CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2008 Honda Accord has several serious defects: poor brakes, excessive oil consumption, & uncomfortable seats.

BRAKES: There was a class action lawsuit against Honda in 2010 for premature & excessive brake wear. See our page on Honda's brake problems for more info.

OIL CONSUMPTION: Honda issued a TSB about this in late 2011, claiming it could be fixed through a software update to the VCM (variable cylinder management). There are class action lawsuits pending. See our page about the Accord oil consumption.

UNCOMFORTABLE SEATS: Owners have consistently reported uncomfortable seats with the entire 8th generation (2008-2012) of Honda Accords. Complaints range from back pain to leg circulation problems due to bad lumbar support, cushioning, & seat angle. Complaints aren't limited to only a certain body type -- the seat comfort problems are from a wide spectrum of owner height & weight. The common theme we hear is "we never noticed this during the test drive." Unfortunately for unwary buyers, the seat pain is noticeable after 15-20 minutes.

6.7

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$460
Average Mileage:
54,000 miles
Total Complaints:
22 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. have to have the car repainted (9 reports)
  2. not sure (5 reports)
  3. repainted the affected area (5 reports)
  4. have to repaint the bumper! (3 reports)
2008 Honda Accord body / paint problems

body / paint problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Honda Accord:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2008 Honda Accord Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #22

Jun 012016

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Paint peeling is terrible. Have taken good care of this car and it looks terrible.

- Kevin M., Hartfield, US

problem #21

Mar 022015

Accord EX-L 2.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 145,000 miles

paint chipping away around the rear window

Parked in front of the Honda dealer in Huntsville, AL was looking to buy a new car, a sales person asked me to move my car because she said somebody had a problem backing out in front of car, after asking me to move it she said that that chipping off look terrible, think she just what'd it move so nobody would see how bad of a paint job Honda does.

- Randy R., Huntsville, AL, US

problem #20

Aug 012016

Accord LXP 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,000 miles

NOTICE THAT THE PAINT IS CHIPPING AROUND THE REAR WINDOW AS WELL AS THE TRUNK AREA AND HOOD NEAR THE BACK WINDOW. HONDA DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE.

- Marie G., Philadelphia, PA, US

problem #19

Mar 012016

Accord EX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I can't believe that the paint looks like cancer on the top of the vehicle, mirror, hood etc. For this to occur on a 2008 vehicle without any crashes is beyond me. There are 1960 & 70 vehicles out there with better paint. It's amazing that Honda can get away with this without recourse.

- lopez_19, Whittier, CA, US

problem #18

Oct 022015

Accord LXP 2.4L. 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,035 miles

This car had so much problems as paint peel off roof molding and door belt molding rubber melting also all rubber melting

- toon04, Mansfield, TX, US

problem #17

Nov 062014

Accord EX 2.4L I4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,000 miles

30% of the paint on my 2008 accord coupe has completely oxidized . there is no clear coat whatsoever on my hood and trunk

- Pierce O., North Plainfield, NJ, US

problem #16

Mar 152009

Accord LX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,568 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On the back bumper below the tag, there is a flat place to put your bag. The paint has worn down twice to the lighter colored primer.

- Ronald S., Palm Coast, FL, US

problem #15

Sep 232014

Accord EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,865 miles

The paint is peeling off the trunk, roof, door so far. It started on the trunk in the fall of 2014 and I thought it was a minor peel. Then it started getting worse and in other areas like the roof and door. Also when I wash the car and use a shammie to dry it, the white paint seem to be coming off. I notice this when the shammie is being squeezed of excess water.

- Frank C., Mississauga, ON, Canada

problem #14

Aug 012014

Accord 4 Cycinder

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

This is the first Honda I have ever been disappointed in and I have owned at least 7 in the last 20 plus years. Most I have owned over 10 years or have passed them to my family members. My daughter drove my 2000 CRV until this year and put over 400,000 miles on it. The paint was perfect no fading no rust. All my Honda have been like this UNTIL my 2008 Accord in just SIX years I have paint coming off on the hood, truck and roof. It looks awful and the only way to fix is a new paint job. The car is six years old and looks like it 15yrs old.

- pshevlin, Davie, FL, US

problem #13

Apr 022014

Accord EX-L Coupe 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles

The paint quality on my 08 Accord is terrible, the front bumper and hood paint is chipping off.

- jetboy585, Livingston, NJ, US

problem #12

Feb 012014

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Just recently noticed on my 08 accord coupe paint is peeling and chipping off along the entire back window. Both sides, and top near rood edge. It is getting worse. Honda won't fix and is telling me I must have had my window replaced ((which has never been done//still has honda glass print on it!))

- ddes, Carle Place, NY, US

problem #11

Sep 222013

Accord EX V6

  • Manual transmission
  • 61,000 miles

click to see larger images

cheap body paint cheap body paint

Very surprised to see this defect on a 2008 model, just a matter of time before it creeps. We'll see how Honda service handles this for a long time buyer of their vehicles (1-RSX, 2-ACCORDS, 2-CRVs and 3-ODYSSEYs)...very disappointing as this is the most fun car I've ever owned :-(

- Brian P., San Marcos, TX, US

problem #10

Jan 012011

Accord EX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

I noticed a spot on the hood of the car where it had peeled all the way to the gray. I took it to the dealer and the service department immediately told me that it was from a bird. There is no way bird poop ate all the way to the gray, especially given the size and place of the spot, I would have seen it!!! Anyway, this occurred in 2011 and fast forward to a few days ago, there is another spot beginning to wear. So I am sure that I am going to have to paint the hood at my expense and the car is black, so good luck to me getting the dyes to match so there goes the value. I am really disappointed in Honda over this.

- Kelly G., Tallahassee, FL, US

problem #9

Apr 082013

Accord V6

  • Manual transmission
  • 50,000 miles

The pain of roof is getting peeled from the edge.

I cannot believe a car made in 2009 start having this problem.

The car was parked outside since purchased but I had never had this problem for my impreza 2000.

Very cheap paint compared to other Japanese brands.

I do not want to buy Honda again.

- takashibbbb, Greenville, SC, US

problem #8

Jun 152010

Accord EX 2.4 Liter 4 Cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,900 miles

Paint has started to flake around the rear window. Also noticed the paint clear coat has "worn down"

- D M., New Braunfels, TX, US

problem #7

Aug 012009

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles

Contacted Honda about the problem and they said they knew they had problems with the black 2008 Accords, but they weren't going to do anything about it. In fact, they knew there were many other issues with the Accord that they were not going to fix. I spoke to 2 Honda dealers and they have tried to reason with Honda on behalf of their customers to no avail. It's a win for Honda and a loss for the owners...rotten.

- Beth O., Devon, PA, US

problem #6

Dec 002008

Accord LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles

The paint chips . I do not know if shopping carts have hit me or what. I have not been in an accident. The car looks very bad to be only 3 years old.

- rpat, Port Orange, FL, US

problem #5

Sep 012010

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

I have owned a Honda three times in my life and I have never had any problems with them until now. I bought a 2008 Honda Accord EX in 2009 with about 48,000 miles on it. I started to notice a small spot on the drivers side rear bumper where the paint was coming off. I have never had this problem in the past. It started out with a 2 inch diameter 3 years ago and has now grown to a foot in diameter. It is massive and makes the vehicle very unappealing. Within the past 6 months, I have now noticed a spot on the passenger side of the rear bumper. This is unreal because the car has never been in a wreck and it is parked in a garage nightly. My Honda Accord is only 5 years old and has about 70,000 miles on it.

I brought it in to the Honda dealership in hopes there might be a be a recall or for an explanation of what was going on with the bumper. The manager of the body shop looked at it and verified that it is the original bumper and he said, “it looks like there was never any primer put on it”. This is unreal. I was very frustrated to find out that Honda will not cover this $400 repair. It seems as though this should have been a recall circumstance. It is amazing to me that Honda is not living up to the reputation that I have always seen and would expect from such a reliable vehicle. I do plan on spending the $400 to fix the original factory paint job because I will never be able to sell it in this condition and it gets worse by the day. It makes me very hesitant to buy another Honda again.

- Laura H., Broomfield, CO, US

problem #4

Apr 122010

Accord EXL 2.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,204 miles

Paint is peeling off Driver's side mirror. Dealership said a "BUG" hit it and is causing it. What a load of crap! I will never buy another Honda Piece of SH*T!

- madtrapperab, Sylvan Lake, AB, Canada

problem #3

Feb 092010

Accord EX-L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,000 miles

My 2 year old Honda Accord has paint peeling off the bumper! No damage to the car. Because I drive a lot (over 25,000 mi/year) it's out of it's (irony here) "bumper to bumper" coverage. Honda wouldn't fix it! I asked if it's possible to "drive the paint" off my car. They weren't amused. I appealed to American Honda and cited over $200,000 in Honda vehicles in my extended family over the last 15 years. They weren't impressed. I politely thanked them and informed them I will never buy another Honda, or Acura, vehicle again. They said they understood. What kind of company loses such a loyal customer over a $500 repair. They've likely lost us all as my family has had transmission problems in three Honda's and electrical issues in 1 other. I've had three significant issues with this one already! Never again!

- Sanjoy M., Georgetown, KY, US

Read the next 2 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?