6.8

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$630
Average Mileage:
88,450 miles
Total Complaints:
39 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. new paint and clear coat (26 reports)
  2. not sure (13 reports)
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problem #39

Dec 012018

Civic EX 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

I keep the car in great shape. Peeling off roof 3 spots and I'm embarrassed. Had a '06 Civic, with the same problem, and it cost $3000 to repaint.

- Mary O., Edgewood, MD, US

problem #38

Jun 052021

Civic EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 114,180 miles

Honda's paint is not made to last. The clear coat has been peeling for quite some time which significantly devalues the car. In addition, the quality issues I have faced with Honda over the past 15 years have pushed me away from this brand.

- ballinshark, Kendall Park, US

problem #37

Dec 032019

Civic LX 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

It’s very disappointing - the quality of the Brand. Also 6 months ago, the headliner started to come loose.

- Laurence P., Mary Esther, FL, US

problem #36

Oct 152018

Civic LX 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles

Clear coat issue is over the entire front half of hood and entire roof of car. It is impossible to ignore even if it was a reliable vehicle. Wife is upset by how bad it looks.

- David T., Plainfield, IN, US

problem #35

Dec 092013

Civic VTI 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,671 miles

click to see larger images

clear coat peeling off clear coat peeling off clear coat peeling off clear coat peeling off clear coat peeling off

My car always had a strange surface that appeared to scratch very easily. The surface after the first few years was dull. When the car was about 5 years old there was a rough patch on the roof, by the time it was 6 it started peeling in that spot. It was my mechanic that year who pointed out that I had a paint problem and he told me this was lack of clear coat.

I contacted Honda and they asked me to get two reports and quotes, which I did. I was told by both body shops that the issue was lack of clear coat, though their report didn't include their professional opinion, only the work that needed to be done and the cost. I was a bit shocked at the questions Honda had for me, like, was it parked in the sun? Well yes, this is Australia, blazing sun but my 20yo car still has it's paint work in tact?and never been garaged. They offered to pay only one third of the respray cost. Because I declined and they cancelled my complaint. The worst part? this was a once in a lifetime purchase for me. I will never have the means to purchase another car again.

- Jennifer M., Thurgoona, Australia

problem #34

Jul 012016

Civic LX 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,000 miles

My son parked his Honda Odyssey in my driveway for a year. When he removed it, he apologized to my neighbor, saying, "I'm getting this eyesore out of here!"

My neighbor said, "that's not the eyesore. The Civic is!"

The poor Civic is an eyesore indeed because of the peeling paint. The Odyssey's paint is intact. I'm ashamed to park the car anywhere. I'm accused of bringing the neighborhood down.

- Rose Marie Z., Seaside, CA, US

problem #33

Nov 092011

Civic LX

  • Manual transmission
  • 57,000 miles

Already 3 recalls on this car and they don't stand by their problem. The paint issues started early and I was never notified they might have a fix. I don't usually have work done at a Honda dealership but by a friend, so when I went to a dealer they said the assistance they might have provided was only good for a short duration and I was past that time. POOR POOR POOR

- Gregg H., Paradise, PA, US

problem #32

Apr 012017

Civic EX-L 1.8L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

clear coat peeling significantly on roof, making white spots

- Chris N., Island Heights, US

problem #31

Aug 042015

Civic LX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 121,789 miles

I also own a 2003 Honda Pilot and so far the paint is fine, same color midnight black.This Civic had the hood repainted due to crows feet cracks all over it and was a secret warranty a year after we bought it new, so obviously the paint from the factory was bad as the clear coat on the roof is going to a white haze and can be scratched off with finger nails. I have seen many other black Civics doing the same thing. Crappy water based paint no longer will be a Honda family

- Brian H., Penticton, BC, Canada

problem #30

Jul 012016

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles

This is unacceptable. My car is not old. I was told, by multiple sources, "if you cared for your Honda properly, it would last you over 150,000 miles." Rumors are not always true.

- Kelly B., Seminole, US

problem #29

May 012015

Civic LX V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

click to see larger images

clear coat peeling off

The paint has been slowly peeling off the back of my roof and the top of my trunk for the last few years. I have noticed the same peeling paint pattern on several other Honda Civics in the 2007-2010 range! This is definitely a defect and I really think Honda should pay for the fix!!

- Siobhan J., Norwich, VT, US

problem #28

May 012011

Civic EX-L 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles

I don't have the EXACT date this started but it was after our 36 month warranty expired - some time in the 4th year of ownership. At some point Honda put out a quiet recall on it. I didn't bring it up to the dealership as it was out of warranty - but it was in a couple times and they never mentioned it to us. I only found out about it after the extended warranty period expired while looking on line. Dealer said nothing they can do...

- justsomeone, Saginaw, US

problem #27

Jan 012017

Civic Limited 3.2lV6

  • Manual transmission
  • 69,000 miles

Have a 2008 Honda Civic - clear coat is peeling off the roof and the back. Really ugly. Estimate to have it fixed is $1800 and that's no guarantee that the rest of the car paint/clear coat won't peel also. A real lemon, will never buy another Honda.

Update from Aug 27, 2017: Honda of Olympia fixed the problem at their cost.

- Camelia P., Olympia, US

problem #26

Feb 152017

Civic EX-L 1.8L 4 cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 162,000 miles

Well, I pointed to some areas of the car where I had concerns with the clear coat last summer when it was covered under warranty.

I pointed them out to the warranty guy and he said "Naw, it's unrelated". One winter later, my clear coat is peeling off my trunk, my doors, and my side panels. I can't justify paying the VALUE OF MY CAR to get COSMETIC fixes. I just don't understand how ever other car can still look nice while mine looks like a POS. I don't see the cool civic anymore, I go straight to the peeling paint when i see it and it breaks m'heart.

- Garrett T., Minneapolis, US

problem #25

Mar 092016

Civic EX-L 1.8L 4 cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 150,000 miles

Brought it to the Honda body shop, they fixed er all up! Yay! Don't worry, there's a second report with a much different opinion from my more recent experience with this.

- Garrett T., Minneapolis, US

problem #24

Jul 072015

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

The clear coat started peeling about 6 months after I purchased the car in 12/2014 and it has gotten worse since! The hood, trunk, fenders and other areas are peeling off and my car looks horrible!

- Margaret R., Myrtle Beach, SC, US

problem #23

Jul 132010

Civic LX 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 107,764 miles

It is just annoying and looks awfull! Need some action from Honda Canada ASAP!

- André L., Laval, QC, Canada

problem #22

Nov 172016

Civic EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

This is the second 2008 Civic that we have own for about a month and it has spots on the spoiler and trunk are losing some of the clear coat. It is mild at this time but knowing what we know about our Civic SI 2008 it is starting to show the same peeling of the clear coat not seen in our other Hondas. We were not told about this recall when we purchased it last month.

- Ashley J., Rockledge, FL, US

problem #21

Aug 202012

Civic EX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,472 miles

This paint problem started really small but has progressed. My car looks like crap. The paint is peeling in multiple spots now, I keep it under a carport. I don't know how it will continue to affect it. I wasn't too concerned at first with the slight discoloration but now it really looks bad. The pin striping is coming off the doors, it's a mess!

- Lynda W., Westlake, LA, US

problem #20

Jun 012016

Civic EX

  • Manual transmission
  • 28,900 miles

There are white spots that are slowly appearing and chipping off on the roof, hood and trunk of my car. It's in otherwise great shape. When I asked the dealer what was going on he told me "sometimes it just happens." I've never witnessed it happening on other cars just Honda's.

- Brian W., Middletown, NY, US

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