Have not experienced this issue. Was the switch positioned in AUTO or did you have it switched to the ON position?
Passport low beam headlights
Has anyone else experienced the very scary situation of the low beam headlights providing very short visibility on hilly terrain. Looking out of 2/3 of my windshield, I saw only black! Out the bottom 1/3, a short distance of road was illuminated. This happened on my first night time drive. I checked all settings and tried driving a second night. Same problem!!
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What trim level do you have? There are two different sets/types of headlights on Passports. Base and EX-L have base Projector low beam LED central lamps and Touring and Elite have full range "Jewel" high and low beam LED. You should see your dealer and have the headlamps tested/ aimed correctly.
From Honda's intro playbook for Passport:
LED Lighting
The new Passport incorporates a wide range of available light-emitting diode (LED) exterior lighting features, including LED taillights, LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), LED low-beam projector headlights, and full LED headlights (high- and low-beams) on Touring and Elite trims.
From Honda's intro playbook for Passport:
LED Lighting
The new Passport incorporates a wide range of available light-emitting diode (LED) exterior lighting features, including LED taillights, LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), LED low-beam projector headlights, and full LED headlights (high- and low-beams) on Touring and Elite trims.
- LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
All Passport trims have bright, distinctive LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL). A signature design feature of Passport, the DRLs utilize a wing shape positioned above and beside the round projector low-beams. Shaped to match the rugged look of Passport, the LED DRL array is wider at the side and thinner on top, gradually tapering as it moves toward the inside of the headlight lens. Stylistically, the DRLs strongly and clearly define Passport's front corners. - LED Projector Headlights and LED Taillights
On Passport Sport and EX-L trims, LED low-beam projector headlights provide improved nighttime illumination and visibility compared to contemporary high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights. Besides improving driver confidence and passive safety, the LED headlights use less energy, helping to enhance fuel efficiency by reducing engine loads. In addition, the LED headlights last up to three times longer than HID headlights and up to six times longer than halogen headlights – contributing to less frequent replacement and the associated cost savings. An auto on/off function is included as standard, and the low-beams are also keyed to the remote key fob operation. Touring and Elite trims features a multi-element LED headlight design that uses LED illumination for high-and low-beam operation. All 2019 Passport trims feature LED taillights that hug the outside of the hatch area, emphasizing the width of the liftgate.
AutoHave not experienced this issue. Was the switch positioned in AUTO or did you have it switched to the ON position?
It's hard to tell from the description... Bottom 1/3 windshield/ top 2/3's... in Hilly terrain... ?? Not sure what all this is means...So many variables for lighting in different terrains/time of day and the ability of low beam lamps to have distance...
I still say... See your dealer. Something so important as Headlamp issues should be addressed. Could be bad aim... depending on which version of headlamps this person has...They might have an "auto leveling" system on the lamps and it may not be working correctly. Good luck. Let us know what your local Honda Dealer says....
I still say... See your dealer. Something so important as Headlamp issues should be addressed. Could be bad aim... depending on which version of headlamps this person has...They might have an "auto leveling" system on the lamps and it may not be working correctly. Good luck. Let us know what your local Honda Dealer says....
Auto.It's hard to tell from the description... Bottom 1/3 windshield/ top 2/3's... in Hilly terrain... ?? Not sure what all this is means...So many variables for lighting in different terrains/time of day and the ability of low beam lamps to have distance...
I still say... See your dealer. Something so important as Headlamp issues should be addressed. Could be bad aim... depending on which version of headlamps this person has...They might have an "auto leveling" system on the lamps and it may not be working correctly. Good luck. Let us know what your local Honda Dealer says....
I have made an appointment with the dealer.
I have traveled this road for many years in my 2006 Lexus and 2012 Ford F-150, and in many other people's cars; have never experiences this visibility problem before.
Weather conditions were fine. It was a dark night. Problem started when I turned on to this dark, hilly road. Ability to see was so limited that it was downright dangerous.
I meant automatic aiming /leveling of the lamps themselves... Not the position of the headlamp switch... but anyway...
Glad you will have it serviced. Let us know what it was or if it was fixed.
Glad you will have it serviced. Let us know what it was or if it was fixed.
you still didn't tell us which trim you are driving
Normal on the LED's. Your describing the cutoff effect. The LED's are much brighter than the halogen, so the cutoff area is more pronounced and is to limit blinding oncoming traffic. Halogens scattered the light more and it wasn't that obvious. On rolling hilly conditions just get use to using your high beams if no on coming traffic, that is what we do to over come the dark area.Has anyone else experienced the very scary situation of the low beam headlights providing very short visibility on hilly terrain. Looking out of 2/3 of my windshield, I saw only black! Out the bottom 1/3, a short distance of road was illuminated. This happened on my first night time drive. I checked all settings and tried driving a second night. Same problem!!
Sounds like you were possibly running with just the running lights on.
No.. they are running with their headlamps, but we can't get the level of trim out of the person to know what type of lighting his vehicle has. I don't think the op knows. Not worth anymore input.
EX-L trim. Have been to Honda dealer for service a few days ago about the problem I described above. They took 15 minutes then told me that my 1) low beams were fine and 2) Passports do not have a headlight leveling feature and that 3) most new car will have this limitation due to the LEDs. Is this last statement true?
Mt. Man, your response seems to be point on. My "black line" is your cutoff effect. I am dealing with it by using my high beams whenever possible and slowing down when I can't due to on coming traffic. Truthfully, if I were shopping for another car, I would test drive it at night on hilly terrain before buying; this is how problematic I find the Passport low beams. If I didn't live in Florida 9 months out of the years, I would be trading in my 3 month old Passport. Safe driving everyone, and thank you for trying to help me.
Mt. Man, your response seems to be point on. My "black line" is your cutoff effect. I am dealing with it by using my high beams whenever possible and slowing down when I can't due to on coming traffic. Truthfully, if I were shopping for another car, I would test drive it at night on hilly terrain before buying; this is how problematic I find the Passport low beams. If I didn't live in Florida 9 months out of the years, I would be trading in my 3 month old Passport. Safe driving everyone, and thank you for trying to help me.
Yes our headlights are adjustable, I don’t know why the dealership said otherwise unless it was a service writer because they don’t know anything about cars lol
They are adjustable. But not ‘auto leveling’ I think that’s what the service people were talking about.Yes our headlights are adjustable, I don’t know why the dealership said otherwise unless it was a service writer because they don’t know anything about cars lol
Ahh I gotcha! Misinterpreted that lol its earlyThey are adjustable. But not ‘auto leveling’ I think that’s what the service people were talking about.
Although I’m still seeing that there is a headlight leveling motor on these passports.
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I guess there’s a suspension stroke sensor that ties into the leveling system so as your suspension moves up and down the headlights remain stable? This is some alien technology that I’m not used to yet.
I guess there’s a suspension stroke sensor that ties into the leveling system so as your suspension moves up and down the headlights remain stable? This is some alien technology that I’m not used to yet.
So there is "Headlight Leveling" and it's automatic as you can see from the instructions above. There is no need to have a "motor" if it wasn't. It uses nothing more that a leveling ball/float, sort of like a "level" you get at Home Depot....to electronically read vehicle "Trim" (rear suspension 'squat') It's a system to adjust the lamps/beams "AUTOMATICALLY" depending on vehicle load / passengers as the vehicle squats in the back...etc.... the occupants have no idea the system even functions.
My frustration trying to explain this... I don't care if some of you agree or not. It is what it is.
My frustration trying to explain this... I don't care if some of you agree or not. It is what it is.
Yeah during the learn procedure you do a light cycle of OFF ON 3 times within 5 seconds and up upon completion of this the headlights will point down then back to normal
Position to confirm the relearn so it’s definitely possible if something was to malfunction for any reason the lights could point downward as described by the driver which sounds terrifying if you were to be on a backroad with no street lighting
Position to confirm the relearn so it’s definitely possible if something was to malfunction for any reason the lights could point downward as described by the driver which sounds terrifying if you were to be on a backroad with no street lighting
It was, and still is frightening! Thank you for looking into this and sharing the information.
I plan to take my car to a state inspection station, even though my car is licensed from out of state, to see if any light problem can be identified.
I plan to take my car to a state inspection station, even though my car is licensed from out of state, to see if any light problem can be identified.
No problem, keep us posted
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