NHTSA Complaint #10726718 — 2014 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK

RODENTS DESTROYED A WIRE ASSOCIATED WITH MY POWER STEERING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY PROVIDED A RENTAL. THE NEXT NIGHT THE SAME WIRE WAS AGAIN DESTROYED BY RODENTS. AGAIN THE POWER STEERING WAS DISABLED. AT THAT POINT I SENSED SOMETHING WAS AMISS, SO I FILED A REPORT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. AFTER SPEAKING TO THE DEALER AND DOING SOME RESEARCH IT BECAME APPARENT THAT 100% OF THE WIRES IN MY VEHICLE ARE INSULATED WITH A SOY BASED MATERIAL. THIS INCLUDES WIRING RELATED TO VITAL SAFETY SYSTEMS LIKE AIRBAGS. INSULATING AUTOMOBILE WIRES WITH SOY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WIRES RELATED TO SAFETY EQUIPMENT, IS AN ENGINEERING DISGRACE. RODENTS HAVE ALWAYS HAD A TENDENCY TO CHEW ON WIRING. THEREFORE, USING THE SAME PRODUCT FOUND IN COMMERCIAL RODENT FOOD TO INSULATE VITAL AUTOMOBILE WIRING IS OUTRAGEOUS. I NOW HAVE A BRAND NEW CAR THAT I CAN'T TRUST TO START IN THE MORNING, FUNCTION CORRECTLY, OR PROTECT ME IN AN ACCIDENT.