Problems · by component

2003 Honda CR-V exterior lighting problems

39 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Honda CR-V cite exterior lighting, 8% of all 494 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
39
8% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2025Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bagsODI 11673712
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2021Exterior lightingODI 11429374
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 1, 2021Exterior lighting, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11386044
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2017Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bagsODI 11032200
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 22, 2016Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 10837618
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 9, 2015Exterior lightingODI 10762651

Showing 6 of 39 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V; MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2005 PILOT; AND MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 CIVIC VEHICLES. IN MARCH 2012, HONDA FILED A DEFECT REPORT TO RECALL CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 PILOT VEHICLES. IN AUGUST 2012, HONDA INFORMED THE AGENCY THAT IT WAS INCLUDING AN ADDITIONAL 820,789 VEHICLES INCLUDING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 PILOTS AND MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 CIVICS. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VEHICLES BEING RECALLED IS NOW 1,375,217. DUE TO TENSION FROM THE COMBINATION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS, WEAR ON THE SURFACE OF THE ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CAN OCCUR, YIELDING COPPER OXIDE, WHICH INCREASES ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE. INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE MAY CAUSE THE TERMINAL ENDS TO MELT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR.

Exterior lightingReported Mar 30, 2012NHTSA 12V136000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.