Headlight switch and wiring harness damaged by overheating/melting on 2003 Honda CRV. Updated 06/13/11 received invoice. Updated 08/18/11

- Humble, TX, USA

Vehicle would not start at all, then left it for 2 hours and came back and it started. Then 2 months later it is starting fine, but stalling quite often while driving. It will sometimes cut out and then recover and keep going (the check engine light comes on when it cuts out, but goes out again when it keeps going) other times it stalls. The check engine light comes on when it stalls but everything else still works (radio, lights). It has stalled on the highway at 65-70 mph, in the city at 40 mph, also slowing to take a turn. This started out only stalling once in a few days. It is now stalling several times in a day. I don't drive it that far anymore, but I still have to drive it because the garage does not find anything wrong. There were no codes, and they could find nothing. I don't know for sure what is happening with it, but reading the forums it sounds like it might be the ignition switch.

- Melbourne, FL, USA

Both low beam headlamps go out. Hi-beam lamps still work. The problem is the contacts on the dimmer switch corrode; there have also been reports of scorched connectors - meaning the possibility of fire. To access the switch you have to remove the steering column cover and then locate the dimmer/turn signal wiring harness. Most consumers would not know how nor be able to do this. This is extremely dangerous. It has been reported many times on internet blogs.

- Nashville, TN, USA

Both low beam headlights stopped working at the same time. Took car to dealer, they replaced wire plug at head light switch and replaced head light switch. They said plastic part had melted. Updated 05/02/11 updated IVOQ 05/04/11

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Honda CR-V. the contact stated that the coolant leaked which caused the air conditioning compressor to fail. The steering column overheated. The passenger air bag light illuminated with or without a passenger in the seat. The cruise control activated suddenly at times. The oxygen sensor light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop but the exact causes of these failures could not be determined. The contact called the manufacturer who advised her to take the vehicle to an authorized dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000 and the current mileage was approximately 77,000.

- Lafayette, GA, USA

There is two problems with my 2003 Honda CR-V. when car has sat overnight or when the air conditioner was on full and the car was off when we went to start the car it sounded like the main starter had been corroded not allowing the car to start it's not the battery nor the alternator and whats keeping the starter from starting the car only has 92,000 miles. The bigger safety issue is that the tilt steering is not locking allowing it to stay loose while driving, this is a big issue when in motion and cannot find a solution. My two requests are why is the starter going bad so early and why wont the tilt lock into place?

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Honda CRV. The contact stated that the keyless door entry was defective. In addition, the keyless remote would fail sporadically and would not allow her to unlock the doors. On one occasion, a small child was locked inside the vehicle and she was unable to unlock the doors with the keyless remote. The dealer stated that the keyless remote was not the problem but the design of the vehicle. There were no repairs made to the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000 and the approximate current mileage was 77,000.

- Blue Springs, MO, USA

I reported a driver's door rattle very early on (during the warranty period), but no source was found. On 5/09/07 (37,792 miles) the driver's door lock/unlock became inoperable, and I could not lock/unlock the door with the remote control; I could not enter or leave the car by using the remote. An "actuator" was replaced at my expense ($161.61). On 07/30/09 (48,565 miles) the same driver's window came off its track, and the track had to be reinstalled at my expense ($90) now I read that a different Honda model has been recalled with what seems to be my same problem. All services have been performed by the same authorized Honda dealer. Perhaps there is connection between the problems.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

Ignition key failed to start car, towed tohonda deale.faulty tumblers (2003 CRV Honda). New key /kit ignition ordered, $561.L5 your article suggest a partial repair under $L50. Available. Gouged?

- Landrum, SC, USA

Vehicle fire regarding 2003 Honda CRV. There was overheating of the electrical components that caused the fire. The consumers wife was locked in the burning vehicle. The locks remained activated and would not open from the inside or the outside, even though the ignition was off. The entire vehicle had become filled with heavy black smoke along with the instrument panel warning lights flashing. The consumer was informed that the damage found was consistent with a high resistance condition occurring in the crankshaft sensor oil control solenoid circuit wiring resulting in electrical overheating, resulting in a fire. Minor heat and fire damage was sustained to the right front area of the engine starting near the crankshaft pulley extending upwards towards the valve cover area. Upon examination of the fuse/relay center located in the passenger compartment revealed a 15 amp fuse protecting the ECU circuit was blown consistent with a component and or electrical failure within this circuit. According to the technical report, the fire began in the engine compartment and was considered an accident not a manufacturer defect.

- Lowell, MA, USA

I owned a 2003 Honda CR-V that was purchased from the local Honda dealer(Honda windward) October 2003. On the 11th of this month of January 2004, while operating the vehicle, the car suffered a fire that totaled out the car. I managed to get out in time, suffering only a twisted knee.

- Kaneohe, HI, USA

Auto-reverse mechanism works intermittently on the driver side power window. It has power up feature (which I think is a bad idea all-around). It is supposed to auto-reverse if it meets resistance on the way up. In many cases, it does not work and with considerable force applied against the window, it wants to keep pushing up very strongly. This would kill a kid or pet if they got caught in there. Wanted dealer to turn it off, but they said it could not be done. I will go back to have them replace unit, as it is dangerous. I am sure they will take care of it, but I want to file a complaint to ensure that Honda is aware of the situation and considers offering a recall to avoid causing injury or death.

- Kenosha, WI, USA

Dashboard light went out. Dealership replaced the switch, but the problem recurred. Wire harness was then replaced, but the problem still existed. Cause of the failure was due to an electrical short. But the dealership could not locate the exact component that was the source of the short.

- Raleigh, NC, USA