NHTSA Complaint #11040922 — 2015 SCION XB

LAST NIGHT WE WENT OUT. THE CAR WAS PARKED AT AN EVENT FOR A COUPLE HOURS, THEN WE WERE HEADED FOR DINNER WHEN THE DASHBOARD LIT UP, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. FORTUNATELY WE WERE ON A LOW TRAVELED CITY STREET AND WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF FOR SAFETY. IF WE HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT, IN THE DARK, ON A SATURDAY NIGHT, THIS INCIDENT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY OR WORSE. THE PICTURES OF THE WIRING ARE ATTACHED. SOMETHING HAD EATEN THEM - THESE WIRES, DUE TO ANOTHER INCIDENT, HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED AS BEING THE EDIBLE ONES THAT ARE CAUSING SO MANY PROBLEMS IN MANY CARS. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN REGULARLY, INCLUDING DURING THE DAY OF THE LATEST INCIDENT, WITHOUT PROBLEMS. IT APPEARS, BASED ON THE TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE WIRES FROM THE ALTERNATOR THAT SOMETHING GOT IN WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED AT THE EVENT. ALSO, WE WERE ONLY A COUPLE MILES AWAY WHEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. LAST TIME, SOMETHING ATE THE AC WIRES, SO THERE WERE NO SAFETY ISSUES. THIS TIME, THE CAR BECAME SUDDENLY UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING. AT THIS POINT, I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT UNLESS I DO A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE WIRING SYSTEM BEFORE EVERY USE, WHETHER I AM LEAVING HOME OR RESTARTING THE CAR WHILE ON AN ERRAND. AS I AM NOT A LICENSED MECHANIC, I MAY MISS SOMETHING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE "GREEN WIRES" ARE THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE, BUT IF THEY ATTRACT RODENTS WHO WILL CHEW THEM, POSSIBLY SUDDENLY LOSE POWER AT SPEED, ON A FREEWAY, I CAN'T SEE HOW THIS CAN BE A GOOD THING. WHATEVER ATE THE WIRES LAST NIGHT DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF SEVERING THEM. NEXT TIME, WHAT IF THEY ARE ONLY PARTIALLY CHEWED AND THE CONNECTION DOESN'T BREAK UNTIL I'M ON THE FREEWAY? WE HAVE HAD MANY OTHER VEHICLES AND NEVER HAD RODENT PROBLEMS. THIS IS ROUND 2 WITH THE SCION IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS.