NHTSA Complaint #10650709 — 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS

I WENT TO START MY PRIUS V. AFTER IT WAS STARTED, A NUMBER OF THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING THE ABS AND STABILITY CONTROL. I WAS STUNNED SINCE I HAD MY 30000 MILE CHECK UP IN MAY WITH NO PROBLEMS. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT RODENTS HAD EATEN THROUGH A NUMBER OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS BECAUSE OF THE SOY BASED WIRING. (I UNDERSTAND NOW THAT IT'S "BIOGRADABLE SOY BASED WIRING INSULATION.) I GENERALLY PARK MY CAR AT ONLY TWO LOCATIONS - MY HOME AND MY WORK. I HAD NEVER SEEN ANY RODENTS OF ANY TYPE! I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF ONE OF THE WIRES TO THE ENGINE, OR AIRBAGS, OR ANY SYSTEM FOR THAT MATTER SEPARATED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. APPARENTLY, TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT IS TRYING TO DOWNPLAY IT! I WAS TOLD IT'S NOT A WARRANTY ITEM. MY CAR REQUIRES TWO NEW WIRING HARNESSES, THE ALARM WIRING, AND THE AIRBAG HARNESS PLUS OTHER REPAIRS. *TR