2016 Toyota 4Runner Electrical System

I drive for a living and yesterday I was driving while this happened 3 separate times. I was going 70 mph on the highway when my radio, usb ports blower motor and dash cluster power went out. I was terrified that my car would shut off while driving. Upon checking the car over, I noticed the battery mount was broken/missing pieces. The upper portion had become lose due to the broken parts and had stuck itself to my positive battery terminal. Lots of sparks when I tried to remove it. I finally got it broke loose using a piece of wood instead of my hands. Very scary.

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was discovered that rodents had chewed through the soy-based wiring. The electrical wiring was replaced out of pocket; however, the failure had recurred twice. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 29,922.

DRIVER DOOR ACTUATOR DOES NOT WORK, PREVENTING THE REMOTE LOCKING AND UNLOCKING OF THE DOOR.

THE SUV DOES NOT LOCK WHEN I USE THE REMOTE OR WHEN I TRY TO LOCK IT MANUALLY. I REPLACED THE ACTUATOR IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WHICH WAS THE DOOR THAT STAYS UNLOCKED HOWEVER TO NO AVAIL. I AM OUT A LOT OF MONEY HOWEVER I NOW BELIEVE THERE MAY BE A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING CALLED BCM. I DO NOT WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY GETTING THE ISSUE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THIS FEELS UNFAIR TO ME THAT THE LOCKING SYSTEM IS BROKE AND I RISK THE VEHICLE BEING STOLEN AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

RODENT CHEWED MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS

THE WIRING INSIDE OF THE ENGINE WAS CHEWED THROUGH BY RODENTS. I DRIVE THE VEHICLE EVERY DAY AND IT WAS SERVICED TWO DAYS BEFORE. AFTER PERFORMING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA AND OTHER COMPANIES USE SOY BASED PRODUCTS TO MAKE WIRING. THIS APPARENTLY ATTRACTS RODENTS AS IT IS BASICALLY FOOD FOR THEM.THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME IN A MARKED PARKING SPOT. I HAVE PARKED OTHER (OLDER) VEHICLES IN FRONT OF MY HOME FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 YEARS WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ONLY OWNED MY TOYOTA FOR ONE YEAR AND THE WIRING WAS DESTROYED BY RODENTS TO THE TUNE OF NEEDING A NEW WIRING HARNESS.

RODENTS CHEWED UP WIRING HARNESS FOR FUEL INJECTOR. VEHICLE PARKED IN ENCODED GARAGE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING WAS SOY BASED AND WAS NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND. AT 12,000 AND 30,000 MILES, THE WIRES WERE PREMATURELY DAMAGED BY RODENTS. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN SUGGESTING THAT THE CONTACT REPLACE THE WIRES TWICE. THE DEALER (DURANGO TOYOTA, 1200 CARBON JCT, DURANGO, CO 81301, (970) 385-4822) INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

I STARTED THE 4RUNNER AND NOTICED THAT A FEW OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON (ABS, BRAKE, & A FEW OTHERS I CAN'T REMEMBER). I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT ANYWAY TO RUN SOME ERRANDS (SHORT DISTANCE), AND NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY EITHER (NOT GOING INTO ECO MODE AND STRUGGLING TO REACH 40 MPH). I DECIDED TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT AND CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED A SQUIRREL NESTED BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE FIREWALL. THE SQUIRREL ALSO USED THE INSULATION FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND ALONG THE FIREWALL TO MAKE ITS NEST. I TOOK THE 4RUNNER TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY ALSO POINTED OUT THAT ONE OF THE ELECTRIC RUNS WAS CHEWED ALL THE WAY THROUGH WITH SOME DAMAGE ON THE MAIN HARNESS. I LET THEM KEEP THE 4RUNNER OVER NIGHT TO GET AN ESTIMATE ON THE DAMAGE. THE INITIAL ESTIMATE WAS FOR $5,716.30. I DECIDED TO LET THEM KEEP THE 4RUNNER UNTIL THE WORK WAS COMPLETED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRIC HARNESS WOULD TAKE 3 TO 5 DAYS TO BE SHIPPED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEN I WAS NOTIFIED (6 DAYS LATER) THAT THE ELECTRIC HARNESS WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE AND WOULD TAKE ANOTHER WEEK BEFORE THEY RECEIVE IT. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A PHONE CALL SAYING THAT ALL THE PARTS WERE IN, BUT NOW THEY WOULD EITHER HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENGINE OR RAISE THE BODY TO INSTALL THE FIREWALL INSULATION. SO AN ADDITIONAL $2,219.66 FOR THAT PORTION OF IT. SURE MY INSURE PICKED UP THE TAB LESS MY DEDUCTIBLE, BUT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I DROPPED THE 4RUNNER OFF MARCH 7, 2017 AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT SHOULD BE READY AROUND APRIL 5TH. HOPEFULLY NOTHING ELSE IS FOUND. I PURCHASED THE 4RUNNER BRAND NEW ON FEBRUARY 4, 2017 (DRIVEWAY KEPT). I TRADED IN A 2006 TOYOTA TACOMA THAT I HAD FOR 11 YEARS THAT SAT OUTSIDE FOR THIS HEADACHE. MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE TACOMA. THE 4 RUNNER ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS INCONVENIENCE HAPPENED.

TOYOTA USES ENGINE WIRING THAT HAS A SOY BASED COATING. THIS ENCOURAGES RODENTS TO CHEW ON THEM. WE WERE CAMPED (PARKED) AND WHEN WE TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR IT SHUDDERED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER INDICATORS. THE CAR WAS RUNNING ON FIVE CYLINDERS. WE MANAGED TO GET IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHO TOLD US OF BITE MARKS AND DROPPINGS. IN RESEARCHING THIS ON LINE WE FOUND REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING IN TOYOTAS AND HONDAS. WE COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE DESERT IN 110 DEGREE HEAT IF THE DAMAGE WAS ENOUGH TO DISABLE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY.