Exterior Lighting Problems of Honda Ridgeline - part 2

The automatic high beam feature in late model Honda Ridgelines presents significant safety concerns. There are two primary issues: 1. Activation speed and sensitivity: the auto high beams only engage when the vehicle reaches speeds above 40 mph, which is higher than many competitors. Furthermore, the system frequently toggles between high and low beams, particularly when encountering yellow road signs, leading to potential distractions for the driver and reduced visibility in critical situations. 2. Inconsistent performance: there are instances where the high beams fail to deactivate when approaching vehicles are detected, especially on curves. This inconsistency can create dangerous conditions by blinding other drivers, which is particularly concerning at night when visibility is crucial. In contrast, my experience with the automatic high beams in a 2020 Honda cr-v has been flawless, highlighting a disparity in performance between models. The Honda Ridgeline owners forum reflects widespread dissatisfaction with this feature, with numerous posts detailing similar grievances from other owners. Despite raising these concerns with a Toyota service dealer, I was met with indifference; the supervisor stated there was nothing they could do and suggested I report the issue instead. Given these factors, it is clear that the automatic high beam system in the Ridgeline is not only ineffective but could potentially lead to hazardous driving conditions.

See all problems of the 2025 Honda Ridgeline 🔎.

The automatic headlight dimming is extremely unreliable and often dims just when approaching illuminated speed limit signs, or puts high beams on when approaching another vehicle at night. Bad sensor I think.

See all problems of the 2023 Honda Ridgeline 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2024 Honda Ridgeline 🔎.

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.

I want to bring to your attention what I consider a safety concern with the 2025 Honda Ridgeline black editition that I just purchased and an important feature that does not function properly. My concern is the the auto high beam headlight feature. This is one of the features for which I choice to purchase this particular pickup truck. The issue/problem is as follows. The auto high beam feature is very slow to respond and extremely inconsistent as to when and why the headlights switch from low beam to high beam and vice versa. For example, I have experienced while driving a two lane very dark windy road with no street lights; the auto high beam feature is very slow to respond and once it does, it will switch very back to low beam if it detects reflections from traffic signs, reflectors in the center of the road, and or such things as porch lights. I have witnessed the high beam feature switching to low beam when going up or down a hill in the road and/or while going around a corner with no on-coming cars. This can be very unsafe because when you are depending on high beams to see around a corner and suddenly the bright lights switch to low beams is it extremely detracting and difficult to see around the corner when going the speed limit 55 miles per hour. I have witness the high beam feature turning back on while approaching an on coming car and or being very slow switch to low beam while approaching an oncoming car. I feel that this could be dangerous by blinding an on-coming driver. One of the most important safety features on my new Honda Ridgeline is for all purposes unsafe and nu-usable. I have not yet brought this to the dealer's attention because I suspect that they will tell me nothing can be done to fix these problems. I however, intend to do so. I have read on-line that this is a very common problem/complaint with later model Honda Ridgelines and other owners have noted that there is currently no fix for this safety issue. Thank you.

Headlights don't dim in the auto function when there is oncoming traffic. Lights cycle from dim to bright when no oncoming traffic is present. This is an ongoing problem that presents every time the vehicle is driven at night.

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Automatic high beams do not come on enough, turn off with slightest reflected light.

The 2020 et seq Honda Ridgeline includes a flawed and wholly unsafe automatic high beam function. This has been well documented for years by owners across various mediums. The issue was not previously present (2017-2019) but appears to align with camera and/or software related changes. It remains unaddressed. I'm providing additional context below. I just traded my 2017 Ridgeline rtl-e for a 2025 black edition. I never previously understood the complaints about the auto high beam, as my prior truck worked very well. I never had a "false negative" (failing to turn off for an oncoming car), "false positives" were always for reflective signs or similar directly in line of sight, and the response was virtually instantaneous (both on and off). While I knew about the horrible post-2020 adjustment to only activate above 45 mph (the exact opposite use case for me, whereas I disengage on highway and engage on lower speed, unlit back roads), I was not expecting the dramatic decline in performance. It is now wholly unusable and unsafe, even when the speed criterion is met. The response is incredibly slow (5+ seconds when it turns back on at all), it frequently fails to turn off the high beams for approaching vehicles even on flat, straight roads, it constantly turns itself off for every minor light/reflection (and sometimes won't come back on for miles), etc. Beyond being an unusable advertised vehicle feature on higher trims, it presents an unacceptable safety risk for both the Ridgeline driver and other drivers on the road. No idea why they elected to ruin this previously well-functioning feature. It was a big safety aid living in rural areas and one of my favorite features on my old truck. Having owned/driven other Honda vehicles (beyond the previous Ridgeline), this system grossly underperforms compared to that of their other vehicles.

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

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.

Auto headlight high beam extremely errati on dark country roads I live on. Highbeams come on with oncoming traffic blinding them. Very dangerous!.

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that there was moisture inside driver's side headlight housing. The contact took the headlight assembly apart and blew out the moisture. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 43,928.

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.

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.

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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.

Automatic headlight dimming is too sensitive and does not reliably dim headlights when there is oncoming vehicles with headlights on. Many times, the high beams turn off entering a corner because they apparently sense the road sigh reflexion. This sudden change in the light produced entering the corner causes a distraction as well as a loss visibility of the approaching corner. Addionally, I have had vehicles flash their bright lights when approaching me to advise me to dim my lights.

Auto dimming headlight feature is worthless in the 2024 Honda Ridgelines as any reflective surface including reflective house numbers on a mailbox will cause the headlights to dim.

Auto high beams do not work properly. When activated the high beams engage and disengage erratically. When cars are passing by as well as when you come up to a vehicle from behind, the high beams may or may not disengage. On approaching vehicles, faulty auto high beams could possibly blind, them causing an accident, or they respond by turning on their high beams blinding me. This is a known problem within the Honda Ridgeline community. This situation has happened multiple times prior to my filing this report.

The auto dimming headlights are very sporadic. They go to high sometime while approaching other auto’s and won’t dim sometimes. This has been a issue on this model.

The auto dimming is way to sensitive. It turns down on road signs, street lights etc.

The auto high beams do not work with any consistency. They don't come when they should or will turn off because of a reflection from a road sign. Sometimes, they will activate right before a car passes you which causes that driver to flash me and now we both can't see! I can't believe Honda would allow this poor excuse of a feature to pass inspection!.

The automatic high beams have been a issue with the ridgeling since 2021. I have a 2023 Ridgeline and live in a area where properly working high beams are needed to work properly. Honda's dealerships have no answers to this problem, and some of the service writers aren't even aware of it. This is a defect in this vehicle that needs to be addressed. Please contact Honda and make the repair this defect.

Courtesy and safety lighting installed to enter and exit car has never worked properly since the day of installation. It has caused me to slip on ice I could have other wise seen. Had it been working properly. It broke within 30 days of the install. I've had Honda work on it 2 times under warranty and they could never get it fixed right. I feel they should refund money or repair it with light's that don't fail. Our Nissan has the same system and has never failed in 8 years of ownership. Please look into this and warn others of this malfunction of parts Honda is selling. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2022 Honda Ridgeline 🔎.

The auto dimming feature on headlights fails to function. When the high beams are in use, they will not dim when approaching an oncoming vehicle. Conversely, when they are on low beam, they do not switch to high beam setting when it is totally dark outside and no cars are approaching. This fault was not disclosed during initial test drive and the dealerships only explanation is that they are sorry, but it can’t be fixed.

The automatic high beam system is dangerous. When active, the system frequently blinds oncoming drivers because the high beams remain active.

Auto high beams do not work properly, had a road rage incident with another driver as my high beams did not turn off, tye other driver was annoyed I was driving with high beams on.

Automatic headlight dimming does not function properly. In automatic mode it rarely turns on the high beam lights. If they are on anything bright such as a reflection from a road sign or bright building lights on the side of the road turns off the high beams. After they go off they rarely turn back on. I now only use them manually.

The "auto dimmers" do not work. I have had it to the deal several times and they admit that Honda has a problem with them. They tell me they are working as designed and it is not the best design. The service team is now going to switch out vehicles with me to see if they are working 'as designed". The service team has told me to just turn them off and do it manually. To me that is not the solution. But they were totally honest with me, telling me they do not work but not until after I purchased the Ridgeline. If I knew this I would have went to another manufacturer. Very disappointed in Honda. And equally disappointed in the service saying just turn them off.

When traveling on a dark road at night the auto high beam feature of the vehicle will dim the headlights when there is nothing around (no lights, no cars, etc) and it will also fail to reactivate the high beams after passing by a vehicle with their headlights on . This feature is utterly useless and is certainly a safety hazard as the high beams cannot be used in the auto mode because their function is sporadic and non-responsive to the surroundings.

The automatic high beam feature frequently does not dim with oncoming traffic and disengages for reflections such as road signs.

Auto high beam feature turns on and off even when there are no oncoming vehicles. The feature is unreliable and dangerous. Vehicle purchased on 22 Dec 2023. Previous vehicle was a 2019 Ridgeline where this feature worked perfectly.

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.

I own a 2023 Honda Ridgeline rtl-e the auto high-beam headlights do not work. It barely worked the first week, but since then it has not worked. I've had it into the dealer, they say nothing is wrong. Reports online show this is a common issue with Honda Ridgelines since 2020 and has not been addressed.

Automatic high beams do not dim consistently when approaching oncoming traffic. Honda has tried twice to fix the problem but it persists. They said they have no fix and I just have to turn off that feature. I have video that is available on youtube. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The auto high beam functionality is erratic and dangerous. The high beams go off unexpectedly when needed. The high beams come on unexpectedly when there are close oncoming vehicles blinding these drivers and causing a road rage potential. This is a common complaint on the Honda Ridgeline forum. I made both our dealer and Honda USA aware of this problem weeks after I purchased this truck and repeatedly every time I have taken it to dealer for routine maintenance.