2024 Honda Ridgeline: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Oct 17, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · CA

Initial Mechanical Issues – September 2026 In September, while slowing down at a traffic light, my Ridgeline unexpectedly shifted into Park on its own. I was forced to turn the vehicle completely off and restart it before I could continue driving. In addition to this dangerous incident, I experienced several other electrical and mechanical problems: •The high beams would activate unexpectedly, even when another vehicle was directly in front of me. •The driver's side window would move up and down without being prompted. •The vehicle began hesitating when starting in the mornings, behaving as though it had an aging or failing engine. Second Dangerous Incident – October 13, 2026 Approximately one month later, the vehicle again began experiencing difficulty starting and shifting gears roughly. On October 13, while slowing down at a traffic light, my Ridgeline unexpectedly shifted into Neutral on its own. A message appeared on the dashboard instructing me to press the brake pedal and shift into Park. My vehicle became disabled in the middle of the roadway, leaving me in an extremely dangerous situation. I was nearly struck by a semi-truck while sitting helplessly in traffic. The vehicle displayed a dead battery warning, despite the battery having been replaced only one month earlier. I repeatedly attempted to restart the vehicle using the push-button ignition. After approximately ten frightening minutes stranded in the roadway, the vehicle finally restarted. This incident could have resulted in serious injury or even the loss of my life.

Filed Mar 4, 2026 · Electrical, Visibility · GA

The auto high beam is widely known to be so bad it behaves the opposite of how it should. It frequently blinds other drivers when it should not turn high beams on, often blinding them in the last few seconds before passing, causing a dangerous situation, not to mention the possibility of drivers thinking it was done on purpose maliciously. This has led to near road rage experiences. The high beams also rarely turn on when they should but at least there is a manual override.

Filed Feb 4, 2026 · Electrical, Lights · PA

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.

Filed Jan 30, 2026 · Lights · MA

The Auto High Beams (AHB) fail to work correctly. When set to on, they will come on for maybe 3-4 seconds then turn off, and maybe repeat the next time. The bigger issue is they fail to turn off many times when approaching oncoming traffic. The feature is dangerous by not turning on when they should and not turning off when they should. This is a widespread problem reported by many. The Honda dealer said they adjusted the sensitivity of the AHB when in fact there is no such adjustment. There is clearly something wrong with the implementation on the Ridgeline as other same year Honda models (we have a 2924 CRV) do NOT have this problem.

Filed Sep 15, 2025 · Lights · NC

Using the Automatic High Beam system, the high beam may come on even if a car is coming toward me. Sometimes, the high beam will not transition to low beam until the incoming car is real close to me. The incoming car would put his high beam on to warn me. As well, the high bean can randomly transition to low beam for no reason. And a second after, come back to high beam. Really dangerous. I had other cars with this system and never had that kind of problems.

Filed Aug 12, 2025 · Lights · NH

Auto-dimming headlights do not work properly, not always dimming for oncoming traffic, and/or randomly switching between high and low beams without cause. This blinds and confuses oncoming traffic.

Filed Jun 26, 2025 · Lights · MA

The auto High beam function on this vehicle is absolutely useless. It dims when it should be on. It dims needlessly for highway markers and road signs. The constant on and off of the high beams on a dark road with no other cars is dangerous. This system on the ridgeline is dangerous. I have the system on other cars and it works almost perfectly but not in this vehicle.

Filed Mar 24, 2025 · Driver assistance · 100 miles · MA

The contact owns a 2024 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle with the auto high beam feature activated, the auto high beam feature malfunctioned, causing the high beam lights to turn off and on independently. The contact stated that the high beam lights were illuminated for more the 8 seconds before deactivating. The contact stated that the failure had created a visibility hazard for the driver. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the failure was due to a faulty multifunction camera. The multifunction camera was replaced but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and determined that the multifunction camera had operated as intended. The failure mileage was 100. The VIN was not available.

Filed Feb 12, 2025 · Lights · AR

The auto dimming headlight feature is too sensitive. There is constant toggle of high and low beams when this feature in enabled. Any and all type of reflection from street and traffic signage trigger the lights to dim which causes the constant on and off of high beams. This causes distraction of both the driver of the affected vehicle and drivers of other vehicles in close proximity. Honda service said there is no way to adjust sensitivity setting.

Filed Jan 16, 2025 · Lights · TX

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.

Filed Jan 3, 2025 · Lights, Visibility · CA

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.

Filed Dec 24, 2024 · Lights · VT

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.