Recall 12V136 affects 1,375,217 2002-2005 Honda Cr-V, Pilot, and Civic vehicles for low-beam headlight harness overheating. Repair is free at any franchised Honda dealer.
Honda recall 12V136 covers 1,375,217 2002-2005 Cr-V, Pilot, and Civic vehicles because wear in the combination switch wiring harness can make terminal ends melt inside the connector. If that happens, the low-beam headlights can stop working, reducing visibility and increasing crash risk; the Honda dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
On 2002-2005 Honda Cr-V, Pilot, and Civic vehicles, the affected part is the headlight switch circuit inside the combination switch wiring harness. That switch assembly is the control path for the headlights, and its connector terminals carry electrical current when the lights are on. The terminals need clean contact surfaces so current flows without excess heat.
In the recalled vehicles, tension in the wiring harness can wear the surface of an electrical terminal. That wear creates copper oxide on the contact surface, which raises electrical resistance. Higher resistance turns more of the current into heat at the connector, and the terminal ends can melt inside the wiring harness connector.
There is no warning sign before failure. That means an owner should not expect a dashboard light, sound, or other clear clue before the connector overheats.
Who's affected?
Covers three Honda model lines across the 2002-2005 model years, all tied to the headlight switch.
| 2004 Honda Cr-V | Switch |
|---|---|
| 2004 Honda Pilot | Switch |
| 2003 Honda Civic | Switch |
| 2002 Honda Civic | Switch |
| 2003 Honda Cr-V | Switch |
| 2002 Honda Cr-V | Switch |
| 2003 Honda Pilot | Switch |
| 2005 Honda Pilot | Switch |
| Units affected | 1,375,217 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
Melted terminal ends inside the headlight wiring harness connector can make the low beams stop working, reducing nighttime visibility and increasing crash risk. If the low beams fail, avoid driving after dark and schedule the recall repair. Repair will be free at any franchised Honda dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2002-2005 Honda Cr-V, Pilot, or Civic is included in this recall.
- Contact Honda customer service to confirm the repair status for your VIN before scheduling service.
- Call a franchised Honda dealer once the repair is open for your VIN, and ask for the free low-beam terminal-harness or lighting-switch repair that fixes the headlight failure risk.
- Bring the recall notice if Honda mailed one. If not, reference recall number 12V136 when you call.
- Drive with extra care until the repair is complete, especially at night or in low-visibility conditions.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Honda technician checks the low beam terminal harness tied to the combination switch wiring. Honda's remedy is to repair the low beam terminal harness or replace the lighting switch when the inspection shows replacement is needed. The dealer repair will be free once the remedy is available for your VIN, with parts and labor covered under the recall. The service desk can confirm whether your affected Honda is included before work begins.
Timeline
| March 30, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 27, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V136?
Recall 12V136 covers 1,375,217 2002-2005 Honda Cr-V, Pilot, and Civic vehicles with low-beam headlight switch wiring that can overheat and melt at the connector. If the low beams stop working, driver visibility drops and crash risk increases. Honda dealers repair the harness or replace the lighting switch for free.
What should I do if my 2002-2005 Honda Cr-V, Pilot, or Civic is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 12V136. If it is, contact a franchised Honda dealer to schedule the low-beam headlight switch wiring repair. Reference recall number 12V136 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Honda's recall remedy says dealers will repair the low-beam terminal harness or replace the lighting switch free of charge. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the safety defect at no cost at any franchised Honda dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is loss of low-beam headlights while driving. The recall says melted terminal ends inside the wiring harness connector can make the low beams inoperative, reducing driver visibility and increasing crash risk. The repair path is a free Honda dealer harness repair or lighting switch replacement.
What if I bought this Honda used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your Cr-V, Pilot, or Civic is included, then call a franchised Honda dealer and reference recall number 12V136.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V136000 |
|---|---|
| Honda customer service | 1-800-999-1009 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V136 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V136000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →