RoadVitals

2024 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.
13
Latest Feb 20, 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.
27%
of 48 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 2024 Honda Ridgeline submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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

Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 20, 2026

LIGHTED RUNNING BOARD LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY QUIT WORKING. HONDA HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BUT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11719445
Incident
Feb 9, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 4, 2026

The Automatic High Beam system does not work properly and are very inconsistent. When enabled, the high beams often turn on for a brief moment then turn off. Sometimes this occurs when there is a road sign reflection or a light on a home on the side of the road. When the system is enabled, the high beams often fluctuate on and off even when there is no oncoming traffic. What is worse is that the high beams sometimes remain on with oncoming traffic, blinding the oncoming driver. I am reporting that this has occurred ever since I purchased the vehicle in 2024. The dealer indicated this is a known problem and that Honda doesn't seem to be doing anything about it.

NHTSA ID
11715614
Incident
Jul 29, 2024
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 30, 2026

The Auto High Beams (AHB) fail to work correctly. When set to on, they will come on for maybe 3-4 seconds then turn off, and maybe repeat the next time. The bigger issue is they fail to turn off many times when approaching oncoming traffic. The feature is dangerous by not turning on when they should and not turning off when they should. This is a widespread problem reported by many. The Honda dealer said they adjusted the sensitivity of the AHB when in fact there is no such adjustment. There is clearly something wrong with the implementation on the Ridgeline as other same year Honda models (we have a 2924 CRV) do NOT have this problem.

NHTSA ID
11714527
Incident
Jan 28, 2026
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 15, 2025

Using the Automatic High Beam system, the high beam may come on even if a car is coming toward me. Sometimes, the high beam will not transition to low beam until the incoming car is real close to me. The incoming car would put his high beam on to warn me. As well, the high bean can randomly transition to low beam for no reason. And a second after, come back to high beam. Really dangerous. I had other cars with this system and never had that kind of problems.

NHTSA ID
11687477
Incident
Sep 15, 2025
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 12, 2025

Auto-dimming headlights do not work properly, not always dimming for oncoming traffic, and/or randomly switching between high and low beams without cause. This blinds and confuses oncoming traffic.

NHTSA ID
11680270
Incident
Aug 12, 2025
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 26, 2025

The auto High beam function on this vehicle is absolutely useless. It dims when it should be on. It dims needlessly for highway markers and road signs. The constant on and off of the high beams on a dark road with no other cars is dangerous. This system on the ridgeline is dangerous. I have the system on other cars and it works almost perfectly but not in this vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11669419
Incident
Jun 20, 2025
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 28, 2025

The auto-dimming bright lights are too sensitive, going on & off so quickly it creates a hazard to the driver & on-coming traffic. It is almost like a strobe light. These trucks have had this very same problem for years. Please force a fix.

NHTSA ID
11645670
Incident
Feb 28, 2025
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 12, 2025

The auto dimming headlight feature is too sensitive. There is constant toggle of high and low beams when this feature in enabled. Any and all type of reflection from street and traffic signage trigger the lights to dim which causes the constant on and off of high beams. This causes distraction of both the driver of the affected vehicle and drivers of other vehicles in close proximity. Honda service said there is no way to adjust sensitivity setting.

NHTSA ID
11642379
Incident
Feb 12, 2025
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 16, 2025

The headlights automatic dim function is dangerous. It will repeatedly flash the brights or high beams at on coming vehicles as they approach and even when they are quite close as you pass head on. This will blind oncoming traffic and most likely cause road rage in some susceptible people. The function is sometimes automatically turned on and difficult to turn off. When in dark areas where high beams should be used the headlights continually go from high to low for no apparent reason. In rural areas or on highways with poor paint it makes it dangerous to see animals or pedestrians as well as the road shoulder. This should merit a recall as a check on reports found on the internet show that this is a systemic problem associated particularly with the Honda Ridgeline.

NHTSA ID
11636234
Incident
Jan 14, 2025
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jan 3, 2025

The highbeams while not failing do not operate in a safe manner. While driving you are unable to really disable them. While driving about 12 miles down hill the Auto High beams repeatedly turned on likely blinding oncoming traffic and traffic passing me while I scrampled to turn them off so that I would not blind other drivers. These auto high beams seem poorly designed and poorly thought out there should be easier ways to disable them other than having to park and hold a lever down for like 40 seconds. Legitimately thought I was going to accidentally be responsible for someones death mine or traffic around me because my high beams were coming on unprompted.

NHTSA ID
11633788
Incident
Jan 2, 2025
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 24, 2024

Auto Dimming Headlights are so sensitive that they essential do not work. Auto dimming is a safety feature, but it puts the driver at risk by shutting the high beams off in situations they should be on to increase visability. The dealer says they are 'working as designed' but with further discussion, admits to them being 'useless'. The dealer used their diagnostic tool and says no error was found. The auto dimming headlights have never worked properly since time of purchase. We also have a 2022 Ridgeline that exhibits the same problem. We paid for the feature but it has never worked, even after reporting to the service department at the dealer.

NHTSA ID
11632240
Incident
Jul 22, 2024
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 21, 2024

Automatic high beam feature works erratically, randomly flashing high beams, failure to dim high beams for oncoming traffic or when following traffic.

NHTSA ID
11626669
Incident
Nov 15, 2024
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 28, 2024

The auto highbeam system has an inherent safety issue. When active, it may turn on the highbeams automatically when there are oncoming close vehicles, thus blinding the oncoming drivers with the potential of causing an accident. The system also may not even activate the highbeam lights when there is no oncoming vehicles and the road is dark. I have great safety concerns regarding this system. I had a 2017 Honda Ridgeline black edition that had the auto highbeam functionality. That system worked perfectly. But sometime between then and my current 2024 edition, they have changed the technology in the system to cause it to be a safety hazard. This needs to be a recall so that Honda will install a fix.

NHTSA ID
11622231
Incident
Oct 27, 2024

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.

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