Dealer message - American Honda (AHM)is investigating certain 2013-2014 CR-Vs with a complaint of the rear reflectors loose or missing (part #33505-SLJ-013 for right rear reflector assembly or 33555-SLJ-013 for left rear reflector assembly). To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to your attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Honda CR-V lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Honda CR-V have filed 29 NHTSA complaints about the lighting, typically surfacing around 7,000 miles at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
29
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 CR-V | 5 |
| 2011 CR-V | 3 |
| 2012 CR-V | 12 |
| 2013 CR-V (this page) | 29 |
| 2014 CR-V | 19 |
| 2015 CR-V | 4 |
| 2017 CR-V | 14 |
What stands out
Owners have filed 29 lighting complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 16 model years of Honda CR-V in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2012-2014 CR-Vs with a complaint of the parking brake indicator not illuminating when engaged. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to your attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2013-2014 CR-Vs with a complaint of the rear reflectors loose or missing (part # 33505-SLJ-013 for right rear reflector assembly or 33555-SLJ-013 for left rear reflector assembly). To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to your attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2012-2014 CR-Vs with a complaint of the parking brake indicator not illuminating when engaged. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to your attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2012-2014 CR-Vs with a complaint of the parking brake indicator not illuminating when engaged. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to your attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2013 Honda CR-V consistently report inadequate headlight illumination, creating a pattern Honda dealerships acknowledge but claim cannot be fixed. Low beams project roughly 10 feet or less, forcing owners to rely on high beams for normal night driving. High beams present a distinct problem: they illuminate far ahead (trees, distant signs) while leaving a 25-40 yard blind zone immediately in front of the vehicle, and physically extinguish the low beams when activated. This creates a dangerous situation where flipping to high beams for safety actually reduces close-in visibility—the opposite of what drivers need.
Owners in rural areas with no street lights report difficulty seeing wildlife (deer), roadside edges, and driveways. Several describe the beams as "dim," "atrocious," or "hopelessly inadequate." Dealers confirm they've received years of complaints but tell owners the headlights meet specifications and cannot be adjusted. Replacing bulbs with higher-output alternatives provides minimal improvement. Some owners note European CR-V models have projector-type headlights that perform adequately, raising questions about design choices for the U.S. market. A few owners report earlier CR-V generations (1997, 2004, 2006) did not have this problem. One complaint mentions a separate restraint-light issue unrelated to headlights.
Same Honda CR-V lighting reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Inadequate low-beam illumination
Low beams provide insufficient light projection, typically only 10 feet or less, making night driving unsafe without high beams
When: Apparent at purchase or shortly after; worsens as seasons change and more night driving occurs
Symptoms owners cite: Road ahead poorly illuminated on low beams; Difficult to see roadside, driveway, or wildlife in dark rural areas; Cannot safely see turns without street lighting
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer adjustments attempted; higher-output bulbs provide minimal improvement. Dealers state headlights meet specifications and cannot be corrected.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda acknowledges possible design flaw in at least one complaint update. Dealers report customers have complained for years with no resolution. Honda customer service denies awareness of widespread complaints despite internet documentation.
Poor high-beam design with near-field darkness
High beams illuminate far-distance objects (trees, signs) but leave a 25-40 yard blind zone directly in front of vehicle; low beams shut off when high beams engage
When: Evident during first night drives; one owner reported failure at 100 miles, another at 400 miles
Symptoms owners cite: High beams shine at tree tops and distant objects, not road surface; Dark spot 25-40 feet in front of vehicle when high beams are on; Low beams extinguish when high beams activate; Switching from low to high beams reduces close visibility on dark roads; Cannot safely see approaching wildlife or obstacles in near field
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer technician unable to diagnose or repair in one case (400 miles). Adjusting high-beam angle downward causes low beams to become inadequate. No permanent fix available; bulb replacement does not resolve issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer told one owner the system design is normal ('when high beams are on, low beams are off, that's just the way it is'). No recall issued. No manufacturer fix offered.
Headlight bulb failures (recurring)
Headlight bulbs fail prematurely and repeatedly, continuing a pattern owner experienced on two previous CR-V generations
When: Right headlight failed shortly after purchase (February 2013 purchase); previously, owner's 2006 CR-V had bulbs failing every 3-4 months
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight burns out without warning; Right side headlight failure first observed; Recurring failures within days of each other on previous models; One bulb failing, then the other shortly after
Repairs/costs cited: Owner kept spare bulbs on hand for 2006 CR-V due to frequency. Requires replacement bulbs; no warranty coverage mentioned for premature wear.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealerships told owner there is no recall or persistent problem on earlier models, despite owner trading in 2006 CR-V with 250K+ miles and chronic headlight issues.
Synthesized from 29 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Hi beams are very ineffective and dangerous. They shine too high and light up the trees but not the road ahead. Live in a very rural area with many deer and this is of concern. If the dealer lowers the beam then that makes the low beams worse where they were ok. So adjusting the height of the hi beam is not the solution as it then makes the low beam too low. It's more a design flaw with the…
When high beams are on, the low beams go off making it very difficult to see for 25 to 30 feet. If a child or a dog were to run in front of the auto I wouldn't have enough reaction time to avoid hitting them. *tr
Had lighting trouble with your 2013 Honda CR-V?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2013 Honda CR-V?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 29 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 2,300 and 55,000 miles, with the median around 7,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 2,300; a quarter make it past 55,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Honda/CR-V.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.