Does Honda have a warranty on their paint?
Yes. Honda provides coverage for factory-applied paint defects and a separate corrosion warranty on body panels. In the United States, the paint warranty generally lasts 3 years or 36,000 miles, while rust-through corrosion is covered for 5 years with unlimited miles. Normal wear, environmental damage, or damage from accidents and improper upkeep are not covered.
Overview of Honda's paint warranty
To understand how Honda backs the finish on its vehicles, it helps to know what is covered, how long it lasts, and what isn’t. The following sections lay out the core details as they apply to new-car purchases in the U.S. market.
What is covered under Honda's paint warranty
The warranty protects against manufacturing defects in the factory-applied paint that lead to issues such as peeling, blistering, or loss of adhesion. It does not cover cosmetic wear from normal use, damage from environmental exposure, stone chips, scratches, or damage resulting from accidents or improper maintenance.
Before the list: The elements below describe typical coverage for factory paint defects during the warranty window.
- Defects in materials or workmanship in the factory-applied paint that cause visible problems.
- Repair or repainting of the affected area when diagnosed as a covered defect, performed at Honda-authorized service centers.
- Coverage applies to the original factory finish on the vehicle as delivered from the factory.
Conclusion: If a genuine paint defect is found within the coverage period, Honda typically covers the repair or repainting at no cost to the owner, subject to terms and regional variations.
Duration of the paint warranty and related corrosion coverage
Honda differentiates between paint finish defects and corrosion-related issues. The typical timeframes are as follows, with regional variations possible.
- Paint warranty duration: 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.
- Corrosion (rust-through) warranty: 5 years with unlimited miles.
- Note: Terms shown are general for the U.S. market and may vary by region or model; verify with your local dealer or the owner’s manual.
Conclusion: New cars benefit from paint defect coverage for the first three years or 36,000 miles, while rust-through on body panels is covered for five years regardless of mileage, subject to warranty terms.
What is not covered
There are common exclusions in Honda’s paint policy. Understanding these helps set expectations about when a claim is not eligible for coverage.
- Normal wear, road hazards, chips, scratches, or fading not caused by a factory defect.
- Damage from environmental exposure (e.g., acid rain over time) unless it indicates a defect in the paint process.
- Damage from accidents, improper maintenance, misuse, or aftermarket repairs that alter the finish.
Conclusion: The paint warranty focuses on manufacturing defects, not cosmetic wear or damage from everyday driving or third-party actions.
How to file a paint warranty claim
Filing a claim involves documenting the defect and working with an authorized Honda dealer. The process is designed to verify whether the issue is a covered paint defect and to arrange approved repairs if eligible.
- Contact or visit an authorized Honda dealer with the vehicle and proof of purchase.
- Have the paint issue inspected by a Honda technician to determine if it qualifies as a warranty defect.
- Submit any required warranty documentation and repair estimates as part of the claim.
- If approved, have the dealer perform the repair or repainting at no charge under the warranty terms.
Conclusion: Claims are evaluated case-by-case at authorized dealerships, with coverage applied if the defect meets the warranty criteria and regional terms.
Notes for Honda Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles
Honda’s Certified Pre-Owned program can include its own warranty variations. If you are considering a CPO vehicle, check the specific paint coverage terms for that car, as they may differ from new-vehicle terms.
Summary
In brief, Honda offers a paint warranty that covers factory-applied paint defects for 3 years or 36,000 miles, plus a separate rust-through corrosion warranty for 5 years with unlimited miles. Coverage targets manufacturing defects rather than normal wear, environmental factors, or accident-related damage. For exact terms, regional differences, or CPO variations, consult the local Honda dealer or the official Honda warranty documentation for your market.
Further resources
For the most current and region-specific information, refer to Honda’s official warranty pages and your vehicle’s owner's manual, or contact your local Honda dealer.
