2016 Toyota Highlander: Mice eating wires
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2016 Highlander report: mice eating wires. CarComplaints.com lists 1 owner complaints, average mileage 16,000 miles.
NHTSA has 14 owner complaints for the 2016 Highlander in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11626493 (filed 11/20/2024): “The contact owns a 2016 toyota highlander. the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the trunk power switch failed to function as intended. the contact stated that the trunk power switch was enabled to unlock, however the trunk door did not unlock.…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11561849 (filed 12/26/2023): “2016 toyota highlander le model v-6 cylinder. the fuel pump runs after engine has been turned off for several hours, even up to as many as 8 hours. this situation can be heard in a closed in garage, in the completely quiet of night time, and at multiple…”
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: repair wiring (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 $1,000 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .