Pilot TSB's

[pw455]

Can the number of TSB's for Pilot and Highlander be compared or is that more related to what each mfr. reports?

I'm still trying to decide whether to buy a Pilot, Highlander or something else. It definitely steers me towards the Highlander if the # of TSB's can be compared:

Pilot Highlander
2003 91 5
2004 10 2

Does anyone know if that's a valid comparison?

I've been mostly looking at the Pilot because of the positive reviews. The SUV will be for my wife and children so safety and reliability are top priorities. The problems with the waterpump, power steering pulley and 70-mph vibration has me seriously thinking about not even bothering to test drive the Pilot. With the exception of the waterpump, it sounds like Honda isn't taking some of these complaints very seriously.

Thanks,
Pete

[iivtecracerii]

91??

are you sure those are the right numbers? the only major TSBs ive heard of is the door seal (window "scrunch") and the rear brake clunk.

you shouldnt even be concerned. TSBs arent really a basis for comparison. TSBs arent anything major or safety related. TSB = Technical Service Bulletin. its a bulletin for the service technicians at dealers to explain to them how to do something or resolve a common annoyance or complaint (window scruch, brake clunk, etc...) think of TSBs as sort of amendments or appendixes to the Service Manual, if you will.

[RipRocK]

So, if I read those numbers correctly, the 2003 Pilot had 91 TSB's and the Highlander only 5 TSB's and the 2004 Pilot so far has had 10 TSB's and the Highlander only 2? Or am I way off, as usual?

[john802]

Originally posted by pw455
Can the number of TSB's for Pilot and Highlander be compared or is that more related to what each mfr. reports?

I'm still trying to decide whether to buy a Pilot, Highlander or something else. It definitely steers me towards the Highlander if the # of TSB's can be compared:

Pilot Highlander
2003 91 5
2004 10 2

Does anyone know if that's a valid comparison?

I've been mostly looking at the Pilot because of the positive reviews. The SUV will be for my wife and children so safety and reliability are top priorities. The problems with the waterpump, power steering pulley and 70-mph vibration has me seriously thinking about not even bothering to test drive the Pilot. With the exception of the waterpump, it sounds like Honda isn't taking some of these complaints very seriously.

Thanks,
Pete

Where did you get this data?

-john

[bpjones]

So you're using a list of fixed problems to determine which new car to buy? Seems like you are focusing on the wrong things in my opinion...

[jay]

Originally posted by john802


Where did you get this data?

-john

I purchased a one month subscription to the Toyota/Scion/Lexus Technical Information Service website, and can tell you that there are 15 TSBs for the 2004 Highlander. I wish there were an easy way to cut/paste just the list of titles. None of the TSBs are problem fixes, they are revisions to procedures or processes.

Alldata.com doesn't show any TSBs for the Pilot for '04, and isn't current with the '03 TSBs.

Bulletins for 2003 Honda Truck Pilot V6-3.5L SOHC YF1 (VTEC) MFI

Safety Recalls
TSB Number Issue Date TSB Title
02-055 AUG 02 Recall - Water Pump Replacement

Service Bulletins
TSB Number Issue Date TSB Title
98-018 JUL 03 Drivetrain - Revised CV Joint Boot Band/Installation
00-088 JUN 03 Brakes - Brake Disc Refinishing Guideline
00-049 APR 03 Antitheft System - Type 2 System Operation/Programming
98-011 APR 03 Keyless Entry - Transmitter ID/Programming
03-020 MAR 03 Engine Controls/Emissions - OBD II DTC's & Monitors
03-001 JAN 03 Emissions/Engine Controls - MIL ON/DTC P1457 (EVAP)
02-045 OCT 02 Body/Suspension - Creaking/Ticking Noises
02-060 OCT 02 Instruments - Navigation Screen Reverses Color
02-059 OCT 02 Interior - Side-to-Side Looseness in Driver's Power Seat
01-009 SEP 02 Engine - Cylinder Block Oil Leaks

All that being said, I don't think comparing a list of TSBs should be a weighty factor in a purchase decision.

[Pairallel]

If you are going to compare this way, seems to me you should match initial model years, i.e. 2003 Pilot with 2001(?) Highlander, then go forward from there.

Obviously, there will be more service info required by the service techs for a completely new model design in its first year. The drop in Pilot TSB's from 2003 to 2004 supports this logic.

All you need to decide between a Highlander and a Pilot are:

1. Car and Driver, Consumer Reports and any other respected motor review publication comparisons;
2. A test drive
3. A quick perusal of this board / site
4. A knowledge of nationwide vehicle demand statistics
5. A basic knowledge of math
6. A working set of eyeballs

Just my humble opinion after completing the same process...and I never looked back.

[jay]

Originally posted by Pairallel
If you are going to compare this way, seems to me you should match initial model years, i.e. 2003 Pilot with 2001(?) Highlander, then go forward from there.

Obviously, there will be more service info required by the service techs for a completely new model design in its first year. The drop in Pilot TSB's from 2003 to 2004 supports this logic.

All you need to decide between a Highlander and a Pilot are:

1. Car and Driver, Consumer Reports and any other respected motor review publication comparisons;
2. A test drive
3. A quick perusal of this board / site
4. A knowledge of nationwide vehicle demand statistics
5. A basic knowledge of math
6. A working set of eyeballs

Just my humble opinion after completing the same process...and I never looked back.

The Toyota Technical Information Service website shows 66 TSBs for the '01 Highlander, about 60 of them process or procedure information, and 6 or so related to squeaks and rattles or wind noise.

[PNW-Pilot]

TSB's are not a way to compare cars. The Pilot is only 2 model years old, the Highlander is 4. The higlander will have most of the bugs worked out, and both are reliable. I liked the highlander, but it was a smaller vehicle and more expensive.

All things the same, I like dhte Pilot for the way it drives, and the "bargain" it was/is. I don't regret my decision, and I'm smiling as i drive down the freeway. Drive both and make your own opinion on the way they feel/drive, that's the best way to buy a car. You really want to make a car look good, look at the tsb's for the Chevy Trailblazer first year. I'm sure it's in triple digits. So in comparision of first years, highlander and pilots are so much better.

[jay]

Originally posted by PNW-Pilot
TSB's are not a way to compare cars. The Pilot is only 2 model years old, the Highlander is 4. The higlander will have most of the bugs worked out, and both are reliable. I liked the highlander, but it was a smaller vehicle and more expensive.

All things the same, I like dhte Pilot for the way it drives, and the "bargain" it was/is. I don't regret my decision, and I'm smiling as i drive down the freeway. Drive both and make your own opinion on the way they feel/drive, that's the best way to buy a car. You really want to make a car look good, look at the tsb's for the Chevy Trailblazer first year. I'm sure it's in triple digits. So in comparision of first years, highlander and pilots are so much better.

The 2002 Chevy Trailblazer has had 5 safety recalls, 1 general recall, and 152 TSBs, most look to be pretty serious. Check out alldata.com for the list here .

[pw455]

I found the information at

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr.../tsbsearch.cfm

There are a lot of duplicate items, which may be why the numbers are so high.

I'm not sure if it's a good way to compare cars or not. From all your replys, it sounds like it's not. I was asking the question because it seems like a high number of problems found after the release of the product indicates a poor job during the development and testing of the product.

Thanks for the responses.
Pete

[jay]

Originally posted by pw455
I found the information at

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr.../tsbsearch.cfm

There are a lot of duplicate items, which may be why the numbers are so high.

I'm not sure if it's a good way to compare cars or not. From all your replys, it sounds like it's not. I was asking the question because it seems like a high number of problems found after the release of the product indicates a poor job during the development and testing of the product.

Thanks for the responses.
Pete

They may be called service bulletins at the NHTSA website, but there are duplicates, and who knows where most of them for the Pilot originated; certainly not from Honda. And the two for the Highlander are duplicates, and relate to a revised procedure to mount the OEM deflector while leaving the hood weatherstrip in place.

[dbaggette]

I just scheduled my Pilot for the transmission recall, and asked for the major TSB's to be addressed: Window Scrunch, Timing Belt, and Brake clunk. When I asked about the Window scrunch, the dealer asked which door. Not knowing, I replied as such, and said it appeared to come from the back. When I asked, he stated that they would not automatically replace all of the door seals, but would only replace those with a problem, if they could reproduce it. Is this correct? Obviously I want all of them replaced, but don't know how the process works.

thanks

[Pairallel]

The dealer will only perform the TSB procedure for a known problem that you specifically complain about. I had a similar issue with the brake shim TSB, so I had to complain about how the clunking noise was "really" bothering me, and getting worse all the time...

[drm1111]

I took ownership of my 04 Taffeta white Pilot EX-L on April 23rd and have loved every minute of it so far. I compared the Highlander and the Pilot in every way. My pick of course was the Pilot. Much more room,Drove like a car,Like the looks better and ran better. Gas mileage was a little better if I remember right. My only gripe was that fog lights and wood or aluminum trim was not a standard feature of the EX model. Toyota is a great car but the Pilot won me over and I'm proud to have it sitting in front of my house!