Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Honda Pilot owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at 20 MPH, the low beams of the vehicle went out inadvertently, almost causing the contact to crash into another vehicle that was coming from the opposite direction. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated she turned on her high beams and was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that the terminal ends had melted within the wiring harness connector and the wiring harness connector or the lighting switch needed to be replaced. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that her vehicle could not be repaired under the recall for NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V136000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) as her VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while waiting in line at a gas station, she smelled a burning odor, and there was smoke coming from the steering wheel. The contact was turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated that upon activating the low-beam headlights, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle without activating the low-beam headlights, the steering wheel stopped smoking. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V136000 (Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.
Was traveling down the road, had an electrical burning smell coming from my dash and around steering wheel. Low beams then shut off going down road pulled over but still had high beams but no low beams.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. While the vehicle was parked and the headlights were activated, smoke appeared behind the steering wheel. The contact stated that there was an abnormal burning odor when the head lamps were activated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the headlights failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 12V136000 (exterior lighting); however, the repair failed to remedy the vehicle. The failure recurred numerous times. The contact stated that the headlights were inoperable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
2005 Honda Pilot, when I first start the car the in the morning the red indicator light for the seatbelt and airbag (drivers side airbag) on the dashboard comes on and stays on the entire day this includes stopping and turning off the engine, going into a store and coming back out, starting the engine again, continue driving for each day until I return back home. But at least two (2) days a month when I first start the car in the morning this same red indicator light on the dashboard stays off the entire day while driving the car. This includes stopping and turning off the engine, going into a store and coming back out and starting the engine again and continue driving for each day until I get back home. Each time the red indicator light is stays on or off for the day I drive my car I use city streets 25 mpr. And driving on the turnpike at 75 MPH. This started in 2018.
Over the last year, we experienced the car's dash warning lights turning on for 1-2 seconds and the radio makes a puff sound prior to this occuring...this has been reported prior on your system. See incident# 10458594. Second issue is regarding the interior lights for the heating / ac console. The lights don't work. This has also been reported on your system. See incident # 10440512, 10418459, 10345735. Both issues occur when driving the vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the headlights shut off without warning. The contact called valley Honda at [phone] (located at 4173 ogden ave, aurora, il 60504) and was informed that there was no recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 187,000.
When the headlight switch is set to low beam, the headlights do not come on. The high beams and courtesy lights work. When switching the lever quickly between high and low, they do come on, but after driving a few miles, the low beam quit working and I have to use the high beams. I noticed a recall for this safety issue for 2005 Honda pilots but when entering my VIN, a recall is not shown.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. While driving 60 MPH at night, the front low beam headlights suddenly failed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the low beam terminal harness failed and would need to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
While driving at night both of our low beam lights suddenly went out. We had to pull over and could not get them to come back on. However, our high beam lights worked and we drove the rest of the way using high beams.
Related recalls
Exterior lighting › Headlights › Switch
Honda is recalling certain model year 2002 through 2004 cr-v; model year 2003 through 2005 pilot; and model year 2002 and 2003 civic vehicles. In March 2012, Honda filed a defect report to recall certain model year 2002 through 2004 cr-v and certain model year 2003 pilot vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the low beam terminal harness or replace the lighting switch as necessary, free of charge. The original recall began in April 2012.
Headlight complaints in other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2005 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the lights of the 2005 Honda Pilot, 5% of the model year's 679 complaints. The component named most often is headlights › switch (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Honda Pilot headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 12V-136 (switch, Mar 30, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Honda Pilot headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 126,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to lights problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.