mouse in car

If you have that much damage and you've only had the car for a week, it would seem that the critter was there when you bought it. I would have the dealer make it right - hopefully for no charge. If the dealer won't fix it for free, I would think your insurance would cover the repairs.

 

A tough case to prove, unless the mouse is a species unique to Japan ... .

 

They climb in through the engine compartment (into the vents, and nest there). Many posts on this topic (I still have yet to see anyone with clear pics on what to cover with screen to keep them out).

I've been placing the green mouse bait sticks *everywhere* - do to my worries and reading other posts (eating a wire harness is $$$$$$$$$).

 

You didn't pay extra for the Blizzard Cheese paint job did you?

 

Get a cat and have it live inside?

 

Some cars attract rodents, especially if stored for the winter. I went through a number of summer cars that I stored each winter. Knock-on-wood, I never had a problem either in my garage or at a nearby u-store garage.

 

Moth Balls will get them out quick.

Also a sad note. The one thing that your car insurance agent never told you. All policies EXCLUDE rodent damage.

 

Wow! I've heard of cats and snakes getting up inside these things but never a mouse! LOL

 

I had a car where the mice were taking the hoodliner backing and the jute under the dash to make nests. After I started putting mothballs in a sock and keeping it under the hood, the mice didn't come back.

 

It boggles the mind that Toyota will not mouse proof the Prius.
My GenII had the same problem, I had to disassemble various areas and add metal screening. A buck or two during manufacturing would solve it.
Check out the various mouse threads in the GenII forums and good luck.

 

I read you have had little luck with traps but I would recommend continuing trying to catch the mouse/mice versus poisoning them. Would you want them to die up inside your dashboard or air vents? Try different types of traps, like sticky traps or just a regular old fashioned snap trap.

 

what kind of bait did you use with the traps? i have had great success with the d-con covered trap and peanut butter.

 

They say dryer sheets like bounce work also and smell better! Had this happen to me on other car, they were chewing the hood liner also!

 

My advise from my sad Prius experience is to monitor carefully.

The following is the major excerpt of a letter I mailed to Toyota Headquarters in Japan:


~~~~~~~~~ Begin letter excerpt:
I am writing to your office to express my displeasure with the aftermath
of my purchase of a 2010 Prius in November 2010 ...
In May of this year, I noticed I no longer had radio reception. After 2 separate trips to the dealer, it was determined that the problem was due to the fact that a mouse (or mice) had penetrated past engine firewall and up into the passenger compartment ceiling liner, where the cable to antenna was chewed upon. I was told that the cost to fix radio reception would be $600.
I have tried to have Toyota USA remedy this issue via phone calls to Toyota Customer Service center in California to no avail and also pursued resolution via the Toyota USA sponsored National Center for Dispute Settlement (NCDS) which also led to an unacceptable result.
In my 35 years of driving and car ownership I have never experienced such a problem. I am not an automotive engineer – but it seems to me that rodents being able to enter past firewall so easily on a brand new vehicle, and do damage to a function of the vehicle does at minimum, suggest a design concern.
The summary of the NCDS Arbitrator’s decision noted:
“The Customer’s request for a repair of the vehicle is denied.
I have reached this conclusion because the Customer failed to provide compelling evidence to support the claim that there is a manufacturing defect that substantially impairs the use, safety, or value of the vehicle.â€
Clearly, the value of the vehicle (and perhaps safety too) is diminished without a working radio..... "

~~~~~~~~~ End letter excerpt

Toyota in Japan punted my problem back to Toyota USA where they told
me the same thing - not covered under warranty.

Not a happy driver here.... its too bad as I like the car but as things stand now, I sure would NOT recommend Prius or any of its automotive siblings to friends and family. Nice 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty!

Any one have similar issues or recommendations for action, short of hiring a lawyer?

 

Have you checked with your insurance company to see if the damage is covered under comprehensive?

 

Hi - I have a $500.00 deductible.... so not really useful here.

 

If the little fur ball chews through the traction battery wires, there will be nothing left but a burnt mouse outline. Feces on the dash will ruin your day.