A Minnesota amputee veteran claims a Toyota dealership sold him a $68,000 truck that was infested with a family of starving rats. Ron Knudson, 57, purchased a Toyota Tundra Limited from Walser Toyota in Bloomington last month, but his excitement turned to horror when he discovered the rodents.
Discovery of the Infestation
Knudson told the Daily Mail that after parking the truck in his garage, he noticed a "blur" underneath the vehicle. Upon closer inspection, he found a rat "probably 10 inches long" sitting under the car. He also found rat feces and chewed rubber in the engine compartment. "We didn't have one rat, we had a family of rats," he said.
Knudson, who lost a leg in a motorcycle accident, is a volunteer with Fishing With Vets, a nonprofit organizing free fishing trips for veterans. He planned to use the truck to take two 90-year-old Korean War veterans on a trip on May 31. He had initially bought a 2025 Hyundai Palisade but exchanged it for a lower-trim Toyota Tundra, then upgraded to the Limited for an additional $8,000, bringing the total to $68,000.
Dealership Response
Knudson returned the truck to the dealership, but claimed they were uncooperative. Initially told he could not return it again, he was later offered free repairs, only to receive a text advising him to file an insurance claim. Knudson questioned whether the dealership inspected the truck, noting that the Toyota app showed it had not been started or moved since he dropped it off.
The dealership allegedly laughed off his threat to file a complaint with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office. "They would rather be known for selling a truck with a rat in it and not taking care of their customer versus taking the truck back," Knudson said.
Insurance and Resolution
Knudson's truck was moved to a dealership in Mankato, as State Farm—his insurer—reportedly flagged Walser for repair estimate disputes. State Farm confirmed coverage for repairs except the deductible, which the dealership offered to cover. Knudson will receive a loaner truck for his veterans' trip.
The Walser Toyota dealership referred inquiries to Walser Automotive Group, which did not immediately comment. Toyota also did not respond. A 2018 class action lawsuit alleging Toyota's soy-based wiring insulation attracted rodents was dismissed.
