RoadVitals

2020 Honda Ridgeline 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.
12
Latest Jun 19, 2026
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.
7%
of 166 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

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 2020 Honda Ridgeline submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 19, 2026

BCM module failure. Keyless entry error. Vehicle dashboard lit up with many errors. Car alarm went on and off. Car will not start . Disconnect battery toe reset. Drove home and the car doesn’t want to stop running or idling. Disconnect battery till it turns off.

NHTSA ID
11745207
Incident
Jun 6, 2026
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 22, 2024

I own a 2020 Honda ridgeline pick up truck. For many months, I have been aware of an existing recall on the rear view camera tailgate wire harness and have received two notices. I have been at the dealer twice to have it repaired, the last time of which they canceled my appointment the day before the repair saying they don’t have any parts and that I will hear sometime Late fall. Honda has been aware of this problem with the rear camera tailgate wire harness because of recalls on the 2017 through 2019 models. That I have received two recall notices already with Honda claiming they don’t have the parts to fix it is ridiculous. Their dilatory conduct in fixing this defect is a definite safety concern. My rearview camera does not work and Honda has failed to timely fix it pursuant to recall 24V-321.

NHTSA ID
11603792
Incident
Jul 22, 2024
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 13, 2023

Auto dimming/high beam feature flickers on and off intermittently at night without little relation to oncoming vehicles or dark highways. I have asked my local dealer twice to repair this problem, with no resolution. (see attached invoices). I also opened case with the manufacturer (Honda), and they declined to address my issue. I believe this is a safety issue because it is distracting to me and oncoming drivers.

NHTSA ID
11559830
Incident
Dec 13, 2023
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 7, 2023

Honda Ridgeline's "Auto High-Beam Headlights" do not work as advertised. They do not automatically engage high-beam headlights when appropriate. When this features rarely engages, the high-beams often disengage quickly - which distracts the driver and creates a temporary dangerous situation. I believe that this can be fixed with software.

NHTSA ID
11530821
Incident
May 10, 2021
ElectricalExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 29, 2023

On May 31, 2023, my wife and I were in our Honda ridgeline when attempting to back up into a parking spot. We noticed the instrument cluster went dark with only a "P" flashing. There were no alarms or indications of any fault. We shut down the truck. After trying to restart there was no instrument cluster along with the shifter locked in park. On this current model their is no emergency override out of park as on other vehicles. We had traffic backed up for hours as we called a tow truck to move the vehicle from the main street. Upon the ridgeline being towed to the local Honda dealer. They scanned for codes, U0103, U0155, u0404, U12AA. Checked Diag Tree and confirmed system test and found SBW control module and gauge control module didn't communication. They ended up finding a fuse had blown. My question is why no override out of park on this model? Safety issue.

NHTSA ID
11529664
Incident
May 31, 2023
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 4, 2023

Since this vehicle was purchased new the automatic high beams have not worked correctly and will often stay on for incoming traffic. There is no fix for this issue at the moment. Mentioned this issue to Honda Corp and dealership and never heard a response from over two years ago. Brought vehicle recently to other dealer and mentioned my vehicle still has this issue. They completed an unrelated software update. Needless to say my Ridgeline is still having this issue.

NHTSA ID
11505596
Incident
Oct 20, 2020
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 23, 2022

In winter weather driving the LED headlights become covered in snow and ice. I have to keep finding a safe place to pull over and manually clear the snow and ice off the headlights so I can see properly without dazzling other drivers.

NHTSA ID
11494723
Incident
Nov 12, 2021
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 10, 2022

Auto high beam feature fails to go to dim quickly enough when on coming traffic appears. Yet it will dim for white or yellow road sign reflections. The system is very unpredictable and causes people to flash me often. Recurring problem since new.

NHTSA ID
11493152
Incident
Nov 8, 2022
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 23, 2021

The Automatic High Beams on my 2020 rarely activate and when they do, they dim almost immediately after seeing their own reflection even on tiny road markers. Occasionally, they'll activate or flash oncoming traffic which creates a hazard to their visibility and my safety. I alerted my local Honda Dealership at a scheduled service but they stated their were no service bulletins in effect for the Automatic High Beam system, and therefore nothing they would do.

NHTSA ID
11426096
Incident
May 5, 2020
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 8, 2021

THE AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM FUNCTION IS ERRATIC AND HAS SWITCHED TO HIGH WHEN ON-COMING TRAFFIC IS APPROACHING. IT ALSO SWITCHES TO LOW WHEN THERE'S NO ON-COMING TRAFFIC. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS DURING HIGHWAY TRAVEL.

NHTSA ID
11407144
Incident
May 30, 2020
Mileage
2,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 7, 2021

THE AUTO HIGH BEAM FEATURE DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. TURNS ON AND OFF AT IT'S OWN REFLECTION FROM ROADSIDE SINGS OF ALL SHAPE AND SIZES. FLASHES OTHER VEHICLES WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON LOW BEAM. HAVE COMPLAINED TO HONDA AND WAS TOLD IF I DID NOT LIKE IT TOO DEACTIVATE THE FEATURE.

NHTSA ID
11406889
Incident
Oct 1, 2020
Mileage
1,300 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 11, 2020

WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THE AUTO DIMMING HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT SYSTEM OFTEN FAILS TO DIM THE HIGH BEAMS WHEN AN ONCOMING VEHICLE IS APPROACHING - OFTEN CAUSING THE ONCOMING DRIVER TO "FLASH" HIS HIGH BEAMS IN ANGER. THE SYSTEM WILL ALSO DIM THE HIGH BEAMS WHEN IT SHOULDN'T.- WHEN THERE'S NO VEHICLE AHEAD OF YOU AT ALL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. I FIND OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM HERE... HTTPS://WWW.RIDGELINEOWNERSCLUB.COM/THREADS/AUTO-HIGH-BEAM-COOL-MAYBE-NOT.215738

NHTSA ID
11374100
Incident
Nov 7, 2020
Mileage
1,850 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 .