- Warranty might not be necessary for all owners, as Honda Ridgelines have average reliability
- Coverage limits and exclusions may lead to unexpected out-of-pocket costs
- Not all plans offer full bumper-to-bumper coverage
- Some extended warranties start from the original purchase date, limiting added value
Is a Honda Ridgeline extended warranty worth it?
A Honda Ridgeline extended warranty can certainly be worth it, but it depends on your particular circumstances and risk tolerance.
When deciding if an extended warranty is right for you, consider the model year, current mileage, and how you use your truck, as well as how important it is to you to have predictable repair costs. If you plan on a long ownership period, expect high annual mileage, or need your Ridgeline for towing use, an extended warranty might make sense.
In general, an extended auto warranty is worth it if any of the following are true:
- Your vehicle has a bad reputation for reliability.
- A big repair bill could hurt you financially.
- You don’t mind paying for peace of mind.
Honda as a brand has average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Honda 16th out of 28 car brands for overall dependability. As for the Ridgeline specifically, RepairPal gave it a 3.5 out of 5.
Many Ridgeline owners say that these vehicles are some of the most reliable little trucks on the market. That said, 4-cylinder and V6 engine failures in some model years mean that a powertrain warranty could be worthwhile, while a bumper-to-bumper warranty may be overkill.
Honda maintenance is generally pretty cheap, but the Ridgeline’s middling reliability means that an extended warranty could still be a good idea.
FAQ
How long is the Honda Ridgeline’s factory warranty?
All new Honda Ridgelines come with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Is the Honda Ridgeline’s extended warranty transferable?
Yes, in most cases, both Honda Care and many third-party extended warranties are transferable to a new owner if you sell the vehicle. Be sure to check with your specific provider for transfer policies and potential fees.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- American Honda Finance Corporation, "Protection Products." Accessed July 3, 2026.
- J.D. Power, “Vehicle Software Updates Become More Routine, but Fall Short on Perceived Benefit, JD Power Finds.” Accessed July 3, 2026.
- RepairPal, "Honda Ridgeline Reliability - 2026 Ratings." Accessed July 3, 2026.
- American Honda Motor Co., Inc., "2026 Ridgeline." Accessed July 3, 2026.
