Midnight Blue. The paint has been flaking off for months. We didn't bother to inquire about it until a Christmas road trip left the hood looking like a palomino pony. We took it to the dealership to get an estimate on having the hood repainted (we expected to pay out of pocket at this point) and we were referred to the dealership's body shop for an estimate. Once there, two guys came out to look at it to write up an estimate. As an aside, I showed them the flaking paint in several areas of the van. I was told to go back to the service department since it looked like a faulty paint job. I took it back and spoke with the service dept manager. He said he would need to talk to Honda about it. A few days later he asked if we could leave the van for a Honda inspector to check it out. We did. We got a call later that day saying that Honda has a known problem with that particular paint color and they will repaint the van FREE but we will be charged for any repair to the hood (normal dings from interstate driving). We feel this is totally fair. Our paperwork shows that it will be about 3 or 4 weeks before the necessary paperwork is ready to complete the work. I urge anyone with this color & model year and having paint problems to find out about the extended warranty we were told this would be covered under.

We own a '03 Honda Odyssey, love the vehicle. Took it in for maintenance and wash & wax to the dealership we purchased it from. When we picked it up my husband noticed a 1/2 dollar size paint missing down to the primer. We first thought the detail worker accidentally put acid on our van. We were told that the paint job is defective as they knew exactly where to look for more peeling paint. The service manager told us they have been having problems with the midnight blue color. Our car is no longer under warranty, we are taking it back again next week to speak to the regional Honda manager to show him our dilemma and to see if he will stand by their product.

I am especially upset about this. This was not an inexpensive vehicle and we didn't receive much off the list price. I needed a dependable safe car to drive my two children in. We are not in a position to pay for a new paint job. We purchased this vehicle expecting it to last many years and not to appear to look like a 30 yr old car. The ironic part of my story is that while we were waiting for our van to get finished we were test driving a few Honda Civics to consider buying for our daughter who just received her license and needs a dependable safe car. Well, if Honda is the company I have thought they were and stand by their products then we will still consider another Honda. If they don't we will never purchase from them again and will take further action. Very disappointed in the other complaints I have read about the same problem. This is not right.

We have a 2003 Honda Odyssey. It recently started peeling paint on the hood and around the sliding doors. The car is still covered under extended warranty. We have been told by four separate auto body repair shops that our paint if failing due to a primer problem. We were even told this by the auto body shop that our local Honda dealer referred us to. We went through our local Honda dealer and met with the regional Honda representative last week. We were initially told by the Honda rep that we had obviously received a poor paint job after the vehicle had been purchased. After it was established through his own testing that it was indeed the factory paint job he then stated that we must have driven through some sort of environmental chemical thus causing the peeling paint and that Honda would offer us $300.00 as a goodwill gesture. We filed an appeal through Honda and were just told today that they again would not cover the cost to repair the peeling paint. Of course we can�t get our insurance company to cover it nor should they because every body shop we go to says it is a manufactures primer failure. It appears through online research that the midnight blue Honda color is having this problem on multiple vehicles. Honda seems arbitrary in their decisions to cover it or not cover it. Do we as a consumer have any other recourse? I am so disgusted with they way we have been treated that I am willing to pursue this legally out of a pure ethical obligation.

Midnight Blue Color. The problem started as a small blister and then spread. These areas were half their current size before a 500 mile Thanksgiving road trip. The wind from driving is blowing the paint off the hood. We can't wash the car without paint falling off. The area on the hood is the worst. The interior area above the rear door is also peeling. I've also noticed an area beginning on the roof. I showed the dealer when I first noticed the the blistering on the hood and he informed me it was beyond the warranty period and there was nothing he could do. Were going back again tomorrow.

Honda American Motor Co. is not going to pay to fix the peeling paint on our Honda Odyssey. It is clearly a problem with the paint or painting process. The paint is peeling above the rear windows at the seal and about the driver's side sliding door. We received word back from Honda today (01 August 2007)that, "It is unfortunate that you experienced any difficulty, however, the new vehicle limited warranty was expired at 3 years/36,000 miles. Unfortunately, we regret to dent your request for assistance." We are now stuck paying for Honda's painting mistake (which was 300 Euros--$450) for me to fix when it was just the ONE window! Advise against buying a Honda because they refuse to deal with this problem.

This looks like a problem with the paint primer. It looks like the paint did not adhere to the primer properly. The paint is starting to peel everywhere, but so far on surfaces that are not directly exposed. The paint is peeling under the rear hatch, under the hood, and next to the rearmost side vent windows.

I have a Honda extended warranty, but it EXCLUDES Paint. Even though this appears to be a factory defect, I doubt if Honda will cover it. I am waiting to hear their response to my complaint.

Paint peeling above the sliding door window and in the hidden are under the tailgate (can only see when the door is open). I understand the my car is now out of warranty and I did not buy an extended warranty, but I buy Honda's because they are reported to be reliable. For the most part, Honda's are not fun, attractive nor for most part even cheap -- so they should be reliable. To me reliable means that no major systems should fail in the first 100k assuming that they are maintained to factory specs. Paint falling off the car in year three with less than 30k on the odometer is a major failure and unacceptable. Problems like this remind me of American cars a few years ago and why every other car in this country now is Japanese. I will not be buying another Honda since they seem to not be as reliable as I once thought. The dealer will not cover this as it simply is out of warranty -- logical. But Honda should try to make cars that are reliable because they have little else going for their automobiles.

UPDATE from Kelly in Dayton, OH:

Two weeks ago, I was at a Honda dealership getting my car's interior detailed for our vacation to Canada. This is not the dealership where I purchased the vehicle. Anyway, as I was dropping off my car, I threw in a complaint about the the hood and my bad primer. The customer rep guy took a look at it and agreed that for a car with only 60K miles, this should not be happening. He told me he would look into it and get back with me. He said, "I'm not promising anything, but I'll look into it". He called me back later in the day, saying "Good News" and that Honda was going to repaint the peeling areas. What a shock! I didn't expect it.... as the body shop told me it was hopeless that Honda would help, they checked into it too. So, I am wondering if maybe the dealership is taking care of the paint job... maybe they didn't even contact Honda. I am glad they are taking care of it.... but an email from someone in Germany worries me. Her doors are peeling too. My doors have no signs of peeling (yet!). What happens when other areas

start doing the same? I have a feeling I'll end up having to have the car repainted somewhere down the road..... at my expense.

What is the color of your vans? Mine is Midnight Blue. They mentioned the midnight blue seems to be having more problems.

Kelly

Dayton, OH

I purchased , my 2003 Honda Odyssey brand new and it was my first Honda. For years, I have heard what great vehicles Hondas are. I noticed that the paint on my hood started coming off. There is now one section that is about 6" in diameter. I first thought that maybe my car was hit with hail.... or possible rock damage from highway driving. That is, until my co-worker noticed more paint peeling around the windows on the side of the van. It was peeling in a "grooved" area, that would have little contact with the outside elements. So, it was obvious the problem is not environmental! I took the van to a body shop and the diagnosis is manufacturer's BAD PRIMER! They contacted my local Honda dealership in Beavercreek, Ohio and were told that Honda is NOT doing anything regarding the faulty primer. I'm in the kitchen remodeling business, and I can tell you that if customers called me after only 4 years with their cabinet's finish coming off..... my manufacturer's would do something about it! And I would make sure my client was taken care of. I am not happy with the dealer's attitude. I have not called Honda's customer service number yet. I am still gathering information. Please email me or post here if you've had a similar problem. My vehicle cost $30K and it will cost me about 1/5th or 1/6th of that to have repainted. I am more than mad.... and if Honda doesn't back this up, it will be the last Honda I ever buy again.

We bought a 2003 Honda Certified Odyssey in June of '06 with 58,000 miles. By January '07 we noticed small bubbles forming on the hood. When we took it to the dealership for maintenance and showed it to them and they said it was from rocks. A few weeks later the paint was peeling off inches at a time, so we took it back. The dealership informed us that Honda's were suppose to peel like and that they weren't going to do anything about it. Now the paint is peeling under the hood and by the back window where rocks can't hit.