8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
89,050 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. new paint (3 reports)
  2. not sure (2 reports)
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problem #5

Feb 152012

Civic DX 1.6L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

My Honda Civic DX 1997 has cracks in paint all over the hood, it is really annoying and very bad looking. I was expecting that Honda's paint is a very good quality, but it seems it is NOT. I am retired on disability, I have no money to pay for car paint or to buy another car.I hope this problem will be solved by Honda for free.

- elmih, Beaverton, OR, US

problem #4

Jun 122009

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,000 miles

Paint peeling off hood, roof, front and back as well as over wheels of auto. Had been serviced at dealers for other items like oil changes, none of the dealers ever told me about that fact that Honda had a recall on this problem, nor did Honda notify me. I am a senior citizen and I feel cheated!

- trollinspa, Levittown, PA, US

problem #3

Jun 112009

Civic LX 1.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 101,209 miles

Bought a used '97 Honda Civic LX in summer of 2006 -had a bright coat of hunter green paint on it back then. By summer of 2009 the clear coat of paint was starting to flake off. Started on the roof of the car, then the hood, then the bumpers. Once it started going there was no stopping it. The flaking got much worse; running rampant over almost the whole body of the vehicle (all except doors) and became very unsightly. Tried several methods to slow the "virus" down. Nothing helped. By 2010 the clear coat based paint had come off of 85% of the car. Next- the sun started scorching the green undertone paint: scorching the color RIGHT OFF the car. Three years later, my once green civic is now half WHITE/CHROME COLORED. The hood is the worst spot, extremely ugly to look at. All outward surfaces have been bleached by the sun and are now speckled and disgusting.

Complained to a mechanic about this a few months ago and was told that MANY of the Civic's made in this year struggle mightily with the paint job. He said that there was something wrong with the paint from that year, and that the clear based paint was to blame.

I will never buy any car with clear based paint on it again!

Other makes/models are having the same issue with it: was looking up yesterday at 2007 Toyota Yaris owners who have been struck with the peeling, flaking coat just 3 years into the life of the car!

Baaaaaad stuff...Stay away.

- David N., Raleigh, NC, US

problem #2

Jul 012009

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

I'm wondering if it would be economically wise to have my car repainted or just trade it...it has no problems other than the unsightly paint problem on the roof. The car is green. From the other reports, it seems that I could expect the problem to spread to other parts of the car. I love the car but hate the way the paint looks now.

- Pat L., Charlotte, NC, US

problem #1

Oct 012007

Civic DX 1.6L

  • Manual transmission
  • 149,000 miles

The paint on my hood has that desert land look, where there are all sorts of cracks in the paint that just collects compound if you try to buff it out. not so much a recall factor, but it is something I wont enjoy having to go out of my way to fix.

- Austin W., Auburn, WA, US