2013 Honda Pilot

The factory clear coat and paint on the roof of this 2013 Honda Pilot are delaminating and peeling away from the metal. The failure began about 1.5 years ago and continues to spread; in places it has now progressed through the paint to bare metal that is corroding and rusting. The vertical body panels remain glossy and intact while the entire horizontal roof has failed - a top-down failure pattern consistent with a defective factory finish rather than wear or environmental exposure. This matches a well-documented paint-adhesion defect in Honda vehicles of this generation: Honda issued warranty-extension service bulletin 19-057 for 2013-16 Pilots in White Diamond Pearl after identical roof peeling, a companion bulletin covers other white finishes, and an active class-action lawsuit alleges the same peeling and delaminating paint defect across 2013-and-later Honda and Acura vehicles. As the paint separates, detached clear-coat material can lift off the moving vehicle, and the exposed roof metal is now corroding. The affected roof/body panel is available for inspection upon request. No warning lamps applied; the defect is visible. The vehicle was not in a crash, and there was no fire and no injury. I am reporting this so it is documented as a manufacturing defect affecting colors beyond those the manufacturer has chosen to cover.

I purchased the vehicle and in May 2023 I noticed a small bubble on the paint on the roof of the car near the windshield on the left, above the driver's side. I went to the closest Honda Dealer and the gentleman at the shop dismissed me saying the car's warranty was expired. A few months later, the bubble popped and a part of the paint peeled off. I called the dealer Arlington Honda and was told by a manager Jeremy Hardman to take my car to one of 2 Autobody shops he provided me with for inspection. I went to Schaumburg Autobody who inspected the vehicle and found more affected areas behind the sunroof. They determined it to be defective sealer that is not adhearing to the metal. I sent an email to Jeremy Hardman and called that Honda dealer I was told Jeremy no longer works at that dealer and transferred me elsewhere. I was told to contact Honda Corporate. Meanwhile, the paint has now peeled further, the metal is now completely exposed which will lead to rust formation causing further damage. Also making my car look old and poorly maintained. Since its near the windshield, moisture from snow, rain etc will cause damage where water will start to make its way into the vehicle causing further damage there as well. I have attached pictures to show the metal exposure from the peeling and pictures where you can see the sealant coming off. I would like instructions on how to proceed from here to initiate a recall asap due to poor paint/sealer quality and/or improper application. Instructions for a temporary solution to avoid further damage. I also found an article. Please see [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the fog lights and exterior lights became inoperable. The contact noticed there was rust underneath the hood. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact also needed to add additional power steering fluid three times per week. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering gear box, power steering lines, water lines and hoses needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the power steering reservoir, power steering cooling lines, power steering line rem pump, and power steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 177,000.

I PURCHASED MY THIRD HONDA, A 2013 HONDA PILOT IN 2017 FROM MY LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP. IN 2019, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM AMERICAN HONDA STATING THAT WE COULD HAVE THE COST OF REPAINTING OUR RECALLED VEHICLES COVERED IF WE HAD DAMAGE. AT THAT TIME, I DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE PAINT ON MY PILOT. WELL, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, A HUGE AMOUNT OF PAINT ON MY ROOF WAS MISSING ALL OF A SUDDEN. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA AS IT STATED ON THE RECALL NOTICE AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL PERIOD AND MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. NEVERTHELESS, I WAS TOLD A CLAIM WAS OPENED ON MY BEHALF AND THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO MY LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSIS. I WAS THEN SENT TO AN AUTHORIZED BODY SHOP FOR AN ESTIMATE. AFTER HAVING TO CONTACT AMERICAN HONDA AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES, I WAS TOLD BY THE BODY SHOP THAT HONDA WOULD ONLY COVER 60% OF THE $1700 COST (WHICH WAS ONLY FOR THE ROOF TO BE REPAINTED) AND THAT EVENTUALLY THE REST OF THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO START TO PEEL. I FEEL CHEATED AND THIS IS TRULY A LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE ON THE PART OF AMERICAN HONDA AND PROCTOR HONDA. HOW DO YOU SELL VEHICLES KNOWING THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE PAINT COMING OFF AND THEN NOT BE WILLING TO FIX THE ISSUE??