A rat built a nest in my car engine using leaves, sticks and old pizza

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Have any four-legged creatures caused unexpected damage to your car this winter?

As the days get colder, rodents seek warmth wherever they can find it — from basements and attics to the space under a car’s hood. A vehicle’s warm engine bay can become a temporary shelter for days or even weeks, resulting in costly damage to wiring and other vital components of a car.

In 2023, New York City appointed a director of rodent mitigation, known as the “rat czar,” to address the ongoing rodent problem.

According to MMPC Pest Control, New York City’s rat population was estimated at about three million in 2025.

In 2024, La Voce di New York reported on cases of rats nesting under car hoods across the city, including a man whose 2018 Honda Accord suffered chewed wiring while parked.

In November 2025, ABC7 NY reported that a woman discovered a rat had climbed out from under the hood of her car and onto her windshield as she was driving to the airport.

Just last month, I experienced a similar problem when my own car suffered the same fate.

On a cold Monday morning

I woke up on what seemed like an average Monday morning, got ready for work, and walked to my 2020 Honda Accord.

When I started the engine, it took longer than usual to turn over. Once it did, multiple warning lights illuminated across the dashboard, including the check engine light.

I was surprised as the night before my car had been running without issues. I immediately drove to a local mechanic to have it inspected.

After opening the hood, the mechanic discovered an almost-complete nest made of leaves, small sticks and even a piece of old pizza. Beneath the nest, a wire had been chewed nearly in half, causing an electrical issue that cost $230 to repair. The mechanic said the damage was caused by a rat.

Insight from mechanics

After experiencing the damage firsthand, I spoke with several Staten Island mechanics who say rodent-related car repairs are not uncommon.

Leo, owner of Brothers Auto Repair in Tompkinsville, said he sees vehicles with rodent damage year-round — not just during the winter months.

“They like the wires,” Leo said. “It’s very good food for them.”

He said repair costs vary depending on the extent of the damage. Most recently, a client’s car came in with severe rodent damage, including major electrical wiring that was chewed up, resulting in costly repairs.

Leo recommends preventive measures such as installing ultrasonic rodent-repellent devices designed for car engines. The devices emit high-frequency sound waves and flashing LED lights, intended to deter rodents.

He also said some customers place charcoal in parts of the engine bay, believing the strong smell may discourage nesting.

Owner of Island Car Care in Clifton, who wanted to be referred to as Danny D, said the problem is not limited to rats; squirrels and other rodents can also cause damage to vehicles.

When it comes to rat damage, he said he notices it occurs to “cars that are parked outside, maybe haven’t been driven regularly, and cars that are parked closer to dumpsters or garbage.”

Danny added that rodents often bring insulation from outside to build nests and chew on wiring, though the reason why remains unclear.

He recommends more frequent vehicle checkups — every 3,000 to 5,000 miles — so shops can spot problems before they become costly.

“I really haven’t seen anything that actually works, other than just driving the car, regulating, moving it regularly and just getting it checked,” he said.

Danny noted repair costs vary depending on the extent of the damage.

“It could be a couple hundred, a couple thousand, depending on what they chew,” he said. Simple wiring repairs are relatively inexpensive, but if a rat chews a wiring harness or a major component, the cost can rise significantly.”

Although the city’s “war on rats” is nothing new to residents, drivers can help protect their vehicles by staying on top of maintenance, being mindful of where they park, and remaining vigilant against uninvited four-legged passengers.