Honda owners smell a rat

A class action lawsuit filed last week against Honda Motor Co. alleges the carmaker's soy-covered electrical wiring is irresistible to vermin — and the company knew it.

Courthouse News Service first reported the federal suit for breach of warranty filed on behalf of car owners from Arizona, Texas and Wyoming. All three named plaintiffs reported varied off-warranty expenses caused by critters including squirrels, rabbits and mice chewing up their wiring's insulation.

Honda reportedly uses the wire because it is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than plastic wire.

The lawsuit so far covers model years 2012-2015.

After paying for his second round of repairs, lead plaintiff Daniel Dobbs of Wyoming said Honda mechanics wrapped his wires with a specialized tape it sells to prevent the surreptitious snacking, thus proving to him that Honda is aware of the problem.

The dilemma does not appear new to usually loyal Honda owners. One poster on an online forum last year wrote, “I just picked up my 2013 Honda Accord from the dealer with almost $2,000 worth of work completed due to a wood rat eating a main harness. Then I find (that) Honda makes a shrink wrap tape specifically for the problem. Are you kidding me!!! Fix it from the start instead of putting the burden on us consumers.”

Honda so far has not responded to media requests for comment on the matter.