Blog Post  Soy Based Wiring

Various manufacturers use soy-based wiring in some vehicles to be eco-friendly. However, some consumers have reported problems with this type of wiring, primarily arising from rodents chewing the wires. It’s important for consumers to know that, as unusual as it sounds, defects related to soy-based wiring are NOT excluded from Lemon Law protections as long as they substantially impair the use, safety or market value of a new car, or impair the use or safety of a used car.

Does your car have soy based-wiring?

In general, it’s difficult to determine if the vehicle has soy-based wiring based on advertisements, or based on any of the usual paperwork involved with a motor vehicle purchase. Instead, consumers should ask the selling dealer if there is soy-based wiring.  Under the Attorney General’s Motor Vehicle Regulations, the dealer has to disclose any material fact that would affect a consumer’s decision to buy the car.

Consumers are also advised to check if the vehicle they are planning to purchase, or have purchased, has any open recalls. This can be done by entering the VIN number of the vehicle into the search box at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. If the manufacturer has informed the dealer in writing about a known recall, the Attorney General’s Motor Vehicle Regulations also require that the dealer disclose it to the consumer.

A violation of any of the Attorney General’s Motor Vehicle Regulations would constitute a violation of the Consumer Protection Act.