The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while waiting in line at a gas station, she smelled a burning odor, and there was smoke coming from the steering wheel. The contact was turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated that upon activating the low-beam headlights, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle without activating the low-beam headlights, the steering wheel stopped smoking. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 12V136000 (Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.
2005 Honda Pilot: headlights failing or too dim
23 of the 679 complaints about the 2005 Honda Pilot describe headlights failing or too dim.
- owner complaints
- 23
- of this car's complaints
- 3%
- typical mileage
- 140,000
- recalls
- 1
Headlights failing or too dim by model year
What owners say
Was traveling down the road, had an electrical burning smell coming from my dash and around steering wheel. Low beams then shut off going down road pulled over but still had high beams but no low beams.
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at 20 MPH, the low beams of the vehicle went out inadvertently, almost causing the contact to crash into another vehicle that was coming from the opposite direction. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated she turned on her high beams and was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that the terminal ends had melted within the wiring harness connector and the wiring harness connector or the lighting switch needed to be replaced. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that her vehicle could not be repaired under the recall for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 12V136000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) as her VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 290,000.
Started vehicle to go home and turn my lights on but both low beams would not work but the high beams worked.
While driving at night both of our low beam lights suddenly went out. We had to pull over and could not get them to come back on. However, our high beam lights worked and we drove the rest of the way using high beams.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the headlights shut off without warning. The contact called valley honda at 630‑851‑5700 (located at 4173 ogden ave, aurora, il 60504) and was informed that there was no recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 187,000.
2005 honda pilot. Consumer writes in regards to low beam headlight issue. *ld the consumer stated the vehicle was diagnosed as having a "poor connection at the wire harness running up column to switch". The vehicle was repaired.
When the headlight switch is set to low beam, the headlights do not come on. The high beams and courtesy lights work. When switching the lever quickly between high and low, they do come on, but after driving a few miles, the low beam quit working and I have to use the high beams. I noticed a recall for this safety issue for 2005 honda pilots but when entering my VIN, a recall is not shown.
My headlights will not turn on. Only the high beams and yellow running lights will work. All fuses and bulbs have been checked by a mechanic. There is documentation on the web about a headlight malfunction and a recall but when I run the recall check it only comes up with an airbag recall. Can I get some sort of documentation on this outstanding recall please.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. While the vehicle was parked and the headlights were activated, smoke appeared behind the steering wheel. The contact stated that there was an abnormal burning odor when the head lamps were activated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the headlights failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v136000 (exterior lighting); however, the repair failed to remedy the vehicle. The failure recurred numerous times. The contact stated that the headlights were inoperable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 honda pilot. While driving 60 MPH at night, the front low beam headlights suddenly failed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the low beam terminal harness failed and would need to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
I tried to turn my headlights on in my driveway and the low beams would not come on. I shut the car off and tried again, and the low beams came on. After the low beams started working again I tried to turn the high beams on, and they would not work, and have not worked since. I spoke to the dealer and they said that the recall for the headlight wiring harness only affects the low beams. They also said that I would have to pay the diagnoses fee. It is noted in the recall which is the federal safety agency recall campaign number : 12v136000 that the dealer will replace either the wiring harness or the lighting switch as necessary, free of charge. The dealer also said that they had never heard of this issue (which is clearly documented). Honda needs to let the dealers that they are obligated to fix this problem. The dealer also told me that I was not a customer of theirs because I did not buy the car there or receive regular services there, and that I should just pay the diagnoses fee so that they could pay their technicians. Needless to say the dealer was no help and is the only one in my area. Screw you honda, and scholfield honda as well.
Service bulletins that may apply
Related recalls
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 12V136000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2005 Honda Pilot headlights
Is headlights failing or too dim a common problem on the 2005 Honda Pilot?
23 of 679 owner complaints about the 2005 Honda Pilot (3%) mention headlights failing or too dim. The model year with the most reports is 2019.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2005 Honda Pilot?
There is 1 recall and 1 service bulletin for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2005 Honda Pilot
Shudder 67Airbag light 45ABS 25Transmission failure 24Stalling 18Grinding brakes 16Jerking 14No deployment 13Engine failure 13Check engine light 11Phantom braking 11Harsh shifting 10Loss of power 10Pulling 10Fire or smoke 8Slipping 7Steering lock-up 7Brake failure 6Hesitation 6Overheating 6Sudden acceleration 6Knocking 5
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