7.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,380
Average Mileage:
66,350 miles
Total Complaints:
45 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (14 reports)
  2. complete repaint job (13 reports)
  3. repaint roof (10 reports)
  4. honda extended warranty (3 reports)
  5. refinish hood (2 reports)
  6. today i met with a honda rep at the dealership. i am to brin (2 reports)
2008 Honda Civic body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2008 Honda Civic Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #25

Feb 012013

Civic SI 2.0L

  • Manual transmission
  • 68,000 miles

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

Honda uses sh*tty paint. Primers clear coat car looks like crap. went to two dealers both said not covered they could care less honda North America was no better I have been car shopping for my wife and I. Down to two cars a 14 camry or accord after the way honda treated my civic problem they made the choice for me my wife has a new camry

- Holmes R., Gainesville, GA, US

problem #24

Mar 012012

Civic SI Vtech

  • Manual transmission
  • 40,000 miles

I saved to buy my 2008 Honda SI for a long time. I was so proud of it I take excellent care of it and within a year after I got it the paint on the roof started disappearing. Honda is not doing anything to fix the problem and it looks terrible. I am pissed that at 25,000 miles the car is horrible and has ruined the appearance of my car.

- dbecker, Houston, TX, US

problem #23

Nov 012012

Civic EX

  • Manual transmission
  • 62,000 miles

click to see larger images

clear coat cracking clear coat cracking clear coat cracking

I have had the car for a little over a year now, the the clear coat over the last 8 months have started BLOWING UP my roof. I keep my baby waxed as much as possible to slow the issue but it isn't helping. I spent 14k on the car. I shouldn't have to repaint my entire car it is only 4 years old!

- jared.bonnie, Melbourne, FL, US

problem #22

May 052013

Civic SI 2.0L

  • Manual transmission
  • 50,000 miles

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

My paint is bad spoke to local dealership (Milton martain in Gainesville ga)no help at all was told "this fading problem is not covered under warranty"this is pretty crappy from Honda.back in the 80s gm and ford covered lots of bad paint when it was out of warranty bit Honda won't guess they will just live off one time sales so much for buying my wife the new Acura tl she wanted Honda knows about the problem a bs is sh*tty about it and the deal is even Shittyer

- bobga, Gainesville, GA, US

problem #21

Oct 112011

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles

It was horrible i was finally excited to get a new car and after a year a white spot was on the back part of my roof of the car. In a year is had spread so much, looks like i have two race stripes of faded paint and clear coat.. Now the trunk and the front hood and side fenders are going as well. Crappy paint honda decided to use, considering my car only being 5 years old. Ive seen 20 year old cars look better than mine.. HONDA very disappointed. bad quality. Ill be spreading the word DON'T BUY A NEW HONDA!! spend your money on another car that paint will last more than a few years and the company would actually do something to make their customers happy.

- Michelle R., Port Saint Lucie, FL, US

problem #20

Apr 012013

Civic EX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles

I have already had my front fenders and hood repained by Honda 5 months (free) ago due to the same clear coat paint problem. Now, my rear quarter panels, rear right door, and panels connecting the quarterpanels to the roof are all having the same clear coat paint failure--cracking and white crows feet. Honda only offered to pay for 25% of the cost to repair this time. Absolutely unacceptable! Why should I pay 75% of the cost for a problem that is 0% percent my fault? And, I'd like to know why the paint on the front of my car is considered defective but not the rear? Honda is insulting their customers' intelligence. My family has bought Hondas for the last 30 years. We have three in our household. I will NEVER by another Honda again, nor will my family. Honda needs to make this right---just check out the forums---the clear coat paint defect is NOT exclusive to the front of the vehicle. The roof, the trunks, the doors, the quarter panels. The problem exists everywhere and Honda should stop denying it.

- drose617, Granada Hills, CA, US

problem #19

May 012012

Civic LX V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,000 miles

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

We bought the Honda because they are known for their reliablity. We bought it used with 43000 miles on it. A few months after we bought it, the paint on the roof started flaking and cracking. It is getting bigger as time goes on we are very disappointed in Honda, and we see this same problem on other Hondas the same color as ours which is Black, This is obviously a defective paint issue and we feel Honda should have to repaint the vehicle with a quality paint. Will not buy another Honda based on this. We called Honda and they said they would not pay to fix it.

- andyjoyce91, Cape Coral, FL, US

problem #18

Jul 142012

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles

The clear coat is coming off the roof of my 2008 Honda Civic.

took it in to the dealership where i bought it and was told no because it is out of warranty. This car is not old enough to be having paint problems. i feel like Honda should take care of this,as they are aware of paint problems with other models. I also feel like if they can't back their product for more than three years they already know it is no good.Will never do business with Honda again.I just want my my car painted. They should step up and do the right thing.

- rentzc, Valdosta, GA, US

problem #17

Nov 132012

Civic ES V6

  • Manual transmission
  • 100,000 miles

I JUST WANT THE CAR REPAINTED AND HONDA TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

- Moun O., Gibsonville, NC, US

problem #16

Nov 012012

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles

My Honda Civic was in excellent condition until 3 months ago. Beginning 2012 I took the car for the normal maintenance and the dealer wanted to pay me a good money for it. I should have sold it! Suddenly, in November 2012 I noticed a "white spot” in the roof that begin to grow, and now I am noticing some spot in the front of the car.

Now I know that this is a normal problem that happens with Honda cars. Also, my car has "leather seats", and the right lateral of the driver seat is torn without reason. I went to an specialist and he told me this is cheap vinyl used by Honda. The dealer says they cannot do anything for the paint, neither for the seat.

I have 3 installments to pay off the car; I am seriously thinking about fixing or selling the car.

I am very disappointed with Honda. Next time I will buy a Hyundai.

- Emiliana D., Miramar, FL, US

problem #15

Oct 042011

Civic SI 2.0L 4 cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 52,000 miles

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

My 2008 Honda Civic's roof was chipping very bad so I had it painted back in Dec.2011. Just prior to receiving the letter stating the warranty on the fenders and hood were extended to 7 yrs. I had one of the fenders repainted also. So I sent a reimbursement form in for both paint jobs. Honda has refused to pay for the roof's paint job. It seems to be a big problem for Honda and we should not have to pay for their horrible paint jobs. If anyone has been reimbursed for their roof to be painted please let me know how I can get my money also. I am shocked at the lack of pride Honda has in the quality of their vehicles. I won't stop till I get the money they owe me....

- lblady22, Lake Arthur, LA, US

problem #14

Nov 072012

Civic EX 1.8L

  • Manual transmission
  • 55,000 miles

Clear coat on hood and sides of car is cracking. Looks like ! Going to dealer tomorrow and see what they say.

- Thomas L., Augusta, WV, US

problem #13

Nov 012012

Civic EX

  • Manual transmission
  • 62,000 miles

click to see larger images

clear coat cracking clear coat cracking clear coat cracking

I have had the car for a little over a year now, this problem started occurring slowly over the last 7months and is exploding all over the roof of my car. I have been told from painters that redoing roof alone will be possibly $800 or more. I already spent 14k on the car I shouldn't have to get a new paint job, the car is only 4 years old. She is my baby I wax her pretty frequently but it isn't helping.

- jared.bonnie, Melbourne, FL, US

problem #12

Sep 122012

Civic EX 1.8L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

I have recently noticed a problem with the paint on my 2008 Honda Civic (Galaxy Gray). It all began with a dull spots on the trunk and has worsened with dull on the roof as well. I've noticed this problem in other Civics in Galaxy Gray. This is not an issue of normal wear or neglect, but of defective paint. I called Honda's customer service to find out if there are any recalls with no avail. I'm appalled that Honda fails to address this issue, especially since when Honda prides itself with excellent quality!

- bphillips_tsu, Enterprise, AL, US

problem #11

Feb 012012

Civic SI 4 Cyclinder

  • Manual transmission
  • 35,000 miles

Major Paint fading and clear coat peeling off the entire top of the car. Being a black car this looks really bad. How can paint last for only 3-4 years, seems like a factory defect if I have ever heard one. Going to Honda today to see what they won't do to fix this problem. Had a Hyundai and they fixed the paint every time I had a problem with it. That is customer service.

- Chad S., New Orleans, LA, US

problem #10

Apr 012008

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 500 miles

Right away I started noticing dings in the paint. The dealer gave me a "fix" color stick, which made it worse, however, that soon wore off. The whole paint job is bad.

- loveland42, Kennewick, WA, US

problem #9

Aug 032012

Civic LX 1.8L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,000 miles

2008 Honda civic clear coat peeling off. Noticed it starting in 2011, but didn't think it was going to get as bad as it has gotten.

- Alex P., Port Lavaca, TX, US

problem #8

Jul 012011

Civic GX 1.8L Cng

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

click to see larger images

clear coat cracking

Some kind of clear overlay is peeling of driver side doors only (so far). See the repeating pattern visible in photo.

- elnortevet, Escondido, CA, US

problem #7

Jan 012009

Civic

  • Manual transmission
  • 45,000 miles

We have owned hondas foreve and never had this problem, not sure if they will cover this issue. We keep car washed and waxed.

- Nancy R., Lakeland, FL, US

problem #6

Jan 012012

Civic 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,000 miles

First i have to say i love my civic. Zero issues untill i noticed the clear coat issue. I have the moon roof on this car. I have 2 large areas forward of the moon roof and a few small areas developing in rear. The rest of the paint seems ok.. I cannot understand why this car (less than 4 years old) is in this condition.

Update from Aug 4, 2012: Well after I contacted Honda America's and spoke to a rep he set me up with a case manager. I have to say both the rep and the case manager were very concerned with my problem. After a few months my car is looking like new. Honda was willing to pay about 75% of the repaint costs. My entire car other than the front quarters and bumpers were repainted. I'm very pleased with the out come.

- kjankovich, Coral Springs, FL, US

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