Honda Pilot 2003 through 2005

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Comments

  • minliang_cminliang_c Member Posts: 26
    Since day one, my Silver EX-L has very noticeable air release noise from the brake hydraulics. This happens every time I press the brake pedal. None of my other cars, or any car I've driven, exhibit this strong hydraulic air release noise.
    Does anyone notice this?
    Do you think this is normal?
  • alfetalfet Member Posts: 1
    I just bought a pilot exl. Driving it home with less than 20 miles on it, I heard a whistling sound coming from the rear of the suv at speeds above 40 mph. Can anyone tell me what this is.I sounds like air blowing over some part of the car.
  • oliverchan1oliverchan1 Member Posts: 1
    I have the same problem when I picked up my EXL last Friday. I went back to the dealer, they
    found out the cross bar in the roof rack is not installed properly. Based on the manufactory
    bulletin the front bar must be higher than the rear bar. It likes the airplane wing theory. The
    dealer fixed the bar the whistling sound went away. I hope it must help you.
  • jboddenjbodden Member Posts: 1
    I just purchased a new Honda Pilot and have put a little over 2,000 miles on it. It is the most intelligently designed and well put together SUV I have seen. It makes the Explorer and Trailblazer look like they were designed and built by committee.

    The Pilot is a joy to drive. It does everything well. Like its sibling the Acura MDX, it is a winner! It is even better than the Toyota Highlander and that is saying a lot.
  • joshieejoshiee Member Posts: 2
    I had the same problem like you. i have a pilot lx. noise was evident around 40 mph and up i brought it back to the dealership and it took them a week to figure it out. you might want to bring it back to them. turns out there was a gap in the front windshield.
  • bradmtbbradmtb Member Posts: 2
    As previously posted I hear noises. I bought
    an EX and have 550 miles on my new Pilot. I started hearing wind noise at what appears as mid windshield and in the past 50 miles a clicking noise driver-side who knows where? Should I just take it into the dealer, or as one post I read said the clicking noise disappeared at around 600 miles? The whole strut weld problem, is this something that others have had fixed? I've also read about silicon spray to fix the windshield noise? Any help
  • thatbytesthatbytes Member Posts: 15
    We finally got to pick up our Pilot this evening. What a great experience. Everything about the car just seems "tight" and well constructed. Our dealer in Central PA has got to be the best around, hands down. We have been dealing with them for years but this was by far the best experience. Of course we had to wait like everyone else but I tested them a little by giving them prices for accessories to see if they could match it. I looked up the prices on hondacuraworld for mud flaps, crossbars, cargo tray, all weather mats, side steps, lower trim, fog lights and bug deflector and gave those prices to them and they agreed to match it. They even installed them for those prices! To top it all off I called my salesguy the day before we picked it up and told him I forgot to mention the bug shield and they just threw it in. Didn't charge me a dime. According to their demo, all my accessories should have run over $2500 but it cost me less than $1400. I paid sticker but feel like I got a great deal because of the savings on accessories. Oh yeah, they also did a courtesy trade wich saved me over $1000 too. If you live anywhere close to Central PA email me and I will give you names!

    Thanks to all who are posting. You have been a great help. I do not have the paint pronlem in the door jams. We did get the silver. No wind noise with the bug deflector and no other mysterious noises yet. It was definitely worth the 2-3 month wait.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    '03 4Runner pixs!

    http://community.webshots.com/album/44356383oArXaQ<

    I think it looks great. Hints of both the Highlander and Rav4, but still very beefy looking. Comes with 4.7L V8 and 5-speed auto, and new 4.0L(?) V6 and 4-speed auto. Interestingly, the V6 has a bit more horsepower (245) than the V8, but the V8 will have much more torque. The tires are 265/65x17.

    Bob
  • diploiddiploid Member Posts: 2,286
    I think it looks great, too. But I doubt it'll give the Pilot any competition. Different SUVs for different customers with different needs. What Toyota should've done (to the dismay of Honda) was add a 3rd row to the Highlander. People cross shop the Explorer with the Pilot because Ford doesn't have its own car-based mid-size SUV. It's a different story for Toyota.
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    I'm sorry. I thought this was the Honda Pilot board and that the other guys had their own place.

    tidester
    Host
    SUVs; Aftermarket & Accessories
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Sharing info that's all. I figured Pilot fans might like to see what the competition is up to. Besides, it just might inject some new insight to the discussions here.

    Bob
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    I understand that but those interested will go to the appropriate places to see the pics!

    tidester
    Host
    SUVs; Aftermarket & Accessories
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    You can't be serious!?

    Are you suggesting that other brands (competitors) can't be discussed on the Pilot forum?

    The new 4Runner is BIG news! You don't think people here would not be interested? Even a little...

    Bob
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    I wouldn't make any kind of issue about it except that the new pics have been spammed (by others - and removed btw!) all over Town Hall! Comparing vehicles is one thing but spamming is quite another - forgive me if my patience appears to be worn a bit thin!

    Also, notice that I left your post intact.

    tidester
    Host
    SUVs; Aftermarket & Accessories
  • hoghead85hoghead85 Member Posts: 2
    Has anyone purchased a Pilot from say Vancouver? I checked some dealers up there and they are selling the EX-L's for around $25K US. We are getting screwed down here. I'm sure California has some law against this kind of purchase.
    Dan
  • jimxojimxo Member Posts: 423
    I posted a link to the 4Runner earlier as was sent a warning about posting "spam" here. So you can blame me, but I wanted to show people who may have an interest in both cars what the new 4Runner looks like. No dice, but I started another discussion Pilot vs 4Runner and they have not complanied-Yet!
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    My understanding of SPAM, is that it is unwanted e-mail, trying to sell you something. Correct me if I'm wrong.

    I hardly think posting a link that shows an all-new vehicle, and some info about it as SPAM!

    I still say people looking at the Pilot *could* very easily also cross-shop the 4Runner (or any mid-size SUV), therefore my original post on the all-new 4Runner is quite valid here. I make no apologies for posting it.

    And tidester, my patience is also wearing thin! More discussion on this idiotic subject has been wasted, than on discussing the actual vehicle in question...

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    is over in the Honda Owners Club area, is a "Honda Cafe" thread where any and all topics are "welcome," Honda related, or not.

    We have a "Subaru Cafe" over in the "Subaru Crew, Owners Club" and it's one of the most popular Subaru threads on Edmunds. News about all sorts of vehicles, Subies and otherwise, are discussed&#151;and welcomed!

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    http://spam.abuse.net/overview/whatisspam.shtml

    I hardly feel my post falls into this catagory. I've got nothing more to say on this topic.

    Bob
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Do a search for "buying in Canada" here at Edmunds.

    There has been great discussion on this topic. Essentially, Honda of America will not honor the warranty on a Canadian destined Pilot/Ody/MDX/et al in the US if the vehicle was not originally titled and registered in Canada. To them it is a gray market vehicle.

    Most manufacturers seem to be going this way. There are pricing differences due to the differences in the purchasing power of the C$ and tax structures in Canada.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    loves to live in a vaccum. We are not allowed to mention anything but pilots in here! Heads in the sand Bob, Heads in the sand!

    -mike
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    jimxo "The 2003 Honda Pilot vs 2003 Toyota 4Runner" Jul 26, 2002 9:45pm

    Let's continue the discussion over there...

    Bob
  • diploiddiploid Member Posts: 2,286
    Yeah, I was a bit confused about spam postings, also. For Heaven's sake, we went at least a week with gm_lito when he kept bringing up either the RDV or Aztek in here.
  • cpintucsoncpintucson Member Posts: 41
    Tidester, I guess I'm not as net-savvy as you. I thought SPAM was an unidentifiable meat by-product eaten fried or on crackers.

    I did appreciate the 4Runner pics. I bought a Pilot last month because I just couldn't wait any longer. With the the little annoying problems I'm having with the Pilot, I'm tempted to consider selling it when the 4Runner hits my dealer!
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    George Hormel was VERY proud of his son Jay C. for his development of that "most inspiring of foods!" Here is more than you ever wanted to know about SPAM! image

    tidester
    Host
    SUVs; Aftermarket & Accessories

  • jimxojimxo Member Posts: 423
    Well I check out the Pilot today and was somewhat impressed but not entirely convinced that this SUV is headed for SUV of the year.

    First off the rear styling is bland and needs something to make it not look like a mini van which at its soul it is (Oddessy). I would not want to do much off roading except for the occasional picnic outing.

    The leather seating was very nice and the dash seemed to be laid out well. The car is definitely a better choice over the Ford or Dodge suv's, but has the feel of the Oddessy which is not what I want in a suv that I will use for towing and a few short cuts across the green fields of the south.

    I need to check out the new 4Runner next month before I can sum up what may be missing in the Pilot.

    BTW my mother fed me spam when I was a kid and have never purchased it as an adult once I left home.

    Overall the Pilot is a nice car but it's lacking something which I hope to find in the new 4Runner or Nissan suv.
  • cjo87cjo87 Member Posts: 35
    I just test-drove a Pilot and experienced terrible wind noise with the driver's window down. It sounded like a flag waving in a very strong wind. Has anyone else experienced this, and if so, is there an easy fix?
  • homerghomerg Member Posts: 30
    Try opening the passenger side window also. I haven't tried this in my Pilot yet. I hardly drive with one window open because of this effect, which I've experienced in many of the vehicles I've driven, the taller the vehicle, the worse the wind beating.
  • ggk1ggk1 Member Posts: 1
    I test drove the 03 Pilot just yesterday. Everything seems to be fine except when I pressed on the brake. A noticeable air release sound does come out. At the beginning, I though it was just like that because I am in "Park" gear (the air release sound dose happen to my 86' Honda Accord too, but NO such air release sound when it is in all D or R gear). So I shifted the Pilot to D & drive. Guess what, a ssss...…. sound come out overtime I press the brake. After the test drive, the salesman and I went to the Honda mechanics and asked if it is normal. 2 guys do address the issue and telling me the same thing - it is like that and the air release sound it is not going to be away. Does anybody aware of the sound? If so, does it bother you? Does other SUV user experience the same issue with their own SUV? Is it a Pilot thing or it is just like that in general...
  • couimetcouimet Member Posts: 130
    I too had a look at the Pilot. I too found it a little bland. For similar money, check out the Pathfinder or QX4 - better value than the 4 Runner and more power ...
  • lib5lib5 Member Posts: 9
    cjo87 The wind noise you are experiencing with the driver's window down is your seat belt flapping in the wind, that's why it sounds like a flag. I like to drive with the window down also, and it does help some to have the passenger's window opened a bit. Newer cars are so aerodynamic that they have these quirks when we open the windows!
  • pilotwantedpilotwanted Member Posts: 4
    Does anyone know if Honda is having problems producing the Pilot in the sage brush color?

    The reason I ask is that I've been working with a car broker who had a sage brush Pilot EX on order for me with a dealer. The Pilot was to be built August 25 and then about 3 weeks for delivery. Today, the broker called and said that the dealer's list that they receive twice a week now has a sandstone metallic replacing the sage brush. He thought that maybe Honda is having problems with the sage brush color? Does anyone know anything about this??

    Also fyi, the broker is getting the pilot for me at MSRP plus his fees (1% of MSRP = about $300 and $50 for locating/research fee).
  • sjwsmwsjwsmw Member Posts: 131
    I tend to agree, the overall package is great, but just lacks the styling and feel of a SUV. I too just saw the pics of '03 Toyota 4Runner, and it could be a contender. I think I will wait for another month or so and see. Especially if there are problems with Sagebrush, my color on order.

    But wait, I read that I am not supposed to be interested in a truck based and a unibody vehicle!
  • dtr2132dtr2132 Member Posts: 2
    We've had our Pilot EX-L since mid-June and have experienced the window seal creaking/vibration on even slightly uneven pavement. During two previous visits, the dealer has been unable to resolve the problem. Is the best solution to have the seal replaced? Other than that issue, the car has been exceptional in all respects.
  • davisdogdavisdog Member Posts: 99
    Pilotwanted...

    According to somebody who works at the factory, they did the initial color run last friday and start production this week (per schedule) no mention of any issues.

    I'm not one for trusting a dealer on this info, and a broker specutulating with 3rd hand info is even worse. Perhaps they are covering something up...either they didnt get a sagebrush allocated as they where "hoping" or they are giving it to somebody else (brokers often get leftovers on high volume vehicles)

    just my 2cents
  • cpintucsoncpintucson Member Posts: 41
    I have been thinking about taking our Pilot up the back road to Mt Lemon this weekend. Has anyone taken their Pilot offroad, yet?
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    cp,

    We used to spell it "LEMMON" when I was out there. LEMON refers to certain vehicles. :-)

    Don't forget to check out the Mt. Lemmon Yacht Club! ;-)

    tidester
    Host
    SUVs; Aftermarket & Accessories

  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Never wheel alone. In the 4wd circles I travel there is a great quote "4wd only gets you stuck further from civilization than 2wd"

    -mike
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    "4wd only gets you stuck further from civilization than 2wd"

    Been there, done that! :-)

    tidester
    Host
    SUVs; Aftermarket & Accessories
  • rayrockrayrock Member Posts: 14
    i tested the pilot ex right after a suburban/avalanche test. the pilot had good power, excellent road manners[steering handling braking] nice interior and seats though the center console looks odd.the exterior style is OK-it looks like what it is and not pretending. the wind and road noises were annoying. why does honda offer a tv/dvd but no sunroof option? the price markup on the pilot puts in within $2,000 of the rebated suburban LT.i'm aware of some reliability prblems with the gm trucks but after my '01 civic troubles i don't know how much better or worse either is. the jury is still out no this one.
  • dan165dan165 Member Posts: 653
    Our 01 Yukon has been nearly flawless. I wouldn't worry about GM reliability too much. We had a Honda Accord a while back and it was average in terms of reliability IMO. It certainly wasn't trouble free. I liked the idea of the Pilot, but the looks were the biggest disappointment for me when I saw it. Acura did a great job with their MDX, but Honda goofed on styling.
  • spartanman2spartanman2 Member Posts: 61
    We all have different tastes. I did not like the looks of the MDX compared to the Pilot. Hard to debate looks obviously, since it just a matter of personal preference.

    I like short, petite gals; Pizza's fully loaded; rainy days and the Detroit Lions.
  • herm4376herm4376 Member Posts: 2
    dtr2132 I've got the same problem. I've got an EX-L Purchased in mid June. I just got back from my first trip to the dealer who essentially applied silicone (which by the way I had already done), and told me he thought it was fixed. As I suspected it didn't. What did your dealer do on your visits? Did they offer to replace the seal?
  • h1vch1vc Member Posts: 295
    I also think the pilot looks better than the mdx. I also think the last generation crv looks better than the current generation.
  • rms41rms41 Member Posts: 80
    My dealer has one on his lot right now. It's spoken for and will be picked up on Thursday but it shows that sage brush has already been produced.
  • davisdogdavisdog Member Posts: 99
    Are you sure it's not the new color called sandstone that your dealer just got in...Those started arriving at dealers this week...according to the guy at the factory (who is usually accurate)...Sagebrush production just started this week after a test run this past friday
  • jdjkajjdjkaj Member Posts: 3
    Dealer called me today. Sage Brush EX-L is produced. Called me with the VIN today. Should be about two weeks until delivery.
  • varmintvarmint Member Posts: 6,326
    Davisdog - My understanding from OM was that the Sage Brush color was being produced before the Sandstone. So, I don't think the dealer would've had that on the lot.
  • rustyjayrustyjay Member Posts: 11
    A dealer told me the other day that things like the Collision package which includes rear mudguards, and pin stripes along with door guards and paint protection comes straight from the factory and cannot be ordered without it. They also say that when they receive the Pilot, that it comes that way and there is no alteration possible of those things I mentioned. He also said that the side step bumpers also come from the factory and they have no control over what is put on the Pilot. Is this true? Or are these dealer installed options items that he is trying to squeeze more profit off of me.
  • homerghomerg Member Posts: 30
    Well since they are called "Dealer installed Options." I don't think that they are installed at the factory. The dealer may have a policy of putting these items on the vehicles before he sells them, that's the story I received from Penske Honda Indianapolis. That is not Honda's policy, I went to Ed Martin Honda and bought a Pilot EXL RES with no DIO's. Who and where was this dealer so people know who to avoid?
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