NHTSA Complaint #10670429 — 2011 TOYOTA TUNDRA

THE TUNDRA IS KEPT IN OUR GARAGE AND IS DRIVEN ONE OR TWO TIMES A WEEK. ON CHRISTMAS DAY 2014, WHEN I DROVE THE TUNDRA, I NOTICED A NUMBER OF UNUSUAL LIGHTS FLASHING ON THE DASH, INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WHEN I EXAMINED THE ENGINE, I FOUND A RATS NEST ON TOP, AND I SUSPECTED A RODENT HAD DAMAGED THE WIRES. I TOOK THE TUNDRA TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, AND THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES OF MY TUNDRA CONTAINS SOY WHICH IS ATTRACTIVE TO RODENTS. IT TURNS OUT THAT 7 WIRES NEEDED TO BE OVERLAID AT A COST OF $760. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT PUTTING SOY IN THE INSULATION AROUND ELECTRICAL WIRES IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD LEAD TO RODENT-CAUSED DAMAGE THAT COULD LEAD TO SAFETY PROBLEMS. I DID SOME GOOGLE RESEARCH, AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS FLAW HAS BEEN KNOWN SINCE AT LEAST 2011, AND WAS DESCRIBED IN AN ARTICLE IN MOTOR AGE MAGAZINE. I DO NOT KNOW IF RODENT-DAMAGED WIRES HAVE CAUSE ANY AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS, BUT THEY ARE CAUSING AMERICAN CONSUMERS A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY. FOR EXAMPLE, I READ THE TESTIMONY OF A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER OWNER WHO HAD RODENT-CAUSED DAMAGE THAT REQUIRED $6,400 IN REPAIRS.