NHTSA Complaint #10668292 — 2015 TOYOTA TACOMA

ELECTRICAL WIRING WAS EATEN BY SOME KIND OF RODENT - TWICE! DASH PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SINCE IT WAS NEW. DEALER REPORTED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HAD BEEN EATEN BY SOME KIND OF RODENT. THE REPAIR WAS MAKE ($500.53 DISCOUNTED), AND THE FIRST NIGHT THE TRUCK WAS BACK IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE - IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WE LIVE IN THE CITY WITH MANY VEHICLES PARTED IN THE STREET. I HAVE LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE FOR OVER 27 YEARS AND HAVE ALWAYS HAD A VEHICLE PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY WITH NO RODENT PROBLEM. WHY NOW? WHY THIS VEHICLE? ACCORDING TO A DEALER SERVICE PERSON (AND COLLABORATED ON-LINE), CAR MANUFACTURERS (TOYOTA INCLUDED) ARE TRYING TO BECOME MORE "GREEN" AND HAVE BEGUN USING MORE PEANUT AND SOY PRODUCTS IN THE MANUFACTURING OF ITS WIRE INSULATION AND RUBBER HOSES - THUS ATTRACTING ANIMALS. ALSO, THE DESIGN OF THIS V6 ENGINE HAS A SPACE JUST UNDER THE ENGINE COVER THAT SMALL ANIMALS FINE INVITING AND WARM. THE ANIMAL GO INTO THIS SPACE AND NAUGHT ON THE WIRES THAT ARE PRESENT. MY LOCAL DEALER COVERED THE SECOND REPAIR, AND WAS GREAT TO WORK WITH. HOWEVER, THERE SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN/MANUFACTURING ISSUE THAT IS OUT OF THE CONTROL OF THE DEALER. MY SOLUTION = FILL THE SPACE WITH CHICKEN WIRE. SO FAR. SO GOOD. *TR