Problems with 2005 Honda CR-V EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Headlights for the last 8 years my low beam headlights continue to go out. i have to replace the bulbs once or twice pr year.

I purchased my 2005 honda cr-v ex brand new. i had no real issues with it until around 2007. from that point on i have had my low-beam headlights (plural) burn out, almost in tandem, at least twice a year. the frequency appears to be increasing. occasionally, they will take the dome light with them. i haven't touched the bulbs when replacing the dead sets. i have noticed a massive build-up of what appears to be black grease on the connectors when i've changed them the last few times. i don't know if this is the cause (if so, what is causing it) or a side effect of the problem. i noticed there was a recall on the 2002-2004 cr-v for the same symptoms (don't know if the cause was the same). i would like to report this as a "known issue" after reading approximately 161 complaints from others having the same problem (ref: cr-v headlight problem at http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/honda-cr-v/tlnd3jkaui93fs68g/p9). i would also like to know what the problem actually is. this is both a safety hazard and an expensive recurring repair. *tr

Low beam headlamps continuously burn out. each lamp burns out after four to five months. i have tried lamps costing from $10 to $25 each from two different manufacturers. no significant difference if operating life. *tr

Headlight bulbs fail frequently (anywhere from approximately 3-6 months) for no apparent reason. usually one side at a time. normally, replacing the bulb has been an effective (if expensive) solution. however, most recently, replacing the bulb didn't fix the problem. fuses are all o.k. from several on-line forums, this is a very well documented problem. there is currently an outstanding recall for this problem for model years 2002-2004 (nhtsa campaign number: 12v136000). from my research, this problem seems to be at least as prevalent (if not more so) in the 2005 and 2006 model years. please expand the recall to include those model years and force honda to own up to what appears to be a poor design issue. this is a safety issue.i have owned hondas for over 30 years, and exclusively for the last 9 years. i don't know what my next car will be, except that it won't be a honda. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 honda cr-v. the contact stated the headlights shut on and off. the contact stated that one or the other of the headlights would fail at first and now both of them have failed. the contact stated that the dealer said that the headlights failed when water was entering the headlights or the lights were damaged when they were replaced. the contact stated that the failure was also an issue even though the lights have continued to shut on and off. the lights bulbs were changed several times and continue to fail. the failure mileage was 33,837 and the current mileage was 130,000.

The headlights go out every few months and i have to replace the bulbs. this has been happening since i bought the vehicle. they must be faulty headlights. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda cr-v. the contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the driver's side low beam headlight became inoperative. the failure had recurred several times and sometimes included the passenger side headlight as well. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnosis, but they offered no assistance. the manufacturer was notified and referred the contact to nhtsa. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 122,896.

My low beam headlight bulbs need replacement at least 3 times per year, sometimes more. even when replaced with new bulbs, sometimes the brightness of the light varies randomly. the last time i had the bulb replaced the technician said that the new bulb wouldn't even stay lit when he replaced it. there are other model years for this car which have been recalled for this low beam bulb issue. it is time for honda to recall this model year and fix this problem. i don't feel safe driving my car at night anymore. this is a safety issue!! also, just within the past couple of years, my srs light is randomly staying lit for no apparent reason. i am the original owner of this car and know that there have been no accidents that would have created these issues. *tr

The position of the turn signal at the top of the honda cr-v and the clear lens has resulted in me being hit 3 times in the rear in the 1 1/2 years i have owned this vehicle. the last incident, the person who hit me insisted that i did not have my turn signal on even when he stood behind the vehicle and looked at it -- it was only when pedestrians told him that the signal was on did he finally realize that he just had a hard time seeing it. the first incident the woman said she didn't see the turn signal. in all 3 cases, the accidents occurred on a sunny day. i am constantly being sworn at and yelled at to turn on my turn signal and i get out and look and it is indeed on. the position of the signal at the very top of the vehicle is higher than any other vehicle on the road -- not in a position that people routinely look for a turn signal. in addition, the clear lens make it very difficult to see the turn signal on sunny days-- i have purposely driven behind 2005 cr-vs (the only year that honda had clear lens on the turn signals) and can understand why people have a problem seeing the signal. i called honda and expressed my concern about my safety in this car because the position of the turn signal so high on the car and the clear lens -- i was told that it was the design of the cr-v and they got approval for the design so they were not going to do anything to improve the safety. i asked them why the clear lens were used for only 2005 thinking that other had problems with the clear lens so they switched back to the yellow lens in 2006 but they denied this. they even refused to switch out the clear lens for the yellow lens that they have used for every other year of this vehicle. i wish someone would look into this by driving behind 2005 cr-vs on sunny days and checking out the turn signals. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 honda cr-v. every four months or approximately 6,000 miles, both front headlights fail. the vehicle was taken to the dealer when they failure first occurred, and they stated that it was completely normal. the contact believed that it was a defect and has replaced the lights at least five times. the failure mileage was 6,000 and current mileage was 55,000. update 04-02-08 *bf

Headlights keeps needing to be replaced every 4 to 6 weeks since cr-v purchased new. honda shops states nothing wrong, they know water is in "well" where light bulb is housed when i go to change it. have spent hundreds of dollars, on bulbs and fuses. now passenger side light totally will not work due to short from water damage. i have both go out at once while driving at night, talk about a real safety hazard. something has to be done. i have kept silent for too long. bubs usually blow with rain, or motion ( heavy). i notice after oil changes within a day or two it goes, even if i have just replaced it prior to the oil change.

Every year or so i have to replace a low beam headlight bulb. five bulbs have gone out on the drivers side and two bulbs on the passenger side. i have always replaced the bulbs with latex gloves on as to not put hand oil on the bulbs. i have not taken it to the a honda dealership. *tr

I have had to put a new low beam bulb in right headlight about every 4 months since purchase. few days ago tried 2 new bulbs - only get tiny amount of light with both. big safety issue. *tr

This vehicle, and its twin, a 2006 crv, constantly have blown out headlights (low beams). they blow out every few thousand miles, which is a very expensive, annoying, and dangerous problem. honda denies a problem, but between the two vehicles we have replaced dozens and dozens of headlamps, we now buy them three at a time to cut down our trips to the auto parts store. we rarely use the headlights in daytime, only when necessary, which i feel is compromising safety, since the lights go out on such a constant basis. *tr

I purchased my 2005 honda crv in august, 2005 and have had to replace both headlight bulbs at least twice a year. the driver's side headlight bulb has burned out more frequently than the passenger side. the honda dealerships do not think this is a problem and will not acknowledge any concern stating there have been no recalls initiated by honda addressing this problem. also, the lights that illuminate the temperature gauge, and the rpm indicator on the dashboard are burnt out completely, and the speedometer gauge is only partially illuminated, as well as the indicator dials/selectors that control the ac/heater fan speed, temperature, and position of the air to be distributed. honda dealerships claim that the dashboard lights are fuse related and the indicator/selector dials will have to be replaced completely to correct the problem. this problem occurred approximately four years ago. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda cr-v. the contact stated that the driver and passenger side low beam headlights failed to remain illuminated and were replaced four times in one year. in addition, the instrument panel lighting failed to illuminate. as a result, the contact could not view the gauges. an independent mechanic provided replacement parts for the low beam headlights and instrument panel lighting, but the failures continued. the cause of the electrical failures was unknown. the contact stated that the vehicle also exhibited tire cupping for the rear tires. the tires had been replaced every 2.5 years due to excessive treadwear on the rear tires. the contact had the tires rotated every 3,000 miles; however, the rear tire cupping continued. first team honda (3444 western branch blvd, chesapeake, va 23321, (757) 337-6597) and williamsburg honda (7101 richmond rd, williamsburg, va 23188, (757) 564-4671) were notified of the failures. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failures. the approximate failure mileage was 10,000.

Intermittent headlight failure 9-15-06- n/c warranty work. low beam lights cut in and out - 11/06/06 n/c warranty work. low beam headlight out - 9-18-08 - cost = 22.50 + cost of bulb 10.00=$32.50. headlight bulb out - 12-6-2008 - cost = $26.29. left headlight inoperable -6-11-2011 cost = $32.85. low beam headlights inoperable -10-03-11 cost = $56.30. i have also been pulled over twice for driving without a light because i did not know the lights were out. i have started the car at night to find out i had no lights. i have driven down a dangerous two lane highway not knowing my lights were out or knowing and having to drive with emergency blinkers on. my honda dealers have always refused to acknowledge that this is anything but "random"/"luck of the draw." this problem is not just with 2002-2004. it is also with 2005 at least, probably more based on complaints on the web. see http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/honda-cr-v/tlnd3jkaui93fs68. *kb

I am experiencing the exact same problem of headlight shorting out as your new recall for 2002 - 2004 owners. my car is 2005 ut not covered under this recall. why??? *js

The low-beam headlights on my 2005 honda cr-v burn out after an unusually short time. over my years of owning the 2005 honda cr-v which i bought in 2004, the low beam bulbs burn out annually. now, the driver side low-beam bulb. all bulbs i have used as replacements have been oem brand names: either sylvania or philips. headlights are critical for nighttime safety. the headlight failure problem on 2005 honda cr-v vehicles is a safety problem. i have now replaced both the headlights entirely with new parts. *tr