2003 Honda CR-V
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 494 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 26 CR-V model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 49 involved a crash and 26 involved a fire. 47 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Visibility, power window devices and controlsDec 10, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2002-2006 CR-V vehicles. Moisture may enter the driver side power window master switch, causing the switch to fail or melt.
If the switch fails, it could overheat and smoke, increasing the risk of a fire.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power window master switch and inspect the wiring harness for damage, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is P9D.
Campaign 20V768000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleJun 27, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.
Campaign 19V501000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleJun 27, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.
Campaign 19V499000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleMar 6, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
Campaign 19V182000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleApr 26, 2018
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.
Campaign 18V268000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleJun 15, 2015
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles manufactured February 24, 2002, to January 18, 2005, 2003-2007 Honda Accord vehicles manufactured February 21, 2002, to August 28, 2007, 2002-2004 Honda CR-V vehicles, 2002-2003 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured June 19, 2001, to July 12, 2003, 2003 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured September 19, 2002, to June 19, 2003, 2003 Honda Element vehicles manufactured June 25, 2002, to July 31, 2003, and 2003 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured November 26, 2001, to August 21, 2003. The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JU4, JU5, JU6, and JU7. Note: Vehicles that have already received a replacement passenger air bag inflator as part of the recall remedy for an earlier campaign such as 14V353 or 14V700 (Honda recall numbers S95, JH6, JH7, JH8, JH9, JJ0, JJ1, JJ2, JJ6, JM5 and JM6) are not included in this recall. However, this recall does supersede 13V132 and 14V349. Note: On December 18, 2015 Honda informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2004 Honda CR-V vehicles in addition to additional model year 2003 CR-V vehicles.
Campaign 15V370000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleMay 28, 2015
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles that have had their driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to September 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Vehicles that, on or after September 12, 2014, received a remedy for a prior driver frontal air bag inflator recall already received an inflator of a different design, and therefore are not included in this recall and do not require additional servicing. Note: This recall fully supersedes recalls 08V-593, 09V-259, 10V-041, 11V-260, 14V-351 and 15V-153. Honda's numbers for this recall are JQ9, JR0, JR1, JR2, JR3, JR4, JR5, JR6, JR7, and JR8.
Campaign 15V320000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsNov 4, 2014
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Campaign 14V700000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsJun 20, 2014
American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped with Takata-brand air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Campaign 14V353000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical systemOct 5, 2012
Honda is recalling certain model year 2002-2006 CR-V passenger vehicles, manufactured from February 19, 2002, through July 28, 2006. The driver-side power window switch may fail or melt.
If the switch fails, it could overheat, smoke, and cause a fire. A switch failure, and a fire, could occur even if the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outside until the recall repair has been performed.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the switches, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on November 2, 2012. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Campaign 12V486000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlights, switchMar 30, 2012
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.
IF THE TERMINAL ENDS MELT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE, REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE LOW BEAM TERMINAL HARNESS OR REPLACE THE LIGHTING SWITCH AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE ORIGINAL RECALL BEGAN IN APRIL 2012. OWNERS OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE SEPTEMBER 2012 EXPANSION WILL BE NOTIFIED IN SEPTEMBER 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-999-1009.
Campaign 12V136000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, glass, side/rearDec 11, 2007
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.
SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.
Campaign 07E104000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalJun 7, 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WIRE HARNESS OF THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG WAS INCORRECTLY WIRED.
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAG INFLATION RATE WOULD BE INCORRECT, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE DRIVER.
DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE WIRING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
Campaign 04V255000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionJul 29, 2003
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE SHIFT CABLE LINKAGE COULD PREVENT THE DRIVER FROM SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO PARK.
IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SHIFT CABLE LINKAGE FOR CORROSION. IF CORROSION CAUSES BINDING, THEY WILL REPLACE THE SHIFT CABLE.
DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL A NEW CORROSION-RESISTANT CONTROL PIN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
Campaign 03V274000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: exterior lighting
39 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Sep 4, 2011
I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 CR-V IN 2003. IN THE FALL OF 2003 A VEHICLE STRUCK THE CR-V IN THE RIGHT FRONT AREA. THE CR-V WAS REPAIRED AT A LOCAL DEALER'S BODY SHOP. DUE TO A PARTS SHORTAGE IT WAS SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. IN SPRING OF 2004 I REPLACED A HEADLAMP THAT HAD QUIT BURNING ON LOW BEAM SETTING. THE OPPOSITE BULB STOPPED WORKING A FEW DAYS LATER AND WAS REPLACED. ABOUT 4 MONTHS AFTER REPLACING THE FIRST BULB ANOTHER I EXPERIENCED ANOTHER BULB FAILURE ON LOW BEAM SETTING. I REPLACED BOTH HEAD LAMP BULBS AND WENT ANOTHER 4 MONTHS OR SO BEFORE EXPERIENCING ANOTHER FAILURE. SINCE THIS PROBLEM BEGAN I HAVE REPLACED AN AVERAGE OF 8 HEADLAMPS (4 SETS)PER YEAR. WHEN DISCUSSING THE ISSUE WITH THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT IT WAS THOUGHT THAT A WIRE MAY HAVE BEEN PINCHED DURING THE COLLISION. DURING THE INITIAL DISCUSSION OF THIS PROBLEM I TENDED TO AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE COST PROHIBITIVE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. APPROXIMATELY 4 WEEKS AGO I REPLACED BOTH HEADLAMPS IN THE CR-V. ON 9/02/11 I NOTICED A STRONG BURNING ODOR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR LASTED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. LATER THAT DAY MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER DROVE THE CR-V. UPON THEIR RETURN HOME I WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING REQUIRING THEM TO DRIVE HOME USING THE HIGH BEAM LAMPS. PREVIOUSLY THAT DAY I HAD PARKED THE VEHICLE IN A DECK AND KNEW THAT AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME BOTH LAMPS WERE FUNCTIONING ON LOW SETTING. I WENT TO REPLACE BOTH LAMPS TODAY BUT NEITHER REPLACEMENT WOULD BURN ON A LOW SETTING. FURTHER RESEARCH VIA INTERNET LED ME TO THE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. AFTER LEARNING THAT OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AND FILED A REPORT WITH THE NHTSA I FELT THAT ADDING MY NAME AND EXPERIENCES MIGHT PROVE BENEFICIAL IN DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 3, 2011
BOTH HEADLIGHT LOW BEAMS FAILED WHILE DRIVING, FOUND CAUSE TO BE MELTED ELECTRICAL WIRES AND CONNECTION AT HEADLIGHT SWITCH. *TR
Exterior lighting, Aug 27, 2011
BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME; NEW BULBS DID NOT WORK; FUSES WERE FINE. UPON LOOKING ONLINE, SAW THAT THERE WERE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN. THE TECHNICIAN IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN AND FOUND WIRES WERE BURNED. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRE HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THIS, I HAD OCCASIONALLY NOTICED A BURNING SMELL WHILE DRIVING AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE SMELL. IT RESULTED IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. UPDATED 09/27/11 *BF UPDATED 2/28/12 *CN
Exterior lighting, Aug 4, 2011
2003 HONDA CRV--HEADLIGHT LOW-BEAMS REPEATEDLY GOING OUT. HAVE REPLACED THEM TWICE. CLEANED CONNECTOR IN STEERING COLUMN LAST TIME, AND LOW-BEAMS CAME BACK ON (OBVIOUS CORROSION/SIGNS OF OVER-HEATING NOTED). THIS TIME I HAVE RE-CLEANED CONNECTOR, BUT LOW-BEAMS STILL OUT. WILL TRY REPLACING BOTH BULBS. I HAVE READ ON INTERNET THAT THIS IS A SOMEWHAT COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Exterior lighting, May 3, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BEGIN TO DIM ABNORMALLY BEFORE FAILING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN UPDATED 06/06/11
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 2, 2011
HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS DAMAGED BY OVERHEATING/MELTING ON 2003 HONDA CRV. UPDATED 06/13/11 *BF RECEIVED INVOICE. UPDATED 08/18/11 *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 2, 2011
BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS GO OUT. HI-BEAM LAMPS STILL WORK. THE PROBLEM IS THE CONTACTS ON THE DIMMER SWITCH CORRODE; THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN REPORTS OF SCORCHED CONNECTORS - MEANING THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE. TO ACCESS THE SWITCH YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE STEERING COLUMN COVER AND THEN LOCATE THE DIMMER/TURN SIGNAL WIRING HARNESS. MOST CONSUMERS WOULD NOT KNOW HOW NOR BE ABLE TO DO THIS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED MANY TIMES ON INTERNET BLOGS.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 2, 2010
BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, THEY REPLACED WIRE PLUG AT HEAD LIGHT SWITCH AND REPLACED HEAD LIGHT SWITCH. THEY SAID PLASTIC PART HAD MELTED. UPDATED 05/02/11 *BF UPDATED IVOQ 05/04/11 *TR
Exterior lighting, Oct 25, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED SUDDENLY; THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON AND THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THA THE LOW BEAM TERMINAL OVERHEATED AND DAMAGED THE SWITCH. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,720.
Exterior lighting, Jun 5, 2010
COMPLETE LOSS OF LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON 2003 HONDA CR-V CONNECTOR IN STEERING COLUMN APPARENTLY EXPOSED TO HIGH HEAT OR FIRE, CAUSING MELTING OF PLASTIC PARTS IN CONNECTOR AND CORROSION TO METAL PINS IN SWITCH. *TR UPDATED 05/02/11 *BF AFTER REALIZING NEITHER HEADLIGHT WAS WORKING, THE CONSUMER PURCHASED AND INSTALLED TWO NEW BULBS. IT APPEARED THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. BUT A FEW DAYS LATER, THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AGAIN. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, HE OPENED THE STEERING COLUMN PANELS AND LOOKED AT THE WIRING HARNESS. HE FOUND A GREY CONNECTOR HOUSING WITH ONE OF THE SLOTS CHARRED AND MELTED. THE CORRESPONDING PIN LOOKED CORRODED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND ATTEMPTED TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM. THEY CHANGED THE BULBS AGAIN, AND REFUSED TO LOOK IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE BULB CHANGE WORKED TEMPORARILY. THE CHANGING OF THE BULBS MOVED PROBABLY MOVED THE WIRING ENOUGH TO COMPLETE CONTACT SO THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED. FURTHER DRIVING WOULD LOOSEN THE WIRES AND THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. THE CONSUMER FIXED THE PROBLEM BY USING A LIBERAL APPLICATION OF SILICON DI-ELECTRIC GREASE AT THE CONNECTION POINT BETWEEN THE BURNT CONNECTOR AND THE CORRODED PINS. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY MORE PROBLEMS. UPDATED 08/29/11
Exterior lighting, Feb 4, 2010
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT IN UNISON WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. EXACT SIMILAR PROBLEM WAS THE REASON FOR A RECALL ON THE 2002 HONDA CIVIC. SEE BELOW FOR 2002 RECALL. 002 HONDA CIVIC RECALL ID FROM NHTSA: 04V086000 AUTO RECALL DATE: 02/24/2004 VEHICLE COMPONENT: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS ESTIMATED VEHICLES AFFECTED: 440000 2002 HONDA CIVIC DEFECT SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE LOW-BEAM TERMINAL ON THE HEAD LIGHT WIRE HARNESS CAN OVERHEAT AND COULD CAUSE THE LOW BEAMS TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. DEFECT CONSEQUENCE: AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF LOW BEAMS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH AND COUPLER FOR SIGNS OF HEAT DAMAGE. IF HEAT DAMAGE IS PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE SWITCH AND COUPLER. IF NO HEAT DAMAGE IS PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH AND ONE MATING PIN IN THE COUPLER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009. NOTES: HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.), P23 NOT AN EASY FIX. IF DEALER DID NOT HAVE HARNESS AND CORRECT COUPLER FROM PAST REPAIR WORK, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A COMPLETE DASH HARNESS (OVER $500) AND LABOR TO RE-INSTALL ENTIRE DASH ELECTRICAL (OVER $1000). HONDA WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE 2002 RECALL AS SAME CONCERN AND WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE WORK. OUT OF POCKET FOR A DESIGN DEFECT AND SAFETY HAZARD TO THE TUNE OF $222. *TR UPDATED 06/13/11 *BF UPDATED 12/29/2011 *LN *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 10, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER MOTORIST INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING ON HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED AND NOTICED THAT THE BULB WAS IN WORKING CONDITION. HE ALSO CHECKED THE FUSES, BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS STILL DID NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO CHECK THE FUSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,376 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,360. UPDATED 06/24/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO CANCEL THE COMPLAINT. UPDATED
Exterior lighting, Oct 6, 2007
MY HONDA CRV EX 2003 BRAKES LIGHTS FAIL. THE ONLY LIGHT FOR BRAKING IS THE THIRD LIGHT. THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 OR 4 TIMES IN THE PAST 4 YEARS AND HAPPENED AGAIN THIS WEEK. I AM AFRAID I WILL BE IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE SOMEONE WILL NOT NOTICE THE THIRD LIGHT WHEN I BRAKE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BULBS BUT THE ISSUE CONTINUES. THIS LAST TIME THE BULBS DID NOT LAST 5,000 MILES. *JB
Exterior lighting, Jul 26, 2004
I NOTICED THAT THE MOST RECENTLY BUILT HONDA CRV'S SEEM TO HAVE POORLY FOCUSED HEADLIGHTS. I DRIVE ONCE A WEEK AND LAST NIGHT I DROVE 100 MILES AND EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS REFLECTED IN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR, THE VEHICLE WAS LATE MODEL CRV WITH THE TALL TAIL LIGHTS. DRIVING BACK HOME I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN A LATE MODEL CRV. I THOUGH IT MIGHT OF BEEN HIGH BEAMS BUT AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE HEADLIGHT DESIGN. SHORTLY AFTER THE SECOND CRV, I NOTICED THE THIRD VEHICLE WITH BLINDING HEADLIGHTS AND AGAIN IT WAS A LATE MODEL CRV. I OBSERVED A COUPLE OF OTHER CRV'S PASS WITHOUT A PROBLEM, THEY WERE THE OLDER CRV'S WITH THE SHORTER TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD BE A BADLY DESIGNED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY ON THE LATEST CRV'S. BRIAN BLUM FORMER SUMMER INTERN IN THE OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT 1980.*AK