I'm in love with the 2nd gen Honda Pilots and have been searching for a low km one for a while.

My wife is dead set on the touring model in white diamond pearl...NH-603 paint code.

This bad boy (I had no clue until just recently) has the infamous service bulletin and warranty extension for paint chipping.
Honda Service Bulletin 19-057

I checked and the vin on this car has NOT had any paint recall work done...what is good...and bad. It seems while a large amount of these 2013-15 pilots in that paint code DID have a problem...there were many that did not. So the fact that the main areas (roof, hood and hatch) are fine still today...means that perhaps this paint batch was better than the ones where it's peeled the entire roof, etc. (what the warranty was supposed to address)

So while the car I'm looking at has a perfect hood, roof and tailgate (main affected area's)...at the top of the drivers side doors are starting to peel at the top. Photo below

I'm trying to convince myself that this is 'ok' but I'm also worried that while the doors are not a common area for paint peeling...that perhaps this is a telltale sign the car's paint will start falling off in the next few years???

What would you guys do? Stay clear of this or just make an offer a bit lower...fix the top of the doors and go on living my life?

Advice would be greatly appreciated :-)


paint chipping above doors

 

Thanks laurajames. You hit the nail on the head with each of your points.

It's a tough decision. It's not a Concours vehicle nor do we intend it to be...but the notion that the paint can start randomly start falling off any body panel is concerning for anyone spending hard-earned money on a car, regardless of the cost. This is a low-mileage vehicle (50,000 miles) late year 2nd gen...so it's at the top of 2nd gen value list.

Because the paint repairs are all hypothetical (as we're theorizing how bad it could get) I doubt the seller will want to move as much as it would reasonably cost to do any paint repairs down the road. Sad to say, but I think the seller will most likely have to find an unsuspecting buyer who has not researched the white paint issue.

I think that while the areas known to be problematic are currently ok...it's the area that are NOT known to be problematic (top of the door) that has me the most concerned...if one area is bad (assuming they paint the car panels all a the same time at the factory) then there is a good chance other areas are not far behind.

If this were an early-year 2nd gen...or one that had a billion miles on it...this decision would be far easier. But because this is supposed to be the best example of the 2nd gen Pilot at a top dollar...I think it's a gamble that may leave me with a money pit / unsellable vehicle in the future.

My understanding is only the 2 whites (white diamond pearl and taffeta white) are of concern with the 2nd gen pilots. All other colors are ok (from what information I've been able to find on the web). Please correct me if you know otherwise.

Thanks for the kind advice :-) Most likely will pass on the white and all other future white 2nd gen's just to be cautious.

 

we have a 2014 odyssey and there is a 4in x 6 inch patch of paint peeling on lower right of rear hatch.. It has been like that for a few years. gets bigger slowly. we have over 175K Miles on it so not worried at this point.

as you notice, the base primer or anti rust (phosphate?) coating keep things from rusting.

what ever you do, careful with the pressure washer!!