Honda Pilot 2003 through 2005

grove4

I had my left front strut replaced at 800 miles b/c of a clunking sound and it went away.If I were you I would go back to the dealer and get it taken care of.I know have 4k and no problems.

stever

I understand that the large SUV loophole deduction ended the day after the legislation was signed, so the $100,000 write off option has ended.

There are still tax angles though. (Newsday)

Steve, Host

malo_4

Ok, maybe a stupid question but are Sandstone and Desert Rock the same color?
I have seen posts referring to Sandstone but on the '05 they call it Desert Rock, just wondering if they are the same thing.

skillet

Hey-Can anyone recommend good snow tires for the Pilot? I do mostly city driving in the bay area, but like to drive up to Tahoe for skiing and need a tire that can do well in both.
And by the way, how is the all wheel drive? I'm used to 4 Hi in my Blazer and could whiz right by the chain checkpoints in the Sierras.

Thanks in advance.
=sm

j2thomas

I did a fair amount of research and ended up with Firestone Winterforce snows for the Pilot and our CRV. In the past I've used Coopers, Blizzaks and Firestone Winterfire, (with the Firestone's being my favorites). Unfortunately Firestone discontinued the Winterfire. If the Winterforce is as good as the Winterfire I'll be very happy. The price was right at the tirerack. I'll repost after I have some winter driving miles on the tires.

sbcooke

My MDX came with Michelin Cross Terrains. They are really good on road and I have also driven in 10+ inches of snow with them. They were good in the snow, no slipping, etc. The AWD system is very good for snow conditions in my opinion. The michelin site gives them a "9" for snow conditions, of course that is a biased rating. Check out michelin.com for information on those.

I have Bridgestone Deuler A/Ts on my Trooper and those tires are as quiet as the stock H/Ts that came with it and seem very good in all conditions.

Both trucks have very good AWD/4wd systems so it is hard to say 1 tire is better than the other? I feel more confident in deep snow in the trooper, but that just may be due to the 4wd system.

Check out tirerack.com for some subjective reviews, but it at least gives you a starting point.

civlman22

Thanks for the info. Did they do a front end alignment also after replacing the struts? I was told that it wasn't necessary.

randy1

Considering a 2005 Pilot that I will use to tow a 2,000 - 2,300 boat. I am concerned about the Pilot's tranny. Does it have an "OD Off" switch? I like the MDX's gear selector that allows you to keep it in D4, however, the Pilot does not have this. Unfortunately, the MDX is out of my price range.

Can anyone answer the specific question about the OD off switch?

eps105

Almost all automatic cars on the road have a "OD Off" switch -- you just change the gear selector to "3" instead of "D".

For most cars, putting them in "1" or "2" locks them in that gear, usually for winter driving, but "3" (or some cases "4") keep the automatic selection between the 1st 3 gears but locks out overdrive.

About a decade ago, a lot of cars (Mazda comes to mind) had a push button on the gear shift labeled "OD off" and this confused so many people who didn't read their manual as to what it was that most manufacturers simply made the selection a little more benign so that only those that understood when OD should be off would actually use it.

Despite the 5 speed auto in the Pilot, I am almost sure that I remember that both the 4th and 5th gears are an OD ratio, which is why I am noting "3" here and not "4" for the Pilot. I don't have the car or manual in front of me, so I could be wrong with that detail, but my point is the same. The manual describes this in detail, so fret not concerning towing with the Pilot.

Elliot

sportymonk

Am considering a Pilot. Since the big difference between the 04 and the 05 appears to be (a) 15 hp (b) Sunroof that I don't care about and (c) 6 disk CD changer which I don't care about, would the 04 be a good buy since it will be cheaper?

habitat1

Probably, if you also don't care about vehicle stability control. I was leaning towards the 2005 Pilot over an MDX a couple of months ago when it was rumored that the 2005 Pilot would essentially match the MDX in safety features. But they left off the side curtain airbags.

markc

Anyone know what type of oil(5w-20? 5w-30) should be use on my 04' Pilot? Thanks in advance

markjenn

I think the manual says 5W-20, but it is widely thought that 5W-30 synthetic would work perfectly fine, is much more readily available, and will probably provide a little extra engine protection. Many (most?) dealers use the 5W-30 because it is cheaper and easier to buy in bulk. The 5W-20 is widely thought to be specified for fuel economy reasons, not any need for the engine to have the lighter oil.

- Mark

herndon3

I just purchased a 2005 Honda Pilot EX-L last Saturday. The first day I drove it to work the TPMS light went on. It went on again on the second day. We brought it back to the dealer and they said they fixed the "loose connection". Unfortunately, on the way back home from the dealership, it went on again. Has anyone else have this problem? I only have 200 miles on it.

lumber2

Didn't the side air bags in the 05 pilot miss the third row, while the MDX covered them Wheres that commitment to safety gone

isellhondas

Every model doesn't have EVERY POSSIBLE safety feature on the planet does not make a car unsafe!

Sooner or later I'm sure every model will have everything.

But then, the people who don't care about these things (that's a LOT of people)will complain about the price!

imidazol97

Isell--I think because a car has a safety feature people (me too?) think it will save them in every accident that might make use of that particular feature. So the thinking is to get every possible thing offered.

In many cases the safety feature is not going to prevent serious/fatal injuries, except in the most optimum of accidents. I recall seeing Chrysler/Plymouth minivan which had hit a metal light pole in the neighborhood at 35 mph or less. The pole broke off. The woman driving died, despite airbags and seatbelt. Her children with her survived.

I've been using seatbelts since I installed them in a car myself long ago--the car had screw-threaded holes in the floor for them to be installed. That was the safety feature then.

sbcooke

Everyone isn't buying this car or that one because it doesn't have airbags, side curtains, etc. Someone I know had a family member lose an eye and are now all but blind in the remaining eye when the car hit a curb and blew a tire...The airbag deployed(they were the passenger seat and belted in). Airbag technology is pretty cool, and in general I agree that it is better, however side curtains could be found to knock a child or adults head so hard that it causes worse injuries than if they were just belted properly.

I am not entirely sold on some safety features. My wife is shorter and I worry about her proximity to the steering wheel and the airbag deploying, however nowadays you can't avoid a safety feature (or hazard) even if you wanted to.

isellhondas

Yeah, I know...I don't know how I survived my mis-spent youth. I remember racing around in my dad's 1962 Volkswagen. It had seat belts and nothing else! Ten gallons of gas in my lap etc.

Good thing I never got hit!

sportymonk

Have pretty much settled on Pilot despite mileage. Like it better than Ody although Highlander is attractive but I think it will be too small for my needs.

When I looked at a Pilot, what I thought was flexible netting on the console turned out to be hard plastic! It looked like it would be fairly easy to break if pressure was put on it (which I think would be likely considering its location and function).

Any comment so its durability?

onlysurfer

Good thing indeed.

Check the number of people, vehicles, miles driven, and rate at which people are killed or, more importantly, seriously injured in vehicle accidents and it will be clear that these safety features are working.

Honda's "safety for all" slogan is as good as a US presidential politician's slogan that he or she (no a "she" can not be a US president...now I'm way off topic!) won't invade any country. Honda should have made curtain air bag feature available at least as option, people who care about it will pay for it.

bbug1

I have an 03 Pilot EXL/RES. Overall we have been happy with it. But now the time has come to where we are tempted by the fruit of another...at least it's from the same tree. I have really been lured by the new Ody. A dealership is "holding" the one we want until closing tonight. The things I like about the Pilot compared to the van are the brakes (faster response in the Pilot) and although we didn't use it much, the AWD (when we did use it-it was great). I haven't been happy with the Pilots rear seating space, getting into/out of the rear seats, kids opening the rear doors and creating door dings, and especially the perforated seats (after a day of rain, from getting in and out, it smells funky till it's dried out!).
The Ody has got all kinds of toys, super comfy seats (although I must say that we never suffered any fatigue in the Pilot), curtain air bags.
I know everyone has different needs and preferences, but do you fellow Pilot owners have any opinions? Have any of you switched over?
Thanks~
Nancy

habitat1

If your marriage can survive switching to a mini-van, go for it. Fortunately, my wife has never tested me, and we need the utility of 4 wheel drive for visiting family in the snow belt.

Actually, the biggest "real" complaint (i.e. besides male ego embarassment) I hear from mini-van drivers (new Odyssey and Sienna included) are in the areas of handling and performance, as well as winter utility. We have friends who ranted about their new Toyota Sienna a year ago and have already traded it for a Volvo XC90. They acknowledge that the Sienna was much more passenger space friendly, but they drive from DC to Pittsburgh frequently. They wanted a vehicle that was better equipped for snow and handled better on the highway.

I may have gotten a bad apple, but one 750 mile round trip in a rented Odyssey a couple of years ago convinced me that I could not drive one on a regular basis. The return trip was windy and rainy and I felt like the minivan was being blown all over the road. Never again.

randy1

I referred to the MDX gearshift because it allows you to shift from D to D4 & D3. It looks like the Pilot only allows you to shift from D to D3. I heard that the OD ratio in "D" may be too tall for towing, but the D3 ratio is too low. That is why I was inquiring about the OD off switch.

bbug1

My hubby has his Acura and the Pilot was basically my car, a kids hauler. We had a mini van for years before we went to the Pilot and I never thought I'd go back.
We did say goodbye to it last night. We had a 75 mile drive home---not really long enough to give too many details on how the Ody drove. The "toys" are pretty awesome. For now I think this change will suit us better, but I do plan on getting another Pilot in addition to the van maybe a year from now.
The Pilot was very good to us and I must defend the seat comfort. The Pilot has a sporty feel to it and the seats are more firm than others, but after long drives there is no fatigue. And I have a picky back! I must also say that I know what you mean about the handling. The Pilot was very, very responsive for an SUV. And I also noticed that the brakes are much better in the Pilot than the Ody.
It's been great.

niblick45

Randy1 - The '05 Pilot owners manual says to tow in D, using D3 for driving down hills. There is no mention of OD.

hairong

Randy1, the 4th and 5th gear (D4 & D5 if you will) in a Pilot are both OD gears, 0.77 & 0.58 for '05 Pilot. You cannot manually select either one of them. Both of them are NOT good for towing (being ODs). D3 is a 1:1 ratio (1.02), just like in most of the 4 speed autos, and is the "towing gear" recommended by most auto makers. If you select D3, it's essentially OD OFF.

clpurnell

What did you getin trade for your pilot? How many miles did it have?

markjenn

Maybe I'm missing something, but this discussion of whether D4 and D5 are "overdrives" are not seems tangential to the question of whether the omission of the D4 position on the Pilot is a problem for towing.

Whatever you call it, being able to manually select D4 while towing a load, especially in hilly terrain, is a very nice feature. On my current SUV (a ML320), I don't leave it in D4 while towing, but I often find myself manually shifting to D4 to handle a moderate grade/headwind, to reduce gear hunting, or to reduce brake wear coming down a grade. If the only Pilot option you have for these contigencies is to shift from D5 to D3, this seems like a significant drawback to me. I'm sure one can work around it, but it is still a drawback.

- Mark

randy1

My thoughts exactly, Mark. The possibility of gear hunting while towing seems to be a major red flag for the Pilot (which is why I am asking so many questions about it).

Maybe I was naive to think that someone on this forum would be able to share some real world experience about towing with this vehicle.
Has anyone on the Edmunds forum actually used a Pilot to tow with??? If so, what happened??

stever

You probably saw these already, but a Search This Discussion for "tow" will turn up a few posts by owners towing, like this one:

reichowjr Feb 10, 2004 12:02pm

Steve, Host

lumber2

Does anyone know what Honda did to "fix" the transmission at the factory?

forum

I would like to know if EX-L with Nav have rear view camera or any kind of back up sensor

forum

I would like to know both the NAV and RES are available in any trim level?

lumber2

Honda reserves the nav/dvd for Acura MDX.
Pilots DVD is too small anyway, your better off with aftermarket screens in headrest set up.

reichowjr

Randy,

I saw reference to a post I made back on 2/10/04.

I have continued to pull my Pace 6 x 10 utility trailer at freeway speed and get approximately 10 mpg with a very light load 200 lbs plus the weight of the trailer 2000 lbs. The Pilot has very little range requiring frequent fill ups when towing. I have three small children and every stop is a 30 min deal and quite frustrating every 160 miles. The Pilot feels very planted to the road and always in control of the trailer.

The transmission is not geared properly for towing and not being able to put it in 4th gear is a huge flaw.

The Pilot is best suited for light towing in town but not long haul on the freeway. I would strongly discourage purchasing this vehicle if the main intent is towing distance along the freeway. It has the power and sure footedness to tow but not right transmission and or gearing.

I currently have owned it for two years and have almost 30,000 miles on it. Other problem areas are warping rotors, thin paint, stretching leather/vinyl, and soft B pillar plastic.

On the plus side the engine and transmission work together well without the trailer with plenty of spirited performance. The Pilot handles well in the sand along the beaches of NC. The springs are a little soft for the bumps along beach. I did upgrade to Michelin cross terrains which have more grip than the Goodyears that came with vehicle.

bbug1

We seriously considered selling the Pilot private party, but I don't have the time. Plus, with it being such a new model and with so many changes/upgrades since 03, I felt we were at a disadvantage. Most consumers would probably just go get a new one with all the new improvements for a few more bucks (I know I would).
We traded in for $25k and we were a bit over 27k miles.
The Pilot was great to us, but I can't tell you enough how happy we are with the new Ody--it is much more suited for our family and the Navigation is super!

pielot

Can anyone clarify if you can in fact use rear or forward facing infant/child safety seats in the center position in the 05 Pilot? My local dealer says "no", but some posts here are to the contrary. I am all set to buy a Pilot but this is a big concern as we are expecting our first child and have no experience with car seats. Greatly appreciate any feedback!

reichowjr

The second row easily accommodates 2 forward facing and 1 rear facing car seat on my 03 EXL for my three children. The infant seat was positioned behind the driver with the two forward seats in the middle and behind front passenger. All three seat positions have an anchor behind them for a tether.

My current configuration has a youth seat with 2 forward facing car seats and no problems with space. Hope this helps.

wmquan

You can put child seats in the middle of the 2nd row. The only small issue is that you will likely have to use the seat belt to install the seat instead of the LATCH anchors. These would be the lower anchor points between the seat bottom and seat back. There is a top-tether position available behind the seat, just no lower anchors.

A correctly installed belted seat is as safe (if not safer) than a correctly installed seat with LATCH.

pielot

Thanks for the info!

johnxyz

Hopefully not too silly of a question but if I'm more interested in room and saving $$$ rather than getting AWD does buying the new Odyssey (entry level model) make more sense than a new Pilot? I realize the Pilot is cooler than the Odyssey but .....

Do minivan sliding doors drive you crazy or are they easy to live with?

Also is the next generation Pilot going to be based on the latest '05 Odyssey platform?

Thanks, John

qbrozen

Absolutely if money is the main concern and AWD unimportant to you, then go for the base Odyssey. Not sure about sliding doors driving you crazy. I would think they are quite convenient.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't believe the platform of the new Odyssey has changed at all from the outgoing model (and, therefore, the Pilot's current platform).

pilotdriver

When I park our '04 Pilot, I've noticed a slight roll. The thing moves forward an inch or so. Any ideas on whether this is normal?

qbrozen

i've never had an automatic that DIDN'T roll a bit after putting it in park. Some do it more than others. My Benz rolls about 4 or 5 inches. Kinda scary sometimes if you park too close to someones rear or front.

sportymonk

It may be your parking brake needs adjustment. If it isn't set tight it will allow the vehicle to roll and inch or so. This may sometimes make it difficult to get the vehicle out of gear when parked on a hill.

bbug1

We bought our Pilot in 03 and got rid of my van. The Pilot was very nice, sporty and the ride was very comfortable. However, with 3 kids it got too tight. I missed the sliding doors (door dings...ouch!) and the Pilots back seat was, well, emergency seating only. I recently tried to load up the Pilot with my 3 kids (2 in booster seats) and 2 adults (plus myself) and and my friends 2 young children. One of the adults sat in the very rear with a child in a booster seat and the other child was in a rear facing seat (infant). That didn't even fit. The center row of seats were too close to the rear and there wasn't enough room for it to fit. This type of seating issue doesn't come up too often, but it really made me realize that I desired more space. We traded in the Pilot and got the new Odyssey and it is more wonderful than I imagined. The sliding doors work out great for us and the lower loading is easier on the kids. No more swing out doors for my kids for awhile.
The Pilot was a great car, but this van is perfect for us now. Whatever your needs, you can't go wrong with either car.

qbrozen

i assumed he wasn't setting the parking brake. But, of course, you're right, if you set the brake and it still rolls, that's an adjustment problem.

pilotdriver

Thanks all. This is the first automatic I've owned since college. We live in a very, very flat area and don't normally use the parking brake.

kelly7

I am looking to buy a 2005 Honda Pilot. The dealership has a Pilot with larger 18" tires with larger rims. It looks nice, but I am concerned about the drive quality and possible increased road noice with the larger tires. I know that the standard tires are 16". Any advice???