Soy Vey! Hawaiian Lawsuit Says Subaru’s Soy-Based Wire Coatings Are Getting Chewed Up

Subaru has been sued over its use of a soy-based wire coating, which one owner claims is attracting rodents and leading to thousands of dollars in damage. Plaintiff Joy Diane Shuey says she purchased a new 2015 Subaru Forester, but about a month later she took the SUV back to the dealer because of a fuel odor and an illuminated check engine light.

The technician allegedly discovered the fuel line and rear wiper hose needed to be replaced because they had been chewed by rats. Shuey says she paid $318.52 for repairs that Subaru didn't cover under warranty.

This is by no means a Subaru-specific problem. To date, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia are all facing similar lawsuits for using soy-based coating and refusing to cover repairs under warranty.

According to automakers, it’s unfortunate but not a defect.

That doesn’t sit well with owners like Shuey who also had to pay $388.09 for a damaged fuel line and a staggering $2,433.30 to replace an engine wiring harness – both of which had been chewed by rats.

The class-action, Joy Diane Shuey, et. al, vs. Servco Subaru, Inc, et. al., is only for owners who purchased a Subaru from a specific dealership in Hawaii. However, depending on the outcome it could lay the groundwork for statewide or nationwide litigation.

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Maybe Subaru's Soy-Based Wiring Is Too Eco-Friendly?

Rodents just can't resist the soy-derived wire coatings used in many Subaru vehicles. The chewed up wires are costing owners hundreds, and sometimes thousands of dollars in repairs but Subaru, like other automakers, insists this isn't a def