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Incredible Edible Car

Will your brand new car be disabled overnight by a rodent?
The occurrence is far more common than you may realize, the only defense is to be aware of it and understand why it happens.

Pack Rat after lunch

Why rodents love to eat cars

The unintended consequence of going "GREEN" !

Cars just taste way too good !

There are several systems where we have observed substantial damage caused by rodents:

Electrical Wiring harnesses
Air Conditioning and Heating Ducts
Seat Cushions
Trunk and Storage Area Carpeting
Various fluid containers made from plastics

Why does this happen?

It can be understood by looking at the composition of the materials that are eaten and what they contain:

Soy
Rice Husks
Wood
Sugars
Sweet smelling substances like Vanilla
Peanut Oil
Straw

Why vehicles were not eaten before ?

Simply because "before" automotive OEMs went on being "green" binge, almost everything in the car was made from metal, glass and plastic which was made 100% from petroleum.

None of those material particularly tasty or suitable for nest building by rodents.

Then in mid 1980's first in Germany through the infinite wisdom of Euro politicians, regulations were passed without much objection by anyone, that a vehicle manufacturer bears responsibility for their vehicle from "cradle to grave", that is from the time it is made to the time it is retired from service and disassembled so that the materials can be easily recycled.

While these regulations do not yet exist in USA, since manufacturers make cars to be sold in many parts of the world, making items from "different" materials for different markets is not cost effective.

Thus a silly regulation in even one country where it is enacted affects all vehicles sold all over the world made by that particular OEM.

The first unbelievable attempt at this "green" correctness was by Daimler on their Mercedes-Benz cars made from 1991 to 1995, where they started to use "bio-degradable wiring harness" !

There no action by rodents was necessary just heat and time did the ultimate damage and insulation on the wiring would start to deteriorate, crack, fall off and cause infinite combinations of wiring "shorts".

Of course this would not happen until after the vehicles were out of warranty. Generally in 5 to 7 years after manufacture with almost 100% fail rate by the 12 year anniversary from date of manufacture.

Typical cost to fix this "predictable" damage ?
From about $1,600 to as much as $6,000 per vehicle.

Why are vehicles being eaten NOW ?

The quest for being "Green" correctness started also in 1990's.

OEMs started by replacing the durable components that really did not need to last as long as they did, with generally untested improvements in material composition and with the use of "natural" materials to substitute for the petroleum in plastics.

OEMs also started replacing were possible any durable metal parts with limited lifespan plastic components.

Soy - has been utilized in just about anything from wiring harness covers, to wire insulation, to seat cushion foam and interior carpeting and trim.

Cars just started to taste way too good !

But mind you rodents (or Mother Nature, if you must) are not that stupid, indeed they are far more evolved and "smart" than humans give them credit for !

What one mouse or pack rat discovers is not kept as top secret for that individual rodent, or the immediate clan or family, that knowledge is very quickly "shared" with other rodents and becomes the knowledge of these creatures all over the world !

How that happens or how that is even possible is beyond the scope of this article, but there is definite proof that such animal knowledge "sharing" exists.

If one or two mice will eat something tasty and die shortly because of it, for example common automotive coolant that tastes sweet to animals, even if there are hundreds more starving mice near-by, they will no longer lick it, somehow they quickly learn that it is a deadly poison.

But if the stuff is not only tasty but also very nutritious, mice living hundreds of miles away will somehow gain this knowledge, and put the wiring harness or seat foam made with soy on their snack list.

Rodent damage after block party
This is a result of mice nibbling on SUBARU for few days

Why do rodents eat automotive wires?

Understanding why rodents gnaw on wires, and other components, is important in finding ways to prevent it.

Contrary to the common belief, they actually do not eat wiring for food.

Rodents gnaw constantly, to sharpen and keep the length of their teeth in check.

Unlike most mammals, the teeth of a rodent grow rapidly, throughout the life of the animal. A rat's teeth may grow up to 2.8 millimeters a week!

In just a year, they grow almost five inches. If they do not wear away, soon they would outgrow the mouth.

The rodent's tooth is a unique arrangement, designed to stay razor-sharp. Very thick enamel covers the front, and the rear is softer dentin material. Dentin is similar to bone and wears much faster than the front, leaving a very sharp edge.

Rat's tooth enamel is 5.5 on Mohs hardness scale. Aluminum, now favorite material for electrical connections, is 2.5; Copper is a three and even Iron rates as four. (Diamond is ten and Talc is rated as one.)

Cutting through a wiring harness is no challenge to any rodent.

All that said, if you were rodent would you prefer to chew on stinky gooey made from petroleum foam rubber, or a vanilla smelling one made from Soy?

Cars that taste good

Here is partial list of cars that have been recently damaged by rodent attacks:

NISSAN

2018 Nissan Rogue SV AWD - wire harness damaged by animal; repair cost $2,300. (Cleveland, Ohio)
2015 Nissan Versa - wires chewed the repair cost was around $2200. (Crowley, TX)
2015 Nissan Altima - Blower stopped, found mouse at dealership and cost $800 with $500 dollar deductible. Same thing 1 year ago both times fuse blew but damage to cabin filter and surrounding area of blower. It is a lease and not covered by warranty. (Tyngsborough, MA)
2015 Nissan Altima - wires chewed the repair cost was $700. (Nowata, Oklahoma)
2014 Nissan Juke - Rodents chewed the insulation (which they used for nesting) as well as brake lines, transmission fluid tank, battery casing and entire center harnesses and wiring. I was informed this is over $5,000 worth of damage [image].(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

BMW

2018 BMW 230i - I received a check engine light and my car went into limp mode. So, I brought it to the dealership and was told that it was due to rats chewing on my wire harness. The BMW dealership quoted us $1,120 (Gulfport, Mississippi)
2017 BMW 330e - hybrid electric car with $1900 rat damage. (San Diego, California)
2014 BMW i3REx - I took my car into the dealer after having trouble opening the charging flap on the car. I thought it was going to be a simple fix. I got a call from BMW that afternoon, that I had rodent infestation damage in my car and it was not going to be pretty. When I went down to BMW to look at the damage, there were wires eaten on every side of the car, in the front of the car, on the right and left sides of the car, and underneath the car. The insulation, which surrounds the brains of the car was eaten as well. I was told that part would cost an additional $2,000 to replace just in labor, plus an additonal $3,000 for replacing the entire rear harness as well as wires to the charging port on the right rear and a nest in the front of the car and things eaten there. I have been living here for over 14 years and I have never had any problems with rodent damage to my cars, ever, and neither has my roommate who also has a car. Both cars were parked in the same carport, no difference. (Tiburon, California)
2011 BMW 128i - estimate: $3,000 engine had to be pulled due to extensive damage.(Los Angeles, California)
2003 BMW 525i - material on the underside of hood has been gnawed away by one or more rodents. My car is garaged.(Seal Beach, California)

MINI

2018 Mini Cooper Countryman rodent damage to mostly the wire harness. Damage bill $2,800 for each of two incidents. (Rancho Santa Fe, California)
2015 Mini Cooper Countryman totaled because the rats ate the data wires which run from the back to the front, and from the bottom to the top of the car. Estimate $18,315 (Lake Worth, Florida)

MAZDA

2015 MAZDA CX-5 - $97 worth of damage to the wiring (Springfield, MO)
2014 MAZDA 3 about $900 in wiring damage; 2 occurrences within 3 weeks on two different vehicles
(Seattle, Washington)
2008 MAZDA 3 pre-purchase used car evaluation turned out to have rodent damage. (Chandler, Arizona).
2008 MAZDA 3 discovered a nest under the hood and lots of gnawing on the firewall insulation. (Chandler, Arizona).
1996 MAZDA Miata - (North Haven, CT)

FCA

RAM

2015 RAM 3/4 ton pickup Battery cover plus the firewall insulation is completely gone. (Placerville California) [image]
2014 RAM 1500 pickup Fuel lines and Roll over vent line on fuel tank repaired on two separate trips to the shop! (Charlotte North Carolina) [image]

DODGE

2018 Dodge Challenger RT Mice ate up power steering wire harness. Cost $387 for harness replacement and labor. (Rosamond, California)
2017 Dodge Journey Eaten wires (Lisle, Illinois)
2015 Dodge Journey Raccoons did $2,300 in damages. Covered by insurance (Illinois)
2014 DODGE Journey replaced wiring, an ABS module and a wheel sensor. Over $700 in damage. (Livingston, Montana)
2009 DODGE Ram 1500 - had the check engine light come on. The dealer said the emission control lines appeared to have been eaten by rodents. The vehicle is parked outside. The gas tank had to be dropped to replace the lines. The cost was over $300. The extended warranty would not cover it. (Holland, Ohio)
1998 DODGE Ram - always outside through 2010, suffered significant damage several times, had to be towed to get repaired.

JEEP

2016 JEEP Wrangler Anniversary Edition. SECOND time in a 2 month span. The first time the damage was $2000. [image1] [image2] [image3] [image4]
2014 JEEP Grand Cherokee - Two times damage from rats eating wiring.
2014 JEEP Grand Cherokee - $2,300 repair for rats eating engine wires and 2 sensors ( Showlow, Arizona)
2013 JEEP Wrangler Sport - 2,984 miles on vehicle. (Wichita Falls, Texas)
2014 JEEP Patriot Sport - 11,000 miles on vehicle. Ground squirrels chewed the wiring to horn, repaired by dealer for $150. (Roseville, California)
2014 JEEP Wrangler Sahara - First time the Damage done was $550.00 then 30 days later they did $5,500 worth of damage... (Harker Heights, Texas)

CHRYSLER

2007 Chrysler 300 - 60,000 miles; now three months at the Dealer and almost $4,000 in various repairs, and still isn't running! (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
2012 Chrysler town and country - wiring harness had been ate by rodents..it was not covered by insurance it cost us $600 - Foresthill California

FORD

2018 FORD Transit Connect - purchased only 1 months ago, the oil light began blinking and the engine was chugging like it was going to stall.
2017 FORD Explorer - purchased only 3 months ago, found engine wiring harness chewed by rodent. Cost over $900.00 and not cover under warranty. (Springfield, VA)
2017 FORD Edge - wiring harness had to be replaced due to rodents chewing it. Cost $600 but had to wait 3 weeks for the replacment parts. (Cambridge, Ontario, CANADA)
2016 FORD F 150 - Squirrels damaged the electrical wiring harnesses $1500 to repair. (Lawrence, Kansas)
2016 FORD Escape - 4000 miles - Rodents chewed through the wires not once but twice . The first two times was over $450.00. Not covered by warranty.(Covington, Geogia)
2016 FORD Fusion - Flashing lights come on when driving to work so I took it to the dealer where they discovered rodents had set up or were about to set nests in the engine. The cost to repair $442.00()
2016 FORD Escape - Rodents chewed through not once but three times. The first two were in my car and the third time was in my rental car. The first two times was over $2,500 in damage.(Perrysburg, Ohio)
2016 FORD C Max energi - Within 30 days of purchase I had rodent damage and had to get it repaired. $626.00. It is now 1/4/17 and my car would not start and warning lights came on saying not to drive. It is on the way back to Ford dealer for assessment. I think damage is much worse this time. Damage happened at 2 separate locations. (Malibu, California)
2016 FORD F250 Diesel - parked outside (as usual). I check under the hood monthly, one morning a check engine light, took it to Ford and they reported that the main wiring harness and several sensors, cooling hoses and the like were damaged. Portions of the harness were actually consumed, some cables just chewed on $1600 - covered by insurance minus deductible ($500) as part of comprehensive. My previous 2000 F350 lived outside for fifteen years and was never damaged this way.(Fort Collins, Colorado)
2015 FORD F 150 - 7,500 miles - Mice chewing on the wiring harness. $1050 damage and a week in the shop. (Bixby, Oklahoma)
2015 FORD Edge - 600 miles - Squirrels got in and chewed through wires next to the battery. $250.00 to replace. (San Marcos, Texas)
2015 FORD F-150 Pick-Up Wiring Damage $1,074. Truck is 6 weeks old and is thoroughly infested with mice droppings, nests, etc. Wires are chewed, sensors are damaged.
We live in the country and have an old, open garage.
We have lived here for 25 years and housed two F150 trucks (1997 and 2000) in addition to this new one. We also housed a GMC pickup in this building from 1990 to fall of 1997.
NO rodent problems AT ALL with any of the other vehicles. (Stoughton, Wisconsin)
2015 Ford Escape - 6000 miles. Squirrels chewed through windshield wiper fluid hoses and pump that cost $250.00. I then tried Critter Ridder granules after the repair only to find that they chewed on the wheel well insulation on the passenger side. Then they chewed the driver's side as well. I have lived in the same house since 1989 and always parked in this driveway. About 10 vehicles over the years between husband and kids including my 2001 F150 that I just let go in 2015. Never had a problem prior to the 2015 Ford Escape.(Austin, Texas)
2015 FORD Escape my Ford dealer told me that chipmunks were the reason my new Ford Escape stunk and the fan made a horrible clunking noise when I turned it on. $1000 (Riverhead, New York)
2014 FORD Escape - $946.00 of damage Wires, plastic reservoir for brake fluid (Blackwood, New Jersey)
2014 FORD Taurus - Rodents chewed on the fuel line in 2017. $600.00 to fix. Again on June 14, 2018 mice chewed up a wiring harness on the engine. $600.00 again. (Hannibal, Missouri)
2014 FORD Focus Electric - car has been at the shop for almost two months now. Over $3000 worth of damage and counting.(Seattle, Washington)
2014 FORD F-150 Pick-Up Rodent chewed through gas line - $900 damage
2013 FORD F-150 Pick-Up Wiring Damage (Raymond, Mississippi)
2013 Ford Focus electric - Car totally disabled by rodent chewing through double-insulated high voltage conductor. Harris Ford of Lynwood, WA, not covered under warranty; estimated cost -- $2800.
2010 Ford Escape Wiring harness damage two separate incidents. $800 each time. (Indianapolis, Indiana)
2010 Ford F-150 Rodents chewed through several wiring harnesses. Truck had to be towed to dealer. Damage $1500 [2/2017] (Azle, TX)
2010 through 2013 FORD vehicles made in USA with "soy" foam seats - 58 incidents.

LINCOLN

2016 MKC - windshield fluid line was chewed around $140.00 to repair (Detroit Michigan)
2016 MKX (2) - rodents chewed a hole in the tubing around the gas tank where the filler line comes in $300. Second incident: nest was found in the engine compartment along with chewed wires which will cost around $2000. (Bradenton, Florida)
2011 Lincoln - extensively damaged after rodents chewed the wiring harnesses and chewed a hole into the interior of the car. All wiring had to be replaced, all carpet had to be replaced and the process took 3 months (Lodi, California)

JLR

JAGUAR

2012 Jaguar XF (S) rodent chewed a hole in the tubing around the gas tank where the filler line comes in to the tune of $400+ (Bradenton, Florida)

HYUNDAI-KIA

HYUNDAI

2017 HYUNDAI Ioniq - rodent damage on 3 separate occasions. The first was $2,495.00 to repair. These rodents are hitting the same place every time. The AC Inverter has a coil of wires that come out of it and end in a clip to hook up to other wires. These rodents are chewing off the wires on the inverter side of the connection. By doing this it is not fixable and it can only be remedied by replacing the AC Inverter for a fresh wire hookup. The inverter is fine but must be replaced anyway.
2015 HYUNDAI Genesis - rodent damage on 2 separate occasions. The first was $204 to repair. The second was a $4,650 repair estimate. They say the engine harness assy. control wiring and the wiring assy. front parking module need to be replaced. (Highlands Ranch Colorado)
2015 HYUNDAI Sonata Multiple damage occurences, including cabin air filter $100; A/C compressor wiring $500 in insurance deductible. 4 other vehicles of various makes parked at the same location were never attacked by rodents. My car appears to be the only one under attack.(Texarkana, AR)
2013 HYUNDAI Azera It started with mice getting the cabin air filter and then dying somewhere early on 2014. October 2015 they ate thru the electrical harness costing $2,846, November 2015 damage to coolant temp sensor $190, February 2016 ate thru the oxygen sensor for $250 and now they have eaten thru most of the electrical in the dash cost unknown at this time.(Paige, Texas)
2013 HYUNDAI Elantra (5) - 4,000 miles. Check engine light came on. A wire on the engine harness had been chewed through by some critter. They said it happens all the time because of the new wires they use. Repairs, not covered by warranty, are over $2,000.(Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania)
2013 HYUNDAI Sonata squirrel damage on 2 separate occasions approx. $1,200 spent on repairs ( Philadelphia, PA )
2012 HYUNDAI Accent The mice have just done $6300 in damage to car engine's wiring. My car was also attacked a few months ago, but then we caught the damage early, costing only $180. I live in the city and park on the street along with all of my neighbors. I find it very interesting that my car appears to be the only one under attack.(St. Louis, MO)
2006 HYUNDAI Santa Fe SUV - @ 52,000 miles damage done by squirrels approx $950 for the first repair, $1,700 for the second repair. [image1] (Philadelphia, PA)
2003 HYUNDAI Santa Fe SUV - Engine air filter, cabin air filter, mice eating interior roof material, dead mouse in gas tank . That last fix was $700.00. Replaced filters numerous times due to nests. (Fort Qu' Appelle, Sask, Canada)
2001 HYUNDAI Elantra - mice set up camp inside of the Glove Box - three separate incidents. No damage to wiring or any other components. (Las Vegas, Nevada)

KIA

2011 KIA Sorento - sent to the shop for the 2nd time the sensor light came on and it was taken to the garage where we were told that rodents ate up the wires in the harness. We were quoted $4000.00 to replace the harness and wiring but instead we told the garage to fix the couple of wires that messed up costing us over $262.00 and spending 3 days in the garage.
2011 KIA Sportage - wiring harness was attacked inside of garage - about $4000 in damages initially, second attack occurred two months latter when parked outside. (Ohio)
2014 KIA Soul - wire harness was eaten by rats Estimated cost $5,000 - purchased new KIA instead. (Phoenix, Arizona)
2016 KIA Sportage - ABS and traction control wiring Cost $350. ABS and traction control wiring again. Cost $140.(Phoenix, Arizona)
2017 Kia Cadenza (Premium version with Technology pkg) - rat getting in my rear bumper and eating the wires. The cost for repair is just under $400, as rodent damage isn't included in what I thought to be an exhaustive 60k bumper to bumper warranty.(Atlanta, Georgia)

DAIMLER

Mercedes-Benz

2015 Mercedes-Benz ML 250 - wiring harness destroyed by a colony of mice, estimated to be in the range of $15,000 to $20,000 but Mercedes has said they need at least 15 weeks to make the harness.
2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 4Matic
2009 Mercedes-Benz GL 320 Bluetec car harness wires were chew by a rodent. (Mt. Vernon, New York)
1997 Mercedes-Benz S600 sedan

FUJI

SUBARU

2018 SUBARU Outback Wiring harness damaged by a rodent in December 2018. The repair cost me $1,200 at the Subaru dealership, but my insurance paid $900 of that cost. Within a week of getting the car back, the new wiring harness was once again wrecked by rodent damage. This time, insurance would not pay for it. (Yakima, Washington)
2017 SUBARU Outback...it has been in the dealership service department for a week due to rat damage. The cost so far is $1650. (Denton, Texas)
2016 SUBARU Forester..."rodents" had chewed through wires and the repair cost was $387.
2015 SUBARU Outback In 2016 paid dealer $1500 to replace wiring harness due to mice damage. It just happened again in 2018. Same car. Same cost. In 2 years, $3000 for mice damage! A 2003 Ford Explorer parked next to the Subaru: No problems. (Madison, Wisconsin)
2015 SUBARU cross trek had a chipmonk living in the engine hood liner and mice were living in the interior of the car leaving a very bad smell.(San Diego, California)
2014 SUBARU Forester - Vehicle burned down - complete loss - only 7,000 miles, rodent damage to fuel lines suspected, as vehicle has been damaged two times before the final inferno. (New Jersey)
2013 SUBARU Outback - Rodents chewed through the transmission harness wiring and it cost me $450.00 to repair in addition to a rental car for 3 days while the Subaru service department ordered, received and finally replaced the wiring. It was not covered under warranty and they would not give me a loaner car. (Des Moines, Iowa)
2013 SUBARU Outback - transmission sensor wire was chewed through. (Atlanta , Georgia)
2013 SUBARU Outback - The mice chewed out both fuel lines and did the telltale damage under the hood to the battery cap, reservoirs, and some hoses, about $2300 in damages. (Blaine, Washington)
2013 SUBARU Outback - The damage is in excess of $3,000
(Little Rock, Arkansas) [image1] [image2]
2010 SUBARU Forester - Rodent damage caused Auto shut down on highway while in center lane on incline. Cost of repair $1,264.07(Austin, Texas)
2009 SUBARU Legacy - 85,000 miles. The dealership charged $250 to put electrical tape on the rodent damaged wires. (Oakmont, PA)
2006 SUBARU Outback - had its wires chewed and fixing them cost $800 (San Diego, California)

TOYOTA

2019 TOYOTA Highlander - one month old, had severe squirrel damage. In order to replace the wiring harnesses, they have to remove the engine. Repair cost $13,000!
2018 TOYOTA Highlander - Rodent damage to the interior upholstery. (Powder Springs, GA)
2018 TOYOTA RAV4 Hybrid Limited - Failure of the wiper fluid spray. Repaired Free by the selling dealer. customer service rep kept saying, �oh yeah, we see this all the time� with the implication that that makes it okay.
2018 TOYOTA RAV4 - Rodents had made a nest on the gas tank and chewed through the fuel line. Repair cost $449.41
2018 TOYOTA 4runner (J) - The main wiring harness has been chewed by rats and it almost cost $5K. I had to pay the deductible plust $200 to install rodent tape. (Kent, Washington) MFG 09/17
2017 TOYOTA Prius - Rats caused $16,000 damage done to it in 2017.(Weir, Texas)
2017 TOYOTA RAV4 - Rats ate through wire that supplies power to starter $440 to repair (San Diego, California)
2017 TOYOTA Highlander - Wiring has been compromised by rodents. It's under full Toyota warranty, Bought from a Lexus Dealer(Lexus Certified warranty). Both refuse to help! (Nicholasville, KY)
2017 TOYOTA Camry SE (4) - Santa Monica, CA dealership service said wires eaten by rodents. Previous 2000 Toyota was parked in same spot and NEVER attacked! This one has only 880 miles (Beverly Hills, California)
2017 TOYOTA Sienna - Multiple wiring harnesses and insulation damaged on two different occasions. (Tarboro, NC)
2017 TOYOTA Tundra. - Only 226 miles, dead in the roadway. TOYOTA will not pay to remove the intake manifold to replace the mice eaten wires. (Marin, California)
2016 Toyota 4Runner - Damage to wiring harness due to mice/rats. First time was December 2019 at a cost of $300. This time, the entire harness has to be replaced (not just wiring fixed) and it will have to go through my insurance company. (Dallas, Texas)
2016 TOYOTA Tundra (5) - (9,000 miles) Attacked by rabbits over the space of 4 days in early April 2017, eating my 4WD actuator wire underneath the truck. $2,109.42 in repairs
Even with a PLATINUM maintenance plan in place, Toyota has refused to cover the damage.
2016 TOYOTA RAV4 Hybrid Rodent Damage $2160, (Monterey, California).
2016 TOYOTA Tundra - Over $6000 in damage on a truck I have had since April that has less than 2,800 miles on it that has over both instances has been at the dealer a total of a month and a half! (Dudley, Massachusetts)
2016 TOYOTA Tundra - (Charlotte NC)
2016 TOYOTA 4runner. - Multiple problems since 5,000 miles selling the vehicle at 36,000 miles after at least 9 separate incidents. it.(Florissant, Colorado)
2016 TOYOTA 4runner. - 12600 miles. I have had it about a month and put less than 1,000 miles on it. I parked it in my carport. I went to get into the vehicle and leave for work. It would not run correct. Had it towed to the dealer. Apparently a rodent chewed the master wiring harness. Damaged it in 2 places. $3500-$5500 in repairs. I have two warranties on the vehicle through Toyota and they will not fix it.(Corvallis, Oregon)
2016 TOYOTA Camry - only 137 miles since new, wires to oxygen sensor chewed, dealer did not have the parts, had to take it to independent mechanic to have temporary fix. (New York City)
2016 TOYOTA Sienna fell victim to rodents. $958.48. The left rear speed sensor was chewed, there was a rodent nest under the engine cover, coil wires were damaged and they had chewed the cabin air filter so the ventilation system had to be flushed.
2015 TOYOTA RAV4 - Rodents caused $5,500 in damage, which the dealership refused to fix under her warranty, so the owner filed class action suit. (Clermont, Florida)
[Link to Details]
2015 TOYOTA Tundra - A rodent chewed through the fuel vapor management hose which is an integral part of the gas tank. It cost $1,361 to replace the fuel tank.(Damascus, Maryland)
2015 TOYOTA Prius-C - Washer hoses, expense was $171.00. (Bellingham, WA)
2015 TOYOTA Tacoma Rodent damage causing $2,700 in damage wires chewed, they need to remove the whole top half of engine, to get too nest.(Middletown New York)
2015 TOYOTA Sequoia with 11K miles on it - estimating $5,000 in damage. (Springfield, MA)
2015 Toyota Camry - wiring tastier than the peanut butter I put on the traps in the garage. Cost of repair was $167 for labor to splice the wires to headlight.(Rock Hill, South Carolina)
2015 TOYOTA Tundra - (Charlotte NC)
2015 TOYOTA Highlander - Wire harness damage - $350 (Brookline MA)
2015 TOYOTA Prius - The emergency dash lights would not go off. I was told a rat had chewed through the wires near the spare tire to the tune of $300.00.
Was told by dealership it was not covered under warranty and there is no way to prevent rodents from entering the car. (Sarasota, Florida)
2015 TOYOTA Prius V - second rat attack. The first attack repair cost: $8404.93 and the second attack-a month later-cost was $8606.59. Over $17K in repairs and still they are putting the same wiring back in the car. (Phoenix, Arizona)
See the video link #2 for TV News Story about this incident.
2015 TOYOTA 4Runner - One injector wire connector had been chewed completely through $240. 4 days later, more chewed wires $600. (Kansas)
2014 TOYOTA 4Runner - main engine harness costing $5500 in damage.
[image]
2014 TOYOTA Corolla - over $4,000 in wiring damage, while repair was covered by Insurance, owner still had to pay $500 deductible. (Brooksville, Florida)
2014 TOYOTA Prius - date of damage January, 2019 Estimaded cost of repairs: $11,057.67 car deemed a total loss. (Acton, Maine)
2013 TOYOTA Camry - only 100 miles since new !
2013 TOYOTA Venza Ltd - bought new 6 weeks ago, extensive under hood damage.
2012 TOYOTA Camry - only 4 weeks old ! (Santa Monica, California)
2011 TOYOTA Camry Hybrid - $4000 to replace elecrtical wiring - to be followed by the same damage a month month later.
2011 TOYOTA Tacoma - 4door extended cab long bed - Rats ate my Tacoma. [3TM] (Kirkland Washington).
2011 TOYOTA 4Runner - Attacked by squirrels several times over $4,000 in damages. (Maryland)
2011 TOYOTA Camry SEV6 - THREE times rats have chewed up wiring harness. Over $500 each time to replace the wiring. (Valencia, California)
2011 TOYOTA Camry XLE - $8,200.00 in damages, rats ate the electrical wiring under the car and also got into the cabin.
2011 TOYOTA 4 Runner - Totaled over the course of a weekend, while it sat in owner's garage, all due to rodents chewing it up.
2010 TOYOTA Yaris - mice ate insulation abs brake lines and 2 car computers and destroyed 2 heater fans probably about 5k damages... (Hico, Texas)
2010 TOYOTA Camry - had the main wiring harness eaten and devoured 4 times in less than a year! At a cost of $1,100-1,500 a pop, and a $500 insurance deductible. (Hico, Texas)
2010 TOYOTA Venza - mice caused $2,800 in damages.
2010 TOYOTA RAV4 - wiring damage. (Plano, Texas)
2009 TOYOTA Highlander - Mice have chewed on floor mats and have eaten the air filter. (Madisonville, Louisiana)
2009 TOYOTA RAV4 - Multiple parts including the passenger air bag. Repair costs: $10,257.91
2009 TOYOTA Camry - A squirrel destroyed wiring harness. Over $500 to replace the wiring. (Valencia, California)
2009 TOYOTA Tundra (Charlotte NC)
2009 TOYOTA Corolla Fuel line chewed $500 in damages (Charlottesville, Virginia)
2009 TOYOTA Corolla Damaged by Rodents 3 separate times. (Little River, California)
2007 TOYOTA Highlander - wiring harness. $3600 parts and labor. Covered by comprehensive part of insurance. (Columbus, Ohio).
2007 TOYOTA 4Runner - mice had somehow got into the cabin and took stuffing out of the seats and made a nest in the glove box.(Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada)
2005 TOYOTA 4Runner The little buggers chewed through a coolant hose causing the engine to overheat and the head gasket failed. Cost to repair was $4668.14. Then I got it back, drove it HOME and parked it in the driveway and the rodents attacked again that same night and chewed the same hose. The next morning I drove it for 9.3 miles and the head gasket failed again. So in less than 24 hours the rodents cost almost another $5000 of damage plus an $89.79 tow. So the total damage was $9426.07. (Redmond, Washington)
2001 TOYOTA Avalon - $1,820 to have 2 Knock Sensors and Harness replaced (Williamsburg, Virginia)

SCION

2016 SCION Rodents chewed through wires. $800 to repair. (Boston, MA)
2015 SCION Electrical wiring to AC eaten about 8 months after purchase. $300 to repair. (Cave Creek, Arizona)
2014 SCION tC about $500 in Rat damage to wiring system.
(Odessa, Texas)

LEXUS

2019 LEXUS RX 450h - Wires chewed at 2700 miles. $6000 in damage. (Waltham, MA).
2018 LEXUS GS 350 - Mice ate parts of engine wire harnsss. Repair quote $9875 + $876 sales tax = $10,751 (Syosset, New York)
2015 LEXUS RX 350 - 2 incidents of mice and squirrel damage slightly more than $10,000 worth of damage. The prior year $1700 (East Hampton, New York)
2012 LEXUS GX 460 - 3 incidents of rodent damage since with a total of almost $2000 in bills. (Edmond, Oklahoma)
2011 LEXUS RX 350 - damage by a rodent chewing on the fuel injector wire. $410.63.
2010 LEXUS ES 350 - mouse house sitting on the cabin air filter. No other damage was noticed other than replacing the air filter. (Springfield, MA)
2010 LEXUS ES 350 -The wiring harness and Part of insulation of the engine covering. cost (estimate) between $300-$400. (Grand Prairie, Texas)
2009 LEXUS LS 460 had considerable rodent-caused wiring damage after I was gone for three weeks vacation and left my car in my garage for that time. When I tried to start it on return from vacation it would not even turn over. I called AAA and they diagnosed the problem as rodent damage to the wiring. I had the car towed to the Lexus dealership and they repaired the damaged wiring with a bill of almost $2,000. Luckily, my car insurance (USAA) covered the damage repair bill (less $250 deductible).(Westminster, California)
2008 Lexus ES 350 - Falsely triggered traction control and engine coolant temperature sensor warnings due to wiring damage that was $500 to fix. It also was not the first time I had a rat problem with the car- shortly after getting it a year ago, a mechanic discovered a rat's nest in the engine bay on top of the spark plug wiring. [image] (Brooklyn, New York)
2006 LEXUS RX330 - mice set up camp on top of the "cabin air filter" which, is located inside of the vehicle - two incidents, however only requiring the air filter replacement. (Las Vegas, Nevada)
2006 LEXUS LS430 - rodents did $7,342 of damage. The bumper, radiator, and engine had to be removed in order to replace the ($4,454) wiring harness because the harness is inaccessibly sandwiched between the engine and the firewall! (Los Altos, California)

HONDA

2018 HONDA Clarity and less than 5000 miles and took it in when all alerts were going off. Rodent chewed through main wire to engine. $1400 dollar repair and no coverage by Honda.
2018 HONDA Civic A squirrel chewed up the wiring for my AC and I live in FL where AC is needed 365 and left me a walnut. The compressor is covered by the warranty but the labor to replace the wiring, $460.
2018 HONDA Accord Wiring damage
2018 HONDA CRV just had the engine harness chewed through by a rodent. Cost estimate around $1k.
2018 HONDA Civic I haven�t had an issue with wiring getting chewed up yet, but my gas line was chewed on. Which in turn lead to gas spewing everywhere. $2,214.38 later it�s repaired for now
2018 HONDA Civic with 8500 miles - rodent damage to fuel line.
2017 HONDA Pilot Dealership informed me about the damage done by the mouse . My question was why this car . I have 3 other car parking in front of my house . Their answer was silly ( mouse like Honda cars ) unfortunately I have to pay for it .
2017 HONDA Accord Taken car back in twice for rat eaten wiring.
2016 HONDA Fit Noticed mice damage a few months after I bought my car, November 2015. (Santa Rosa, California)
2016 HONDA Accord (lease) Rodents chewed gas tank and fuel lines. So far Honda's repair bill is $1,500.00. (Marlton, New Jersey)
2016 HONDA Accord (lease) $2,000.00 first incident within 6 weeks of delivery, repeat incident within 1 week after repairs, another $2K. (Waukesha, Wisconsin)
2015 HONDA Civic The AC quit working, it was a chewed up wire that goes to the compressor. Vehicle is under warranty but Dealer wouldn�t cover it. They wanted $700 to replace the compressor and flush/recharge the system!
2014 HONDA CR-V I just paid $1500 for engine harness of that a rodent destroyed (Jan 2019) and this is after a rodent chewed thru the fuel injector line ($300 repair) just months earlier in Oct. 2018.
2014 HONDA Civic sedan, bought it brand new (7/2014) and a month after all warning lights came on, took it to the dealership and ask them to fix it but refuse, instead they call it animal damage and use my insurance to pay for the damages. Total bill was about $1400 but my deductible was $750.
2014 HONDA Civic LX - Rodents nibbled on several wires that run along firewall behind engine. [image].(Blue Springs, Missouri)
2014 HONDA CR-V (2) - $5200 worth of damage to plastic, wiring, harnesses, carpet and plastic interior. The same night I brought it HOME from repairs, the rats started chewing on some of the plastic coverings under the hood. (Roseburg, Oregon)
2013 HONDA Accord Distressed and out $700. after a squirrel chewed away on my master harness.
2013 HONDA Civic Hybrid - repeated damage: March 2018 ($2500), October 2018 ($500), December 2018 ($2500+) It's parked nightly next to a 2006 Mazda which has never been touched by the rodents. (Vienna, VA)
2013 HONDA Pilot - My insurance company, Country Companies, totaled it in 2015. The mice had gotten up in the headliner and even in the door panels. The insurance company totaled the vehicle and called it a biohazard. (Salem, Oregon)
2013 HONDA CR-V - Every year for the past three years, mice (and maybe chipmunks) are getting under the insulation panel of my hood and munching on the washer fluid lines. (North Hampton, New Hampshire)
2013 HONDA Insight. - 29,400 miles .Rodents chewed through the wiring controlling shifting Caused the transmission to go out while the car was in motion. $200+ in damage.(Delran, New Jersey)
2013 HONDA Accord XLE coupe 26k miles; main wiring harness, left turn signal and fender lining destroyed by a wood rat. $2,000 in damages. (Hot Springs, Arkansas)
2012 HONDA Odyssey - needs a Knock Sensor Replacement and "Anti Rodent wiring harness". They said that they are no longer using the rodent tape and are now using a specialty anti rodent wiring harness. My first quote from the Honda dealership where I bought the vehicle was $550; (approx $50 for the sensor and harness and $500 for labor). I received a second opinion and they are saying that it will be $460 total ($50 for the sensor; $210 for the specialty wiring harness and $200 for labor).
2012 HONDA Odyssey - certified preowned bought in Sept 2015; Rodents chewed through wiring on ignition coil.
2012 HONDA Civic - 30k miles; Squirrel damage -July 2014 - 4 repairs for chewed up wiring, 1 repair for chewed gas line had to be towed and gas tank dropped for repair - April 2015 - Power steering failure (fluid loss). (Celina Ohio)
2012 HONDA Civic - rodents eating through engine wires on two occasions.
2011 HONDA Odyssey - Rodent damage to wiring harness between body and gas tank; $405 repair (LaPorte, Indiana)
2011 HONDA Accord - two incidents over $3,000 in combined damage.
2010 HONDA Pilot. $1200 in damage
2009 HONDA Odyssey - Wiring damage.
2009 HONDA Fit - Air conditioner coils had to be replaced at a cost of about $800, nine months later my air-conditioning again did not work. When I took it in they said that there was rodent damage. It will be another $600+ to replace the coils to the air-conditioner.
2009 HONDA Odyssey - Sensor wiring damage; $482.58 in repairs.
2009 HONDA Accord - Emission valve to the gas tank, requiring tank replacement - total damage $2,800.
2007 HONDA Ridgeline - At 60,000 miles rodents eaten wires and it costed $800 at the dealer. (Florida)
2004 HONDA CR-V (2) - Rats chewed through the wiring to the transmission solenoids.

ACURA

2015 ACURA TLX - rodents chewed through fuel line. $3200 in damages. (Virginia)
2012 ACURA TSX - purchased new in March 2013; A squirrel destroyed the wiring harness in April 2014 when the vehicle had 6,000 miles on it in Kentucky
Total charges exceeded $1,400 which was not covered by warranty.
2012 ACURA MDX - rodents chewed through fuel line. $1700 in damages. (Virginia)
2012 ACURA TSX - Something chewed off two plugs from the wiring harness. One plug for the power steering rack, which was replaced from a junkyard car, the other to the auto transmission which was repaired because there was enough wire remaining on the damaged plug. $560 bill, requiring 4 days in the shop.
2011 ACURA MDX Rodent damage - chewed through my windshield washer fluid line and chewed the black plastic corrugated covering that houses electrical wiring in the motor cavity.(Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada)
1990 ACURA Legend

GM

BUICK

2014 BUICK Encore @ 16,000 km Warranty check discovered cabin air filter has a "nasty mouse nest" and evidence in engine air filter. Fix $54 at my cost. (Fort Qu' Appelle, Sask, Canada).

CADILLAC

2012 Cadillac - fuel system damage requiring fuel tank replacement, repair bill was $2,523 (Kentucky)
2012 Cadillac SRX - Vehicle invested by mice, in headliner and throughout vehicle. Had 40,000 miles on the car, purchased new. Car stored in detached garage from Dec. 2017 until April 2018 Smell could not be remedied, State Farm totaled the vehicle.(Decatur, IL)
2008 Cadillac XLR-V disabled by rodents $1,000 to repair (Phoenix, Arizona)

HUMMER

2008 Hummer H3 disabled by rodents, wiring damage $1,200 to repair (Phoenix, Arizona)

GMC

2016 GMC 2500HD - 9162 miles, Rodent damage to sensors $1610.33 - Poway, CA
2016 GMC Terrain - had wire exposed and all chewed up by rodents. My cost was $322, and of course this was one thing not covered by warranty. (Michigan)
2014 GMC 1/2 ton Truck So far it's been the 5/16 inch hoses connected to radiator overflow reservoir and the foam rubber that covers pipes on top of the engine. (Osoyoos, BC CANADA)
2011 GMC Sierra - always outside, impossible to keep the squirrels away, huge damage until the electric fence was built, minor damage since using the fence, although squirrels will sometimes suffer the shock to get to the truck. Twice had squirrels that would not leave (once by the transmission and once by the gas tank) even when I was banging on the bodywork and shaking the truck. Air bags fired but did not deploy when a deer ran in front of the truck and was struck.
[image]
2003 GMC Safari - rodent damage to 9 wires in 4 different wiring harnesses including the covering of the negative battery terminal wire. I repaired it all myself but I am sure it would have cost a bundle at a dealer. (Brooksville, Florida)
2001 GMC Jimmy - has been repaired 3 times for so called rodent eating the gas line plastic and metal. cost so far�$1100.00 ()
1999 GMC Savana 3500 van - Rodents damaged spark plug wires, antenna wire, interrior dome light wire and engine coolant sensor wire.(Sandy Valley, Nevada)
1999 GMC Savana van - Spark plug wires were eaten.(Discovery Bay, California)

Chevrolet

2017 Chevrolet Cruze - Car was two months old when check engine light went on and I got notice from On-Star to take car over to dealer within 24 hours. I was told I had mice that chewed through the wires and that was not covered under warranty. I was furious as my old car that I adored (2000 Chevrolet Cavalier) never had a problem and was parked in the same driveway. After they fixed the damage and charged $276.84, I discovered they had NOT replaced the wire but simply put electrical tape over the damage. (Cleveland, Ohio)
2017 Chevrolet Traverse wires eaten by rats by the intake manifold, repaired by Chevrolet dealership for $329.00
2016 Chevy Malibu main engine harness needs to be replaced $1700,00 (Norfolk County Waterford Ontario Canada)
2016 Chevy Colorado Rat chewed through seat belt wiring for warning chime, weather tech floomats, stock carpet mats, tire iron tool kit case, chewed hole through cab pressure vents, made a nest is insulation behind back cab back plate. $575 (Austin Texas)
2016 Chevy Equinox LT.-squirrels had dragged a bag of peanuts into the fan motor box and there was the bag, peanuts and pieces of the plastic motor box inside it. Insurance took care of the damage and the car rental but I lost my new car for a month. The insurance was $1600 to repair and sanitize the car and $1100 for the replacement car rental. I had to pay $200 for the deductible. (Ste. Anne, Manitoba, Canada)
2013 Chevy Sonic "In the short time we have owned the car, it has been to the dealer THREE times and will be going in for a fourth time this week! All due to wires being eaten by rabbits and mice!" (Riverton, Wyoming)
2015 Chevy Colorado engine bay wiring harness chewed up in numerous places. $2100 dollar estimate from dealership. Insurance paid $1650.(Fairfax, Virginia)
2014 GMC Acadia Damage to seatbelts, carpets, airbags and more in Jan. 2015 $3,000. Another incident Oct-Nov 2017 continuing to destroy interior-seats, floor, seat belts, getting into glove compartment, destroying my kids car seats and damaging my stroller. (Danvers, MA)
2013 Chevrolet Suburban K1500 Wiring harness under the car eaten by rodents causing $715.00 damage. Car was only parked on grass for 3 hours. When I park on concrete, there does not appear to be a problem.. (Auburn Hills, Michigan )
2012 Chevrolet Equinox Wiring harness to Heater and A/C. Had bad smell and loud clunking noise when heater was turned on. $292 repair not covered by warranty.
2011 Chevrolet Cruze $300 damage in Sept 2017; New damage Nov 17, 2017
2009 Chevy Aveo - always outside, can't keep the squirrels away, regularly use every deterrent commercially available, significant damage twice, had to be towed to be fixed. Eat the wire insulation, foam covers over hoses, and firewall insulation.
[image]
2001 Chevrolet Suburban K1500 - I did all the repairs myself but if repaired at a shop it would have required that all of the wiring harnesses that attach to the under hood fuse box would have been replaced). (Waller, Texas)

TESLA

2014 TESLA Model S - $12,750 electrical wiring damage. (Belgium)
2009 TESLA Roadster - $10,000 electrical wiring damage.

VOLVO

2015 Volvo S60 It has been in the shop 3 times due to rodent issues. First time the dealership paid for the repair, second time was $3,300 and third time was $5,300. The last repair, I purchased the Honda rodent tape and the service department wrapped my wiring. (Santa Monica, California)
2010 Volvo cx90 2/6/2016 I tried to start my car and couldn't, had to tow it to Volvo dealer in Sarasota Florida. They found that rats had eaten wiring. They rewired it and it happened again on 2/11/2016. $883 for the first repair.
2008 VOLVO cross country - has been damaged twice in a one month over $1000 in damages.(North Haven, CT) [image1] [image2]

VOLKSWAGEN

VW

2016 VW Jetta - damaged by rabbits 2 weeks after purchase in 2015
2001 VW Beetle - found a rodent nest in the dashboard and had to replace damaged wires.

PORSCHE

2011 PORSCHE Boxer - $22,000 damage caused ! Vehicle had to be towed into Porsche centre for repairs and it took months before repairs were completed (parts had to come from Germany). Rats ate through EVERY wire in wire harness, motor wires, coolant and petrol hoses, oil hoses which was surprising because I have read that rats don't like petroleum. (Menangle, NSW, Australia)
1983 PORSCHE 928S - total loss, damaged while vehicle was in Self-Storage Unit.(Long Beach, California)

If your vehicle has been damaged by rodents, send us a note or better yet a picture as well ! (Specify Make, Model, Model Year and City, State and if known approximate cost of required repairs as well as incident date).

Send E-mail to synlube@aol.com

Oh how tasty - and good food too

Examples of what OEMs put in cars to feed the hungry masses of rodents all over the World, and are proud of it too - so they advertise it !

FORD

FORD has developed a soy-based foam, and just started using a bio-fabric for seating.

Soy Foam Seat - REALLY TASTY !!!

Rodents also have great affinity for fabrics made from recycled yarns - why ?
Who knows, may be it is the great "old time" scent, they do not eat this stuff, just build nests from it. Apparently it is more comfy than the non recycled brand new stuff.
But here is the catch: two-thirds of the FORD's vehicle programs in North America use fabric made from recycled yarns.
Need we say more ?

Since 2011, all Ford vehicles built in North America have soy foam in their seat cushions and backs.

Soy Foam Seats in Ford Fusion
2013 Ford Fusion is the first global vehicle to use recycled materials!
... and of course Soy foam seats ...

Rodents Worldwide can't wait to sink their teeth into it !

In 2014, Ford introduced a new composite plastic material reinforced with rice hulls (by-product of rice grains) in the wire harness of the Ford F-150.

Coconut coir, made from coconut husks, is used in the trunk mats of some vehicles, including the FORD Focus Electric.

Wheat straw-reinforced plastic is used in the storage bins of the FORD Flex.

In 2014, Ford launched an industry-first application of cellulose-reinforced plastic for the centre console in the Lincoln MKX. The cellulose fibres in this composite come from sustainably grown and harvested trees and related by-products.

FORD is collaborating with the H.J. Heinz Company to explore using tomato fibre, a by-product of ketchup production, to develop a more sustainable bio-plastic material for FORD vehicles, for use in vehicle wiring brackets and storage bins.

Algae is another biomaterial researched by FORD for use as foam.

But just in case you would like to throw a wild party for your Rodent Friends and feed them some tasty components of your FORD vehicle here is a FORD publication you will surely enjoy !!

FORD Cook Book - [Using the edible ingridients that are in FORD vehicles]

TOYOTA

TOYOTA has lead this movement by pioneering the development of an "Eco Plastic" made from sugar cane or corn, and building a pilot plant to produce it.

TOYOTA's move to eco-friendly organic wiring insulator compounds that attract rodents as a food source!

TOYOTA wire insulation is made of an "organic" compound in keeping with its "green" philosophy. Could be peanut oil or similar ingredient that's attracting the little fur balls. There's been more than a few reports about chewed wiring that immobilizes TOYOTA vehicles.

This is a serious issue because to people who have experienced wiring damage by munching rodents, which IS NOT covered under TOYOTA warranty - it is a very expensive proposition.

But seriously, if any OEM makes wiring for Air Bags "edible" is that not a Safety Hazard ?
Should not all such vehicles be recalled and the wiring replaced FREE of any charge ?
Do complain to NHTSA if TOYOTA refused to fix your nibbled on vehicle !

Chew, Chew and now you are dead !

As if TOYOTA owners did not have enough problems with rodent damage to their vehicle's wiring harnesses, now TOYOTA will go even further:

In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, TOYOTA is switching over to a new type of rubber for engine hoses, called biohydrin. It's a synthetic rubber that is manufactured using plant-derived bio-materials (every rodent on Earth will just love this !!!) - instead of petroleum-based materials.

TOYOTA says the rubber hoses are similar in quality, but reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 20% over the life of the parts. (which will probably be a very short one !)

The first application of biohydrin will be for hoses used in engine intake system components, (so now your local mouse will be sucked INTO your engine - and possibly ruin it - de facto TOYOTA just invented perhaps the most expensive mouse trap)

But TOYOTA will not just stop there as it plans to expand the usage to other rubber components, like brake and fuel hoses.

So if sucking a mouse into engine will fail, well then you'll crash and burn, and that for sure will take care of the little pest - you family of course just might be a collateral damage and sacrificed to "maybe" kill just one rodent.

All TOYOTA vehicles made in Japan (and that includes LEXUS) will use the hoses by the end of 2016.

While all "wiring" damage usually occurs when the vehicle is parked, and thus your car quite often can not be started, the damage to fuel lines and brake lines may not occur until there is a "pressure" in those lines. And while a rodent may compromise them, they may not fail until when the vehicle is in operation.

Thus spaying fuel all over hot engine and exhaust, possibly causing fire, or make brakes non operational leading to almost certain crash.

So now you have even more reasons to fear, this time for your own life and that of your passengers!

Class action lawsuits have been filed against Toyota in Texas and Florida, to name a few (Browder v. Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc. et al., case number 3:2016cv03387, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas; Janice Toler v. Toyota Motor Corporation et al., case number 5:16-cv-00727, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida)
Another action has been filed (Albert Heber vs. Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.) in United States District Court in California.

HONDA

Plastic used for wiring insulation in HONDA cars is made from soy, thus attracting rodents.

HONDA has an official response on how to deal with rodents because it is an established problem. Service bulletins exist for the Odyssey and Accord models dealing with rodent damage to the knock sensor wiring harness.
Will they fix it for you FREE ?
Absolutely - NO !!!

TSB #105 - P0325, KNOCK SENSOR HARNESS RODENT DAMAGE
TSB #06012004 - RODENT DAMAGE TO KNOCK SENSOR SUBHARNESS

HONDA however does since August 2010 offer after the fact "cure", an official HONDA Rodent-Deterrent Tape (P/N 4019-2317), reportedly for about US$40.00 per one 20 meter long roll that is 19 millimeter wide, available from any HONDA Dealer in USA!

UPDATE:

March 19, 2016
Vehicle owners with rodent damaged HONDAs have reported that in several states (California, Arizona, Florida, Wisconsin, Idaho) the HONDA Dealers are out of the rodent deterrent tape and that they are told that it is on "National Back-Order", apparently the product is very popular, yet the same dealers that are "sold out" also claim they have never heard of any rodent damage !!! (interesting !)

SUBARU

Perhaps, because SUBARU vehicles feature full time four wheel drive, more of them are owned by people that live off the normal beaten path, thus may be that is why they are "eaten" more often!

However, usually the same vehicle owners, also have more than one car. Frequently they own older GM or FORD pick-up trucks, and even if parked next to each other, the SUBARU is always favored by the rodents over the older vehicles.

The damage to SUBARU cars is almost exclusively limited to under hood components, that range from wiring insulation to air filter housings, brake fluid caps and fuse box covers.

DaimlerChrysler

The miserable "marriage" of Daimler (makers of Mercedes-Benz and Smart vehicles) and Chrysler, while it lasted resulted in a perfect miscarriage:
DaimlerChrysler increased the use of renewable materials in some vehicles by up to 98% over previous models by using natural materials such as flax and abaca fibers.

Bridgestone

SUSTAINABLE TIRES ?

In the future the tires we drive on may no longer be made from rubber and oil!
Bridgestone just opened a new research center in Mesa, Arizona that will focus on extracting rubber from guayule shrubs.
Guayule is native to southwestern U.S. states and northern Mexico. The properties of guayule rubber are similar to natural rubber from hevea rubber trees.

This initiative is part of Bridgestone's long-term vision of manufacturing products from raw materials that are fully renewable and sustainable by 2050.
So in the not so distant future your tires may be attacked by rodents as well!

Currently, 90% of the world's natural rubber supply comes from hevea rubber trees grown in Southeast Asia.

JLR

Are they NUTS ?

In the near future the car panels like roof on may JLR (Jaguar and Land Rover) vehicles will be made from a composite that includes flax with an environmentally friendly cashew nut oil resin.

If that was not nuts enough, they have other projects that rodents world wide just can not wait to sink their teeth into !

One of these uses recycled plastic combined with filler sourced from the sugar refining process. They intend to make wheel arch liner from this material - yummy !

Need we say more ?

SOLUTION ?

Since most Dealers or Manufacturers will not fix any rodent damage FREE, and not every insurance policy will cover the damage, the ONLY solution as we have been advising the hundreds of people that have contacted us since this page was first published few years ago, is to file class action against the vehicle manufacturer.

Since that is beyond the economical means of most people, and majority of law firms will not do this "pro-bono" the OEMs so far were "safe" from any liability to the end customer.

But all that has finally changed on January 22, 2016 when Dobbs, Delaney and Rickard who are represented by Roy Arie Katriel of La Jolla, CA and Michael Braun of Los Angeles, CA initiated class action against American Honda.
The case is: Daniel Dobbs et al. v. American Honda Motor Co. Inc., case number 2:16-cv-00456, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Here is link to The Katriel Law Firm: (www.katriellaw.com).
Disclaimer: SynLube division of MIROX Corporation is in no way associated with the above Law Firm and we do not recommend their services, the link is provided only for convenience for affected HONDA vehicle owners that wish to contact them.

Legal Action Results

So far the Rodents v Vehicle Owners legal score board is 2 : 0

HONDA

May 24, 2018 - A California federal judge Manuel L. Real has dismissed a class action lawsuit alleging Honda Motor Co. Inc. produced vehicles with soy-based or bio-based wire coatings that attract rodents that chew through the wires.

TOYOTA

July 5, 2018 - A federal judge Andrew Guilford dismissed a class-action lawsuit against Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. that sought compensation for damage caused by rodents chewing through insulation for engine wiring.

Incredible Edible Car

Why rodents love to eat cars

Why vehicles were not eaten before ?

Why are vehicles being eaten NOW ?

Why do rodents eat automotive wires?