2018 Honda Civic: Soy based wires chewed by rodents
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2018 Civic report: soy based wires chewed by rodents. CarComplaints.com lists 5 owner complaints, average mileage 9,500 miles.
NHTSA has 51 owner complaints for the 2018 Civic in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11678465 (filed 08/05/2025): “The electric power steering (eps) system failed/malfunctioned this past week. when going over 35 mph my steering wheel would become "knotchy/jerky" and lock up and be difficult to turn. as a result, i took it to honda to which they stated my whole rack and pin…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11656975 (filed 04/26/2025): “Honda recall the 2018 civic for ac compressor shaft seal and the dealer repair the ac system 3 times and the problem was not fix. also has a recall for a fuel pump motor but im not sure is was correct it for the old owner.…”
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: replace wiring (4 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 $1,610 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
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