Roof paint issues
 

The clearcoat on my sons 2009 blue Honda Fit is pealing and flaking on the roof. He took it to our local dealer and the dealer reported that this is a common problem on Civics. Anyone else with paint issues on their Fit?

The paint on the hood, rear hatch and spoiler are ok, but the clearcoat on the roof is flaking off and leaving a dull paint color. I'm afraid the roof could end up rusting without a fix. The dealer took pictures and will contact Honda...but I think I already know where that will go.

blue 2009 Fit here and no problems, and car lives outside. Can you post a pic?

if its still under warranty it should be covered. Honda uses some thin ass paint. I wonder when they will learn that it causes more issues then its worth. Id imagine honda owners would not have minded paying an extra 500 bucks or so for a car that had a durable paint coat.


Its why I will be plastidipping my front end and roof soon

Just making sure this doesn't happen to my 2013.... Did you wax the car regularly?

Only colors ive seen that cracks and fade are black and red. If u have either of the two its bound to happen. I dont know why but they just do. Try to park under shade too. If it keeps getting a beating from the sun. Itll fade or crack

Yes, the car is waxed on a regular basis. Noticed the issue developing about 6+ months ago. Hood, hatch and spoiler are perfect...strange that the roof would be different.

Just FYI-

Car makers do not actually have warranty coverage on paint. Dealer paint repairs are at their own discretion.

Case in point- in 1987, I bought a new Ford Bronco from a local dealer, and within two years both the clear coat and base paint started to flake off the roof and hood. A friend of mine worked as a factory rep. for Toyota, but had started that career as a Ford rep. He gave me the private phone number of the paint shop Manager of the Ford Truck plant in Tennessee, and I called that guy to find out what could be done. He said: "Oh yeah, '87 was a bad year for Ford truck paint. Sorry. Just drive on over and I'll repaint the whole truck for free." I thanked him and said that a cross-country trip at this time was out of the question. The local dealer wanted nothing to do with the problem or the repair.

Then, while changing a fan belt on the same truck, their idiot "mechanic" tore up the under-hood insulator blanket and some of the paint with the other end of a pry-bar. I saw that when I got the truck home and hit the ceiling- brought the truck back and had a strong talk with the "Service Manager". He was actually embarrassed, and offered to repaint the roof and hood "at his cost". I agreed, and that little "deal" cost me $600.00, and the paint failed again within another two years.

Even with the best of care, long life of car paint is a loser's bet- simply a matter of luck and where the car was built and what it was exposed to on the trip from factory to the dealer, and dealer care in storage until sale.

That's impressive. Nothing like that on my car.

Not long ago there was nothing like that on mine either.

Seems like if the paint is okay the dealer should be able to remove the clear coat and reapply. I have not seen that happen in recent years to newer cars seem to be more common with cars in the eighty's and ninty's and of course Ford's from 2000 to 2005.


Honda extends warranty on Dark Blue Odysseys 2003 -2005


http://www.ppg.com/coatings/refinish...Peel_08031.pdf

So what about those who don't own a 03-05 Odyssey, but are still having paint problems? Many are reporting bringing their car to an authorized dealer and being told it's normal wear and tear on the vehicle. Don't fall for it! While most modern OEM paint jobs, especially with darker colors like red, tend to oxidize and fade faster, this oxidation can typically be buffed and polished up. The flaking or paint "coming off in sheets", as Honda described it, is a much bigger problem. Here's the 4 top excuses given by Honda dealers:

• Keep the car out of the sun
• Don't wash the car as often
• Don't use harsh waxes
• Avoid Bird Poop

My local dealership got back to me....Honda said NO, they wont' help. Dealer wants $900 to repaint the roof, and the front windshield has to be pulled inorder to do the paint job correctly. I asked him to approach Honda again. I can't believe this problem!!!

another option is sand it down smooth and apply vinyl on the roof. that also looks nice especially on a blue. no need to remove anything to install other than the antenna base.

GL with the fix.

Talked to several paint and body shops. All of them mentioned that Honda is skimping on the thickness of the clearcoat, and as a result it begins to breakdown and flake. Found out that there is a TSB on Civics...from 2006 to 2010 that Honda was doing repairs...same problem. I have never had such a paint problem on any car I've own...and this is only a 2009!!! One manager did mentioned that he has already seen about three Honda Fits with the same roof issue. Honda needs to own up and make this right...consumers should not have to shell out $600 to $900 on a failed roof paint job. People....look at your cars.

Found this site...interesting stories about Honda paint quality.

WTF is Happening to Honda Factory Paint ?!

Wow. That's interesting. I have a red '09 and luckily haven't had this happen to me..........yet

The red on my 09 Fit has faded to pink, rather than have the dealer repaint it my dad and I will repaint it ourselves early next year. Sorry about your clear coat man, that's rough.

Honda and I made an agreement...I pay the dealer $300 to have the roof fixed..they pay the rest. Talking with a few independent body shops it sounds like the cheapest cost would be around $500 to $600. I hope this will be my only paint issue.

Actually I think my local dealership called Honda (I called Honda yesterday and filed a complaint) and cut the deal. I think the dealership was just as PO as I was with the "no" answer. I'm not happy with parting with $300 nor with this hassle of a fairly new car having such a major paint issue, but this problem needs to be fixed correctly or the roof will eventually rust. Honda has some serious issues when it comes to paint quality...the Civic owners went through this.

Where in Arkansas are you? I am originally from Malvern.

My 2009 Blue Honda Fit looks the same as yours, but also the hood is delaminating just as bad. I bought the car new, and paid $600 extra for "Auto Butler" paint protection with a 5-year warranty, which I had applied every 6 months at dealership. Auto Butler refuses to pay for the paint (probably because they feel it is manufacturing's fault). After several calls to dealership over 3 months, leaving messages and getting the runaround, they finally told me to bring it in and they would take pics and contact Honda. They now say Honda has agreed to make some repairs, but that I will be responsible for $400 of the paint repair. This makes no sense why I should have to pay for a paint repair on a car that I purchased paint protection for originally! So frustrating. Not sure whether I should take the deal or take them to court.

Or auto butler damaged the paint...

I don't think dealer added protectants do anything but line their pockets.

If you have time, taking them to small claims should be fun. They'll probably agree to paint it and forgo the $400 rather than have to show up.

My Fit was repaired a few weeks ago...and now looks brand new. The dealer did an excellent job. Besides the roof, they painted the hood since they felt that it was showing some issues, and they did the top of the rear hatch. Since our Fit was involved in a prior accident a few years ago, the entire car has now been repainted by the same body shop, and has a life-time paint warranty.

Yep...$300 was my part, and Honda paid for the rest, with the invoice being just over $1,000. I'm not happy having to pay $300, but the roof paint needed to be fixed or rust would have become an issue, so I'm glad its done.

Tell Honda to pay to fix the car...and tell the dealer that you want your $600 back since the treatment was either a fake, or it damaged the paint. Start with that position. Best of luck. By the way, what exactly did the contract cite with this Auto Butler protection? It must say something...small claims court sounds like a good idea.

I see that you are close to my location...sent you a private message. I have someone that might help you at a dealership.

Wow that video is very upsetting, my Fit is leased and this will help me decide whether or not to buy it. I have a 94 saturn wagon with 300k miles on it and I'm the 1st owner, the paint still looks like the day I drove it off the showroom floor. I think I'll just get a new block and keep it.

Here's my video taken today 1/4/13, of my Honda purchased at Space Coast Honda on 5/23/09 with an add-on $599 of Auto Butler paint protection: 2009 Honda Fit paint problems - YouTube. As you can see, the clear coat has been stripped, and the paint is now oxidized. The Auto Butler website is here: Auto Butler - Premier Paint Protection II, and my contract states that is protects against "tree sap, bird droppings, acid rain, and the sun's ultraviolet rays". I purchased a 5-year protection plan with warranty. Auto Butler refuses to have it repainted, according to the dealer. I agree with Steve244 that the "treatment" may have been at fault, or else it is a manufacturing paint defect, or both.

Totally unacceptable bad if you look at the other videos like the one I list there are other rust issues with the accord and subframe from the ac drain. Ugh saving for a new engine for my 94 Saturn now.

Yes, absolutely, a 20 year old GM product will have fewer problems than a new Honda.

You seem to share a lot in common with Consumer Reports. (check the bottom of the article for Saturn...)

Steve244, I couldn't find the link you mention. What was your point I am interested in it.

How about a few graphics?

Hint, red is good.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F...eliability.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-s...eliability.jpg

And for the Fit specifically:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-M...eliability.jpg

The A/C has been my sole complaint.

I think this issue will become "big" for Honda over the next few years. They pushed the paint quality (or lack of quality) over the line in an effort to save a few dollars per vehicle. Frankly I hope this really costs them...either in repair or lost customers.

I remember Consumer Reports raving about the Chrysler mini-van back in the late 80's. I knew just by looking at a few used vehicles that it was a POS. And many years later they fessed up that "yea, that vehicle was not really very good". I purchased a used Ford Aerostar in 1989 that provided over 230K miles of great driving and reliability that CR said was a POS. Any by the way, the paint looked great with I sold that 1986 vehicle in 2004.

I'm glad everything sorted out for you.

FYI, after they get the roof repainted, wait about 30 days before you or they put any wax. The paint needs to breath properly while curing and bonding to the basecoat.

If you need any help regarding paint or detailing, let me know. Been working as a detailer for over 10 years.

The Chrysler mini-van was worth raving over in the late 80s. It was a revolutionary design. They invented the mini-van.

A regional Ford sales rep told my parents to steer far clear from the Aerostar. (He had one as his company car). Where did you live, and how did you maintain the paint on your Ford?

Anecdotes are only worth so much. I don't know how CR gathers their reliability stats, but I'd guess they do a better job than us.

Honda's paint is "better than average." The average has gone down in the past decade with EPA regulations on solvents. Still, after 5 years in metro Atlanta I don't have any complaints about the finish on my Fit. The A/C on the other hand...

Yes and no.

Yes, that the quality of the primer, base coat and clear coat are among average since mostly BASF owns everything now.

No, in the fact that Honda in order to save money they apply very thin coats of clear coat to most cars.

Has paint gone down in the past decade.. it depends how you want to see it. Ceramic clear coat is stronger and suffers less from stone chips. What has chanced in the past decade is Clear coat. Nowadays, it dries in a few minutes, hence the reason for lots of orange peel.

Orange peel and the A/C is what I mostly complained on my Fit. The orange peel is fixed now since it's my trade.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...14458978_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...09026269_n.jpg

I am so glad I found this forum!
As I posted earlier, my clear coat was wasting away on my 2009 Fit over the course of about 8 months, and paint was starting to oxidize on the roof and hood. The dealership where I purchased it new (and added a $600 paint protection service) gave me the run-around for months after I brought it to their attention. They accepted no blame, asking me if I was "keeping it in the sun", "living near the beach", and "doing a lot of highway driving".
They called American Honda to see what they would do. American Honda offered to paint the roof and hood, and said that I would be responsible for $400 of the total cost. The dealership said they would rent me a car at my expense at $30/day, and that it would take about 5 days to complete at an off-site local autobody shop. Inititally I accepted the offer, as I felt I had to other choice.
As it turns out, I came here and found this forum, and was interested in this thread, started by spacecoast, which ironically also happens to be the name of my Honda dealership, and who also lives in my area. He had posted pictures of his son's Fit's paint problems. After seeing my video of my car, he messaged me and offered to help. He gave me the name of a person at the dealership where he went, and said maybe he could help me out.
I went to that Honda dealership (Ron Norris Honda), and spoke with the guy, and he took photos of my car. He said he would call American Honda and see if he could talk them down. If nothing else, he said he could at least offer me a free/loaner car while my car was being painted. All in the name of good business...
A couple weeks later, he called to say the $400 (my part) was being waived (I guess he convinced American Honda of that). I later dropped my car off at their dealership's own body shop, which had a Hertz rental office right there in the building. They rented me a lovely new Chevy Captiva SUV for 10 days while my car was being repaired. When I picked it up today, I was amazed. They went above and beyond; not only painting the roof and hood, even re-striping it, buffing out the dull spots, and detailing the entire inside! I could not be more pleased with the way it turned out, and they didn't charge me a dime. I now have no doubt as to where I will purchase my next vehicle.
Thanks to spacecoast for the advice! I wanted to share this story to show that there are good dealerships out there that can help with these issues.


Below are before and after pics of my car:


Before:


Attachment 15970
Attachment 15971


After:


Attachment 15972
Attachment 15973

Wow, I'm glad you got your problem fixed and so well too!

I hope more GE owners can get help like you did with their paint issues.

Keep her waxed and protected!

Also since your car is looking all nice and pretty again, why not make the headlights a little less yellow, lol! ;) All in the name of safety you know!

Haha! That's the first thing my son said. It looks great, except for the headlights! It's on my list... :)

Okay your car from how I see it b4/after was left out in the elements/sun and wasn't taken care of completely. Why do I think this you maybe asking? Well not ONLY was your paint deteriorating but your headlights, grill, windshield wipers, & plastic side view mirrors have bad sun damage. Even your steel wheels are rusted. Headlights don't get that way in the shade. You also get a lot of salt air since you are 5-10min from the beach. Just my .02. I'm glade your car was repainted. Now you need to replace grill and at least get headlamps wet sanded to bring them near new look.

On another subject. You 2 owners make me miss going to Dixie Crossroads Sea Food Restaurant with my cousins when I attended Embry-Riddle. Eat some Sampi Rock Shrimp for me :-).

What exactly did you get for $600? Did it come with a guarantee?

I'm also suspicious of aftermarket (dealer added) protectants including automotive wax. I think it could be damaging the clearcoat. At least no one should be paying anything for this "protection" and may want to avoid it even if the dealer offers it for free.

And it's an excuse never to wax mine.