I thought I was in love with this car. After all, it is the 2018 North American Car of the Year. While I still think it’s a beautiful vehicle, I now know it unfortunately uses soy wiring that rodents find to be delicious. Tomorrow, I will have owned this car for only 30 days. On the 20th day, with only 475 miles, after filling up the tank once, I turned on the car to see five different warning messages flash on the instrument panel. I took it into the dealership immediately, and was told that a rodent had chewed through the engine harness and that it would cost ME $1250 plus tax to fix since it isn’t covered by warranty.
TWENTY DAYS OLD, BRAND SPANKIN NEW AND UNDINGED.
Needless to say, I felt anger. And sadness. My brand new investment in this beautiful depreciating asset was starting to feel like a huge mistake. I did my research and find out that Honda just settled a federal class action lawsuit for soy wiring in 2012-17 vehicles. Immediately, I opened a case with corporate and heard back five days later.
The dealership was talked down by them into $747 for repairs, then corporate would pay $400, leaving me with $347 to be responsible for. At least for now I will not have to get my own insurance involved. Essentially, I was just bought time to fix my policy so that I have only a $250 deductible instead of $500 (which will only cost me $10 more per year), however I will have to take the car in to my insurance company immediately after it is repaired for inspection prior to approval of the deductible change.
Now, how can I trust my car when I take it out on excursions? What if I get stranded in the middle of nowhere because it has soy wiring and an animal decides to feast on it overnight? Why do they even still use this material? Because they still aren’t losing money. I realize… we as customers are getting scammed. This will happen again and again. Next time, I will probably be forced to use my insurance policy for repairs, then see a premium cost increase as a result. I am disillusioned.
| EPA Classification | Mid-Size Cars |
| MPG/MPGe | 47 Highway / 47 City |
| Engine | Gas/Electric I-4 2.0L/122 cu in |
| Transmission | CVT w/OD |
| Drive Train | Front Wheel Drive |
| Seating | 5 |
| Horsepower | 212 |
| Overall Crash Safety Rating | 5 / 5 Stars |
