What is a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB)?

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A Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) is a document that contains special instructions and procedures that can be used by technicians to correct or repair unanticipated problems with vehicles. The TSB may be written by an engineer, a software developer, or the first technician to come up with a fix for a given issue.

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Often, a TSB is released when technicians figure out an efficient fix for a problem reported by numerous owners. The idea is to create a useful reference for repair professionals within an automaker’s service department.

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Once created, the TSB will live in a database where it’s accessible by other technicians should they encounter a customer with the same problem. The goal is to create a more organized and straightforward repair, with less time troubleshooting.

For instance, this TSB applies to the 2019 Ford Ranger. It says that some customers may report a rough, fast idle, and rough shifting when the engine is cold. These symptoms may be the result of faulty programming within the engine computer, which can be fixed with a simple software update.

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If you’re a Ford technician and you’ve got a Ranger customer reporting symptoms like these, checking out this TSB may provide a quick and easy solution for the customer. If you’re shopping used Ford Rangers, this TSB can give you an important issue to be on the lookout for when you take a test drive.

Here’s another example of a TSB for the 2017 Honda Ridgeline. In it, instructions are provided for technicians dealing with customer complaints relating to a jerky, juddery, clumsy feel from the transmission. This TSB is transmission-centric, and applies to other vehicles equipped with the same transmission. Diagnosing transmission issues can be time-consuming, so this TSB lays out some details and instructions technicians can reference for a quicker and more effective repair. In this case, a diagnostic procedure is laid out, as well as corrective steps to be taken along the way. The issue could be caused by a problem with the transmission fluid, or the transmission’s ability to control the temperature of that fluid.

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By following the instructions in this TSB, technicians can more quickly diagnose and correct problems related to transmission operation and drivability. By being aware of this TSB, used Ridgeline shoppers can pay additional attention to the transmission’s performance during their test drive, which can help them steer clear of potentially-problematic units.

TSBs are not recalls

There are a few important facts about TSBs that are worth noting.

First, TSBs are not recalls. Recalls deal with latent safety defects and are fixed by dealers, free of charge. Technical Service Bulletins don’t necessarily deal with safety-related issues, and they’re not covered for free (outside of a warranty setting).

Second, some vehicles have no TSBs while others have many. A TSB may apply to a small number of vehicles, all vehicles in production, the entire model range from a manufacturer, or vehicles built within a certain date range. A TSB may apply to a specific component used in various models, like an engine or infotainment system.

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Third, many (if not most) model-specific online owner forums maintain a document or list of TSBs affecting the given model in question to help benefit current and future owners. Though intended for use by repair professionals, it’s easy to find a list of TSBs that affect the car or truck you may be driving currently or are about to purchase.

For instance, if you’re considering a used Porsche Macan, you might visit an online owner’s community like MacanForum.com to meet current owners and pick their brains, in order to make a better purchase decision.

On that forum (and many like it) you’ll find a listing of TSBs like this one, usually compiled by one or more members of the community with a technical or repair background. Here’s a similar listing of TSBs for the fifth-generation Ford Ranger, one for the Dodge Charger, and another compiled by the Cadillac CTS-V owner community. Whatever used car you’re considering, there’s probably a well-maintained list of TSBs somewhere in an owner forum for you to check out. Some owner forums group TSBs into a subsection that also includes warranty issues, recalls, and common problems. In others, the TSB list is a standalone thread.

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To find the list of TSB’s that may affect the used vehicle you’re considering, you’ve got a few options.

First, start by keying in the make and model of vehicle you’re considering behind the words TSB and FORUM in your favourite search engine.

For instance, maybe you’re considering a used Hyundai Tucson.

Typing “Hyundai Tucson TSB FORUM” into a search engine quickly links you to this forum discussion, which points to this page, where numerous TSBs are listed.

If you’re looking for Nissan TSBs, this site makes it easy to look up by make, model and year.

You can also browse TSBs here with a VIN, thanks to the NHTSA. This site provides data specific to the American market, where automakers are required by law to make their TSBs (sometimes called ‘manufacturer communications’) public.

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Note that in other cases, a TSB may be called a ‘campaign’ or ‘service campaign’.

All said, with a few seconds of searching online, it’s easy to find a list of TSBs, if applicable, for the model you’re considering. You can use this information to your advantage; moreso if you understand what you’re reading.

Scan the headline text in the TSB section of the forums at Ranger5G.com, and you’ll notice key words like ‘rough brakes’, ‘transmission whine’, and ‘power fold mirrors inoperative’, giving you a heads-up of a few issues to be on the lookout for when test-driving a used unit you’re considering buying.

Porsche Macan TSBs were released to deal with leaky rear washer sprayer nozzles, the body panel gap around the hood, and to correct programming with the AWD control unit. On the CTS-V owner forum, the TSB listing includes topics for leaky shocks, noisy sunroofs, loose seats and other potential issues to be on the lookout for.

Remember: a TSB may (or may not) affect the specific used model you’re considering, and if you find one online, the repair may have already been performed by a previous owner of the vehicle.

Context is important. A TSB for a given problem doesn’t necessarily mean that most (or even many) units of a given used vehicle will be suffering from the problem the TSB intends to deal with. Still, TSB information is generally available quickly and easily., If you know how to find and understand it, it can be a useful ‘heads-up’ for used car shoppers on the lookout for potential trouble before they buy.