NHTSA Complaint #10959845 — 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THERE WERE RODENTS ENTERING THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CABIN AIR FILTER DID NOT HAVE A MESH GRILL WHICH WAS ALLOWING THE RODENTS TO ENTER THROUGH A HOLE IN THE CABIN AIR FILTER THEN INTO THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT CONSOLE AND INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRES WERE SOY BASED CAUSING THE ATTRACTION OF RODENTS TO THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR AN INSPECTION. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS ALSO CONTACTED WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE CABIN AIR FILTER DID NOT HAVE A MESH GRILL WHICH RESULTED IN THE RODENTS ENTERING THROUGH A HOLE INTO THE CABIN AIR FILTER THEN ENTERING INTO THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT CONSOLE ACCESSING THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE A HARDWARE CLOTH GRILL WAS INSTALLED ON THE CABIN AIR FILTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND RODENTS WERE NO LONGER ENTERING THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS REQUIRED TO CLEAN THE FECES REMAINING IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE UTILIZING A MASK, GLOVES, AND DISINFECTANT AND IN ORDER TO AVOID CONTACT WITH A VIRUS FROM THE FECES, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED NOT TO VACUUM LET THE VIRUS BECOME AIRBORNE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE RAT FECES IN THE VEHICLE COULD RESULT IN A FATAL DISEASE IN THE EVENT A CHILD WOULD RIDE IN THE VEHICLE AND ACCIDENTALLY EAT THE FECES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IF RODENTS ENTERED THOUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT AND DEFECATED INSIDE, ACTIVATING THE AIR CONDITION UNIT IF THERE WAS FECES, A VIRUS COULD BECOME AIRBORNE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE THEN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT THE FAILURE WAS AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE WHICH WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.