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A California federal judge has dismissed a class action lawsuit alleging Honda Motor Co. Inc. produced vehicles with soy-based or bio-based wire coatings that attract rodents that chew through the wires and cause a power steering malfunction.
In his May 24 order, U.S. District Judge Manuel L. Real found that the plaintiffs failed to allege which components in Honda vehicles were soy-based or bio-based, and that they failed to provide factual support for their claim that these coatings attract rodents.
He found that the allegations failed under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act.
Plaintiffs Michael Preston and Penelope Turgeon had argued that the real question that should be considered was whether the parts that had to be replaced were defective because they had to be covered with a special rodent tape to prevent damage. Judge Real did not agree with this argument.
“Properly functioning wires are not rendered defective simply because rodents enjoy chewing on them,” the judge wrote. “That rodent tape serves as a deterrent does not mean the wires are defective unless wrapped in tape.”
Preston and Turgeon initially filed the Honda class action lawsuit in May 2017 in Illinois federal court. It was later transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Preston claims he leased a 2015 Honda Accord, which lost power steering within the new vehicle warranty period. He took the vehicle to the dealership for repairs and was told that rodents had chewed through wiring, making it necessary to replace certain power steering parts. The dealership did not cover the repairs under warranty and Preston was reportedly provided with a repair invoice for more than $2,000.
Turgeon says she leased a Honda Civic Hatchback in May 2017. In July, the vehicle allegedly lost power steering. When she took the vehicle back to the dealership, she says she was told that damage to the electronic power steering harness was caused by rodents that chewed through wires. The dealership replaced the power steering hub harness and wiring, and covered the wiring with special rodent tape.
She says she experienced another loss of power steering less than two weeks after the repair, and she again replaced the power steering harness and applied rodent tape. Neither repair was covered under warranty, the Honda class action lawsuit says.
Preston and Turgeon claim that all new Hondas purchased or leased from an authorized Honda dealership in Illinois between May 2014 and May 2017 are defective because they contain soy-based or bio-based components that attract rodents which chew on the wires and can cause a power steering malfunction.
According to the Honda class action lawsuit, the car company knew that the vehicles were susceptible to damage by rodents because they sold a special rodent tape. Honda did not inform consumers that the wire coatings could attract rodents that can damage the vehicle, the plaintiffs claim.
Judge Real rejected the claim that Honda’s use of rodent tape suggests Honda knew that the vehicles are defective, instead finding that the rodent tape could be indicative of good customer service because the company identified a problem and developed solution.
He also found that the claims that Honda’s failure to mention the rodent damage would not be covered by warranty failed because the plaintiffs didn’t show a causal link between the promotion of the warranty and their decision to lease the vehicles.
Preston and Turgeon are represented by Stephanie Tatar of Tatar Law Firm APC, Larry Smith of SmithMarco PC and Stacy Bardo of Bardo Law PC.
The Honda Rodent-Chewed Wire Coating Class Action Lawsuit is Michael Preston, et al. v. American Honda Motor Company Inc., Case No. 2:18-cv-00038, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
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34 thoughts onHonda Class Action Over Rodent-Chewed Wire Coatings Is Dismissed
I haven’t had an issue with wiring getting chewed up yet, but my gas line was chewed on. Which in turn lead to gas spewing everywhere. $2,214.38 later it’s repaired for now, I live in a housing development and it still happened, so for them to be not held responsible is crazy! Someone figured out how to make money off customers after their purchase, never buying another Honda, can’t afford to keep putting out that kind of money.
I have a 2018 honda civic with 8500 miles and the same this happen to me. They will not cover the cost and highly upset. Thinking about getting a lawyer and seeing my opinion.
I. too, am distressed and out $700. after a squirrel chewed away on my master harness. I won a 2013 Honda Accord. The harness served as an attraction soy-based meal. Thanks to Honda full knowing this situation could occur.
Anyone up to bring this forward again?
Deb in Ohio
Same issue. 2018 Clarity and less than 5000 miles and took it in when all alerts were going off. Said rodent chewed through main wire to engine. $1400 dollar repair and no coverage by Honda. My first and last Honda. This has never happened to me before in any other car.
I just paid $1500 for engine harness of 2014 Honda CR-V that a rodent destroyed (Jan 2019) and this is after a rodent chewed thru the fuel injector line ($300 repair) just months earlier in Oct. 2018. I can’t believe Honda should take responsibility given materials are attracting rodents.
Today , I have same issue with my 2017 Honda Pilot , dealership informed me about the damage done by the mouse . My question was why this car . I have 3 other car parking in front of my house . Their answer was silly ( mouse like Honda cars ) unfortunately I have to pay for it . I googled it and found out that they suing soybean products for wiring harness. SO SILLY , no wonder the mice like to chew it . How can I be helped to PRUSUE WITH LAW SUIT . Please help
My 2018 Honda CRV just had the engine harness chewed through by a rodent. Cost estimate around $1k. Ridiculous manufacturers have a known issue but accept no responsibility. I have parked vehicles in the same parking space for over 20 years and never had this issue.
has the lawsuit denial going to be appealed by the plaintiffs and taken back to court with a more scientific based approached and the fact that other manufacturers who are using soy based wiring are also receiving same complaints from their customers. This is a huge problem not just with Honda but Toyota and Kia from what I understand My daughter has a 2017 Honda accord and she has taken her car back in twice for rat eaten wiring. She lives in the a rural area.. Has several vehicles…never had an issue with rats eating her other vehicles wiring. I’m concerned about the dangers of driving a vehicle that has potential problems that could lead to a serious accident…like the steering wheel locking up and you are on a windy coastal road coastal for example!
I have a 2015 honda Civic where the AC quit working, it was a chewed up wire that goes to the compressor. Vehicle is under warranty but Dealer wouldn’t cover it. They wanted $700 to replace the compressor and flush/recharge the system! Judge says: “Properly functioning wires are not rendered defective simply because rodents enjoy chewing on them”, umm the copper also consumed – that’s why things quit working! What a moron!
It’s a shame that this class action suit was dropped as I just had the same thing happen to my 2018 Honda Civic. A squirrel chewed up the wiring for my AC and I live in FL where AC is needed 365 and left me a walnut. The compressor is covered by the warranty but the labor to replace the wiring, $460, is not. This appears to be a very common problem and since I have a fixed parking space, I have to park in the same spot. Who’s to say the little culprit won’t return to the scene of the crime and continue to nibble on the new wires. Honda should be responsible for this, either by coating the wiring or changing how they make the wires.