Toyota claims not aware of mouse problem

That stuff is excellent for smaller openings!
The large openings on the Prius require hardware cloth.

Your right on mice being a problem for all cars in the engine compartment areas. The problem with the Prius is the wide open doors to the interior of the car.

 

I wouldn't argue that this isn't happening.
The Prius, has openings and spaces accessible by rodents. The vehicle can become a refuge for them.

But as a vehicle manufacturer, and with designing a vehicle there are countless priorities on the table that come before the task "make The Prius rodent proof".

I think a manufacturer has to make the vehicle safe to operate, and able to operate in a wide variety of climates and conditions. But is it the manufacturers responsibility to make a vehicle resistant to rodents, snakes, or other outside wild life? I don't think so.

I mean, sure it's a bummer if you find evidence that mice or rodents have nested in your vehicle and done damage at any level. But I don't find the action any more the responsibility of Toyota than if I walk up to my car and notice that a bird has crapped on the roof.

For those of you that have experienced this unfortunate reality, Yes, I'd report it to Toyota, and maybe going forward more attention can be paid to vent openings and the like....

But really? Overall, I don't find this to be a responsibility of Toyota. As long as they aren't dipping their parts in Cheddar Sauce, they've simply built a vehicle.

I think if you happen to live in an environment where rodents are in the area, then what we've seen in this thread are that there are ways YOU as the owner can help mitigate the risk of rodent infiltration. But blaming Toyota because The Prius wasn't built with an eye to the priority of being rodent proof? Isn't fair to Toyota.

Mice, Rats...kind of the hallmark of the species is that they can get in "Anywhere". That's how they survive. Expecting Toyota to start designing cars with a "Rodent Proof" feature...is an expectation I don't think fair to harbor.

 

Is it really so difficult to seal off all the openings? I'm not sure I can think of a single reason why a car should be designed with any openings large enough for a rodent to wiggle-in. Wouldn't it also keep a car afloat longer if it went into water, increasing the chances of survival for the occupants?

 

Hey, as I said, evolution has made it so "rodents" can get into almost anywhere they really want to. Yes, since vehicles MUST have vents and openings, I think it pretty difficult to expect a auto manufacturer to "seal off all openings". Most vehicles don't even have the under cladding that The Gen 3 Prius has...and rodents have sharp teeth. My thinking is that if for any reason, food, heat...protection..a rodent decides it wants into your vehicle...then it's probably going to get in.

VW use to have an old commercial for the Bug, that demonstrated how it would stay afloat in water.

But it's also NOT the expectation or responsibility of an auto manufacturer to make a road bound AUTO into a floatation device.

 

So, just give up?

I've never met a rodent that could chew thru metal (thank god). Why aren't all the vents all on the top or front of the car? I mean, less dust. For those of us who've driven on dusty roads, it's good to have a car that doesn't fill up with dust. I'm sure it's not rocket-science to design it that way.

 

The Prius offers what is basically an opening of at least one square foot or more of unobstructed access to the interior of the vehicle. You and I are not worried about bird crap on the exterior. However I think your view would change in a heartbeat if said bird was allowed to enter the cabin and crap all over the interior and that is the issue. You expect a healthy and safe car which do go hand in hand and so do I, screening off these free access areas to the INTERIOR during the build is nothing more than a good manufacturing process with minimal cost and it is done by other vehicle brands. I had to do a vacuum abortion of the airbox on several live baby mice. You tell me how having that wonderful air mixture blowing through my vehicle is not a health and safety hazard.

 

I said in my own post, "The Prius has openings and space accessible by rodents."
So do many or most vehicles.

But I think it's ludicrous to blame Toyota. I GUARANTEE you that nobody in The Prius design team purposely designed any aspect of The Prius to "invite" rodent infestation.

I still believe almost any vehicle can become infested or occupied by a rodent..if exposed to said rodent or rodents. All vehicles have vents, openings and spaces that rodents can use to gain access if they are determined enough to do so.

Certainly, if you have a problem? Do what you can to mitigate the risk.

But somehow transposing the blame as something of a design flaw of The Prius or something Toyota should be responsible for?
Sorry I don't buy it.

Certainly, if enough complaints are logged? Toyota could look at design changes. But I would say give the 100"s of Thousands of Prius sold, owned and operated, stories of the "mice problem", while real, and valid to each individual dealing with the problem, are NOT of a common and repeatable enough reality to come to the conclusion that Toyota in building The Prius has somehow built a better mouse trap either on purpose by design, or inadvertently by accident.

Feel free to wire mesh any and all openings you think you can safely do so. Perhaps it will help. Perhaps the rodents will find another way in. The problem of rodent infestation isn't born out of Prius build or design, the problem is born out of exposure to rodents.

 

Maybe the Japanese mice are polite and ask permission to invade one's Prius.

 

So, OP has relocated from the mice infested area, right?. Imagine this driver calls the maker of her vehicle; SNAKE ON A CAR

 

Termites are going after the fake wood on my dash.....

 

I'm glad you never had the problem but I refuse to be a tool for Toyota on this issue, it is a real and defined problem. The screening solves the problem and it costs next to nothing to do. Given the potential health issues and the expense to open up the ducting for cleaning even one case of infiltration should be enough for Toyota to act.
I see nothing but an upside for Toyota and the customer on this fix.
The only person who might have reason to object to the fix is the Toyota bean counter. So going forward, why do you not want it to happen?

 

Besides getting into the cabin, they can also take up residence in the engine bay. That was our experience, virtually impossible to seal.

 

You are correct, I don't think that can ever be solved. The interior however is obviously a sore point for me.

 

I don't object to anyone doing a "fix"...I just don't think it's Toyota's problem. You can do all the fixing you want.

Why do I NOT want it happen? Again...not what I said...

LIKE I SAID...if enough complaints get logged? Perhaps Toyota will make some changes but in general, it's not that I don't want it to happen it's that I believe this...

I feel sorry for anyone who does experience this problem. Hey, it could happen to me tomorrow. I park outside. BUT if it did happen I'm certainly NOT going to blame Toyota or the design of The Prius.

There are certain things in our environment that I don't expect Toyota to make our vehicles invulnerable to...

Bird crap...Rodent Attack, and/or trips down the river because it's not an air tight amphibious vehicle...

Toyota or ANY auto manufacturer should NOT be expected to build a vehicle that can somehow stop rodents from infiltrating it's perimeter or taking up residency.

Ask any exterminator...rodents can find a way into even the most seemingly impervious area.

If you have a problem? And want to cover up or mesh cover vents? Good Luck...even that is no guarantee...as an owner you have every right to Mouse Proof your Prius if you wish.

But blaming Toyota for the existence of rodents, who may or may not find their way into vehicles..Toyota or otherwise...is not fair to Toyota.

 

It wouldn't tax a 12-year old engineer to make the Prius rodent-proof.

 

I agree with Mendel (and you), in regards to sealing the engine compartment being impossible. I only speak of screening the free access to the INTERIOR of the car.
SO in summation, you will not change my mind and much to my consternation I cannot change yours. The good news is I don't have to change your mind just Toyotas.

 

I'd consider sealing the interior, if only for one reason: If the car goes in the water, what are the chances of being electrocuted before you had a chance to escape the car?

 

"Hungry? A driver claims squirrels started 'eating' his Toyota Aygo - because of eco-friendly plastics" Driver claims squirrels ate eco-friendly plastics on car
Picture of the suspect !
'Hungry squirrels ate my Toyota' claims angry driver | London - ITV News

 

Feed the rodents, they won't be so hungry for plastic. Or shoot/trap them.

I'd bet there was a mild wet year last year leading to an abundance of food and thus a lot of rodents.

Then this year not so much and the rodents are desperate.

Trees when they have favorable conditions, put lots of energy into reproducing. Tough conditions not so much.

 

My Prius has had its wires eaten twice in my garage. I do live in a wooded area. My last repair cost about $700 in labor.

I also seem to remember similar, but cheaper wire damage problem occurring while visiting a national park.

I park a Nissan next to the Prius and the Nissan has never had such a problem.

Toyota MUST be aware of the issue, as other manufacturers apparently are and some seem to have addressed it. For instance, Honda appears to use capsaicin in their soy-based wire coating to prevent such problems. But Toyota has never heard of it?!!

In fact, Honda sells a "Rodent Tape" impregnated with capsaicin, which can be wrapped around the harness:


4019-2317 | Honda TAPE,RODENT 19MM 20M - Bernardi Parts


It's really annoying that Toyota is not addressing the issue. Advising people to "kill all the rodents" is both impractical and stupid -- are we supposed to carry rat poison in national parks?

Where are the class action trolls when one needs them?