2021 Subaru Forester: Soy based wiring in my car is being eaten by rats
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2021 Forester report: soy based wiring in my car is being eaten by rats. CarComplaints.com lists 2 owner complaints, average mileage 7,750 miles.
NHTSA has 34 owner complaints for the 2021 Forester in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11773516 (filed 10/25/2026): “I was stopped at a red light. when the light changed to green i put my foot on the gas and the car totally stalled out. there were no lights, fans or radio on just total silence. i tried to restart the car putting it is park and depressing the brake while p…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11748908 (filed 07/07/2026): “The contact owns a 2021 subaru forester. the contact stated that while trying to roll up vehicle windows from driver sits and passenger sit they would roll up to 3/4th all the way up and they would roll back down after. the contact stated this was a recurrin…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: compensation (known issue involved in lawsuits) (1 reports) replace wiring (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Moderate
Finding and splicing chewed wiring is doable with a multimeter and patience but can be time-consuming; harness replacement is pro work. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $3,600 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
- CarComplaints.com: Soy based wiring in my car is being eaten by rats (2021 Forester)
- NHTSA complaints API, 2021 Forester
Page last updated .