A coating composition comprising an effective corrosion-inhibiting amount of a carbon pigment is provided. In one embodiment, the corrosion-inhibiting carbon pigment is further comprising other components such as extenders, including neutral to slightly acidic generating extenders and acidic generating extenders, are earth compounds, amino acids and amino acid derivatives, gelatin and gelatin derivatives, organic-based exchange resins, and combinations thereof, to enhance the corrosion resistance of the resultant coating film. In one embodiment, the carbon pigment is a surface-modified carbon pigment. The coating compositions have good adhesion to substrates such as metals, including aluminum and aluminum alloys.