A Tesla Model Y Owner Says a Rat Chewed Her Wires While She Was At Home. She’s Now Upset Because Tesla Refused to Fix The Damaged Cables Under Warranty

Lucelly Toro, a Tesla Model Y owner from Colorado, reports that a mouse recently found its way into her vehicle and chewed on some of the electric wires.

Lucelly says she learned about the issue when she received a safety warning on her screen.

After the alert, Lucelly took her Model Y to Tesla service, where they found chewed-up electrical wires.

Tesla then asked her to pay $450 for parts and labor to replace the damaged wiring.

However, Lucelly is unhappy with this response and believes Tesla should fix the problem under warranty.

The frustrated Model Y owner shared her story on the Tesla Tips & Tricks group on Facebook.

She writes…

“Hey, has anyone had an issue where a mouse chewed a car cable and the warranty didn’t cover it?

I noticed because I received a “safety” warning message on my screen, and when I inquired, they told me I have to pay out of pocket. It’s about $450.

I’m in Colorado.”

Below her post, Lucelly included a picture of her Model Y showing chewed-up electric wires inside the vehicle.

As you can see, the wire is stripped of all the insulation and tubing, and even the inner main wire is damaged.

From the pictures, it is unclear whether this damage was caused by a mouse; however, Tesla technicians who have conducted a close inspection believe it is likely the case.

Rats chewing through an electric wire in any car is definitely frustrating; however, the question here is who pays to get it fixed.

Lucelly believes Tesla should do this work for free under the new vehicle warranty; however, the EV maker believes she should pay it.

Looking at the comments, a lot of Tesla fans agreed with the EV maker’s point.

A fellow Tesla owner, Richard Salinas, writes…

“Correct. They will not cover damage caused by a mouse chewing your car. You will have to pay out of pocket.”

Another Tesla owner, Arizona Willie, writes…

“It's rare that I do this, but I agree with Tesla. The mouse is not their fault. They didn't put it there. So the mouse is on you.”

A third Tesla owner, Jeremy Spencer, writes…

“Warranties are to cover defects. Would you also expect them to replace your car if a tree fell on it? That's what insurance is for.”

A fourth Tesla owner, Sean McCullough, writes…

“This is a comprehensive insurance claim. It may be worth claiming depending on your deductible, but unlikely given the low dollar amount of the loss.”

A fifth Tesla owner, Arizona Willie, writes…

“That's cheap. Usually, Tesla won't even open the door of the car for $1,000.”

Looking at the comments, Tesla owners seem to be unanimous in their belief that Tesla should not fix Lucelly’s vehicle under warranty.

And I have to agree with them; if the mouse got into the car while in Tesla’s custody, then the EV maker could be responsible for the repairs.

However, in Lucellay’s case, since the vehicle was damaged at home, it appears to be her responsibility.

Recently, we also covered a story involving rats and a Tesla vehicle that’s not as straightforward as this.

In that case, a Cybertruck owner reports that his brand-new vehicle has had a peculiar smell since it was delivered.

He took it to Tesla for a check-up, and the EV maker found a rodent’s nest and feces in one of the vehicle’s compartments.

The Cybertruck owner claims he received his truck from the service center with rodents still inside. He adds that this experience has dampened his excitement for his new vehicle.

Please let me know what you think in the comments. Share your ideas by clicking the red “Add new comment” button below. Also, be sure to visit our site, torquenews.com/Tesla, regularly for the latest updates.

Image: Screenshot from Tesla Tips & Tricks Facebook group. Reposted under fair use copyright law.

For more information, check out: Several Tesla Cybertruck Owners Share They Have Sliced Their Fingers Open on the Truck’s Sharp Edges – One Owner Says, “I Don’t Know How Tesla Got the Truck Approved, but I Still Love My Cybertruck.”

Tinsae Aregay has been following Tesla and the evolution of the EV space daily for several years. He covers everything about Tesla, from the cars to Elon Musk, the energy business, and autonomy. Follow Tinsae on Twitter at @TinsaeAregay for daily Tesla news.