Headlights problems of the 2001 Honda Civic

Vehicles of this type were subjected to a recall back in 2012 due to a safety issue where the low beam headlights would unexpectedly fail while the vehicle was being driven at night. The recall work has been performed previously by Honda on this specific vehicle. However, a similar problem has recently started occurring on this vehicle even though the recall work has already been done to it. I am an air force veteran with an extensive background in aviation electronics. I also have professional experience doing electrical and electronic engineering. I also have a lot of experience repairing automotive electrical systems. I have analyzed the current problem in my wife's Civic, which involves unexpected failures in the nighttime lighting system where all the the lights suddenly shut off. I have also studied the information from the previous recall. I have concluded that the previous recall done by Honda has not fully addressed the previously reported lighting problems that led to the previous recall. It explains why my wife's vehicle is still having similar problems now even though the problem was supposed to have been fixed under the previous recall. I have written a statement giving all the details you should need as a lead in to an investigation. It is attached to this report. If I can be of further assistance please don't hesitate to contact me.

In July 2017, the low beam headlights failed (were inoperable), but the high beam and all other external lights were operational. These are the symptoms of a Honda safety recall service bulletin 04-015. This car had the safety recall repairs in September 2009, but the same symptoms reappeared in July 2017. Dealer made the repairs (it took two tries to get it right as shown on the invoices attached) and charged me for the repairs because they said the company will pay for the first recall repair but not subsequent ones.

The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 04v086000 (exterior lighting). A year later, the low beam headlights failed to function. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the low beam headlights needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the headlights failed without warning. The lights came back on and the failure did not recur. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 205,000. The VIN was not provided.

We were driving from reno nv to antioch CA and were in the sierra mountains at about 2:30 am and all of the sudden we lost our low beam head lights in which we couldn't see the road and we went off the road we avoided an accident because I knew how to steer the vehicle to avoid hitting anything we got out and attempted to see why we didn't have the low beams and could not see why we clicked the high beams and they worked and we proceeded to drive with the high beam headlights on.

The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 mph, the low beam headlights failed. The failure occurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The repair specifics were not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04v086000 (exterior lighting). The approximate failure mileage was 195,000.

The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the low beam headlights failed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number 04v086000 (exterior lighting). The failure and current mileage was 200,000.

Headlights low beam failed was repaired in a recall one before but failed again shows in there service bulletin. . Read more...

As I was driving home in my vehicle at night. The low beam headlights went out suddenly, my high beam lights work so I was alble to make it home. This problem was corrected before on a recall campain. Now my question is can this problem be fixed again free of charge? and is there a better fix for this problem? I have replaced both bulbs with no avail. It seems to be the same problem again. Being a safety issue on my vehicle and possibly other drivers.

The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the low beam headlights malfunctioned and would not re-illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who advised the contact that the wiring was melted, causing the board to overheat. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised him that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 06e044000 (exterior lighting). The failure and current mileage was approximately 150,000. Updated 04/30/lj.

Tl-the contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact stated that his headlights have malfunctioned and would not operate when driving at night. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000. Tb.

The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. While driving approximately 30 mph, the headlights shut off. The contact was unable to turn the low beams back on but the high beams continued to function properly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the low beam head lights were replaced. The failure continued. The manufacturer was also notified and the contact was told the vehicle was not included in the recall 04v086000 (exterior lighting: headlights). The failure and current mileages were 213,572.

The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact was driving 50 mph when the headlights failed. The contact was unable to turn the headlights back on. The high beams were the only lights that would illuminate. The dealer was unable to diagnose the failure because the headlights were functioning at the time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and informed her that the vehicle was previously repaired under an unknown headlight recall. The contact was unaware the vehicle was ever repaired for the failure. The failure and current mileages were 68,700.

2001 Honda Civic dx manual 4 door sedan all of a sudden, my headline low beam lights without any incident. My high beam headlights are working just fine. I was not in an accident or anything like that. Normal driving lead to this. When I called my Honda dealer, he checked VIN number and said that there are no headline recalls for my vehicle. He asked me to bring the vehicle and he will repair it with normal diagnostic and repairs. I was not impressed about this there is a recall similar to the problem I am having but not to my car. Here is the recall information. Electrical & lights: exterior lighting:headlights campaign number: 04v086000 dates manufactured: 03/2000 to 08/2001 number of vehicles affected: 440,000 model years affected: 2001, 2002 date owner notified: 04/2004 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. Consequence summary: an unexpected loss of low beams could result in a crash. Corrective summary: 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. Recall notes: customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administrations auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

Low beam headlight fail frequently. There is a recall on that year car but not on my VIN so the dealer is refusing to repair.

The failure I am concerned with has to do with the head light module. The plastic/glass that covers and protects the light will in time appear frosted. This frosting greatly reduces nighttime visibility. When I worked in the auto repair industry I witnessed it often. I owned a Chevrolet prism that had this defect and now own a 2001 Honda Civic that has the problem. The replacement cost of the modules is enormous. These headlights should last as long as the car.

The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic dx. The contact was driving approximately 5 mph when the low beam headlights failed. A deer ran in front of the vehicle and the contact crashed into the deer. The contact was not injured. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that her vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign id number: 04v086000 (exterior lighting: headlights). The manufacturer advised that the recall repair was performed in 2005. The contact stated that the vehicle was not repaired in 2005. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 67,000 and the current mileage was 67,124.

Left front headlight first failed on 01/30/2009. Electrical wiring to front low beam headlight overheated causing melting of headlight connector to electrical harnesst. . A succession of another 4 headlight connectors have melted between o8/08/2009 to December 14, 2010. First 4 headlight connector replacements completed by Honda dealer. Prior to Jan 30th 2009 headlight connector failure,a different Honda dealer completed NHTSA 304v86000 recall work for headlight electrical overheating recall in 2006 during regular maintenance appointment. Failure #5 happened on dec14, 2010 just 6 days after melted connector #4 was replaced on December 8th 2010. Dealer found cruise control unit inoperable due to electrical melt down. Original air conditioner compressor replaced in 2009 due to melt down. Safety and possible fire hazard due to chronic overheating of original electrical harness & multi-plex unit. Honda dealer unable solve problem of repeated melting headlight connectors. All connectors are Honda dealer parts. Total of 4 left headlight connectors and 1 right headlight connector have melted. 5th melted headlight connector has not been replaced. Using the high-beams to drive at night since 4 previous Honda dealer replacement connectors have melted. Time intervals between connector failure keeps getting shorter and shorter. Due to chronic unsolved electrical overheating problem, the safety of electrical system is compromised.

I have a 2001 Honda Civic with 85,000 miles. I had the headlight switch fixed in may 2007 as part of the Honda recall. At this time the dealer did a "once over" on the car and said my struts were leaking, but nothing else. On November 4th I went to drive my car in the morning and the car would not go. The car started, but it would not go into drive or reverse, etc. Luckily I was in my driveway and not driving on a highway or busy street. It turns out that I needed an entirely new transmission, I wound up fixing it for $2,500 as the car is paid off. I called Honda's customer service and they said they will only entertain the problem if I had the car towed to a Honda dealership for a diagnosis - and what pay $5,000+ for the dealer to fix the transmission - no thanks.

Lowbeam light was a recall took to Honda dealer ship in 2007 to fix they didn't fix but they saying they fixed it I asked them I need a copy to see they said they don't have it my lights are off don't work and its a recall not taken care yet please help us out,[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

On February 24, 2004 Honda issued a recall - "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. " - I got the recall notice and took my car for a fix on may 11, 2004 at conicelli Honda (authorized dealer and service center). A little over two years later on June 13th 2006, I have the same problem occurring in my car. I am driving - returning back from the mall - and the lights just go out. I have to drive on high beam. In the morning as I get in the car - I smell burnt plastic. I took my car to pep boys who couldn't figure out the problem. They replaced both bulbs bit the light still wouldn't work. I called Honda of north America and they said that they couldn't do anything as recalls are serviced only once. They suggested I should talk to conicelli. I called conicelli and they said that this will have to be investigated and paid-for separately and couldn't schedule me before July 3rd (today in June 14th). I am upset about the fact that neither Honda nor its dealer is willing to consider that the problem for which the vehicle was recalled still exists (either it wasn't properly fixed or the fix wasn't good enough). On top of that - the earliest they can look at my vehicle is after 18 days.

Consumer had a problem with 2001 Civic low beam light. The service dealer told the consumer that the wrong lamps were in the headlight (not Honda lamps). The recall on the headlight switch was done prior to this failure. *****.

: the contact stated the low beams failed without warning. There is a NHTSA recall, #04v086000 concerning the exterior lighting headlights. The vehicle is having the same problems again. The dealer was alerted.

2001 Honda Civic experienced problems with headlight failures and dashboard gauges. The front headlights would cut out intermittently in which Honda replaced two bulbs. The left front headlight cut out and one bulb was replaced. The right front headlight cut out again and one bulb was replaced. The gauges were erratic along with flickering front headlights. Honda could not verify the problem. The consumer felt that he should not be responsible for the repairs. The dealer told the consumer the problem was not related to the recall.

I too have noticed the gradual 'frosting' of the plastic housing of my front headlights. It became noticeable about 4 or 5 years after I bought my '01 Civic. It definitely diminishes effectiveness of the beams. I was about to replace them - they are hugely expensive. I am glad they might be recalled.

The consumer received a recall letter NHTSA #04v086000. After the vehicle was serviced, two hours later the same problem as indicated in the recall letter occurred. The consumer took the vehicle back to the dealership. Please provided additional information.

Request for reimbursement for headlight switch replacement. The low beams were inoperative. (low beam switch failed) the circuit burned and the combo switch assembly was replaced.

Consumer received recall 04v086000 notification concerning low beam lightning. Consumer waited six weeks to get recall repairs done.

The vehicle unexpectedly lost low beam 3 times since the dealership performed the low beam lighting recall 04v086000. The part was also replaced once, prior to receiving the recall notification.

Headlights failed while driving the car.

The headlight on the vehicle are not designed for use in a cold weather environment. The plastic shield frosts over cutting visibility by approximately 50 percent.

Consumer states of having problems with the headlights. Please add more information. Mr.

The head lights are not powerful enough to illuminate the road beyond the immidiate few feet. This creates a situation where there is insufficient light in front of the vehicle and consequently it is very risky to drive the vehicle in the dark. The risk of an accident increases several times on the highways. Recently a deer crossing the street couldnt be spotted until it was very close and put me in a dangerous situation. The problem was explained to the dealer and they tried to fix the problem but the situation did not improve in any way. When the dealer was notified of this, he explained to us that it was a manufacturers problem and nothing could be done about it. I have also corrosponded with american Honda motors of ilinois.