NHTSA Complaint #10365115 — 2009 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT

I OWN A 2009 VW RABBIT. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER OWNING IT, I STARTED NOTICING A MOLDY SMELL IN THE CAR EVERY TIME I TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER AND/OR THE HEAT. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS MOLD IN THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT AND THEY WOULD CLEAN IT. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, I ASKED WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM, AND THEY SAID I NEED TO TURN OFF THE DEFROSTER/AIR CONDITIONER A FEW MINUTES BEFORE TURNING OFF THE CAR SO ANY MOISTURE DRAINS OUT. IN ESSENCE, THERE IS NO CURE, JUST A FIX. I WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE RESPONSE. WHEN I ENTERED MY CAR TO LEAVE, IT SMELLED FROM SOME PERFUME THEY USED TO MASK THE MOLD SMELL. I AM ALLERGIC TO MOLD AND MILDEW AND HAVE A VARIETY OF ALLERGIES. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR WINDOWS OPEN FOR A WEEK TO GET RID OF THAT ODOR. NOW THAT IT'S FALL, THE WEATHER IS COOLER AND I'M USING THE HEATER. ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T NOTICED THE MOLD SMELL YET, I'M NOTICING HEADACHES AND SINUS PROBLEMS SINCE I'VE BEEN DRIVING WITH THE HEATER. I'VE DRIVEN AMERICAN CARS FOR 45 CARS AND NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. I LIKE THE CAR OTHERWISE, BUT CANNOT TOLERATE THIS PROBLEM. WHY CAN'T IT BE FIXED PERMANENTLY? I NOTICED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM GOING BACK TO AT LEAST 2002. *TR