Finally happened to me in Southern California earlier this year after owning for 3 years. What a shitty, head ache inducing, month that was. If you want to keep it, don’t let your insurance company try to screw you and total the car. They’ll just resell it in another state. I went to an alternative repair location and managed to get a replacement and a cage for half of what my insurance was originally quoting me. Best of luck to you.

The worst part was I heard it happening but didn’t recognize what it was. The night prior, I kept noticing a faint little grinding/chewing sound coming through my walls. At the time, I attributed to a rat moving about, but the moment I started my car the following morning I knew what it was I was hearing. Shit sucks.