2016 Toyota 4Runner: Wires chewed by rodents
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2016 4Runner report: wires chewed by rodents. CarComplaints.com lists 6 owner complaints, average mileage 30,500 miles.
NHTSA has 18 owner complaints for the 2016 4Runner in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11644480 (filed 02/24/2025): “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 check…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11573843 (filed 02/25/2024): “Picked up a gal to go out on a date. turned the vehicle on and got about 1 mile down the road when i started to smell , like a hot , burning electrical smoke . my date , sitting in the passenger seat says her seat is get warm , then says , it's getting really…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace wires (5 reports) put a special rodent repellent tape under the hood (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Moderate
Finding and splicing chewed wiring is doable with a multimeter and patience but can be time-consuming; harness replacement is pro work. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $1,150 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .