There are 14 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2021 Honda Ridgelinein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Auto High Beam. Very sensitive. Sometimes they don't go on when they should and sometimes, they stay on blinding oncoming traffic. I have researched this problem and also have been told this is a known problem with this particular model and year - not just my vehicle.
Headlights don't dim in the auto function when there is oncoming traffic. Lights cycle from dim to bright when no oncoming traffic is present. This is an ongoing problem that presents every time the vehicle is driven at night.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that there was moisture inside driver's side headlight housing. The contact took the headlight assembly apart and blew out the moisture. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 43,928.
My model has an auto high-beam system that does not work (stays on with oncoming traffic, turns off when it sees a road sign). Also had a 2019 of the same vehicle and the auto high-beams worked on that model; my 2021 has the cameras in a new location which render the system worthless and dangerous.
The 'automatic high beam/low beam' function is totally worthless. Any reflective sign along the road turns the high beams off. The system on my earlier 2017 Honda Ridgeline worked almost 100%. This 2021 system basically doesn't work. In addition you must reach 45 mph before it activates. On many of the back roads that I travel on, the speed limit is less than 45 mph. I have heard that Honda changed the system on the 2021 model. Bring back the older system (my 2017), or don't feature it all. It's non-functional and Honda should not be allowed to advertise it!
Automatic high beam lights system is terribly dangerous! Not even close to working as advertised. They do not drop to low beam with virtually all oncoming traffic. They are constantly tricked and flicker when looking at reflective signage. They create confusion and very dangerous distraction. This is a well known design flaw with these late model Ridgelines and the dealers can’t do anything to correct. Please convince Honda Motors to correct this dangerous situation soon.
1) The automatic high beam functionality, and it is available for inspection 2) Safety of others is out at risk, as the automatic high beams will turn on even if an incoming car is detected, and in most cases will flash off and on automatically with oncoming traffic, resulting in the oncoming driver being blinded and unable to operate their vehicle safely. 3) It’s been inspected by the dealer, who determined this is proper functionality despite the safety concern. 4) No warning lamps or messages whatsoever.
Vehicle is equipped with automatic high-beam headlights. The feature has not worked properly since I bought the truck new in April 2021. Hi-beam lights will activate for a few seconds and then turn off for about 10 seconds and continually repeat the sequence regardless of road specifics. A few times, the headlights have flashed oncoming vehicles less than 100 feet away. I have taken the vehicle in for repair three times to two different dealers and contacted Honda Customer Assistance for advice. The dealers have the same response after each repair: We have no guidance from Honda how to fix and cannot do anything. Honda Customer Service has no provided any solutions so I am forced to disable the feature to avoid the issue of flashing oncoming vehicles. I have also posted You Tube videos of the behavior hoping that it would help the service folks. They acknowledge the behavior but cannot fix: https://youtu.be/Zmv23FX4R20 https://youtu.be/Kp623lKKAXs https://youtu.be/W3Tfnh1MNeY https://youtu.be/JyGZx13JjX4 https://youtu.be/8sfLcZWPwec
The auto-dimming headlights on my 2021 Honda Ridgeline do not work properly. They don’t engage high beams when they are supposed to, and when they do come on the flash on and immediately turn off. It has gone off and on on dark roads and is very distracting and dangerous. Sometimes they flash other drivers causing angry responses from other drivers. I brought my vehicle in to the Honda dealership and they told me it is working properly. This is not true, because I previously owned a 2019 Honda Ridgeline and the Auto-dimming headlights worked perfectly. My wife also owns a Honda CRV that has the feature and it also works correctly. I feel this problem should be addressed before someone gets injured due to distraction from the lightning going of and on and possible road rage from other drivers thinking your flashing them. This problem has been ongoing since I purchased my new vehicle. I also found many others complaining on Honda Ridgeline Facebook groups. So it’s not an isolated incident.
- Auto-high beam is too sensitive. It switches high beams off with reflections off of road signs and then turns back on. - Cannot count on advertised functionality. Can switch off when needed based on its extreme sensitivity. Can cause road rage from constantly changing from high - low - high. - Not yet confirmed with dealer or others. However multiple internet comments on this issue. - Believed issue is not from failure but from a design or setting defect.
The auto dimming feature on my ridgeline does not operate properly. Does not dim when on coming traffic approaches sometimes, and others do not stay on when it should. This has happened since I took possession of the vehicle and still happens today.
AUTOMATIC HIGH-BEAM SYSTEM ON 2021 MODELS FUNCTIONS ERRATICALLY, SOMETIMES COMING ON WHEN CARS ARE APPROACHING. ALSO TURNS ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY FROM REFLECTIONS ON ROAD SIGNS AND EVEN MILE MARKERS
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT EVEN WITH NO TRAFFIC AHEAD, THE AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAMS RARELY TURN ON. WHEN THEY DO, THEY TURN OFF ALMOST IMMEDIATELY DUE TO REFLECTIONS FROM ROAD SIGNS AND EVEN SMALL ROAD MARKERS. OCCASIONALLY, THEY'LL FAIL TO DIM IN A TIMELY FASHION OR WILL FLASH CAUSING OTHER DRIVERS TO THINK I'M DOING THIS ON PURPOSE. OTHER OWNERS OF 2020 AND 2021 HONDA RIDGELINES ARE REPORTING THE SAME USELESS AND UNSAFE OPERATION. I OWNED 2017 AND 2019 HONDA RIDGELINES WITH AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAMS AND THE FEATURE WORKED REASONABLY WELL. FROM 2017-2019, HONDA USED A DEDICATED CAMERA FOR THE AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM FUNCTION. FOR THE 2020 MODEL YEAR, HONDA ELIMINATED THIS CAMERA AND MERGED THE AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM FUNCTIONALITY INTO THE "MULTI-PURPOSE CAMERA UNIT" THAT IS ALSO USED FOR OTHER FUNCTIONS SUCH AS THE LANE KEEPING ASSIST SYSTEM FEATURE OF HONDA SENSING. IN SHORT, THE NEW AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM SYSTEM IS NOT ONLY USELESS, BUT OFFENSIVE TO OTHER DRIVERS. I'M AFRAID THE FLASHING WILL INDUCE ROAD RAGE OR GAIN UNWANTED ATTENTION FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. FOR NOW, I HAVE DISABLED THE AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM SYSTEM. THE 2021 RIDGELINE'S HEADLIGHTS ARE ALREADY A STEP BACKWARDS ACCORDING TO IIHS TESTING (AND MY OWN OBSERVATIONS) AND I FEEL LIKE THE "HIGH BEAM ASSIST' CREDIT THEY APPLY SHOULD BE REMOVED SINCE THIS FEATURE IS NEXT TO USELESS SINCE THE 2020 MODEL YEAR.
The auto-highbeam feature does not operate properly. The highbeams are frequently engaged when an oncoming car is no more than 300 feet away. This irritates the oncoming motorist and creates a dangerous situation causing risk of a crash. The auto-highbeams also have a tendency to switch to low beam at inopportune times because the glare from roadside signs is recognized as an oncoming motorist.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026