NHTSA Complaint #11265811 — 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS

VEHICLE IS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT ANY REGARD FOR PREVENTING MICE FROM ENTERING THE PASSENGER INTERIOR--- AIR INTAKE VENT UNDER WINDSHIELD AND 2 REAR DECOMPRESSION VENTS LOCATED IN THE REAR CARGO COMPARTMENT ABOVE THE WHEEL WELLS ARE OPEN TO THE EXTERIOR ALLOWING UNIMPEDED ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. HAD MICE IN THIS CAR 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE IN 2012 AND HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR 7 YEARS. JUST RECENTLY, HAD TOYOTA INSTALL 1/4" HARDWARE CLOTH OVER THESE 3 AREAS AND THIS SHOULD HELP SIGNIFICANTLY TO PREVENT ENTRY. ALL PREVENTATIVE MEASURES TO PREVENT MICE ENTRY HAVE BEEN DILIGENTLY TAKEN BY ME, WITHOUT SUCCESS. MICE CAN MAKE A PERSON VERY SICK. THEIR EXCREMENT CARRIES HANTAVIRUS..... AND THE MICE CARRY TICKS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO LYME DISEASE. SIMPLY MANUFACTURING THE CAR WITH THESE VENTS PROPERLY SCREENED WOULD GREATLY REDUCE THE CHANCE OF OCCUPANTS CONTRACTING A SERIOUS DISEASE.THE MICE ALSO DO A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR ITSELF, IN MY CAR THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WAS CHEWED, AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CABIN AIR FILTER SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF NESTING IN THIS COMPARTMENT(AFTER HAVING BEEN UNKNOWINGLY BREATHING THE MICE EXCREMENT AS THE AIR PASSES THROUGH THIS FILTER ON ITS' WAY TO THE INTERIOR. TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE PRESSURED BY YOUR AGENCY TO CORRECT THIS VERY SERIOUS HEALTH HAZARD THAT THEIR CAR IS PRESENTING. THEIR IS NO LEGITIMATE REASON FOR THIS SITUATION TO EXIST. THE COST TO TOYOTA WOULD BE NEGLIGIBLE.THE BENEFIT TO ALL PRIUS OWNERS WOULD BE VERY SIGNIFICANT, LIKELY PREVENTING MANY CASES OF DISEASE. PLEASE TAKE THIS SITUATION VERY SERIOUSLY, AS IS THE CASE. I ALSO WILL BE CALLING YOU TO DISCUSS THIS OVER THE PHONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM!