2 week old Tesla won't start [due to rodent damage]

[dlat6]

I got a M3LR two weeks back. Last week won't start and it doesn't even display the drive modes at the top left hand side of the screen. Tried troubleshoot steps with an agent on call and had to tow the car. Today they sent me pics and said it is a rodent damage. It is not covered under warranty and the repair cost is around $2600. I have Tesla Insurance which has comprehensive coverage, though will need to pay deductible worth $1000. This sucks because there are >100 cars in my community and non of them face any rodent issue.

 

[jjrandorin]

This has been a thing with modern cars for a while (tesla and others). Similar threads here on TMC:

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Advice needed - how exterminate rat in car??

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[Frank99]

Hate those little bastiches. Did $2000 damage to my Ford Expedition a few years back.
The Model 3 is nearly sealed on the bottom; we can hope someday Tesla assigns some engineer the job of finishing sealing it up so this problem goes away. A lot harder to do that on an ICE.

 

[stopcrazypp]

I got a M3LR two weeks back. Last week won't start and it doesn't even display the drive modes at the top left hand side of the screen. Tried troubleshoot steps with an agent on call and had to tow the car. Today they sent me pics and said it is a rodent damage. It is not covered under warranty and the repair cost is around $2600. I have Tesla Insurance which has comprehensive coverage, though will need to pay deductible worth $1000. This sucks because there are >100 cars in my community and non of them face any rodent issue.

Pictures aren't showing up, but it's rather unfortunate this happened with a brand new car. I would probably try some way to prevent this again in the future, as there is no guarantee it won't happen again.

Warranty unfortunately does not cover rodent damage, that's all on insurance.

 

[neurocutie]

I have several mouse traps in my garage just to hopefully mitigate this sort of thing ... caught 3 so far.

 

[father_of_6]

Sorry this happened to you. It's bad enough to have v11, now you have to deal with rodents.

 

[rpratt]

if it makes you feel better my neighbor has an Aston Martin that rats have chewed on twice. His repair bill for the two incidents was over $40,000.

 

[Kandiru]

You need to think like a rodent. Never eat in the car, never carry corn syrup beverages inside, they smell stuff across walls.

 

[Baluchi]

My last two trucks (both Nissans) were basically ruined by rodent damage too. I always parked those outside. I haven't had similar issues with cars I park in the garage, and if I do ever see sings of mice in the garage I'm quick to get rid of them. But if your only option is to park outside, I never found a good way to prevent them. I tried scented sprays and rubber snakes and fake owls, but they just kept chewing up my wires. I've heard it has something to do with the chemistry of the wiring insulation, but I'm not sure if that's true.

 

[BigNick]

My last two trucks (both Nissans) were basically ruined by rodent damage too. I always parked those outside. I haven't had similar issues with cars I park in the garage, and if I do ever see sings of mice in the garage I'm quick to get rid of them. But if your only option is to park outside, I never found a good way to prevent them. I tried scented sprays and rubber snakes and fake owls, but they just kept chewing up my wires. I've heard it has something to do with the chemistry of the wiring insulation, but I'm not sure if that's true.

The wiring insulation is made from soybeans, it's more environmentally-friendly, but unfortunately delicious to vermin.

 

[n2fooz]

My buddy had this happen to his 2016 Honda Civic in Colorado. He was parked in my brother's driveway where no other car has had that issue. Turns out rodents LOVE Honda wiring. The dealer repaired the harness and wrapped it in Honda Rodent Repellent tape that costs $45+ a roll.
So in short, this happens to many modern vehicles.

Rodent Tape

 

[Gimmethecash]

The heater & A/C stopped blowing properly on my wife’s CRV several years back, and the fan was making a rhythmic thumping noise like a washing machine out of balance…I found a huge nest in the ductwork and a gruesome scene in the heater blower fan, which explained everything . Real fun cleaning that one out.

 

[MorrisonHiker]

We had rodent damage to the wiring harness of our 2017 S 75D. Fortunately, it only cost $310 to replace the affected wiring harness.

 

[CheapBastid]

Honda Rodent Repellent tape

I wondered if something like this or this might be a cheaper option, but then found an article that indicates it has capsaicin in it so maybe an underlayer of metal tape with something like this over the top?

 

[jackmott]

I got a M3LR two weeks back. Last week won't start and it doesn't even display the drive modes at the top left hand side of the screen. Tried troubleshoot steps with an agent on call and had to tow the car. Today they sent me pics and said it is a rodent damage. It is not covered under warranty and the repair cost is around $2600. I have Tesla Insurance which has comprehensive coverage, though will need to pay deductible worth $1000. This sucks because there are >100 cars in my community and non of them face any rodent issue.

I've had a rodent mess up my prius a couple years ago. It was so, so gross. It got inside the cabin air filter area, made a nest there.

This isn't an EV or Tesla thing specifically, it is just life.

 

[SocalM3P]

I feel for you. on my previous IS F, damn vermin made a nest and camped out in my intake box and chewed through some hoses, about $700 in damage.

 

[four-walling]

This solved my rodent problems. It was suggested by the guy who maintains my entry gate. He said the mice were building nests in the gate controller.
A food container with slits in the lid full of mothballs that sit under the car.
I buy the mothballs in bulk from Amazon.
the last picture is my ultimate weapon.

 

[Leeclanual]

^^^ THIS

Mothballs in a plastic food container kept them away from my boat… should work near your car.