FaultScore

2007 Honda Pilot headlight problems

20 of the 266 complaints about the 2007 Honda Pilot are about the lighting — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 70,000 miles.

B

20

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Exterior Lighting 15 75.0%
Headlights 2 10.0%
Interior Lighting 2 10.0%
Back UP Lights 1 5.0%

Lights across every Honda Pilot year

2003 32 21.3%
2004 13 8.7%
2005 36 24.0%
2006 15 10.0%
2007 20 13.3%
2008 10 6.7%
2016 14 9.3%
2017 10 6.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Ann Arbor, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Both front headlights on low beam suddenly stopped working, high beams work as do the rest of the indicator lights on the vehicle, I have replaced the bulbs, checked fuses and relays and switches and they still do not work. An issue that has been recalled on earlier years and is very common on my model year with no assistance from Honda.

NHTSA complaint #11611526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flagstaff, AZ

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WE WERE TRAVELING THE FREEWAY AND AS WE DROVE DOWN THE ROAD THE LOW BEAMS TURNED OFF. FORTUNATELY HIGH BEAMS WERE STILL FUNCTIONAL.

NHTSA complaint #11481901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 172,000 miles Plantation, FL Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ON 09/09/2019 1:00 AM I WAS AWAKENED BY NEIGHBORS THAT MY 2007 HONDA PILOT WAS ON FIRE, POLICE AND FIRE DEPT. RESPONDED AND PUT OUT THE FLAMES, FLAME WERE IN SIDE DASH BOARD, CEILING, LEFT AND RIGHT QUARTER PANELS, SUN ROOF AND HOOD BURNED, FRONT BURNED, PLASTIC MELTING AND FIRE EVERYWHERE, FLAMES WERE 1 TO 2 FT. HIGH, ALL FRONT LIGHTS IN VEHICLE BURNED AND MELTED, WIRES HANGING, HALF THE FRONT VEHICLE TOTALED, DURING DAY LIGHT IT WAS VISIBLE TO SEE HALF THE DASH BURNED COLAPSED MELTED, YOU CAN SEE FUSE BOX PROTRUDING HANGING UNDER DASH. WIRE HARNESS, ELECTRONICS, COMPUTER, BURNED. THIS DOES NOT EVEN INCLUDE DAMAGE INSIDE ENGINE UNDER HOOD, FLAMES WERE REACHING OUT OF HOOD. NEIGHBOR HAS SECURITY CAMERAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF CAR, WHEN SHE GETS BACK FROM TRIP WE'LL SEE HOW IT STARTED I HOPE. I HAVE POLICE REPORT AVAILABLE AND PICTURES ATTACHED; YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT AND INSPECT VEHICLE. IT'S A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA complaint #11254274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vabch, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

LOW BEAM WILL NOT ACTIVATE....HI BEAM WORKS...BOTH LOW BEAM BULBS ARE GOOD. I HAVE 175K MILES ON IT AND BOTH LOW BEAMS STOP WORKING. LOW BEAM WILL NOT ACTIVATE WHILE MOVING OR SRATIONARY.

NHTSA complaint #11241638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

COMPLAINT - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING I NOTICED MY PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE. I REPLACED THE LAMP(BULB) AND CHECKED THE FUSES BUT THIS DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND PREVIOUS HONDA PILOT MODELS WITH THE SAME ISSUE THAT WERE RECALLED FOR FAULTY HARNESS HEADLIGHT ISSUES. HOWEVER, HONDA HAS FAILED TO RECALL THE MODEL YEAR 2007 FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUES. MOST OWNERS ON FORUMS WITH 2007 PILOTS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AT OR AROUND 150,000 MILES. MY PILOT HAD THE ISSUE SINCE 153000. THE HIGH BEAMS WORK AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS NOT AFFECTED. THE PROBLEM EXISTS WHILE IN MOTION AND STATIONARY AND IS INTERMITTENT.

NHTSA complaint #11179935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 124,888 miles Auburn, IN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ONE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT HAD GONE OUT AFTER HONDA OIL CHANGE. THEN A WEEK LATER THE SECOND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT HAD GONE OUT. I HAVE NO LOW BEAM LIGHTS!! I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY LAST LOW BEAM HAD GONE OUT. IF I DIDN'T HAVE DOG LIGHTS AND MY BRIGHTS I COULD HAVE CRASHED.

NHTSA complaint #11129782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 154,000 miles Tallahassee, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I NOTICED MY PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE. MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE LAMP(BULB) AND CHECKED THE FUSES BUT THIS DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND PREVIOUS HONDA PILOT MODELS WITH THE SAME ISSUE THAT WERE RECALLED FOR FAULTY HARNESS HEADLIGHT ISSUES. HOWEVER, HONDA HAS FAILED TO RECALL THE MODEL YEAR 2007 FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUES. MOST OWNERS ON FORUMS WITH 2007 PILOTS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AT OR AROUND 150,000 MILES. MY PILOT HAS 154,000. THE HIGH BEAMS WORK AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS NOT AFFECTED. IN ADDITION TO THIS PROBLEM THE YELLOW REFLECTOR BULB IS NOW NOT WORKING. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE ENTIRE UNIT STOPS WORKING. THE PROBLEM EXISTS WHILE IN MOTION AND STATIONARY.

NHTSA complaint #11100468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,500 miles Richmond, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

07 HONDA PILOT EX, THE CLIMATE CONTROL LIGHTING, RADIO BUTTON LIGHTS AND THE DOOR AJAR ON/OFF, CRUISE CONTROL AND SUNROOF BUTTON LIGHTS HAVE ALL GONE OUT. I BOUGHT THIS BRAND SPANKING NEW AND WITHIN 2-3 YEARS THESE LIGHTS WENT OUT. SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT HONDA HASN'T MASTERED BECAUSE I SEE FORUMS THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUUE. I DON'T HAVE $300-400 TO TAKE IT TO THE SERVICE DEPT TO REPLACE BULBS. MAYBE A MANUFACTURE RECALL SHOULD BE SET IN PLACE.

NHTSA complaint #10991851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tooele, UT

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE CLIPS TO THE HEADLIGHTS BREAK. ONE HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACED 6 OR 7 TIMES. BOTH HEADLIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED NOW. CONDENSATION FORMS ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAVE HAD MANY CALLS ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT IT IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AS OF RIGHT NOW.

NHTSA complaint #10920541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flushing, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE BULBS FOR THE CLIMATE CONTROL BUTTONS PREMATURELY BURNT OFF. CANNOT SEE THE BUTTONS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10874991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 151,000 miles Yelm, WA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

VERY FREQUENT BURN-OUT OF LOW-BEAM HEAD-LAMPS (2-3 TIMES PER YEAR). MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ISSUE ON INTERNET.

NHTSA complaint #10702956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,100 miles Greensboro, NC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHILE DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, WE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AS WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION. IT WAS DARK WHEN WE RETURNED HOME AND THE HEADLIGHTS SEEMED VERY DIM WHEN USING LOW BEAMS. WE WERE IN A VERY RURAL AREA AND ABLE TO USE HIGH BEAMS FOR MOST OF THE TRIP. WHEN SWITCHING TO LOW BEAMS DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, I HAD DIFFICULTY SEEING THE ROAD. WHEN WE REACHED THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO USE LOW BEAMS MORE, IT WAS OBVIOUS SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I USED HIGH BEAMS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AT ONE POINT, I SWITCHED TO LOW BEAMS AS A CAR PASSED ME. THE LIGHTS WERE DIM AGAIN BUT SUDDENLY BRIGHTENED UP A SECOND AFTER SWITCHING TO LOW BEAMS (POSSIBLY DUE TO A BUMP IN THE ROAD?) AND I REALIZED WE HAD BEEN DRIVING WITH ONLY FOG LIGHTS FOR THE PAST 30 MINUTES. WITHOUT THE FOG LIGHTS, WE DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE CRASHED WHEN WE DIMMED OUR HIGH BEAMS ON THE RURAL ROADS EARLIER IN THE TRIP. THE FOLLOWING DAY, I TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE LOW BEAMS WERE NOT WORKING. TAPPING ON THE LENS SOMETIMES TEMPORARILY FIXES THE PROBLEM, SO THE BURNING SMELL MAY NOT HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO THE LOSS OF LIGHTS. THE SUDDEN ONSET OF THIS PROBLEM IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND SEEMS VERY SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEM EXPERIENCED WITH HEADLIGHTS IN SEVERAL OTHER MODELS, INCLUDING 2003-2005 PILOTS. THE PREVIOUS RECALL (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA11012 NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER : 12V136000) WAS SPECIFIC TO 2 BULB SYSTEMS. THE 2007 PILOT USES A 4 BULB SYSTEM, BUT THE PROBLEM SEEMS SIMILAR AND I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ANY TECHNICAL INFORMATION THAT WOULD EXPLAIN WHY THE 4 BULB SYSTEM IS IMMUNE TO THE PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10668711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,000 miles Mcdonald, TN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MOST OF THE CLIMATE CONTROL LIGHTS ON MY 2007 HONDA PILOT HAVE BEEN OUT FOR A WHILE. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF IT; NO WRECKS, ETC. THE CLIMATE CONTROL LIGHTS CONTINUE TO GO OUT A FEW AT A TIME. THIS CAUSES NIGHT DRIVING TO BE DANGEROUS DUE TO BEING UNABLE TO ADJUST ANYTHING WITH A QUICK GLANCE. I'VE ACTUALLY HAD TO TURN ON THE OVERHEAD LIGHT TO SEE WHICH BUTTON TO PUSH. OBVIOUSLY, THIS TAKES MY ATTENTION FROM THE ROAD, CAUSING DISTRACTED DRIVING. I'VE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA PILOTS. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT SUCH A WONDERFUL VEHICLE AND COMPANY WOULD HAVE SUB PAR PARTS OR A PROBLEM THAT CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN. I'VE HAD OTHER CARS (MUCH OLDER MODELS) THAT HAVE NEVER HAD AN INTERIOR LIGHT GO OUT. I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY WAY THAT I CAN REMEDY THIS SITUATION. I PLAN ON KEEPING THIS PILOT FOR MANY MORE YEARS AND WOULD LIKE TO BE SAFE WHEN DRIVING. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP OR ADVICE.

NHTSA complaint #10667366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Okemos, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO REACTIVATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA complaint #10610946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Okemos, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO REACTIVATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA complaint #10610946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Southaven, MS

INTERIOR LIGHTING

WE BOUGHT MY 2007 HONDA PILOT EX-L IN 2009. SOON AFTER PURCHASING WE NOTICED INTERIOR LIGHTING ISSUES. SPECIFICALLY, THE LIGHTS FOR THE BUTTONS IN THE AC HEAD UNIT ARE ALL OUT. IN ADDITION, THE DOME LIGHT WORKS SOMETIMES AND NOT OTHERS. EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS JUST FINE ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS FROM OTHERS ON THIS ISSUE AND FEEL IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TYPICALLY LAST MANY MANY YEARS ON MOST VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10500924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Southaven, MS

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WE BOUGHT MY 2007 HONDA PILOT EX-L IN 2009. SOON AFTER PURCHASING WE NOTICED INTERIOR LIGHTING ISSUES. SPECIFICALLY, THE LIGHTS FOR THE BUTTONS IN THE AC HEAD UNIT ARE ALL OUT. IN ADDITION, THE DOME LIGHT WORKS SOMETIMES AND NOT OTHERS. EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS JUST FINE ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS FROM OTHERS ON THIS ISSUE AND FEEL IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TYPICALLY LAST MANY MANY YEARS ON MOST VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10500924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 94,000 miles Crystal Lake, IL

INTERIOR LIGHTING

HONDA PILOT CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL DOES NOT LIGHT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN NEWER HONDA PILOTS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO CONCENTRATE ON DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVER CAN NOT SEE THE CONTROL LIGHTS CLEARLY. WE ALMOST GOT INTO A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON 8/2/2011. PLEASE ASK HONDA TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THESE PANEL LIGHT SHOULD NOT GO OUT SO FREQUENTLY ON VEHICLES ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH HONDA NOT YET ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE!!!

NHTSA complaint #10416825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Athens, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS. VERY BAD VISIBILITY!

NHTSA complaint #10190273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,000 miles Snohomish, WA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS

RE 2007 HONDA PILOT. THE BACKUP LIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE EXTREMELY WEAK AND VIRTUALLY USELESS IN SITUATIONS WHERE THE DRIVER DOES NOT HAVE OTHER LIGHTING TO DEPEND ON. THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE, NOT A MATTER OF REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10173527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2007 Honda Pilot problems

← Full 2007 Honda Pilot report