2021 HONDA RIDGELINE tailgate

Contents
Child Safety P. 59Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 74Safety Labels P. 75
Tailgate P. 131 Opening and Closing the Trunk P. 133
Moonroof* P. 143 Operating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel P. 145
Interior/Exterior Convenience Items P. 175Climate Control System P. 195
Audio System Basic Operation P. 211 Audio Error Messages P. 278
Customized Features P. 298
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines P. 383 When Driving P. 385 Honda Sensing® P. 423
Multi-View Rear Camera P. 481 Refueling P. 483 Fuel Economy and CO
2 Emissions P. 486
Maintenance Under the Hood P. 496 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 508
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 516 Battery P. 525 Remote Transmitter Care P. 527
Cleaning P. 529 Accessories and Modifications P. 535
Engine Does Not Start P. 549If the Battery Is Dead P. 552
Fuses P. 562 Emergency Towing P. 568
If You Cannot Unlock the Tailgate P. 570 Refueling P. 571
Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 577 Reporting Safety Defects P. 578
Authorized Manuals P. 584 Customer Service Information P. 585
Quick Reference GuideP. 6
Safe DrivingP. 31
Instrument PanelP. 77
ControlsP. 115
FeaturesP. 203
DrivingP. 363
MaintenanceP. 487
Handling the UnexpectedP. 537
InformationP. 573
IndexP. 587

Visual Index
10
Quick Reference Guide❚Maintenance Under the Hood (P496)
❚Windshield Wipers (P157, 514)
❚Power Door Mirrors (P165)
❚Headlights (P149, 508)
❚Front Side Marker Lights (P149, 510)
❚Side Turn Signal Lights* (P148, 511)
❚How to Refuel (P484)
❚Rear Turn Signal and Back-Up Lights (P148, 512)
❚Tires (P516, 539)
❚Front Turn Signal/Parking* Lights (P148, 511)
❚Brake/Taillight and Rear Side Marker Lights (P512)
❚Rear License Plate Light (P513)
❚Multi-View Rear Camera (P481)
❚Drop Opening the Tailgate (P132)
❚Swing Opening the Tailgate (P132)
❚Opening and Closing the Trunk (P133)
❚AC Power Outlet* (P191)
❚High-Mount Brake Light (P513)
❚Fog Lights (P152, 510)
❚Daytime Running Lights /Parking Lights* (P153, 510)
❚Door Lock/Unlock Control (P120)
❚Rear License Plate Light (P513)
❚Bed Lights (P193)

36
uuFor Safe Driving uSafety Checklist
Safe Driving
Safety Checklist
For the safety of you and your passenge rs, make a habit of checking these items
each time before you drive.
• After everyone has entered the vehicle, be sure all doors are closed and locked.
Locking the doors helps prevent an occupant from being ejected and an outsider
from unexpectedly opening a door.
2 Locking/Unlocking the Doors from the Inside P. 127
•Adjust your seat to a position suitable for driving. Be sure the front seats are
adjusted as far to the rear as possible while allowing the driver to control the
vehicle. Sitting too close to a front airbag can result in serious or fatal injury in a
crash.
2 Seats P. 166
•Adjust head restraints to the proper position. Head restraints are most effective
when the center of the head restraint alig ns with the center of your head. Taller
persons should adjust their head restraint to the highest position.
2 Adjusting the front head restraint positions P. 171
•Always wear your seat belt, and make sure you wear it properly. Confirm that any
passengers are properly belted as well.
2 Fastening a Seat Belt P. 40
•Protect children by using seat belts or child seats according to a child’s age, height
and weight.
2 Child Safety P. 59
1Safety Checklist
If the door, trunk and/or tailgate open message
appears on the multi-inform ation display, the door,
the trunk and/or the tailgate is not completely closed.
Close all doors, the trunk and the tailgate tightly until
the message disappears. 2 Multi-Information Display Warning and
Information Messages P. 96

37Continued
Safe Driving
Seat Belts
About Your Seat Belts
Seat belts are the single most effective safety device because they keep you
connected to the vehicle so that you can take advantage of many built-in safety
features. They also help keep you from be ing thrown against the inside of the
vehicle, against any passengers, or out of the vehicle. When worn properly, seat
belts also keep your body properly positioned in a crash so that you can take full
advantage of the additional protection provided by the airbags.
In addition, seat belts help protect you in almost every type of crash, including:
- frontal impacts
- side impacts
- rear impacts
- rollovers
■Lap/shoulder seat belts
All five seating positions are equipped with lap/shoulder seat belts with emergency
locking retractors. In normal driving the retractor lets you move freely while keeping
some tension on the belt. During a collision or sudden stop the retractor locks to
restrain your body.
The front passenger’s and rear seat belts al so have a lockable retractor for use with
child seats.
2 Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt P. 67
1About Your Seat Belts
If a front and/or rear seat passenger moves around
and extends the seat belt, the lockable retractor may
activate. If this happens, release the retractor by
unfastening the seat belt and allow the belt to retract
completely. Then refasten the belt.
If you extend the seat belt t oo quickly, it will lock in
place. If this happens, sli ghtly retract the seat belt,
then extend it slowly.
3WARNING
Not wearing a seat belt properly increases
the chance of serious injury or death in a
crash, even though your vehicle has
airbags.
Be sure you and your passengers always
wear seat belts and wear them properly.
3WARNING
Allowing passengers to ride in the pickup
bed or on the tailgate can result in death or
serious injury in a crash.
Make sure all passengers ride in a seat and
wear a seat belt properly.

uuChild Safety uProtecting Child Passengers
60
Safe Driving
• Never hold a child on your lap because it is impossible to protect them in the
event of a collision.
• Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child. During a crash, the belt would
likely press deep into the child an d cause serious or fatal injuries.
• Never let two children use the same seat belt. Both children could be very
seriously injured in a crash.
• Any child who is too small to wear a seat belt correctly must be restrained in an
approved child seat that is properly secu red to the vehicle using either the seat
belt or the lower anchor s of the LATCH system.
• Do not allow children to operate the doors, windows or seat adjustments.
• Do not leave children in the vehicle unattended, especially in hot weather when
the inside of the vehicle can get hot enough to kill them. They could also activate
vehicle controls causing it to move unexpectedly.1 Protecting Child Passengers
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.
To remind you of the pa ssenger’s front airbag
hazards and child safety, your vehicle has warning
labels on the dashboard (U.S. models) and on the
front visors. Please read and follow the instructions
on these labels. 2 Safety Labels P. 75
3WARNING
Allowing a child to play with a seat belt or
wrap one around their neck can result in
serious injury or death.
Instruct children not to play with any seat
belt and make sure any unused seat belt a
child can reach is buckled, fully retracted,
and locked.
3WARNING
Allowing a child to play on the pickup bed
can result in serious injury or death by
opening or closing the tailgate.

96
uuIndicators uMulti-Information Display Warn ing and Information Messages
Instrument Panel
Multi-Information Display Warn ing and Information Messages
The following messages appear only on the mu lti-information display. Press the (information) button to see the message again
with the system me ssage indicator on.
*1:When the tailgate is dropped open, the message does not appear.
MessageConditionExplanation
●Appears if any door, th e trunk or the tailgate*1 is not
completely closed.
●Appears if any door, th e trunk or the tailgate*1 is
opened while driving. The beeper sounds.
●Disappears when all the doors, the trunk and the
tailgate are closed.
●Appears when there is a problem with the battery
charging system.●Have your vehicle ch ecked by a dealer.
●Appears when the scheduled maintenance is due soon.●Consequently, Maintenance Due Now and
Maintenance Past Due follow.2Maintenance Minder Messages on the Multi-
Information Display P. 492
●Appears when the engine coolant temperature gets
abnormally high.
2Overheating P. 555

115
Controls
This chapter explains how to operate the various controls necessary for driving.
Clock.................................................. 116
Locking and Unlocking the Doors Key .................................................. 117
Low Smart Entry Remote Signal Strength... 119
Locking/Unlocking the Doors from the Outside .......................................... 120
Locking/Unlocking the Doors from the
Inside ............................................. 127
Childproof Door Locks ..................... 129
Auto Door Locking/Unlocking .......... 130
Tailgate .............................................. 131
Opening and Closing the Trunk ....... 133
Security System
Immobilizer System .......................... 136
Security System Alarm ...................... 136
Windows ............................................... 139
Moonroof*............................................... 143Operating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel ENGINE START/STOP Button............. 145
Turn Signals ..................................... 148
Light Switches.................................. 149
Fog Lights ........................................ 152
Daytime Running Lights ................... 153
Auto High-Beam (H igh Beam Support
System) .......................................... 154
Wipers and Washers ........................ 157
Rear Defogger/Heat ed Door Mirror
*
Button ........................................... 159 Heated Windshield Button
*............. 159
Brightness Control ........................... 160
Driving Position Memory System
*.... 161
Adjusting the Steering Wheel .......... 163
Mirrors Interior Rearview Mirror ................... 164
Power Door Mirrors ......................... 165
Seats .................................................. 166
Interior/Exterior Convenience Items
Interior Lights .................................. 175
Storage Items .................................. 177
Other Interior Convenience Items..... 182
In-Bed Convenience Items................ 191
Climate Control System ................... 195
* Not available on all models

117Continued
Controls
Locking and Unlocking the Doors
Key
This vehicle comes with the following key:Use the key to start and stop the engine, and
to lock or unlock all the doors or open the
trunk.u The tailgate lock/unlock function is set to
disable as the factory default setting. The
tailgate lock/unlock f unction can be used
by using the audio/information screen.
2 Customized Features P. 298
1Key
All the keys have an immobilizer system. The
immobilizer system helps to protect against vehicle
theft. 2 Immobilizer System P. 136
Follow the advice below to prevent damage to the
keys:
•Do not leave the keys in direct sunlight, or in
locations with high temperature or high humidity.
•Do not drop the keys or set heavy objects on them.•Keep the keys away from liquids, dust and sand.
•Do not take the keys apart except for replacing the
battery.
If the circuits in the keys are damaged, the engine
may not start, and the remote transmitter may not
work.
If the keys do not work properly, have them
inspected by a dealer.
You can remotely start the engine using the remote
engine start. 2 Remote Engine Start P. 387
Smart Entry Remote