2024 Honda CR-V Lighting Problems

The headlight system is critically deficient when operating the vehicle at night whenever the roads are wet, especially during active precipitation, and especially in poorly lit areas when there is oncoming traffic. The headlights cannot penetrate the water on the roadway and fail to reflect back lane markings most likely due to inferior strength and poor choice of color since White and Blue wavelengths scatter more with water on the roadway. In multiple instances I have had near miss accidents due to being unable to see clearly marked lane markers while I cannot utilize my high beams due to oncoming traffic. I can easily reproduce anytime there is active rain and am willing to let my car be inspected. I also can provide dashcam video upon request. The dealer has not confirmed the issue due to needing precipitation, poorly lit areas and the time of day being night which is after their working hours. The dealer also does not support the installation of fog lights on this model. There are no warning messages, lamps or otherwise. Others on forums such as Reddit acknowledge this is a major issue. I have never felt more unsafe operating any motor vehicle before in the conditions listed above than I am now with this low mileage 2024 CR-V.

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The 2023+ Honda CRV hybrid model have paddles on the steering wheel that increase and decrease the strength of regenerative braking. I use this feature often on our 2024 hybrid model. The issue arises when increasing the strength to the second or third (highest) level. The braking force at these levels should trigger the brake lights to illuminate, but they do not. Often I see drivers brake late behind me because my vehicle is braking with noticeable strength, but the driver behind me can’t tell. So they slow late and very close to my vehicle’s rear bumper. Honda should recall the hybrids and retrofit the brake lights to activate when regenerative braking is increased to the second or third level. Just as Tesla brake lights activate when their regen braking system works by releasing the accelerator, Honda’s should activate when turned up to the higher levels.

Headlights are super dim, not lighting the road properly. My halogen headlights on my old 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander are much brighter than these Honda LEDs. To make matters worse, headlights are aimed a bit high. I took it to Honda service and complained and they acknowledged that the lights are aid a bit high and that they are weak, but cannot do anything about it. Honda should recall these headlights, they are a road hazard. You cannot see properly at night and if it rains and it is night, these lights might as well be off as they are completely useless. I follow CR-V Facebook Owner group and many people are complaining about these headlights.

The supposedly “LED Headlights on this vehicle is very dim and very unsafe to drive. I have contacted Honda of Marysville Wa state about the headlights inability to provide light on the roads but was ignored. We almost had an accident because the headlights are so dim we almost hit another vehicle. This needs to be addressed by honda before something bad happens.

This hybrid model does not display red brake lights during regenerative braking, at any of the settings. I have have had two occurrences where the driver behind me was apparently not aware that my vehicle was slowing somewhat rapidly, and thus nearly drive into the back of my vehicle. One of those drivers mentioned that they did not see any brake lights even though I was slowing down, approaching an intersection. I can see how this might be a safety issue. IF Tesla can have this function on their cars software then why cannot Honda? My vehicle also has times when I am travelling on straight city streets with no traffic in front of me, where the automatic emergency braking come on quite firmly for a second or two, without any apparent reason. Again, this presents a possible safety hazard to the vehicles behind me who may be following a little closer than they should, and may possible drive in to the back of my vehicle. Again, I am not aware of any brake lights present on my vehicle when this happens. A big improvement would be in the manner in which the radar sees things and makes false applications of this braking system, as well as having teh vehicle brake lights activate when this system decides to engage.