Questionable Rodent Debris in 2009 Rogue Ventilation System

[kastenholz]

Has anyone ever had the suspicion that dealership car maintenance workers, after having done some other work on the car, such as recall work, insert debris into the air conditioning ventilation system and then tell you that you have a mouse house that needs to be cleaned out? The cost? Around $400. Or is the 2009 Rogue SL AWD truly so poorly designed that rodents repeatedly find easy access to the blower motor area where they build their nests? I have been told twice over a span of seven years that my SUV has rodent debris in the ventilation system areas. Believing them the first time I had them clean it out and paid the bill. I hesitate to have them do it the second time as I have doubts about the truthfulness of their claims. I also have been told that rodent debris was present in the air cleaner element (engine air filter) housing. When I removed that debris at home it was cut up pieces of paper that did not seem to have been gnawed by a rodent. Any similar experience out there by anyone?

[centralcoaster33]

No. I've never had such suspicions. Actually, dealership maintenance departments are often busy and have lot's of scheduled appointments. So they don't really have much incentive to 'bait' people for additional work. They're not slow and hurtin' for work.

So, do you have rodents in your county? How about, at your actual home? Ever see one or set traps? If you and your neighbors and their neighbors have none, then I'd be suspicious. Rodent habitat is nearly all of North America, with some not going so far into the snowy areas of Canada.

The cabin ventilation system is in a rather common layout, with vents and holes in the usual places for such a system. The Rogue is no more rodent prone than a Fiesta or Ferrari. Did you install a hamster tube that runs from the vents down to the ground? It's not a factory design, so I'd uninstall that.

Your engine air filter has nothing to do with your in cabin ventilation system. That stuff is under your dash and in the firewall. Why you would have paper bits in the engine intake box is a bit mysterious.

$400 sounds a bit expensive, but you're at a dealership. You could tackle the project on your own. That would also give you the opportunity to actually see the debris and assess the potential access points. The FSM will have instruction on how to access all the parts. Check out our "Service Manuals" link at the top of our forum pages. You could also take it to another mechanic and request a quote. The work might be cheaper elsewhere.

Good luck!

[R.T.]

They could be scamming you but...Rodent infiltration is not as uncommon as you might think. Just a quick Google/Youtube check will offer up many examples.

Here's one from a Camry (I think): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9JruyHm89g and a Toyota Matrix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXMBEorS4cA

[Rogue One]

Do you seriously think a dealership would "insert debris into the air conditioning ventilation system"? NOPE. They wouldn't risk their reputation or loose the franchise right on something like this. As R.T. pointed out, critters living in cabin air filters is not uncommon. My partner had a Toyota vehicle that was always crawling with ants. Turned out they had nested in his cabin air filter.

BTW, we have an incredible SEARCH feature on this forum.
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