RoadVitals

2003 Honda CR-V Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
37
Latest Jul 15, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 467 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Honda CR-V submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 37 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

The 25 most recent of 37, in the owner's own words

AirbagsElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 15, 2025

SRS LIGHT CAME ON 2 MONTHS AGO. FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. RECALL PLEASE. ELECTRICAL. BACK RT WINDOW AND RT FRONT DOOR LOCK CANNOT BE OPERATED FROM FRONT DRIVER DOOR. LIGHTING. BACK INTERIOR LIGHT DOES NOT TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY. Paint is peeling from all over the car, especially on the front of it. Looks ghastly.

NHTSA ID
11673712
Incident
Jul 15, 2025
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 16, 2021

Lowbeams went out when I got off work but highneams were working. I bought new bulbs the next day and the problem unchanged. So I checked all fuses and relays those were all fine. I proceeded to remove the steering column cover and disconnected the connectors and the gray one had what looks like Rust and or melted. This is very alarming because until I can replace the connector I have to drive home at nights with high beams. This may cause an accident and or me getting pulled over for having highbeams on. I do have a picture of said connector I took today 8/16/21.

NHTSA ID
11429374
Incident
Aug 12, 2021
EngineFuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Jan 1, 2021

MY LOW BEAMS DO NOT WORK ON 2003 HONDA CRV. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2015, AND SEE THERE WAS A LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT RECALL IN MARCH/ APRIL OF 2012. SINCE THE ISSUE JUST STARTED IN MY VEHICLE, AND THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, I WOULD LIKE THE RECALL TO BE SENT TO ME. ALSO, MY VEHICLE IS SHOWING A CODE P1259 VTEC SYSTEM MALFUNCTION SHOWING UP.

NHTSA ID
11386044
Incident
Nov 28, 2020
AirbagsElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 7, 2017

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 6:30AM THIS MORNING MY LOW BEAMS HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. NOT ABLE TO SEE I PULLED OVER AND PUT MY CRV IN PART. I NOTICED THAT MY LIGHT SWITCH WAS STILL ON BUT I DID NOT HAVE ANY LIGHTS. I PUSHED THE LIGHT CONTROL FORWARDS AND NOTICED I DID HAVE USE OF MY HIGH BEAMS. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND ONLY HAD ABOUT 5 MORE MILE TO GO BEING SATURDAY ON COMING TRAFFIC WAS MINIMAL. WHILE AT WORK I HAD TIME TO RESEARCH WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY POSSIBLY BE THAT'S WHEN I STUMBLED UPON A FEW RECALLS. NEED MY HEADS LIGHTS I WENT TO AUTOZONE AND BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT SWITCH BUT WHILE PLUGGING IN THE NEW SWITCH I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE CONNECTIONS WAS BURNT. I.E. THE RECALL IN ?. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE STEPS I NEED TO TAKE SO THAT I CAN GET THIS PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF. WHILE LOOKING AT THIS RECALL I FOUND 3 MORE ALARMING RECALLS. BOTH AIR BAGS SHOOTING OUT METAL FRAGMENTS AND A DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH THAT COULD POSSIBLY CATCH FIRE. I'LL BE PARKING OUTSIDE JUST IN CASE BUT ANY ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO GET THIS FIXED WOULD BE GREAT. BEING A 14 YEAR OLD CAR I FEEL LIKE I WILL HAVE TROUBLES WITH THE DEALERSHIPS I HOPE THAT'S NOT THE CASE THE CRV IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AND I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

NHTSA ID
11032200
Incident
Oct 7, 2017
Mileage
295,139 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 22, 2016

LOW BEAMS WENT OUT, THEN THE BATTERY BURNED UP. REPLACED BULBS AND BATTERY BOTH WORKED FINE FOR A WEEK THEN HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT BOTH LOW BEAMS AND HIGH. MARKER LIGHTS ARE FLASHING LIKE STROBE LIGHTS. THE BRAKES ARE GRABBING WHEN YOU APPLY THEM. ONE SIDE OF THE REAR BRAKES WEAR OUT FASTER THAN THE OTHER SIDE. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COME ON UNTIL YOU TURN ON THE FAN OR LIGHTS THEN THEY FLASH ON AND OFF.

NHTSA ID
10837618
Incident
Feb 14, 2016
Mileage
158,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 9, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

NHTSA ID
10762651
Incident
Sep 2, 2015
Mileage
132,000 mi
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Aug 24, 2015

2003 HONDA CRV. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS, PASSENGER AND DRIVER AIRBAG RECALL NOTICES ISSUES. * THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE A LOANER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10750446
Incident
Aug 3, 2015
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 27, 2015

BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING, BOTH HIGH BEAMS STILL WORK. REPLACED HEADLIGHT LAMPS, LOW BEAMS STILL NOT WORKING. FOUND DEFECT REPORT ONLINE FOR SAME SYSTEM FAILURE. (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11012 NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V136000) TALKED TO HONDA CORPORATE AND TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10743663
Incident
Jul 15, 2015
Mileage
86,686 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 23, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS LOW BEAM WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAMS HAD TO BE USED TO CONTINUE THE TRIP. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V136000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. UPDATED 03/30/15*LJ UPDATED 9/25/2017*CN

NHTSA ID
10690022
Incident
Jan 15, 2015
Mileage
100,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 22, 2014

DRIVING KIDS TO SCHOOL IN EARLY MORNING BOTH HEADLIGHTS SIMULTANEOUSLY BURNED OUT AT SAME TIME LEAVING ONLY PARKING LIGHTS FOR ILLUMINATION. DROVE IN DARK BACK HOME. LATER DISCOVERED HIGH BEAMS TO BE FUNCTIONAL. WAS SEARCHING ONLINE FOR FIX AND RAN ACROSS MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD SAME PROBLEM AND COMPLAINED OF BURNT WIRING. I REMOVED STEERING COLUMN COVER AND FOUND NO BURNT WIRES AT ANY CONNECTION. CHECKED BULBS AND INDEED THEY WERE BOTH BURNED OUT. SEEMS ODD BOTH LIGHTS BURNED OUT AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME?? *TR

NHTSA ID
10584348
Incident
Apr 22, 2014
Mileage
170,623 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 1, 2014

LOST LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON 2003 HONDA CR-V. SERVICE BULLETIN 04-015 DESCRIBES THE EXACT ISSUE FOR THE HONDA CIVIC. I CAN VISIBLY SEE THE BURNT COMBINATION LIGHT SWITCH 16P CONNECTER WHEN I REMOVE THE STEERING WHEEL COVER. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. VERY DANGEROUS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE ON-LINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10576566
Incident
Feb 17, 2010
Mileage
180,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 5, 2013

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON THEY ALL WENT OUT SUDDENLY AND I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD. THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND WENT OUT AGAIN 3 TIMES IN A 5 MILE DRIVE HOME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10496510
Incident
Feb 2, 2013
Mileage
192,151 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 6, 2012

THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS STOP TO WORK SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE THE HIGH BEAM AND PARKING LIGHTS ARE FULLY FUNCTIONAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10478869
Incident
Oct 2, 2012
Mileage
103,725 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 26, 2012

2003 HONDA CR-V. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL CONCERNING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON HONDA VEHICLE. RECALL# 12V136000. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WANTED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE HANDLING AND PROCESSING OF THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS OF THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE SUBMITTED ALL OF THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK FOR REIMBURSEMENT, ONLY TO BE DENIED. HONDA NOTED, THAT THE CONSUMER PAID WITH A CREDIT CARD, BUT HE DID NOT SHOW THE NAME ON THE CARD USED TO MAKE THE PAYMENT. HONDA STATED THEY NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PERSON BEING REIMBURSED ACTUALLY MADE THE PAYMENT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10468525
Incident
Jul 2, 2012
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 24, 2012

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE. BURNING/MELTING AND OXIDATION AT TURN/HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND CABLE HARNESS CONNECTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10467550
Incident
Jul 4, 2012
Mileage
162,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 17, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEY BEGAN TO FLICKER AND SHUT OFF. THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE HEADLIGHT BRACKET WAS CORRODED; HOWEVER, THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS CONTINUED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ASSUMPTION WAS THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY, WHEREAS, UPON FURTHER REVIEW, IT APPEARED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT INDEPENDENTLY, WELL BEFORE THEIR TIME. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BURNED OUT AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WAS IN GOOD SHAPE. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW THE COMPLAINT. UPDATED 02/10/12

NHTSA ID
10444096
Incident
Jan 16, 2012
Mileage
150,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 6, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED AND SUDDENLY BOTH HEADLIGHTS STOPPED ILLUMINATING. THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE THEN ENGAGED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS AND EACH TIME THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BULBS HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACUTER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID
10442617
Incident
Nov 24, 2011
Mileage
70,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 25, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS AS WELL AS THE CONNECTOR IN OCTOBER 2011, HOWEVER THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 12/12/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ON OCTOBER 5, 2011 THE HEAD LIGHT CONNECTORS WERE REPLACED. ON DECEMBER 7, 2011 THE HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/10/12

NHTSA ID
10437276
Incident
Oct 5, 2011
Mileage
130,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 6, 2011

BOTH LOW BEAMS STOPPED FUNCTIONING AT THE SAME TIME. THE LOW BEAM FILAMENTS ARE NOT BROKEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10434380
Incident
Oct 31, 2011
Mileage
175,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 4, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHIN THREE MONTHS. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

NHTSA ID
10434239
Incident
Aug 1, 2011
Mileage
96,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 27, 2011
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CRV. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED BOTH HEADLIGHT CONNECTORS WERE MELTED. THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE ENGAGED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED BOTH HEADLIGHT CONNECTORS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10432997
Incident
Oct 25, 2011
Mileage
140,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 26, 2011

BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED/SHUT OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY DURING NIGHT DRIVING REQUIRING THAT WE PULL OFF THE ROAD. UPDATED 11/25/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS ONLY WORKED ON HIGH BEAM. UPDATED IVOQ 02/28/12

NHTSA ID
10432839
Incident
Oct 25, 2011
Mileage
140,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 24, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BURNED. AS A RESULT, THE WIRING HARNESS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY DISCOVERED A WIRE HAD OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE HARNESS INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ID
10432613
Incident
Oct 23, 2011
Mileage
120,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 11, 2011

WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, BOTH OF MY LOWBEAMS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. I SWITCHED TO MY HIGHBEAMS AND THEY WORKED FINE. UPON GETTING IT CHECKED OUT, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE STILL GOOD, AS WERE THE FUSES AND RELAYS. THE DIAGNOSIS POINTED TO THE SWITCH, BUT THAT HAS NOT BEEN OPENED OR REPLACED YET. *KB

NHTSA ID
10429498
Incident
Oct 8, 2011
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 30, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 103,000.

NHTSA ID
10428049
Incident
Sep 16, 2011
Mileage
103,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .