2004 Honda Accord EX from North America - Comments

This is my second Honda Accord. I've always been pleased with Honda's reputation for quality and found that to be true. Although my car is five years old, there's an expectation that it will continue to perform well as long as I do my part and make sure it is regularly serviced.

My problem has nothing to due with the vehicle performance. My problem is the clear coat paint on my red Honda Accord. I live in the Northeast, and the paint is fading fast on the roof. After careful inspection, it looks like the paint is also fading around the rear window and along the trunk. It looks terrible, and I can only imagine what it will cost to have the car re-painted! Of course, the dealer and the district manager have essentially told me "tough luck." I called American Honda Motor Company's customer service department today, and was again told that the warranty has expired and there's nothing that can be done. I'm going to write an appeal to the VP - Parts and Services Division, to see if I can be given some consideration. It would be nice if we could come to a "cost-sharing" agreement, but I suspect not. Honda's sales and net income are down this year, and I'm sure the company wants to manage its costs very closely. I really like my Honda, but if I have to pay several thousand dollars to have it re-painted it's not the great value I thought it was when I bought it. I am honestly surprised that there's a problem with the paint. Go figure.

I really like it. Very reliable, good looking inside and out (at least before the paint started to fade).

You really have to keep a good coat of wax on a red vehicle.

I have a red Jeep, and I wash & wax it regularly to keep the paint from fading.

I also use an express wax a couple of times a week between paste waxings.

I don't know if you keep a good coat of wax on your Honda (not just the "wax" from the car wash - which does virtually nothing), but if you don't, you shouldn't be surprised that your red paint job is fading.

My 2004 Accord is Redondo Red with 63k miles, and a year or so ago I noticed small circular fading spots on the roof, and surrounding them the paint is hazy. The paint quality is subpar - I'd say it's as durable as nail polish, and it has NOTHING to do with waxing it regularly, because I owned a 1989 Accord from 93-01 and it looked great.

I bought the '04 new and have had several things go wrong; a water/rain leak coming through the door, which took a Honda engineer to locate the source of the problem - this was after I sent a lemon law letter to Honda and had been to dealership shop 5x. It was a factory install error. New carpeting was installed.

I won't go on about other problems. The only thing I can praise is the engine reliability. I'd love to get rid of the car, but it's paid for and I would like to enjoy having no car payments for awhile.

"it has NOTHING to do with waxing it regularly"

I would say that you are very wrong about that.

Red and Silver cars of all kinds tend to fade quicker I have found. I like resale red and black when selling sportier models. I keep the red and silver garaged or out of the direct sun as much as possible. The hardest colors to resell have been green and blue ones I have found, if anyone cares.

Re Honda paint, I don't believe it has any thing to do with wax, tree sap, bird droppings etc. My wife has a 03 Accord EX, I believe it's Moss green metallic, and the clear coat is breaking down all over the trunk and left quarter panel. The dealership has already painted the roof due to this problem. I keep my cars washed and waxed at all times, did no good on the Honda. Road noise is high, factory brakes were terrible and the throttle tip in is very jerky. No more Hondas! My 07 Xterra is a better ride in all respects.

Forge Tech.